(11 Feb 2025) LUUQ (Halqabsi News) — Somali government forces have been deployed in the town of Luuq, in the Gedo region, following two days of deadly clashes between rival militias.
Eyewitnesses report that troops are now stationed in key areas of the town, restoring a degree of stability. More than 10 people, including civilians, are reported to have been killed in the fighting.
However, there are concerns that the conflict could reignite, with reports of militants remaining positioned on the outskirts of Luuq.
The Jubbaland administration has appealed for peace and urged the warring factions to cease hostilities.
Speaking in Doolow, Jubbaland’s Minister of Internal Security, General Yusuf Hussein Osman Dhuumaal, condemned the violence. “The fighting must stop immediately. Both sides must lay down their weapons, and we urge community elders to engage in dialogue,” he said.
A peace conference involving community leaders and local authorities is scheduled in Luuq today.
Despite the relative calm, reports suggest that armed militias are regrouping and mobilizing reinforcements from parts of southern and southwestern Somalia.
Residents fear a resumption of hostilities if mediation efforts fail.
Halqabsi News
