Battle of Mogadishu (2006)
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ARPCT Offensive | |
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![]() Map of Somalia, including the boundary of the tribal-based self-proclaimed Somaliland’s wishful dream. | |
Location | Mogadishu, Somalia |
Date | 7 May – 11 July 2006 |
Victims | Over 350 deaths[1] |
Perpetrators | Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism backed by US government Commanders Mohamed Qanyare Musa Sudi Yalahow Nuur Daqle |
Motive | Control of Mogadishu |
Between May and July 2006 an offensive took place against the Islamic Courts Union by an alliance of warlords who were trying to seize control of Somalia's capital city, Mogadishu. The Warlord Alliance was funded by the United States.[2] This offensive led to the 2006 Battle of Mogadishu. By the end of the conflict, it was reported that around 350 people had been killed, with thousands displaced. [3]
Second Battle of Mogadishu (May – June 2006)[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Somali_land_2006_06_04.png/200px-Somali_land_2006_06_04.png)
On 4 June 2006 the ICU seized an US backed Warlord Alliance base in Mogadishu where people gathered in the street to show support for the ICU and demonstrated for the warlords to stop the fighting.[4]
ICU leader Sharif Sheikh Ahmed called on the warlords to "stop fighting and take part in dialogue to unify the Somali people'. [5]
The warlords either retreated to Ethiopia or surrendered to the ICU, making the ICU the new masters of Mogadishu[6] and its important port.[7]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Somali_land_2006_06_06.png/200px-Somali_land_2006_06_06.png)
On 5 June 2006, Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi fired four ministers who were members of the US backed Warlord Alliance and whose militias had been 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.[8][citation needed]
In a radio broadcast ICU Chairman Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said “We want to restore peace and stability to Mogadishu. We are ready to meet and talk to anybody and any group for the interest of the people.”[9]
Backing of Warlords a Failed US Policy[]
On 7 June 2006, the New York Times declared the US backing of Warlord Alliance a failed policy.[10] A Reuters report cited that the plan had backfired and destabilized the nation.[11]
Criticism of United States support for ARPCT Warlords[]
Michael Zorick (the U.S. 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."[12]
On 7 June 2006, the Republic of the Congo's president and current African Union head, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, criticized the United States for its involvement in fighting in Mogadishu following his meeting with President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.[13][citation needed]
See also[]
- Somali Civil War
- Battle of Mogadishu (1993)
- Fall of Mogadishu (2006)
- Battle of Mogadishu (March–April 2007)
- Battle of Mogadishu (November 2007)
- Battle of Mogadishu (2008)
- Battle of South Mogadishu (2009)
- Battle of Mogadishu (2009)
- Battle of Mogadishu (2010–11)
References[]
- ^ "Si arrende l'ultimo signore della guerra". La Repubblica. 12 July 2006.
- ^ "Efforts by C.I.A. Fail in Somalia, Officials Charge". New York Times. 8 June 2006.
- ^ Group., International Crisis (2006). Can the Somali crisis be contained?. International Crisis Group. OCLC 870128243.
- ^ Somali Islamists seize rival base, BBC News.
- ^ Islamists seize key Somali town, BBC News.
- ^ Islamists claim Mogadishu victory, BBC News.
- ^ Islamists handed Mogadishu port, BBC News.
- ^ Somalia's prime minister sacks US-backed warlords Archived 14 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine Mail & Guardian Online 5 June 2006[dead link]
- ^ "Islamists claim control of Mogadishu". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ Efforts by C.I.A. Fail in Somalia, Officials Charge New York Times
- ^ US cash support for Somali warlords 'destabilising' Reuters
- ^ Marc Lacey and Helene Cooper Efforts by C.I.A. Fail in Somalia, Officials Charge, The New York Times, 8 June 2006
- ^ AU chair lashes US over Somalia Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine 7 June 2006[dead link]
External links[]
- Death toll climbs as Mogadishu fighting intensifies, AFP, 9 May 2006
- Despite ceasefire call, fighting continues in Mogadishu, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 May 2006
- From Clan Fighting to Ideological Battleground, UN Integrated Regional Information Networks, 11 May 2006
- Illegal Arms Continue to Fuel Factional Fighting, UN Integrated Regional Information Networks, 12 May 2006
- Bloody street battles in Somalia, CNN, 13 May 2006
- Warring Somali ministers warned, BBC News, 13 May 2006
- Islamic Courts Accept Ceasefire, Shabelle News Network, 15 May 2006
- Somali PM Plans to Fire Two of His Cabinet, Shabelle News Network, 15 May 2006
- Security Council Calls for Ceasefire And End to Violence in Capital, UN News Service, 16 May 2006
- U.S. Secretly Backing Warlords in Somalia, The Washington Post, 17 May 2006
- Renewed Fighting Claims 11 in Mogadishu, UN Integrated Regional Information Networks, 25 May 2006
- Islamic Force, Warlords Clash in Somalia[permanent dead link], Associated Press, 27 May 2006
- Violence Flares in Somalia (VIDEO), ogrish.com, updated 28 May 2006
- Large Rally Against United States Staged in Mogadishu, Shabelle Media Network, 2 June 2006
- Islamists claim control of Mogadishu, Al Jazeera News, 5 June 2006
- Somali Islamists win city battle, BBC News, 11 July, USS Ashland LSD-48 22 MEU A1/8 E2/10 Battle of Mogadishu(1993)S.R.Menzel.(USMC)
- Somali deaths in fierce clashes, BBC News, 24 March 2006
- From Clan Fighting to Ideological Battleground, UN Integrated Regional Information Networks, 11 May 2006
- Bloody street battles in Somalia, CNN, 13 May 2006
- Warring Somali ministers warned, BBC News, 13 May 2006
- U.S. Secretly Backing Warlords in Somalia, The Washington Post, 17 May 2006
- Renewed Fighting Claims 11 in Mogadishu, UN Integrated Regional Information Networks, 25 May 2006
- Islamists claim control of Mogadishu, Al Jazeera News, 5 June 2006
- 2006 in Somalia
- Battles involving Somalia
- 21st century in Mogadishu
- Conflicts in 2006
- Somali Civil War
- May 2006 events in Africa
- June 2006 events in Africa
- July 2006 events in Africa