Somali Civil War
A technical in Mogadishu
Date 1988 - current Location Somalia Status ongoing
Casualties and losses
Casualties: 300,000[1] - 400,000[2] dead

The Somali Civil War is an armed conflict in Somalia that started in 1988. A technical is a type of Improvised fighting vehicle, typically a civilian or military non-combat vehicle modified to Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known A civil war is a War between a State and domestic political actors that are in control of some part of the territory claimed by the state Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known

Downfall of Siad Barre (1986–1992)

Main article: Somalian Revolution (1986–1992)

The first phase of the civil war stemmed from the insurrections against the repressive regime of Siad Barre. The Somali Revolution started in 1986 when Siad Barre began attacking clan-based dissident groups opposed to his rule with his special forces the Red Berets " Mohamed Siad Barre (Maxamed Siyaad Barre محمّد سياد بري) (b After his ousting from power, a counter-revolution took place to attempt to reinstate him as leader of the country.

The increasingly violent and chaotic situation evolved to a humanitarian crisis and to a state of anarchy.

In 1991, to insulate it from the more violent fighting in the south, the Republic of Somaliland declared itself independent, though it was not formally recognized as such by the international community. It comprises the northwestern section of the country (between Djibouti and the northeastern area known as Puntland). Djibouti ( جيبوتي Jībūtī, Somali: Jabuuti) officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe ( Nugaal region whose leaders declared it to be an autonomous state in 1998

UN Intervention (1992–1995)

Main articles: UNOSOM I, UNITAF, and UNOSOM II

UN Security Council Resolution 733 and UN Security Council Resolution 746 led to the creation of UNOSOM I, the first mission to provide humanitarian relief and help restore order in Somalia after the dissolution of its central government. UNOSOM I (United Nations Operation in Somalia was the first part of a United Nations (UN sponsored effort to provide facilitate and secure humanitarian relief in Somalia Unified Task Force (UNITAF was a United States led United Nations sanctioned multinational force which operated in the Republic of Somalia from 9 UNOSOM II (United Nations Operation in Somalia was the second phase of the United Nations intervention in Somalia. UNOSOM I (United Nations Operation in Somalia was the first part of a United Nations (UN sponsored effort to provide facilitate and secure humanitarian relief in Somalia

UN Security Council Resolution 794 was unanimously passed on December 3, 1992, which approved a coalition of United Nations peacekeepers led by the United States to form UNITAF, tasked with ensuring humanitarian aid being distributed and peace being established in Somalia. UNSC Resolution 794 created UNITAF in Somalia. It was adopted by the United Nations Security Council on 3 December 1992. Events 1800 - War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Hohenlinden, French Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Unified Task Force (UNITAF was a United States led United Nations sanctioned multinational force which operated in the Republic of Somalia from 9 The UN humanitarian troops landed in 1993 and started a two-year effort (primarily in the south) to alleviate famine conditions.

Somalis and Australian Army soldiers wait near the loading zone of a US Marine CH-53 Sea Stallion delivering Australian wheat

Critics of US involvement pointed out that "just before pro-U. The Australian Army is Australia's military land force It is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF along with the Royal Australian Navy and the S. President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991, nearly two-thirds of the country's territory had been granted as oil concessions to Conoco, Amoco, Chevron and Phillips. Conoco Inc was an American oil company founded in 1875 as the Continental Oil and Transportation Company. The American Oil Company, or Amoco, also known as Standard Oil of Indiana, was a global Chemical and oil company founded in Baltimore in Conoco even lent its Mogadishu corporate compound to the U. S. embassy a few days before the Marines landed, with the first Bush administration's special envoy using it as his temporary headquarter8s. "^[3][4][5] The cynical assertion was that, rather than a purely humanitarian gesture, the US was stepping in to gain control of oil concessions. Somalia has no proven reserves of oil, but there is considered to be possible reserves off Puntland. Even today, oil exploration remains a controversy. The Transitional Federal Government has warned investors to not make deals until stability is once again brought to the country. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG of the Somali Republic ( Dowladda federaalka kumeelgaarka) is the present internationally recognized government of Somalia ^[6]

