Violent demonstration shakes Beledweyne Town of Hiran region as AMISOM troops blamed for siding one clan of two rival warring clans
Violent demonstration with riots occurred in B/weyne on Sunday after AMISOM forces bound to for the village of Deefow, 10km north of Beledweyne in which clashes between two rival clans occurred fired by armed men .
The demonstrators blamed AMISOM for siding one of the warring clans by delivering them arms and ammunition.
“We can not accept the actions done by AMISOM, they must leave immediately from the region” said Asha Abdi, a demonstrator .
“ People has been misinformed by culprits who do not wish peace in the region ….and AMISOM has been support peace “ said Col Ali Abdi, the commander of Beledwein Police Staion.
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Maman S. Sidikou said that is saddened by news coming in from the central Hiiran region that armed men and rioters blocked and attacked AMISOM peacekeepers this morning while they were on a reconciliation mission in the area.
“I am deeply saddened to hear of this clash in the Hiiran region. I wish to request for calm and restraint and hereby plead with the people of Hiiraan to choose peace and avoid any further conflict in Deefow and elsewhere. I wish to clarify to the people of Hiiraan – and indeed the whole of Somalia – that AMISOM is non-partisan and does not support any particular group or clan. We are in Somalia to serve all Somali people and support their government to achieve lasting peace,” Ambassador Sidikou said in a press release , released by African Union Commssion for Somalia in Migadishu.
The AU Special Representative also said that AMISOM regrets any loss of life or injuries that occurred in the attack and urged the people of Hiiran to work with AMISOM and the Somalia government to amicably resolve their internal differences and avoid any other acts that would further aggravate the situation.
During the demonstrations business and transportation movements were completely stopped as clashes in Defow killed one person and four others were wounded.
