As clan militias clash violently in disputes that have left 12 people dead and farmers unable to cultivate their fields, the Somalian government has created a mediation team composed of the Ministers of Interior, Defense, Members of the Parliament and clan elders – who still wield a great deal of authority in Somalia.  The team is led by Minister of Interior and Federal Affairs Abdullahi Godax Barre and will attempt to convince rival militias in the Lower Shabelle region of Southern Somalia to cease hostilities and engage in peaceful talks.

The Somalian government still holds only tenuous control over much of the country, which has been in chaos for years, with traditional clans fielding their own private armies and frequently getting into bloody fights over perceived slights and territorial disputes. 

The mediation team announced that the leaders of the two main rival clans responsible for the fighting have agreed to meet and discuss the possibility of disarmament and negotiation.  The hope is that whatever the end result of the mediation, a cease-fire can be established that will at least allow farmers to work their fields and keep the harvest on track. 

The Mediation team arrived in Merka, the capital of the region, and set about making contact with the rival clans.  Clan elders were charged with instructing their clans to disarm and cease hostilities, and this is expected to be successful in the short term.  Whether or not a long-term agreement can be reached remains to be seen, however.