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.
In January 2002, fierce fighting erupted between the Sa'ad sub-clan of Habar Gidir clan (Hawiye) and the Saleban Abdalla subclan of Surre clan (Dir). The fighting took place in the Mudug region of central Somalia. The clashes seem to have been revenge attacks carried out by one of the clans, which have been waging a vendetta against each other. Renewed fighting occurred at the begging of July 2003. The fighting started in the village of Afbarwaqo located in the Mudug region of central Somalia. Civilians fled the village as heavy weaponry was used such as rocket-propelled grenade launchers and machine-guns. Although the reasons for the conflict are unknown, it is believed to have been triggered by a land dispute; the region is economically important due to the production of salt.
The non-state conflict between the Sa'ad sub-clan of Habar Gidir clan (Hawiye) and the Saleban Abdalla subclan of Surre clan (Dir) is first included in UCDP data in 2002. In mid-January of that year, clashes between the two subclans had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.
