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Fall of Mogadishu

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Not to be confused with Battle of Mogadishu (disambiguation).
Fall of Mogadishu
Part of the War in Somalia (2006–2009)
Date28 December 2006
Location
Mogadishu, Somalia
Result

Ethiopian/TFG Victory

  • ICU withdraws from capital
  • ENDF/TFG forces take control of Mogadishu
  • Emergence of Islamist insurgency
Belligerents
Somalia Transitional Federal Government
 Ethiopia[1][2]		 Islamic Courts Union

The fall of Mogadishu occurred on 28 December 2006, when the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) advanced into the capital to install the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). The Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which had controlled the capital since June 2006, withdrew from the city after a week of fighting ENDF/TFG forces in southern and central Somalia.[3][4]

The city's fall marked the beginning of the Ethiopian military occupation in Mogadishu and the start of a rising Islamist insurgency. The security situation in the capital began to rapidly deteriorate soon after and warlords who had been removed by the ICU began to reassert themselves.[5][6]

Background

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Further information: Ethiopian invasion of Somalia

After series of military defeats following a week a fighting, the Islamic Courts Union began withdrawing it forces across its front lines almost simultaneously.[7] The TFG envoy to Ethiopia announced they would lay siege to Mogadishu until it surrendered, rather than directly assault the city. "We are not going to fight for Mogadishu to avoid civilian casualties…Our troops will surround Mogadishu until they surrender," he told reporters in Addis Ababa.[8] On 26 December, Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi announced the Ethiopia troops were not planning to enter Mogadishu.[9][10]

On 27 December, the Islamic Courts vowed to wage a guerilla movement that would extend for "years and years and years."[10] That day ENDF/TFG forces advanced on Mogadishu from two directions and residents began fleeing the capital. The city was reported to be in an anarchic state as Islamists fighters began withdrawing and changing uniforms. The drug Khat, which had been banned by the ICU, returned to public sale.[11] As Ethiopian troops approached, they were accompanied by the warlords who the ICU had defeated in mid-2006. The Ethiopians allowed the warlords to regain control over the fiefdoms they had previously lost to the courts.[12]

Resignation of ICU Leaders

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As fighting neared Mogadishu, the Islamists turned over their weapons to the clans in the capital and the Hawiye, one of Somalia's largest clans, began discussing a peaceful resolution with the interim government. The stability created by the Islamic militias also began to collapse with people returning to their homes and bandits once again roaming the streets.[13] Fighting began early on the 27th in Yaqshid, a district in northern Mogadishu, as clan militias attempted to raid an arms warehouse. The clan militias, who had been disarmed by the ICU, appeared to be attempting to rearm in preparation for the return of the warlords associated with the government. Abdirahman Dinari, spokesperson for the TFG, stated that these were a minority of militias and that they would be "dealt with" once they had taken control of the city. Most businesses had closed by the 28th, as proprietors waited for developments.[14]

The top leaders of the ICU, including Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Sheikh Abdirahman Janaqow, resigned in anticipation of the siege. Their official press release called upon ICU fighters to secure the areas in which they were stationed and expressed their regret that foreign powers had invaded the country and that Somalia would return to chaos.[15]

Entry of ENDF/TFG

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On December 28, TFG spokesman Abdirahman Dinari cautiously expressed, "We are taking control of the city and I will confirm when we have established complete control… Our forces already effectively control Mogadishu because we have taken over the two control points on the main roads outside the city… Within two to three hours we will capture the whole city." He also added that the government was in control of 95% of the country, but a state of emergency would be imposed to bring law and order back to the country. An ebullient Member of Parliament, Mohamed Jama Fuurah, called Reuters from the port of Mogadishu saying, "The government has taken over Mogadishu. We are now in charge." Pro-government militias were said to have control of key locations, including the former presidential palace.[16]

Ali Ghedi, the Prime Minister of the transitional government, stated that Somali government troops had entered Mogadishu without resistance, as well as the town of Afgoye on its outskirts. Mohamed Jama Furuh, a member of parliament and former warlord, took control of Mogadishu's seaport on the government's behalf, an area he had controlled before the rise of the ICU as a warlord. The President, Abdullahi Yusuf, asserted that TFG troops were not a threat to the city-dwellers, though there were some reports of gunfire in the city.[17] On December 29, Ghedi entered the city after consultations with clan leaders on the outskirts. He was received by cheering crowds and anti-Ethiopian protests.[18]

Roughly 3,000 ICU fighters fled towards the port city of Kismayo, their last remaining stronghold, 300 miles (500 km) to the south.[19][17] In Kismayo, executive leader of the ICU, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was defiant, "We will not run away from our enemies. We will never depart from Somalia. We will stay in our homeland."[20]

