The Battle of South Mogadishu occurred in the
Somali capital of
Mogadishu
Mogadishu (, also ; so, Muqdisho or ; ar, مقديشو ; it, Mogadiscio ), locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Oc ...
on February 24, 2009.
The battle's name includes South, when referenced, in order to distinguish it amongst the
nine major Battles of Mogadishu during the decades long
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War ( so, Dagaalkii Sokeeye ee Soomaaliya; ar, الحرب الأهلية الصومالية ) is an ongoing civil war that is taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the military junta which was led by Siad Bar ...
. This was the first battle in that city after Somalia had made the effort to elect a new president in January 2009, and this embryonic return to democracy means that this is considered a starting point of the
Somali Civil War (2009–present)
The Somali Civil War (2009–present) is a phase of the Somali Civil War which is concentrated in southern and central Somalia. It began in late January 2009 with the conflict mainly between the forces of the Federal Government of Somalia ass ...
within the longer civil war.
The battle, fought mainly in the south of the city, left at least 87 people dead and 90 more injured.
Rebels fired volleys of mortar bombs at the presidential palace, located on a hilltop in the
Wardhigley district.
A base for
African Union and government troops in the
Hodan district was also fired upon as was the nearby
Howlwadag
Hawle Wadag District ( so, Degmada Howlwadaag) is a district in the central Banaadir region of Somalia. A neighborhood in north-central Mogadishu, the Bakaara Market
The Bakaaraha Market ( so, Suuqa Bakaaraha) is an open market in Mogadishu, Somal ...
district.
The recently elected President
Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was said to be within his palace at the time of the incident.
At least 11 civilians were amongst the dead, with workers at the main Madena Hospital indicating that at one stage approximately 45 wounded had been admitted.
15
Al-Shabab and
Hizbul Islam
Hizbul Islam ("Islamic Party"), also known as Hizbul Islaami, Hisbi Islam, or Hezb-ul Islam, was a Somali Islamist group formed after four Islamist groups merged to oppose the new Somali government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. The four gr ...
fighters and 6 Transitional Federal Government Policemen were killed in the fighting.
Hizbul Islam condemned the attacks
Sheikh Omar Iman, the chairman of
Hizbul Islam
Hizbul Islam ("Islamic Party"), also known as Hizbul Islaami, Hisbi Islam, or Hezb-ul Islam, was a Somali Islamist group formed after four Islamist groups merged to oppose the new Somali government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. The four gr ...
condemned the attacks on
AMISOM, but admitted that 'some members' of the group had been involved.
[ ]
See also
*
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War ( so, Dagaalkii Sokeeye ee Soomaaliya; ar, الحرب الأهلية الصومالية ) is an ongoing civil war that is taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the military junta which was led by Siad Bar ...
*
War in Somalia (2006–2009)
The War in Somalia, also known as the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia or the Ethiopian intervention in the Somali Civil War, was an armed conflict involving largely Ethiopian and Somalia, Somali Transitional Federal Parliament, Transitional Fe ...
*
Battle of Mogadishu (1993)
*
Battle of Mogadishu (2006)
The Second Battle of Mogadishu was a battle fought for control of Somalia's capital city, Mogadishu. The opposing forces were the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT), and militia loyal to the Islamic Courts Unio ...
*
Fall of Mogadishu
The Fall of Mogadishu occurred on December 28, 2006, when the Military of Somalia, militaries of Somalia's Transitional Federal Parliament, Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Ethiopian troops entered the Somalia, Somali capital unopposed. ...
(2006)
*
Battle of Mogadishu (March–April 2007)
The Battle of Mogadishu began on 21 March 2007 in the Shirkole area of Mogadishu between Somali Transitional Federal Government forces and allied Ethiopian troops, and Islamist insurgents. The battle usually includes the dates, when reference ...
*
Battle of Mogadishu (November 2007)
The Third Battle of Mogadishu, in November 2007, was a series of confrontations in Mogadishu, Somalia in which 91 people died, mostly civilians killed by Ethiopian troops. The battle is called the Third Battle, or will include the date, in order ...
*
Battle of Mogadishu (2008)
The 2008 Battle of Mogadishu began when Ethiopian soldiers started entering insurgent-held parts of the city which sparked heavy street fighting. Between 126 and 142 people died in the fighting. The battle usually includes the date, when referenc ...
*
Battle of Mogadishu (2009)
The Battle of Mogadishu (2009) started in May with an Islamist offensive, when rebels from al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam attacked and captured government bases in the capital of Mogadishu. The fighting soon spread, causing hundreds of casualtie ...
*
Battle of Mogadishu (2010–11) Battle of Mogadishu may refer to:
* Battle of Mogadishu (1993), also known as the Black Hawk Down incident, a battle in which United States, Pakistani, and Malaysian forces fought forces of Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid
* Battle of Mogadishu ...
References
{{War in Somalia (2009–)
2009 in Somalia
South Mogadishu
South Mogadishu
21st century in Mogadishu
South Mogadishu
February 2009 events in Africa