For many reasons not least of which were concerns of imperialism, Somalis opposed the foreign presence. Imperialism has two meanings one describing an action and the other describing an attitude At first, the Somali people were happy about the rations the UN and U. S. troops brought them but soon came to believe that the latter were out to convert them from their religion. This idea is thought by some to have been introduced by the warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. General Mohamed Farrah Aidid (محمد فرح عيديدمحمد فرح عيديد December 15 1934 – August 2 1996 was a controversial Somali leader often described In the period between June and October, several gun battles in Mogadishu between local gunmen and peacekeepers resulted in the death of 24 Pakistanis and 19 US soldiers (total US deaths were 31), most of whom were killed in the Battle of Mogadishu. The Battle of Mogadishu (also referred to as the Battle of the Black Sea) or 1000 Somali militia were killed in that battle. The incident later became the basis for the book and movie: Black Hawk Down. Black Hawk Down A Story of Modern War is a book by Mark Bowden chronicling the U Black Hawk Down is a 2001 Academy Award -winning War film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the book Black Hawk Down a The UN withdrew on March 3, 1995, having suffered more significant casualties. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Order in Somalia still had not been restored.

Division of Somalia (1998-2006)

Main articles: Consolidation of States Within Somalia (1998-2006) and Attempts at Reconciliation in Somalia (1991-2004)

The period of 1998–2006 saw the declaration of a number of self-declared autonomous states within Somalia. Following the civil war and the ensuing anarchy some factions managed to exert a degree of authority over certain regions of Somalia where they maintained broad clan-based support The downfall of Siad Barre 's government did not bring peace to the nation Unlike Somaliland, they were all movements of autonomy, but not outright claims of independence.

The self-proclaimed state of Puntland declared "temporary" independence in 1998, with the intention that it would participate in any Somali reconciliation to form a new central government. Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe ( Nugaal region whose leaders declared it to be an autonomous state in 1998

A second movement occurred in 1998 with the declaration of the state of Jubaland in the south. Jubaland (Jubbaland or Juba Valley (Dooxada Jubba formerly Trans-Juba (Oltre Giuba is the southwesternmost part of Somalia, on the far side of

A third self-proclaimed entity led by the Rahanweyn Resistance Army(RRA) was set up in 1999, along the lines of the Puntland. The Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA also known as the Reewin Resistance Army is an autonomist militant group operating in the two southwestern regions of Somalia, That "temporary" secession was reasserted in 2002. This led to the autonomy of Southwestern Somalia. Southwestern Somalia ( Koonfur-Galbeed Soomaaliya) was an ostensibly autonomous self-proclaimed state in Somalia founded by Hasan Muhammad Nur The RRA had originally set up an autonomous administration over the Bay and Bakool regions of south and central Somalia in 1999. Bay (Baay is an administrative region ( gobolka) in southern Somalia. Bakool (Bakool is a region ( gobolka) in central Somalia. Its capital is Xuddur. The territory of Jubaland was declared as encompassed by the state of Southwestern Somalia and its status is unclear.

A fourth self-declared state was formed as Galmudug in 2006 in response to the growing power of the Islamic Courts Union. Galmudug, is a secular decentralized state in the central region of Somalia. The Islamic Courts Union ( ICU, Somali: Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga Arabic: اتحاد المحاكم الإسلامية Ittihād al-mahākim Somaliland is also seen as an autonomous state by many Somalis even though its natives go another step in pronouncing full independence.

Also during this period, various attempts at reconciliation met with lesser or greater measures of success. Movements such as the pan-tribal Transitional National Government (TNG) and the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) eventually led to the foundation, in November 2004, of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). The Transitional National Government of Somalia was established in April –May 2000 at the Somalia National Peace Conference (SNPC held in Djibouti The Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (abbreviated SRRC) was a political movement as well as an armed militia founded by Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid The Transitional Federal Government (TFG of the Somali Republic ( Dowladda federaalka kumeelgaarka) is the present internationally recognized government of Somalia However, warlord and clan-based violence continued throughout the period and the so-called national government movements had little control over the country at the time.

Rise of the ICU, War with the ARPCT, TFG and Ethiopia (2006–present)

Main articles: Somali Civil War (2006-present), War in Somalia (2006–present), Transitional Federal Government, ARPCT, and Islamic Courts Union

In 2004, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was founded in Nairobi, Kenya. The Advance of the Islamic Courts Union is the period in the Somali Civil War that began on May 2006 with the Islamic Courts Union 's (ICU conquest of Mogadishu The War in Somalia is an ongoing armed conflict involving largely Ethiopian and Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG forces versus the Somali The Transitional Federal Government (TFG of the Somali Republic ( Dowladda federaalka kumeelgaarka) is the present internationally recognized government of Somalia The Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism ( ARPCT) ( Isbaheysiga Ladagaalanka Argagaxisadda) was a Somali alliance created by various The Islamic Courts Union ( ICU, Somali: Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga Arabic: اتحاد المحاكم الإسلامية Ittihād al-mahākim The Transitional Federal Government (TFG of the Somali Republic ( Dowladda federaalka kumeelgaarka) is the present internationally recognized government of Somalia Nairobi (naɪˈroʊbɪ is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Matters were still too chaotic inside Somalia to convene in Mogadishu. In early 2006, the TFG moved to establish a temporary seat of government in Baidoa. Baidoa ( Baydhabo) is a city in south-central Somalia, situated 256 kilometers (159 miles by road northwest of the capital Mogadishu.

