Luuq, Gedo Region (SMN) – The streets of Luuq are quiet once again, but the scars of two days of fierce fighting remain. Government forces now control the district, and while the gunfire has stopped, tension lingers. Reports suggest that militia groups have withdrawn to the outskirts, but their presence keeps the town on edge, leaving many to wonder if this fragile calm will last.

The clashes claimed more than ten lives, including both fighters and civilians. Families who had barricaded themselves indoors during the fighting are beginning to step outside, processing the devastation left behind. Many have lost loved ones, while others are still searching for missing relatives. For them, the end of the battle doesn’t necessarily mean the end of their suffering.

In response to the crisis, Jubaland’s Minister of Interior, General Yusuf Hussein Osman Dhumal, delivered a strong message from Doolow. He condemned the violence and urged both sides to put down their weapons. “Luuq should not be a place of endless bloodshed,” he stated, calling for an immediate ceasefire and unconditional peace talks between the warring factions.

Despite these appeals, uncertainty remains. Reports indicate that militias are regrouping, rearming, and awaiting reinforcements from southern and western Gedo. The fear of another outbreak of violence is real, and for the people of Luuq, the return to daily life is overshadowed by the possibility that the conflict could reignite at any moment.