MOGADISHU: At least six fighters were killed and nine others wounded in clashes on Friday between forces from two neighbouring administrations in northern Somalia, officials and witnesses said.
Tensions between Puntland and Galmudug soared last month after Galmudug said a US strike aimed at Al Shabaab militants had in fact killed 13 of its soldiers.
Galmudug authorities accused neighbouring Puntland of feeding the US false information that led to the air strike.
Fighters from the two regions exchanged machine gun fire and fired anti-aircraft weapons on Friday in the town of Galkayo, which is divided between the two administrations and historically rival clans.
Puntland authorities in a statement accused Galmudug forces of attacking them “to retaliate” for the US strike.
“The state of Puntland notes that it will defend its people and territories from the invasion engaged by Al Shabaab terrorists and their Galmudug allies.”
Mohamed Hassan Sahal, a spokesman for the Galmudug administration, said the fighting broke out in an argument over land.
“Puntland administration deployed forces at a disputed construction site last night and the fighting erupted this morning. It stopped now but six people from the two sides were killed during the clashes”, he said.
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed carrying out a “self-defense” strike near the town of Galkayo on Sept.28, when Al Qaeda linked Shabaab fighters attacked a Somali force and their US advisors.
Agence France-Presse