During the early part of 2006, the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT) was formed as an alliance of mostly-secular Mogadishu-based warlords. The Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism ( ARPCT) ( Isbaheysiga Ladagaalanka Argagaxisadda) was a Somali alliance created by various They were opposed to the rise of the Sharia-law oriented Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which had been rapidly consolidating power. The Islamic Courts Union ( ICU, Somali: Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga Arabic: اتحاد المحاكم الإسلامية Ittihād al-mahākim They were backed by funding from the US CIA. near as long as it used to be several months ago It has been actively summarized and split into sub-articles and there is a dynamic talk page discussion of all ^[7] This led to increasing conflict in the capital.

Height of ICU power

Main articles: Second Battle of Mogadishu and Battle of Baidoa

By June 2006, the ICU succeeded in capturing the capital, Mogadishu, in the Second Battle of Mogadishu. The Second Battle of Mogadishu was a Battle fought for control of Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. The Battle of Baidoa began on December 20, 2006 when the Somali Transitional Federal Government 's forces (TFG allied with Ethiopian forces stationed Mogadishu ( Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar, Hamar; مقديشو Maqadīshū The Second Battle of Mogadishu was a Battle fought for control of Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. They drove the ARPCT out of Mogadishu, and succeeded in persuading or forcing other warlords to join their faction. Their power base grew as they expanded to the borders of Puntland and took over southern and middle Jubaland. Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe ( Nugaal region whose leaders declared it to be an autonomous state in 1998 Jubaland (Jubbaland or Juba Valley (Dooxada Jubba formerly Trans-Juba (Oltre Giuba is the southwesternmost part of Somalia, on the far side of

The Islamic movement's growing power base and militancy led to increasingly open warfare between the Islamists and the other factions of Somalia, including the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Puntland and Galmudug, the latter of which formed as an autonomous state specifically to resist the Islamists. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG of the Somali Republic ( Dowladda federaalka kumeelgaarka) is the present internationally recognized government of Somalia Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe ( Nugaal region whose leaders declared it to be an autonomous state in 1998 Galmudug, is a secular decentralized state in the central region of Somalia. It also caused the intervention of Ethiopia, who supported the secular forces of Somalia. NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page The ICU allegedly obtained the support of Ethiopia's rival, Eritrea and foreign mujahideen, and declared Jihad against Ethiopia in response to its occupation of Gedo and deployment around Baidoa. Eritrea () ( Ge'ez: ኤርትራ ʾErtrā, Arabic: إرتريا Iritriya) officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in A Mujahid (Arabic ar مجاهد, literally "struggler" is a Muslim involved in a Jihad, id est fighting in a war or Jihad (جهاد ʤɪhæːd an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. Gedo ( Geedo) is an administrative region ( gobolka) formerly part of the historic Upper Juba Region, Somalia. Baidoa ( Baydhabo) is a city in south-central Somalia, situated 256 kilometers (159 miles by road northwest of the capital Mogadishu.

Ethiopian intervention and collapse of the ICU

Main articles: Battle of Bandiradley, Battle of Beledweyne, Battle of Jowhar, and Fall of Mogadishu

In December 2006, the ICU and TFG began the Battle of Baidoa. The Battle of Bandiradley in Somalia began on December 23, 2006, when Ethiopian and Puntland forces along with Warlord Abdi Qeybdid Battle of Beledweyne may refer to Battle of Beledweyne (2006 Battle of Beledweyne (2008 The Battle of Jowhar was a battle in the 2006 Somali War fought between the Islamic Courts Union (ICU and affiliated militias against Ethiopian and The Fall of Mogadishu occurred on December 28, 2006, when the militaries of Somalia 's Transitional Federal Government The Battle of Baidoa began on December 20, 2006 when the Somali Transitional Federal Government 's forces (TFG allied with Ethiopian forces stationed Fighting also broke out around the Somali town of Bandiradley in Mudug and Beledweyn in Hiran region. Bandiiradley is one of the largest towns in the Mudug region of Somalia. Mudug (Mudug is an administrative region ( gobolka) in central Somalia. Beledweyne ( Beledweyne)(بليث وين is a city in central Somalia. Hiiraan (Hiiraan is an administrative region ( gobolka) in central Somalia. The ICU aimed to force the Ethiopians off Somali soil. However, they were defeated in all major battles and forced to withdraw to Mogadishu. After the brief final action at the Battle of Jowhar on December 27, the leaders of the ICU resigned. The Battle of Jowhar was a battle in the 2006 Somali War fought between the Islamic Courts Union (ICU and affiliated militias against Ethiopian and Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the The Islamic Courts Union ( ICU, Somali: Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga Arabic: اتحاد المحاكم الإسلامية Ittihād al-mahākim

