MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Fighting has erupted between rival elements of Somalia’s security forces in the coastal town of Marka, around 90km south of the capital, Mogadishu, after weeks of rising tension in the area.
The clashes broke out on Monday inside the town’s main administration compound following a dispute between the mayor and his deputy, according to local officials. The compound also houses the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) office, where large numbers of residents had gathered to register for national ID cards.
Witnesses said civilians were caught in the crossfire as gunmen from the opposing factions exchanged fire at close range. Footage circulating on social media appeared to show panicked people sheltering on the floor while bursts of gunfire echoed through the building. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Marka, an important port town in Somalia’s South West state, remains volatile despite the presence of African Union peacekeepers, who helped drive out Al-Shabaab militants years ago. Although the town is nominally under government control, rival clan-aligned units within the Somali security forces have clashed intermittently.
Local leaders have been criticised for failing to ease tensions before they escalated into armed confrontation.
Authorities have not commented publicly on the cause of the dispute or whether reinforcements have been deployed to restore order.
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