Hard stories
Clan conflicts in Somalia, 2023 to 2025: where they are and what they cost
From April 2023 to March 2025, clan conflicts in Somalia caused more than 472 recorded violent incidents and about 1,214 deaths, by the EU asylum agency's count from ACLED data. Revenge killings were the motive in almost 200 cases. Galmudug saw the most violence, with about 590 deaths. Most disputes are over land, resources, local power and district boundaries.
The numbers
The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) counted clan violence in Somalia from 1 April 2023 to 30 March 2025, using data from ACLED, a conflict-monitoring project. All figures on this page come from that report (EUAA, Somalia Country Focus, May 2025, section 1.5.1).
- Across Somalia: more than 472 incidents and about 1,214 estimated deaths.
- Revenge killings: named as the motive in almost 200 cases, with about 641 deaths.
- Trend: experts interviewed by the EUAA said clan conflict had grown substantially over the previous two years.
| Area | Incidents | Estimated deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Galmudug (with all of Galkayo district) | almost 220 | at least 590 |
| Hirshabelle | more than 133 | at least 260 |
| Sool, Sanaag and Buuhoodle | almost 90 | at least 161 |
| South West State | 56 | at least 146 |
| Puntland | more than 40 | at least 144 |
| Jubaland | 24 | at least 40 |
| Somaliland | more than 20 | at least 16 |
| Mogadishu | none recorded | none recorded |
The EUAA's lists below are "non-exhaustive", and some conflicts were dormant at the end of the period. Clan affiliations follow the report, with names in standard Somali spelling. For how the clan system works, see clans and lineage and xeer, customary law.
Jubaland
- Reer Aw Hassan (Marehan, Darood) and Gababweyne (Rahanweyn) against Moalim Weyne (Rahanweyn), in Luuq, Gedo. Luuq became the centre of clan conflict over land, local power and resources. Dozens were killed, and more than 40,000 people were reportedly displaced, though the figure is contested.
- Marehan (Darood) against Gelidle (Mirifle), in Bardhere, Gedo; dormant.
- Biyamal (Dir) against Ogaden (Darood), in Jamaame, Lower Juba, over land and power-sharing; dormant.
- Majeerteen sub-clans against each other in Kismayo; dormant.
- Majeerteen (Darood) against the Cawrmale (a minority group) south of Kismayo, over land and resources, with armed clashes, deaths and displacement.
South West State and Lower Shabelle
- Gelidle (Mirifle) against Dabarre (Digil), in Dinsoor, Bay.
- Leysan (Mirifle) against South West State security forces in Bardaale, Burhakaba, Bay, over their ambition to lead the state.
- Gaaljecel (Hawiye) against Abgaal (Hawiye), between Afgooye and Wanlaweyn.
- Gaaljecel (Hawiye) against Shantalemod (Digil) and other Mirifle clans in Wanlaweyn. The report says the Gaaljecel set up checkpoints at Yaqbariweyne on the Mogadishu to Baidoa road.
- Geledi (Digil) and Wacdaan (Hawiye) against Habar Gidir (Hawiye), in Afgooye.
- Biyamal (Dir) against Habar Gidir (Hawiye), in Marka, where Biyamal, Digil, Benadiri and Bantu communities claim historical rights.
- Garre against Jiido (both Digil), in Qoryooley.
Hirshabelle
- Abgaal against Hawadle (both Hawiye), around Jalalaqsi and El Baraf.
- Hawadle (Hawiye) against Makane (Bantu), in Beledweyne.
- Moobileen (Hawiye) against Shiidle (Bantu), in Jowhar.
- Bantu clans against Badi Ade (Gugundhabe, Hawiye), in Jalalaqsi.
- Makane (Bantu) against Jijeele (Gugundhabe, Hawiye), in Beledweyne.
- Several Abgaal sub-clan disputes in Adale, Jowhar and Warsheikh.
- Hawadle against Badi Ade in Jalalaqsi, and Hawadle sub-clans against Cayr (Habar Gidir) in Matabaan.
- Faqay Omar (Dir) against Hawadle (Hawiye), in villages near Beledweyne by the Ethiopian border.
Galmudug
- Cayr against Duduble (both Habar Gidir, Hawiye), outside Dhusamareb.
- Loboge (Sheekhaal) against Saleebaan Cabdalle (Surre, Dir), in Towfiiq and Afbarwaaqo, Mudug.
- Surre (Dir) against Marehan (Darood), in Abudwaq and Laandheer.
- Surre (Dir) opposing the new Galwaaq region, in Heraale.
- Saleebaan (Habar Gidir) against Marehan, near Abudwaq; against Duduble near Adaado; and against Cayr near Cadaado and Dhusamareb.
