A week-old ceasefire between the forces of two semi-autonomous regions of Somalia broke down on Sunday in Galkayo town reports indicating that the overall situation is stable on Monday but both neighborhood militants are ready to roll fight fire with fire.
Disputed town of Galkayo in central Somalia has killed at least 31 people, including a radio reporter hit by a stray bullet.
Fighting between Puntland and Galmudug state forces erupted Sunday, shattering a days-old cease-fire negotiated by the United Arab Emirates.
Both sides traded heavy gunfire and mortars in the west side of Galkayo before the fighting spread into the suburbs. At least 80 were wounded.
Galkayo and Putland officials accused each other of starting the conflict.
“We were shocked to see Puntland forces inside Galkayo south and pounding us with shells and bullets,” Hirsi Yusuf Barre, mayor of Galkayo south, which is controlled by forces loyal to Galmudug, told Reuters.
“We lost seven soldiers and 20 others were wounded. We also lost a car. We repulsed them and now Galkayo is calm today”, he added
“Galmudug does not want peace, we shall continue fighting till we cleanse Galmudug forces,” Col. Mohamed Aden, a military officer from Puntland told Reuters on Sunday.
Aden said their side had lost 12 soldiers and that over 20 others were injured. They also captured two vehicles and four prisoners from Galmudug forces.
“We also took some land in the outskirts of Galkayo,” he said.
Six civilians are among the dead and also journalist Mahad Ali Mohammed. The Union of Somali Journalists say he was working for the Galmudug radio station and was cut down by a stray bullet.
The latest fighting came after Puntland and Galmudug presidents reached a cease-fire agreement in Abu Dhabi. They agreed to stop the fighting while continuing to hold talks toward a final peace deal.
Galkayo is the provincial capital of the divided Mudug region of Somalia. The northern part of the town is controlled by Puntland regional state, while the south is controlled by Galmudug regional state.
The United Nations and relief groups say about 80,000 people have already fled the town.
Somalia has been gripped by conflict since Ex Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre in early 1990s, and Islamist militant group Al Shabaab has been one of the main causes of unrest in the last two decades.