SUMMARY
Unlike other multiethnic countries in the Sub-Saharan African context, the Somali society is characterized by a vast system of clans. Most of the population belongs to one of the five overarching clan families namely the Darod, the Isaaq, the Hawiye, the Dir, and the Rahanweyn (also known as Rewin or Digil-Mirifle). Each clan family is further divided into sub-clans and in some cases into sub-sub-clans. The origins of the clans are shared and each clan is related to the others, yet there are differences in terms of culture, tradition, and the form of life.
Up until independence in 1960, the Somali society was organized according to the clan system and each clan had a leader and a council of elders. These leaders played a major role in daily life and especially in intertribal relations. The council of elders was responsible for maintaining peace and harmony amongst the Somali people. Weakened clans were, for example, to be protected and were at times integrated into stronger clans in order to assure its survival. When inter-clan conflicts did occur, rules of conduct were agreed upon; such as caring for the injured or the treatment of prisoners.
During the post-independence era, traditional structures were replaced by modern governmental and judicial institutions hence removing the power once given to the clan leader and the council of the elders. As a result, relations between clans continuously deteriorated, which in turn also resulted in a stronger sense of affiliation to one’s own clan. This process contributed to, and was further strengthened by, the outbreak of the intra-state conflict in Somalia which began at the end of 1982. Clan-related conflicts continued to fuel non-state conflicts in Somalia.
The conflict between the Gaadsan subclan and the Ma’alin Weyne subclanwas mainly about access to land and water. While disagreements over resources are relatively common between different clans in Somalia, they became more violent and deadly over the last decades due to two reasons. First, the yearlong instability and continued armed clashes in Somalia resulted in easy access to firearms and light weapons. Second, the above-mentioned decrease of the importance of traditional structures and the disregard for traditional dispute resolution mechanisms allow such disputes formerly resolved peacefully to turn violent.
The non-state conflict between the Gaadsan subclan of Biimaal clan (Dir) and the Ma’alin Weyne subclan of Mirifle clan (Digil-Mirifle) is first included in UCDP data in 2008. In May of that year fighting between the two groups led to more than 25 battle-related deaths.
