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 late January 1999, militiamen from the Eli-Omar subclan of Abgal clan (Hawiye) attacked rivaling militiamen from the Abdalle-Aroneh subclan of Abgal clan (Hawiye)](/#actor/968), both of the Abgal clan of the Hawiye clan family. The attack followed a break-down of peace talks that were held in Mogadishu in order to reconcile the two subclans. The dispute was reported by clan elders to concern territorial issues. An estimated 31 people were killed in the clash, which took place in Gabaho village, about 70 km north of the capital of Mogadishu. A month later, in early February, the two subclans signed a peace agreement which marked the end of the fighting between them. The agreement included an immediate ceasefire, exchange of prisoners, settlement of land and grazing disputes, and the opening of a road along the coastline north of Mogadishu.
The non-state conflict between the Abdalle-Aroneh subclan of Abgal clan (Hawiye) and the Eli-Omar subclan of Abgal clan (Hawiye) is first included in UCDP data in 1999. In January of that year, tensions between rival militiamen from the Eli-Omar and Abdalle-Aroneh subclans escalated into violent clashes, resulting in over 25 battle-related deaths.