Military occupation and insurgency

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On December 31, in Mogadishu a missile aimed at Ethiopian troops slammed into a residential area reportedly killing one woman and injuring a man and their daughter.[21] Also, an explosion occurred around 9pm local time at the Hotel Ramadan in Yaaqshiid district, former headquarters of the ICU. Two people were injured. It was speculated that the target might have been Ethiopian troops who had taken over control of the hotel.[22]

On 7 January, anti-Ethiopian protests broke out in Mogadishu, with hundreds of residents hurling stones and shouting threats towards ENDF troops. Ethiopian troops opened fire on the crowd after stones struck their patrol car, resulting in the death of two; including a 13-year boy. That same night a former ICU official was also assassinated in the city by gunmen.[23][24] In an attempt the assert control over the city, TFG PM Ali Gedi announced a 3 day ultimatum for the population to turn over their weapons. [25] On 13 January, the TFG imposed martial law. The directives, which included a ban on public meetings, attempts to organize political campaigns and major media outlets, was enforced by Ethiopian troops. Warlord militia checkpoints began reappearing on Mogadishu roads and insecurity started once again returning to the city.[26]

References

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  1. ^ Ethiopia admits Somalia offensive, BBC News.
  2. ^ Ethiopian Jets Bomb Airports in Somalia Archived 2006-12-24 at the Wayback Machine, VoA News.
  3. ^ Ethiopian, Somali Troops Near Mogadishu, in The Guardian, by Associated Press.
  4. ^ "SOMALIAN TROOPS TAKE THEIR CAPITAL". Los Angeles Times. 2006-12-29.
  5. ^ "Fears stalk Somalia's capital once again". BBC News. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  6. ^ Rice, Xan (29 December 2006). "Return of warlords as Somali capital is captured". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  7. ^ "Ethiopians closing in on capital of Somalia". NBC News. 2006-12-27. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  8. ^ Pro-govt troops to besiege Mogadishu: Somali envoy Archived 2007-02-16 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters.
  9. ^ "RFI - Zenawi: "Nuestro objetivo no es tomar Mogadiscio"" [Zenawi: Our goal is not to take Mogadishu]. Radio France Internationale (in Spanish). 26 December 2006. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  10. ^ a b "Ethiopians closing in on capital of Somalia". NBC News. 2006-12-27. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-13. At a news conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said that he had no plans to push into Mogadishu but that the campaign was only half-completed.
  11. ^ Somalia: Islamists disappearing in the capital Archived 2007-01-10 at the Wayback Machine, SomaliNet.
  12. ^ Samatar, Abdi Ismail (2007). "Ethiopian Invasion of Somalia, US Warlordism & AU Shame". Review of African Political Economy. 34 (111): 155–165. ISSN 0305-6244. JSTOR 20406369.
  13. ^ Somalia: Islamists hand over weapons to their clans Archived 2007-01-10 at the Wayback Machine, Somali Net.
  14. ^ "Somalia: Mogadishu in chaos as Islamic militia leave"[permanent dead link‍], IRIN, 28 December 2006.
  15. ^ Somalia: ICU leaders resign as Ethiopian army nears the capital Archived January 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, 27 December 2006.
  16. ^ Somali govt close to taking Mogadishu Archived 2006-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters.
  17. ^ a b Troops Enter Mogadishu; Refugees Drown, The Washington Post, 28 December 2006.
  18. ^ Mogadishu crowds greet Somali PM, BBC News, December 29, 2006.
  19. ^ Islamists abandon Somali capital. BBC, Thursday, 28 December 2006, 11:24 GMT.
  20. ^ Thousands greet Somalia's prime minister as he enters capital Archived 2007-05-11 at the Wayback Machine Associated Press
  21. ^ Ethiopia targets Islamist outpost, blast in Mogadishu Archived 2007-03-31 at the Wayback Machine Reuters
  22. ^ Ethiopian soldiers might be target of explosion in Mogadishu Archived 2007-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Garowe Online
  23. ^ "Former member of Islamic movement killed in Mogadishu". Hiiraan Online. Agence France-Presse. 7 January 2007. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  24. ^ McCrummen, Stephanie (7 January 2007). "Somalis Rail at Ethiopian Forces Two Killed as Protesters Smash Cars, Throw Stones in Mogadishu". Washington Post.
  25. ^ Rice, Xan (2007-01-03). "Ethiopian troops to leave Somalia 'within weeks'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  26. ^ Samatar, Abdi Ismail (2007-02-14). "Somalia: Warlordism, Ethiopian Invasion, Dictatorship and US's Role". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 2023-12-14.

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