General information
Part of Conflict: n/a
First Battle Related Death: 2010-01-01
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 2010-08-19
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: The non-state conflict between the Mujahideen in the Golis Mountains and the Puntland State of Somalia is first included in UCDP data in 2010. In August that year violent clashes flared up in the region, resulting in over 25 battle-related deaths.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
2010
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 161 |
| Best | 109 |
| Low | 96 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Mujahideen in the Golis Mountains): n/a
Side B (Puntland State of Somalia): n/a
2011
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 33 |
| Best | 33 |
| Low | 27 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Mujahideen in the Golis Mountains): n/a
Side B (Puntland State of Somalia): n/a
2012
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 89 |
| Best | 55 |
| Low | 55 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Mujahideen in the Golis Mountains): n/a
Side B (Puntland State of Somalia): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
2010 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The difference between high and best is based on the uncertainty as to which of the assassinations of Puntland officials were actually committed by Atoms forces
Comment on Active: During the first six months of 2010 as many as 50 Puntland officials were killed in different attacks. Differing claims were made as to who was behind this violence but the blame soon fell on local arms smuggler and militia leader Mohammed Sa’id Atom.
In July 2010 Atom declared a holy war against the government of Puntland and Puntland responded with force. Supported by a shipment of arms from the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Puntland forces went on attack against Atom and his forces. Over the coming three months as many as 100 fighters of Muhammad Sa’id Atom may have been killed in battle with Puntland government forces. In November the Puntland government declared victory and it is said that Atom, with the remains of his troops, fled into Somaliland.
Throughout the conflict there were continuous claims of the Puntland government of a link between Muhammad Sa’id Atom and al-Shabaab. To what degree there is such a link has not been made clear but an al-Shabaab spokesman has declared that Atom’s forces are not a part of al-Shabaab.
Terminated: NO
2011 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: The conflict between Forces of Shaykh Muhammad Said Atom and those of Puntland state of Somalia were in 2011 mainly concentrated to an attack on the town Galgala in the mountainous areas on the border between Bari region and Sanaag. According to sources, Atom’s forces were pushed out of the town shortly after gaining control of it. While some clashes took place later in the year the May clashes were clearly the hardest, at least in regards of loss of life.
Terminated: NO
2012 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The discrepancy in number of deaths between the high estimate and the best and low is because of unclarity in the reporting from the region. Some of the reports come only from al-Shabaab sources and are therefore only included on the high estimate.
Comment on Active: The situation in the area of the Galgala mountains changed somewhat in 2012, as the influx of al-Shabaab leadership fleeing the south of Somalia reportedly led to a change in the leadership of the group fighting Puntland state of Somalia. The former leader, Muhammad Said Atom was reportedly, and against his will, pushed to the side. Yassin Khalid Uthman, who has close ties to al-Shabaab leader "Godane" took over leadership of the group and announced that the group was now called Mujahideen in the Golis Mountains. While the group has alledged ties to al-Shabaab it is still seen as a separate organisation and clashes continued between the group and Puntland forces.
Terminated: NO
