SUMMARY

The conflict between Habar Gidir clan (Hawiye) and the Marehan subclan (Darod) is best understood in the light of the conflict that was being fought between SNF (Somali National Front) and USC/SNA (United Somali Congress/Somali National Alliance) in the early 1990s. When Somali President Siad Barre was ousted in 1991 his former soldiers from the Marehan subclan (Darod) formed the SNF in an attempt to regain power. Fairly soon they were engaged in fighting with another actor that tried to take power, namely the USC/SNA, which drew much of its members from the Habar Gidir clan (Hawiye).

Support for these militias was generally formed along clan lines. A result of this situation was that villages located relatively close to one another, but with inhabitants from different clans or sub-clans, engaged in combat with one another. In this way the larger Somali conflict also affected the relationship between cities and clans that were not directly engaged in the conflict otherwise.

However, while the fighting was most often a result of the increased tension between members of the clans that followed from the on-going SNF – USC/SNA conflict, it was sometimes simply triggered by cattle raids

The non-state conflict between the Habar Gidir clan (Hawiye) and the Marehan subclan (Darod) is first included in UCDP data in 1993. In January of that year violent clashes flared up in the Hiraan region, resulting in over 25 battle-related deaths.