SUMMARY

The non-state conflict between the Forces of Hussein Ali Ahmed and USC/SSA (United Somali Congress/Somali Salvation Army) that erupted in 1999 had its roots in the disputed control over the Somali capital of Mogadishu. In 1999 Mogadishu was divided into several areas under the control of different warlords. Consequently, clashes between rival militias were common within the boundaries of the city.

The conflict between the Forces of Hussein Ali Ahmed and USC/SSA was triggered by an incident in the USC/SSA controlled Karan market area in the northern parts of the city. When local traders refused to pay taxes imposed by warlord Muse Sudi Yalahow, the USC/SSA leader, his forces opened fire on the marketplace. This led to fierce fighting between the Forces of Hussein Ali Ahmed and USC/SSA, Hussein Ali Ahmed being the governor of Mogadishu. Two days following the event, the two groups clashed a second time throughout the Karan district. Hundreds of families were forced to flee their homes as heavy artillery was used by both sides of the conflict. During the month of March, the conflict is estimated to have claimed the lives of 100 people including several members of the Governor’s staff.

After five months of relative calm and ongoing peace negotiations, the conflict re-erupted north of the capital in the town of Jowhar where clan warriors loyal to the USC/SSA, the Daud subclan, and to the Forces of Hussein Ali Ahmed, the Galmah subclan, clashed. Daud militiamen were escorting trucks heading towards the capital when an illegal roadblock put in place by the Galmah militia stopped the convoy and requested payment. Due to the previous events, tensions between the two subclans led to heavy fighting. The incident was followed by a second clash a few weeks later in the town of Balad.

Although clan elders and imams from the Abgal clan made several attempts to settle the conflict, the fighting between the Forces of Hussein Ali Ahmed and USC/SSA lasted for a period of 6 months and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 113 people.

The non-state conflict between the Forces of Hussein Ali Ahmed and USC/SSA is first included in UCDP data in 1999. In the middle of March of that year, the threshold of 25 battle-related deaths was reached after armed confrontations in Mogadishu.