Battle of Mogadishu (2006)

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]

ARPCT Offensive
LocationMogadishu, Somalia
Date7 May – 11 July 2006
VictimsOver 350 deaths[1]
PerpetratorsAlliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism backed by US government
Commanders
Mohamed Qanyare
Musa Sudi Yalahow
Nuur Daqle
MotiveControl of Mogadishu

Second Battle of Mogadishu (May – June 2006)
Map depicting the political situation in Somalia on 4 June 2006

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]


Map depicting the political situation in Somalia on 6 June 2006

ICU Chairman, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, said in a radio broadcast: “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.” [8]

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.[9]

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.”[8]

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]

See also

References
  1. "Si arrende l'ultimo signore della guerra". La Repubblica. 12 July 2006.
  2. "Efforts by C.I.A. Fail in Somalia, Officials Charge". New York Times. 8 June 2006.
  3. Group., International Crisis (2006). Can the Somali crisis be contained?. International Crisis Group. OCLC 870128243.
  4. Somali Islamists seize rival base, BBC News.
  5. Islamists seize key Somali town, BBC News.
  6. Islamists claim Mogadishu victory, BBC News.
  7. Islamists handed Mogadishu port, BBC News.
  8. "Islamists claim control of Mogadishu". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  9. Somalia's prime minister sacks US-backed warlords Archived 14 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine Mail & Guardian Online 5 June 2006
  10. Efforts by C.I.A. Fail in Somalia, Officials Charge New York Times
  11. US cash support for Somali warlords 'destabilising' Reuters
  12. Marc Lacey and Helene Cooper Efforts by C.I.A. Fail in Somalia, Officials Charge, The New York Times, 8 June 2006
  13. AU chair lashes US over Somalia Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine ANDnetwork 7 June 2006

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