By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – At least five civilians were killed in the Somali capital during an exchange of fire that broke out on Saturday night.

The fighting occurred in southern Mogadishu’s Hodan and Holwadag neighborhoods between rebels and government forces, who were backed by African peacekeepers. Some of Saturday’s fighting was centered on a strategic road linking the capital with the town of Afgoye.  Each side of the conflict accused the other of starting the fighting.

Residents of the neighborhoods say that the fighting has died down since Saturday, although the hard-line Islamist rebel leader Hasan Dahir Aweys has vowed to intensify the war against the Somali government and the African peacekeepers.  He declared his intentions to continue the violence during Ramadan, against President Sheikh Sharif Ahmand’s call for a ceasefire during the holy month.

“We will not accept that ceasefire call.  This holy month will be a triumphant time for mujahideen and we will fight the enemy,” said Aweys.

The radical leader also accused African Peacekeepers of having recently deployed additional troops in the capital city.

“They deployed more troops to worsen the security situation in Somalia, but we will never stop fighting them until they leave our soil alone,” continued Aweys.

President Ahmed’s United Nations-backed government is viewed as the countries best hope for a return to stability after almost 20 years of conflict, although it holds only small pockets of the capital and parts of the south.

Aweys claims there are efforts under way to unify his group, Hizb Al-Islam and the al-Qaeda inspired rebel faction known as the Shebab.  Both groups are the two main factions in the insurgency bent on taking over President Ahmed and ousting the African Union forces from the country.

This violence follows Friday’s battles between the same groups, where more than 20 people were killed in Mogadishu.  So far, thousands of civilians have been killed and more than a million driven from their homes from the fighting that has taken place over the past two years.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Six Civilians Killed in Somali Capital – 23 August 2009

BBC – ‘Several Dead’ in Somali Clashes – 23 August 2009

Reuters – Somali Insurgents Reject Ramadan Ceasefire Call – 23 August 2009

VOA – 5 Killed in Mogadishu Fighting – 23 August 2009