At least four people were killed in clashes between rival clan groups in the Jalalaqsi district of Somalia’s central Hiraan region, a senior Hirshabelle state official said on Friday.
The violence erupted after a dispute between two families escalated into a broader clan confrontation, according to Hirshabelle Interior Minister Abdirahman Dahir Guure.
Security forces and local authorities have intervened to contain the fighting and restore stability in the area, Guure said.
The minister said the dispute stemmed from a social matter involving young men and women and should have been addressed through legal channels before it spiralled into violence.
Two houses were set ablaze during the clashes, but authorities extinguished the fires and arrested suspects allegedly involved in the attacks, he added.
Guure condemned the destruction of property and warned against the spread of inflammatory content on social media, urging communities to support ongoing reconciliation efforts.
He called on traditional elders, religious leaders, youth and civil society figures to help de-escalate tensions and promote dialogue.
The Hirshabelle administration, working alongside Somalia’s federal government, will pursue legal action against individuals accused of inciting violence or undermining peace efforts, the minister said.