Battle of Bandiradley

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Bandiradley
partof=the War in Somalia (2006–present)
date=December 23, 2006 – December 25, 2006


place=Bandiradley, Somalia
caption=(click to expand)
result=Ethiopian/Puntland victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1= Mohamed Mohamud Agaweine [http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article18919 Somali Islamists deploys troops near Ethiopian border] Sudan Times]
commander2=Puntland: Gen. Adde Musa
Abdulrahman Said Dhegaweyne
Warlord Col. Abdi Qeybdid
strength1=N/A
strength2=500+
casualties1=N/A
casualties2=1 helicopter gunshipThe Battle of Bandiradley in Somalia began on December 23, 2006, when Ethiopian and Puntland forces, along with Warlord Abdi Qeybdid fought the forces of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) defending Bandiradley. The fighting pushed the Islamists out of Bandiradley and over the border south into Adado district, Galgadud region, by December 25.

Background

Somali Civil War

The battle has roots in the long-standing Somali Civil War. The areas of Galgadud and Mudug were drawn into the conflict arising between the state of Puntland, and the areas coming under the control of the ICU. While local leaders tried to organize into the autonomous state of Galmudug, over time it was forced to side with the forces of Puntland and more so with the forces of Ethiopia, in order to repel the ICU.

Prior Ethiopian interventions in the area

The borders of Galgadud and Mudug regions were under dispute with Ethiopia following the August 1982 border clashes. The towns of Ballanballe and Goldogub had been under Ethiopian occupation from that time up until June 1988 when all troops were to pull back 9 miles from the disputed borders, and Ethiopia granted back the towns to Somalia. [http://www.financial-journalist.co.uk/financial_journalist/?cat=7 Somalia cedes, Eritrea fights] Financial Journalist]

On March 7-8 1999, Ethiopia claimed it had made a cross-border incursion into Ballanballe searching for members of Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (AIAI) who had reportedly kidnapped a person and stolen medical supplies, and denied reports of looting. Allegations from that time also claim Ethiopia was the supplier of various Somali warlords, while Eritrea was arming other warlords. [http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=14333&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa ETHIOPIA-SOMALIA: Ethiopia denies looting Somali border town] IRIN] [https://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?id=100645&selected=Country%20Profiles&showCountry=1&countryId=41&showMore=1 Somalia - Emerging Third Front in the Ethiopia-Eritrea War?] Stratfor]

Prelude to battle

On August 14, local tribal leaders opposed to the advance of the ICU, as well as wishing autonomy from the state of Puntland, organized Ethio-Puntland Militias and put Abdi Qeybdid in charge of them. [ [http://www.pinr.com/report.php?ac=view_report&report_id=543&language_id=1 Somalia's Conflict Enters a Phase of Duress BY Michael A. Weinstein] PINR]

On November 12, the ICU took the town of Bandiradley after a firefight with the forces of Abdi Qeybdid. [http://www.pinr.com/report.php?ac=view_printable&report_id=582&language_id=1 Somalia in mid-November: Sparring and Waiting for Someone to Strike] PINR]

On November 13, the President of Puntland, General Adde Musa personally led 50 battlewagons to Galkayo to confront the Islamists. [http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne1699.htm Somalia: Puntland president deploys 50 battlewagons in Galkayo to avert Islamist fighters] Shabelle Media Network]

On November 22, Ethiopia imposed a curfew on the town of Ballanballe and was searching residents entering or leaving the village in response to attacks on Ethiopian convoys in Somalia [http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne1749.htm Ethiopian troops impose curfew on a Somali town] ]

On November 26, thousands of ICU troops were reported deploying in Abudwaq, within 15km (9 miles) of the Ethiopian border. [http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article18919 Somali Islamists deploys troops near Ethiopian border] Sudan Times] On November 27, troops were forcibly returning people who had fled to avoid fighting to their homes, reassuring them they would not come to harm. [http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/5248 Somalia: Islamic Courts send displaced people back to Abudwaq] SomaliNet]

