Two people were reportedly injured in clashes between Somali National Army (SNA) forces and militants on December 5.
The clashes were said to be an extension of protests that started around two weeks ago over the election of a new administration in HirShabelle.
The semiautonomous state elected a new President, Deputy President, and Speaker of the Regional Parliament in late November 2020.
On Saturday, militiamen engaged SNA soldiers in hours-long clashes that left two people injured.
It was not immediately clear whether the injured were SNA soldiers, militiamen, or innocent civilians.
According to sources, today’s clashes were the result of strong opposition against a planned visit to Beledweyne by Ali Gudlawe, the new HirShabelle President.
One of the leaders of the regional militia stated that Gudlawe’s election was “unfair and against the power-sharing deal signed between different leaders in the region.”