People from clans who are related to Geri Koombe tend to exaggerate and brand Jaarso as Oromo to gain the upper hand in online misinformation. Also, to get unsuspecting Somali peope to get on board with the Anti-Oromo propaganda.
Aggressor or not, it doesn't even matter to them.
I'm Gadabursi, so when this conflict happens every once in a while, the first people who are affected are us and our area in the Somali Region, which is a safezone for fleeing IDPs from both clans who are allowed to settle in Awbare Refugee camps.
We're also called to resolve the conflict and mediate through Somali Xeer (Law) along with other Dir. That wouldn't be the case if Jaarso were Oromo.
Historically, we've been living with each other for at least hundreds of years, and they won't be going anywhere. We've also had disagrements, which in turn has led to confrontations in the past. However, the last 20 years and in particular 10 years has been something else. Jarso has always had both identities, often claiming both Somali and Oromo, and we've had no problems with them.
The real problems started as they started cosying up with the oromia region, and Jinacsani subsequently choose to leave the somali region in 2004, while Tuli guleed choose to remain. For reference Jinacsani has a majority Jarso and significant Geri minority. And Tuli Guleed, a majority Geri and small Jarso community.
My relatives, ended in limbo as we lived in both deegmo and would result in splitting families between two regions. This got heated and to my understanding, the handing over was halted/frozen. As time went on, especially during president Abdi Iley, he put hard restrictions on them as he feared Somali land was being taken by oromos. In particular due to their identities. Which led up to the events that started the clashes between Geri and Jarso 10ish years ago, as a result of Liyuu police handling them and taking it upon us.
So when Abdi Iley was removed, Jinacsani was handed over fully to Oromia. As evident, Oromos, in particular their leaders, has always had aspirations to expand their territories, mainly into DDS, which at this point is no secret...
So as a result of their grievances, most of them fully dropped their Somali identity and started going by Oromo only. Much of this is clear to us as we live with them, which to outsiders just sees as 2 Somali clans. Heck, there's many footages online corroborates this. Even their elders, has stopped using titles like Ughaaz and Garaad to use Oromo ones.
Anyhow, now that Oromia is in the picture and Jarso wanting Oromo regions, they (from Jinacsani) started attacking us in Tuli Guleed, together with the local Jarso living there. With the aim to fully take over Tuli Guleed. Oromia is not even hiding it, their map shows their border, right in front of your land (Samaroon teterritory) next to SL. Which is what the fighting has been about especially post-Abdi Iley. To make claim on these land (by sinister "oromo deep state") and plan for the complete takeover.
The back and forth fighting has been about this since. Us protecting ourselves. Cagjar gives jack shit, since he's an Oromo stooges, ordered not to do anything. The same reason our fellow Sitti Somalis and Southern Somalis are abandoned to Afars respective Oromos backed state force. Now that Afars are done fighting Tigres and have heavy weapons. But this is something for another time.
The problem with the fighting is that Jarso are now using heavy weapons/vehicles (from Oromo Liyuu police), which we can't compete with. Since we are left alone, we've all but been left to the wolves alone. Just looking at casualties and fatalities post 2018, strenghten this. disproportionate on our side. But nontheless, most of out land are in tact and not in the hans of these militias. Just look at these fighting online, many has Liyuu police uniforms and that in itself says alot. I've got footages from relatives, that shows what many don't see.
FYI, Tuli Guleed is a rich area. Most fertile land of all SomaliWeyn, but also got "water reserves" in Marar are of Tuli Guleed, enough to provide 75% of DDS. Which the latest fighting has been about. Again Oromia wanted to dig "wells", which we naturally are against. We showed our displeasure. That bastard Cagjar, approved their wish, but with agreement, before starting. The mere fact he allowed Oromia to use somali land, is something we protested and were not going to allow. Jarso was also making claims on this area. Not those living in Tuli Guleed, but also those in Jincasani. Their attitude was it's Jarso land (it's isn't). But we are against, since this is in DDS, belonging to Somalis. However, despite them leaving DDS, they were allowed to continue using these resources.
However we had no choose to prevent it, since Oromia region started to dug with no agreement in place and Cagjar was doing nothing. So we (Geri) started negotiating with Jarso - both of us living in Tuli Guleed and Jinacsani, which broke down a couple of weeks ago. As Oromia went ahead and we against it and trying to prevent it - the clashes started again. With them attacking us and trying to advance into Marar and overall into Tuli Guleed districts. It has now gone to erupted into another district Daarimi. So far, 15 civilian somalis (Geri) has died as of yesterday and fewer from their side, as this is continuing.
One thumb of rule regarding the casualities (for outsiders non Tuli Guleed/Jincacsani people). Higher casualties in our clashes, indicates the one suffering "less" 1. Attacked first, often the other side unprepared and/or 2. They are using more advanced weapons. Which is also the case consistently since 2018, as we've suffered the most.
