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.

Both the Dir clan and the Marehan subclan are pastoralist Somali clans, who live side by side in the central Somali region of Galgudud. As pastoralists these two clans, as well as many others, often have to compete over the scarce resources available in the arid central regions. Especially sought after is access to water and territory for the grazing of livestock; scarce commodities that have often led to conflicts between rival groups.

Competition for these resources appears to also have been the underlying factor of the non-state conflict between these two clans. The triggering factor of the round of fighting in 2004 appears, however, to have been the murder of a Marehan elder, allegedly by clansmen from the Dir clan, in April 2003.

Fighting between the two groups has been concentrated in the Galgudud region, around the areas of Godshin and Heraale. As in most fighting between the powerful clans of Somalia the warring parties employed not only small arms, but also technicals and grenades.

The non-state conflict between the Dir clan and the Marehan subclan of Sede clan (Darod) is first included in UCDP data in 2004. In March that year at least 15 people were killed in fighting in the Godshin area. These deaths meant that the 25 battle-related deaths threshold was breached.