Main articles: Battle of Jilib and Fall of Kismayo

Following the Battle of Jilib, fought December 31, 2006, Kismayo fell to the TFG and Ethiopian forces, on January 1, 2007. The Battle of Jilib was a battle in the 2006 Somali War fought by the Islamic Courts Union (ICU and affiliated militias against Ethiopian and The Fall of Kismayo occurred on January 1, 2007, when the militaries of Somalia 's Transitional Federal Government (TFG and The Battle of Jilib was a battle in the 2006 Somali War fought by the Islamic Courts Union (ICU and affiliated militias against Ethiopian and Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi called for the country to begin disarming. Ali Mohamed Gedi or Mohammed Ali Ghedi ( Cali Maxamed Geedi, علي محمد جيدي (born 1951 was the Prime Minister of the Transitional See also Diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in the Somali Civil War After the Fall of Mogadishu and Kismayo

US intervention

Main article: Battle of Ras Kamboni

In January 2007, the United States officially militarily interceded in the country for the first time since the UN deployment of the 1990s by conducting airstrikes using AC-130 gunships against Islamist positions in Ras Kamboni, as part of efforts to catch or kill Al Qaeda operatives supposedly embedded within ICU forces. The Battle of Ras Kamboni was a battle in the 2006-2007 Somali War fought by the Islamic Courts Union (ICU and affiliated militias against Ethiopian The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Lockheed AC-130 Gunship is a heavily-armed ground attack airplane Ras Kamboni (Raaskambooni is a town in the Badhaadhe district of Lower Juba region Somalia, which lies on a Peninsula near the border Al-Qaeda, alternatively spelled al-Qaida, al-Qa`ida or al-Qa`idah, ( Arabic:; ar-Latn ''al-qāʿidah'' Translation: The Unconfirmed reports also stated US advisors had been on the ground with Ethiopian and Somali forces since the beginning of the war. Naval forces were also deployed offshore to prevent escape by sea, and the border to Kenya was closed.

Islamist insurgency and reappearance of inter-clan fighting

Main articles: Islamist insurgency in Somalia (2007–present) and African Union Mission to Somalia

No sooner had the ICU been routed from the battlefield than their troops disbursed to begin a guerrilla war against Ethiopian and Somali government forces. The War in Somalia is an ongoing armed conflict involving largely Ethiopian and Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG forces versus the Somali The African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM is an active regional peacekeeping mission operated by the African Union with the approval of the United Nations. Guerrilla warfare is the unconventional warfare and combat with which a small group of combatants use mobile tactics (ambushes raids etc Simultaneously, the end of the war was followed by a continuation of existing tribal conflicts.

To help establish security, a proposed African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) was authorized to deploy as many as 8,000 peacekeepers to the country. The African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM is an active regional peacekeeping mission operated by the African Union with the approval of the United Nations. This mission widened the scope of countries that could participate over the earlier proposed mission led by the Horn of Africa-based nations of IGAD. The Horn of Africa (alternatively Northeast Africa, and sometimes Somali Peninsula; shortened to HOA) is a Peninsula in East Africa The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD Autorité intergouvernementale pour le développement is a seven-country regional development Organization in The Islamist group leading the insurgency, known as the Popular Resistance Movement in the Land of the Two Migrations (PRM), vowed to oppose the presence of foreign troops. Islamism ( Islam + ism; Arabic: al-'islāmiyya) a set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only Al-Shabaab (Arabic "The Youth") also known as As-Shabaab, Hizbul Shabaab (Arabic "The Party of Youth") and

See also

• Factions in the Somali Civil War
• Somaliland-Puntland dispute

Notes

External links

• Media related to Somali Civil War from the Wikimedia Commons. The Final Call is a Newspaper published in Chicago. It was founded in 1979 by Louis Farrakhan and serves as the official newspaper of the