Battle of Kismayo

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Kismayo
partof=the War in Somalia
date=August 20 – 22 2008


caption=
place=Kismayo, Somalia
result=Al-Shabaab victory
combatant1=
combatant2=flagicon|Somalia Marehan pro-government militias
commander1=Unknown
commander2=Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=
casualties2=
casualties3=At least 89 killed [http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/08/23/somalia.fighting/index.html "Somali city clears bodies after deadly clashes"] , CNN, August 23, 2008.]

Battle of Kismayo began on on August 20 2008 when Islamist al-Shabaab and Islamic Courts Union (ICU) fighters began an offensive to conquer the Southern Somali port of Kismayo from pro-government militias. Three days of fighting reportedly killed 89 people and injured 207 more. Al-Shabaab took the town on August 22. [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/08/2008822133743544949.html "Scores killed in Somalia fighting"] , Al Jazeera, August 23, 2008.]

Background

Al-Shabab, fighting as part of the Islamic Courts Union, was driven out of Kismayo in January 2007 after Ethiopian forces rolled into Somalia to back the interim government in the fight to take control of much of central and southern Somalia. According to Interim Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf, Kismayo was subsequently not under the Ethiopian-backed transitional government's control, and there were no Ethiopian forces in the area at the time of the battle; clan militias in Kismayo claimed to be part of the government, however. [ [http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Death_toll_in_Somalia_fighting_hits_20_as_al_Shabaab_capture_town.shtml "Death toll hits 20 as al Shabaab capture Kismayo"] , Garowe Online, August 21, 2008.] In the months prior to the battle, Kismayo was considered peaceful in comparison to Mogadishu, the capital. [Sahra Abdi Ahmed, [http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/08/22/africa/OUKWD-UK-SOMALIA-CONFLICT.php "Toll in southern Somalia fighting hits 55"] , Reuters ("International Herald Tribune"), August 22, 2008.]

Fighting

Marehan clan militias, led by warlord-turned-parliamentarian Barre Hirale, suffered heavy losses, and Hirale's personal car was reportedly seized by Islamist fighters. [http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_s_Islamists_seize_Kismayo.shtml "Somalia’s Islamists seize Kismayo"] , Garowe Online, August 22, 2008.] According to witnesses, August 22 saw the most intense fighting, with both sides using a lot of heavy guns including anti-aircraft guns.

Aftermath

The fighting in Kismayo is reported to have displaced an estimated 35,000 people. After the withdrawal of Hiiraale's fighters, Al-Shabaab commenced a peaceful disarmament process targeting local armed groups that had been contributing to insecurity in Kismayo. [IRIN 2008, [http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=79977 'SOMALIA: Thousands displaced as insurgents take control of Kismayo'] , "IRIN News", 25 August. Retrieved on 25 August 2008.] In early September a night-time curfew was imposed. [AP 2008, [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/09/africa/AF-Somalia.php 'Islamists impose curfew in Somali port town'] , "International Herald Tribune", 9 September. Retrieved on 10 September 2008.]

A new district administration was established on 6 September 2008. Its members reportedly represented the ICU and Al-Shabaab (three members each) plus a local clan (one member) which had played a part in the military assault. [Garowe Online 2008, [http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_s_Islamists_appoint_Kismayo_administration.shtml 'Somalia's Islamists appoint Kismayo administration'] , "Garowe Online", 6 September. Retrieved on 7 September 2008.] The legitimacy of the administration was later disputed, however, as the ICU and elders from local clans alleged that Al-Shabaab had not consulted them adequately. [AFP 2008, [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j9YebwjGP_CzQG6gK2Ymn7izAnUQ Rival 'Somali Islamists feud over control of port city'] , via "AFP Google News", 8 September. Retrieved on 9 September 2008.]

References