Battle of Mogadishu (2006)

:For|other battles that occurred in Mogadishu|Battle of MogadishuInfobox Military Conflict
conflict=Second Battle of Mogadishu


caption= Location of Mogadishu in Somalia
partof=the Rise of the Islamic Courts in Somalia
date=May 7 - July 11 2006
place=Mogadishu, Somalia
casus=
territory=
result= Decisive Islamic Court Union victory (Effective end of ARPCT)
combatant1=Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism
combatant2=
commander1=Mohamed Qanyare, Muse Sudi, Nuur Daqle
commander2=Sheikh Sharif Ahmed
strength1=unknown
strength2=unknown
casualties3=Over 350 deaths [cite news |title=Si arrende l'ultimo signore della guerra| date=July 12 2006 | publisher=La Repubblica |] |The Second Battle of Mogadishu was a battle fought for control of Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. The opposing forces were the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT), and militia loyal to the Islamic Court Union (ICU). The conflict began in mid-February, 2006, when Somali warlords formed the ARPCT to challenge the emerging influence of the ICU. It has been alleged that the United States has provided funding for the ARPCT [ [http://www.ft.com/somalia Financial Times background of recent history of Somalia] , by Andrew England, December 27 2006] due to concerns that the ICU has ties to al-Qaeda. [cite news
title =US cash support for Somali warlords 'destabilising nation'
publisher =New Zealand Herald, Reuters, The Independent
date =June 7 2006
url =http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10385312
accessdate = 2007-01-08 ] The ICU militia won control of Mogadishu and ARPCT forces left the city.

Background

The exact resumption of hostilities is unknown; by March 24 2006 the BBC was reporting the "most serious clashes for almost a decade" with almost 70 dead. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4839726.stm Somali deaths in fierce clashes] BBC 24 March 2006]

In May 2006 the fighting intensified between warlords and militia loyal to ICU, which controlled around 80% of the city. On June 4, 2006 the ICU seized Balad, 30 miles north of the capital. Balad had previously been under control of forces loyal to Musa Sudi Yalahow. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/5046402.stm Islamists seize key Somali town] BBC 4 June, 2006] By 5 June at least 350 people, mostly civilians, had been killed.

On June 5, 2006 Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi fired four ministers (who were also clan leaders) whose private armies were involved in the fighting. Gedi fired national Security Minister Mohamed Afrah Qanyare, Commerce Minister Musa Sudi Yalahow, Militia Rehabilitation Minister Botan Ise Alin and Religious Affairs Minister Omar Muhamoud Finnish, according to government spokesman Abdirahman Nur Mohamed Dinari. He also invited the Islamic courts for talks. [ [http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/&articleid=273618 Somalia's prime minister sacks US-backed warlords] Mail & Guardian Online 5 June 2006]

On June 6 2006, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, chairman of the Islamic Court Union, reportedly seized the capital, saying in a radio broadcast: "We won the fight against the enemy of Islam. Mogadishu is under control of its people." [Mohamed Olad Hassan AP [http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/06/05/ap2794241.html Islamic Militia Seizes Somalia's Capital] Forbes 5 June 2006] The success of the ICU has been attributed to the Islamic movement's ability to transcend clan politics. [ [http://somalinet.com/news/world/English/2745 New power emerges from the south] , Somalinet.com, 4 June 2006]

Following the fall of Mogadishu there were two competing rallies. Mogadishu's largest clan, the Abgals, held a rally in the northern part of the city, reportedly drawing about 3000. AP reports the demonstrators shouting “We don't need Islamic deception!” and “We don't want Islamic courts, we want peace!” There was a competing rally in support of the ICU. At that rally, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed is quoted as saying "Until we get the Islamic state, we will continue with the Islamic struggle in Somalia," to a crowd of about 500. [Mohamed Olad Hassan [http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5868516,00.html Thousands Rally in Somali Capital] AP via the Guardian 6 June 2006]

The remaining forces of the ARPCT are said to have fled to Jowhar. [ Mohamed Ali Bile [http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=L07224066 Somalis flee warlord stronghold fearing new battle] Reuters 7 June 2006]

On June 14 2006, following a stand-off that lasted for approximately eight days, the ICU reportedly attacked the remaining ARPCT forces in Jowhar, routing them and seizing the town. Ali Mohamed Gedi has since then requested peacekeeping forces from the African Union, and neighboring states such as Kenya have imposed sanctions on the fleeing warlords, barring them entry into their lands. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5078534.stm Somali Islamists capture key town] BBC 14 June 2006]

United States support for ARPCT

Michael Zorick (the State Department's political officer for Somalia), who had been stationed in Nairobi, was reassigned to Chad after he sent a cable to Washington criticizing Washington's policy of paying Somali warlords. The Times stated, "The American activities in Somalia have been approved by top officials in Washington and were reaffirmed during a National Security Council meeting about Somalia in March" [Marc Lacey and Helene Cooper [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/08/world/africa/08intel.html?ei=5088&en=7b3e5a78230b7e10&ex=1307419200&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all Efforts by C.I.A. Fail in Somalia, Officials Charge] NY Times 8 June 2006]

On the June 7 2006, the Republic of the Congo's president and current African Union head Denis Sassou-Nguesso criticised the United States for its involvement in fighting in Mogadishu following his meeting with President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. [ [http://hornofafrica.andnetwork.com/index?service=direct/1/Home/top.fullStory&sp=l37863 AU chair lashes US over Somalia] ANDnetwork 7 June 2006]

ee also

* Battle of Mogadishu (1993)
* Battle of Mogadishu (2007)
* Fall of Mogadishu

References

External links

* [http://www.metimes.com/print.php?StoryID=20060509-080608-6046r Death toll climbs as Mogadishu fighting intensifies] , AFP, 9 May 2006
* [http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0510/dailyUpdate.html Despite ceasefire call, fighting continues in Mogadishu] , Christian Science Monitor, 10 May 2006
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200605110586.html From Clan Fighting to Ideological Battleground] , UN Integrated Regional Information Networks, 11 May 2006
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200605120223.html Illegal Arms Continue to Fuel Factional Fighting] , UN Integrated Regional Information Networks, 12 May 2006
* [http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/05/13/somalia/index.html Bloody street battles in Somalia] , CNN, 13 May 2006
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4768857.stm Warring Somali ministers warned] , BBC News, 13 May 2006
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200605150075.html Islamic Courts Accept Ceasefire] , Shabelle News Network, 15 May 2006
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200605240942.html Somali PM Plans to Fire Two of His Cabinet] , Shabelle News Network, 15 May 2006
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200605160913.html Security Council Calls for Ceasefire And End to Violence in Capital] , UN News Service, 16 May 2006
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/16/AR2006051601625_pf.html U.S. Secretly Backing Warlords in Somalia] , Washington Post, 17 May 2006
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200605250185.html Renewed Fighting Claims 11 in Mogadishu] , UN Integrated Regional Information Networks, 25 May 2006
* [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060527/ap_on_re_af/somalia_fighting_14 Islamic Force, Warlords Clash in Somalia] , Associated Press, 27 May 2006
* [http://www.ogrish.com/archives/violence_flares_in_somalia_May_28_2006.html Violence Flares in Somalia (VIDEO)] , ogrish.com, updated 28 May 2006
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200606020941.html Large Rally Against United States Staged in Mogadishu] , Shabelle Media Network, 2 June 2006
* [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7A0C3366-B729-4A01-9E88-388D03259697.htm Islamists claim control of Mogadishu] , Al Jazeera News, 5 June 2006
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5167766.stm Somali Islamists win city battle] , BBC News 11 July 2006