General information
Part of Conflict: n/a
First Battle Related Death: 2005-04-09
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 2005-04-18
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: The non-state conflict between the Garre sub-clan of the Digil clan (Digil-Mirifle) and the Marehan sub-clan of the Sede clan (Darod) is first included in UCDP data in 2005. In April that year, clashes between the two groups in El Wak caused six deaths, making the total tally exceed the 25 battle-related deaths threshold.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
2005
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 139 |
| Best | 99 |
| Low | 89 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Garre subclan of Digil clan (Digil-Mirifle)): n/a
Side B (Marehan subclan (Darod)): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
2005 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The discrepancy regarding the death toll can be ascribed to differing witness accounts, and consequently variations in reporting.
Comment on Active: The fighting in this non-state conflict was focused on political control of the town El Wak in the Gedo region in south-western Somalia. The reason for the conflict was the level of influence on national politics that control of El Wak resulted in. Fear of being politically side-lined on the national level led to tensions in the town. Further the issue of border trade was important since El Wak is situated on the border to Kenya. El Wak is located at a point where Garre subclan of Digil clan (Digil-Mirifle) and Marehan subclan of Sede clan (Darod) territorial control overlaps, causing differing perceptions as to which sub-clan should control the actual town, and consequently extort the political influence that is accompanied by it. The violence consisted of attacks on the town by militias of the different sub-clans with the aim of establishing control over El Wak. Fighting lasted for four months, April – July 2005, with five events recorded. The fighting was carried out as one day clashes typically by either sub-clan attacking the town, causing substantial casualties and destruction. Because of the urban warfare the casualties were high, further the reporting was scarce, and rumours of a substantial number of civilian casualties, and fatalities was commonplace. The fighting caused a large migration from El Wak, many villagers fled into bordering Kenya.
Terminated: NO
