SUMMARY

The USC/SSA split into the Musa Sudi (MS) and ”Finish” (USC/SSA - OMF) factions in December of 2001, allegedly over Chairman Musa Sudi’s wish to join the SRRC (Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council) and not the TNG (Transitional National Government). Musa Sudi’s militia leader, Omar “Finish”, did not share his viewpoint and instead advocated joining the TNG to bring order to Somalia. As a consequence the two men also staked claims over the leadership of the USC/SSA. In early 2002 Musa Sudi was a senior member of the SRRC, whilst Omar “Finish” was seen as a staunch TNG ally.

Whilst these frictions were the overt causes of the fighting that broke out in February 2002 it appears that the fighting also stood over control over Mogadishu’s Medina district, and the control over its economic resources. It also appears as if though Omar “Finish” wished to procure control over Mogadishu’s lucrative airport. The exact trigger of the fighting in early 2002 is unknown, but it is believed that the upcoming peace talks regarding Somalia caused the two warlords to jostle for the upper hand.

The two warlords clashed almost solely in Mogadishu, mainly in the Medina district, using automatic weapons and technicals (battlewagons). It is unclear why the clashes came to a halt in mid-2003 (with only sporadic fighting taking place towards the end of the year).

The two warlords were, to some extent, reconciled in 2004, when both joined the TFG (Transitional Federal Government, the successor entity to the TNG). Both also fought on the side of the ARPCT (Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism) against the Islamists of SICS (Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia) in 2006.

The non-state conflict between USC/SSA and USC/SSA - OMF is first included in UCDP data in 2001. In December that year forces of these two factions clashed in Mogadishu resulted in more than 30 battle-related deaths.