On November 28, Ethiopian forces in the Galkayo, Mudug area were estimated to be about 500-strong, with over 100 vehicles including tanks. There was an exchange of gunfire and missiles. Afterwards, the ICU held a rally in Bandiradley, at which ICU commander Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed accused the Ethiopians of firing 12 missiles at Islamist positions. [http://www.garoweonline.com/stories/publish/article_6223.shtml Somalia: Troop movements in Mudug region] Garowe Online]

On December 1, in Galkayo, it was reported 9 clerics of the Islamic Tabliq sect had been arrested under the orders of Colonel Abdi Qeybdiid. [http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/5342 Somalia: Islamist preachers arrested in Galkaayo city] SomaliNet]

On December 7 - 8, 2006 the militia of warlord Abdi Qeybdid took part in skirmishes against forces of the ICU near the small settlement of Sadah Higle between Bandiradley and Galkayo. [http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne1825.htm Somalia: Islamist fighters and Ethiopian backed militias clash in Bandiradley] Shabelle Media Network] This rapidly led to an exchange of shelling between Ethiopian and ICU troops. Hundreds of Ethiopian troops accompanied by forces from Puntland took up position near the town. Puntland forces claimed they had been provoked by rocket and mortar fire. ICU forces stated Ethiopian troops "started firing missiles toward our positions." At least one ICU fighter was claimed killed in the exchange. [http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/5518 Battle rages between ICU fighters-Ethiopian backed militia in central Somalia] SomaliNet] [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A7609FD0-D750-41AB-B85C-08786296486E.htm Fresh fighting erupts in Somalia] Al Jezeera]

On December 16, it was reported a local Islamic court named Imamu Shahfici was set up in Abudwaq. It urged Islamists to resist the Ethiopians [http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne1868.htm Somalia’s Islamists in central Somalia urge people to fight with Ethiopia] Shabelle Media Network]

Further combat was kept in abeyance until the general outbreak of hostilities on December 20.

On December 19, 18 technicals and a large number of Ethiopian troops entered Ballanballe, Galgadud province, to reinforce troops already positioned in the town. [http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/5908 Fresh Ethiopian troops enter Somalia’s Ballanballe area] SomaliNet] Just prior to the battle, on December 22, Ethiopian troops departed Ballanballe where they had been in occupation for the past three months. This was reportedly done at the urging of the tribal elders, who did not wish fighting to break out between the ICU and Ethiopia in their town. [http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne1920.htm Somalia: Ethiopian troops leave Ballanballe] Shabelle Media Network]

The battle

On December 22, 2006 Ethiopian troops were said to be amassing in Galkayo for what might turn into a second front of the war near Puntland. [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-12-22T115611Z_01_L22886890_RTRUKOC_0_UK-SOMALIA-CONFLICT.xml&pageNumber=2&imageid=&c
] Reuters]

On December 23, 2006, 500 Ethiopian troops and 8 tanks were reported to be heading towards Bandiradley [http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/article2097758.ece Ethiopia edges closer to Somalia invasion] The Independent]

On December 24, Ethiopian planes struck Bandiradley. According to one witness: "We see planes striking us and heavy fighting on the ground intensifying." Both sides exchanged heavy artillery and mortar shells.

On December 25, the ICU claimed its fighters gunned down one Ethiopian helicopter gunship. “Our fighters have shot down an Ethiopian helicopter yesterday killing number of enemy soldiers,” Sheik Abdiqani Qorane, an Islamist official said. “We are still resisting against the invaders.” [http://www.somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/6136 Somalia: Ethiopian helicopter down, claim Islamists] SomaliNet]

Yet Islamist fighters retreated from their positions. They were pursued south to the area between Galinsor and Bandiradley, where the Islamists were defeated. [http://www.garoweonline.com/stories/publish/article_6666.shtml Somalia: Islamist militia pushed further south of Puntland] Garowe Online] The ICU forces were further pursued to Adado in Galgadud, which they abandoned late on December 25, 2006.

Aftermath

The ICU abandoned the towns of Dhuusamareb [http://www.garoweonline.com/stories/publish/article_6704.shtml Ethiopian troops returning warlords to power in Somalia] Garowe Online] and Abudwaq without fighting. In the wake of their withdrawal from Abudwaq, militias set up checkpoints and began firing their weapons. [http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne1952.htm Somalia: Insecurity rages in Islamist abandoned areas] Shabelle Media Networks]

References