Siege of Baidoa

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Siege of Baidoa
partof=the War in Somalia
date=July 8 2008–


caption=
place=Bay region, Somalia
result=Ongoing
combatant1=
combatant2=flagcountry|Somalia (Transitional Federal Government)
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=8 killed
casualties2=26 killed (TFG),
2 killed (Ethiopia)
casualties3=The Siege of Baidoa (July 2008 - present) saw the capital of Somalia's Bay region, headquarters of the Somali Transitional Federal Government, totally encircled by the Islamic Courts Union's Al-Shabaab military wing.

Timeline

On July 8, al-Shabaab launched a midnight attack on Baidoa's presidential palace, airport and parliament with rockets and mortars, killing 11 soldiers [ [http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=6719&tirsan=4 11 soldiers killed in attack on Baidoa town overnight-witnesses] ] [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/07/08/africa/OUKWD-UK-SOMALIA-CONFLICT.php Islamist rebels attack Somali government HQ - International Herald Tribune ] ] in the encircled and vulnerable de-facto capital of the Transitional Government. Baidoa Airport is the only available lifeline for the city. In the tense situation, Baidoa police open fire on a bus that refused to stop for them, killing many onboard. TFG police are known to extort money from travelers at roadblocks, and this is likely an unrelated incident. [ [http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=6710&tirsan=3 Somalia: Mortars fired overnight in Baidoa] ]

On July 9, Islamists seized a large shipment of Ethiopian arms and military vehicles from an armored convoy heading from Balidogle Airport to Baidoa meant for the TFG military [ [http://www.hiiraan.com/news2/2008/July/uic_seizes_weapons_and_vehicles_spokesman.aspx UIC Seizes Weapons and Vehicles, Spokesman] ] . 3 Islamists were killed in the battle, as well as one confirmed government soldier dead. [ [http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/4_killed_as_insurgents_soldiers_battle_in_Somalia.shtml Garowe Online - Home ] ] The convoy was attacked a second time in Wanla Weyne before finally reaching Baidoa. [ [http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/4_killed_as_insurgents_soldiers_battle_in_Somalia.shtml 4 killed as insurgents, soldiers battle in Somalia] ] .

On July 10, Islamists seized the control of Deynunay town 20km south of Baidoa city the seat of Somalia parliament, killing one government soldier, a spokesman said. [http://www.shabelle.net/english/2008/07/10/southwestern-somali-town-overrun-islamists-spokesman]

Fierce fighting near Daynunay continued for a second day on July 11 as Islamist and TFG forces battled, 3 TFG soldiers were killed in the battle. [ [http://insidesomalia.org/News/Politics-|-Somalia/Heavy-Confrontation-in-Some-Parts-of-Bay-Region-in-Southern-Somalia.html Heavy Confrontation in Some Parts of Bay Region in Southern Somalia] ]

On July 13, al-Shabab forces reoccupied Bardhere and Burhakaba, or more appropriately al-Shabab forces mustered in these two towns en-route to Baidoa, as TFG presence in these towns had long since been expelled. [ [http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_s_Islamist_guerrillas_capture_Burhakaba_Bardhere_towns.shtml Somalia's Islamist guerrillas capture Burhakaba, Bardhere towns] ]

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), an organisation with many years of experience in Somalia, withdrew from Baidoa due to the imminent attack. [ [http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=6808&tirsan=3 Last UNDP officials pull out Baidoa town on security grounds] ]

On July 15, insurgents ambushed a joint Somali-Ethiopian force that was traveling by foot in Berdale town. 7 Somali soldiers were found dead. [ [http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/13_killed_in_Somalia_clashes.shtml Garowe Online - Home ] ]

On August 27, a bombing attack in the city left the son of a Somali MP dead along with one of his bodyguards. [http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=7565&tirsan=3&PHPSESSID=466d6a27ea4608608b32868cb3d8f996]

On September 5, Islamist fighters attacked an Ethiopian Army convoy that just left the city in the town of Bardale, 55 kilometers southwest of Baidoa. Two Ethiopian soldiers, two insurgents and one civilian were killed in the attack and one Ethiopian Army truck was burned. [http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Insurgents_target_Ethiopia_army_convoy_in_Somalia_countryside_5_killed.shtml] Two days later on September 7, insurgents attacked a police station in the city but there were no casualties. [http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_Insurgent_attacks_in_Mogadishu_Baidoa.shtml]

On September 20, heavy fighting between Somali troops and the insurgents killed at least two soldiers, three insurgents and one civilian in the city when a government checkpoint was attacked. [http://www.shabelle.net/News/ViewNews.asp?NewsID=1285] [http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_al_Shabaab_attack_Baidoa_police_checkpoint_6_killed.shtml]

On October 2, three separate insurgent attacks in the town killed two civilians and one soldier. [http://www.shabelle.net/News/ViewNews.asp?NewsID=1494]

References