- Sacad (Habar Gidir) against Wagardhac (Marehan), around Dhabad and Galinsoor.
- Cayr against Marehan, in Balanbale.
- Ayaanle against Absiiye (both Cayr), in Laas-Xaadow, since 2018.
- Murusade (Hawiye) against Cayr, from mid-2024, and against Duduble near Ceelbuur, where al-Shabaab stopped the fighting.
Puntland
- Sacad (Habar Gidir, Hawiye) against Leelkase (Darood), in Galdogob and Bandiiradley. They have clashed and carried out revenge killings for about 40 years, despite a reconciliation process begun in 2020.
- Dhulbahante (Darood) against Omar Mahmoud (Majeerteen, Darood), around Adadda between Nugaal and Sool, feuding for decades.
- Marehan against Sacad, west of Galkayo; dormant in February 2025.
- Ciise Maxamuud (Majeerteen) against Dhulbahante, at Kalabayr, Burtinle.
- Omar Mahmoud against Sacad, in Galkayo and Jariiban; dormant in February 2025.
- Surre (Dir) against Sheekhaal, in Jariiban and Hobyo, with repeated clashes in 2023 and 2024 and mediation under way in February 2025.
Sool, Sanaag and Buuhoodle
- Dhulbahante (Darood) against Habar Yoonis (Isaaq), in Erigabo and Aynabo.
- Dhulbahante against Habar Jeclo (Isaaq), in Aynabo and Buuhoodle.
- Dhulbahante sub-clans against each other, in Laascaanood.
- Habar Jeclo against Habar Yoonis (both Isaaq), in Erigabo and El Afweyn, with talks under way in March 2025.
- Warsangeli sub-clans against each other, in Erigabo and Lasqoray.
Somaliland
- Habar Yoonis (Isaaq) against Ciise Muuse, in Ali Sahid village, Burco.
- Dhulbahante against Soolomadow (Habar Jeclo), in Qorilugud.
- Habar Jeclo against Habar Awal (both Isaaq), in Burco district.
- Gadabursi (Dir) against Jibriil Abokor, Sacad Muuse and Habar Awal (Isaaq), in El Bardaale, Gabiley; dormant.
The EUAA also lists electoral rivalries in Hargeisa and Borama that did not turn violent.
Mogadishu
ACLED recorded no clan-conflict incidents in Mogadishu in the period, and local sources confirmed this to the EUAA.
Sources
- European Union Agency for Asylum (2025). COI Report Somalia: Country Focus, section 1.5.1, "Mapping of major clan conflicts/feuds", based on ACLED data and expert interviews.
- ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data). Somalia data, curated data files, 21 March 2025, as used by the EUAA.
Sources
- EUAA, Somalia Country Focus, May 2025, section 1.5.1 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- Somalia data · acleddata.com
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- Muqdisho (Mogadishu) and BanaadirMogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- Boorama (Borama) and AwdalAwdal is the far north-west region, on the borders with Djibouti and Ethiopia, with Borama (Boorama) as its capital and about 300,000 to 636,000 people.
- Hargeysa (Hargeisa) and Woqooyi GalbeedWoqooyi Galbeed is the north-western region that holds Hargeisa (Hargeysa) and the port of Berbera, with about 1 to 1.45 million people.
- Burco (Burao) and TogdheerTogdheer is the northern region around Burco (Burao), with about 894,874 people including Buuhoodle.
- Laascaanood (Las Anod) and SoolSool is a region in the north with Las Anod (Laascaanood) as its capital and about 571,000 people.
- Ceerigaabo (Erigavo) and SanaagSanaag is a region on the northern coast with Erigavo (Ceerigaabo) as its capital and about 446,000 people.
- Garoowe (Garowe) and NugaalNugaal is the region around Garoowe (Garowe), Puntland's capital, with about 656,910 people in three districts.
- Gaalkacyo (Galkayo) and MudugMudug is a region of central Somalia with about 1.5 million people, split between Puntland in the north and Galmudug in the south.
- Dhuusamarreeb (Dhusamareb) and GalgaduudGalgaduud is a region of central Somalia in Galmudug State, with Dhusamareb (Dhuusamarreeb) as its capital and about 845,000 people.
- Beledweyne (Belet Weyne) and HiiraanHiiraan is a region of Hirshabelle State on the Shabelle river, with Beledweyne as its capital and about 505,000 to 598,000 people.
- Jowhar (Johar) and Middle ShabelleMiddle Shabelle is the farming region along the Shabelle river north of Mogadishu, with Jowhar as its capital and about 1 to 1.26 million people.
- Kismaayo (Kismayo) and Lower JubaLower Juba is the far southern region on the border with Kenya, with the port city of Kismayo (Kismaayo) as its capital and about 1.2 million people.
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