Coordinates: 3°04′28″N 43°50′07″E / 3.074444°N 43.835278°E / 3.074444; 43.835278

Siege of Baidoa

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Siege of Baidoa
Part of the War in Somalia
DateJuly 8, 2008–January 26, 2009
Location
Bay region, Somalia
3°04′28″N 43°50′07″E / 3.074444°N 43.835278°E / 3.074444; 43.835278
Result Al-Shabaab victory; fall of Baidoa
Belligerents
Al-Shabaab  Somalia (Transitional Federal Government)
 Ethiopia
Casualties and losses
13 killed 33 killed (TFG),
4 killed (Ethiopia)

The siege of Baidoa was a military confrontation lasting from July 2008 to January 2009, in which the al-Shabaab militia laid siege to the headquarters of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

Timeline

On July 8, 2008, al-Shabaab launched a midnight attack on Baidoa's presidential palace, airport and parliament with rockets and mortars, killing 11 soldiers[1][2] in the encircled and vulnerable de facto capital of the Transitional Government. Baidoa Airport is considered the lifeline for the city. In the tense situation, Baidoa police opened fire on a bus that refused to stop for them, killing many on board. TFG police were known to extort money from travelers at roadblocks, and this was likely an unrelated incident.[3]

On July 9, islamists seized a large shipment of Ethiopian arms and military vehicles from an armored convoy heading from Baledogle Airfield to Baidoa meant for the TFG military.[4] Three Islamists were killed in the battle, as well as one confirmed government soldier dead.[5] The convoy was attacked a second time in Wanla Weyne before finally reaching Baidoa.[6]

On July 10, Islamists seized the control of Deynunay town, located 20 km south of Baidoa, killing one government soldier, a spokesman said.[7]

Fierce fighting near Daynunay continued for a second day on July 11 as Islamist and TFG forces battled; three TFG soldiers were killed in the battle.[8]

On July 13, al-Shabaab forces regrouped and reoccupied Bardhere and Burhakaba, mustering forces in these two towns en route to Baidoa, as TFG presence in these towns had long since been expelled.[9] The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), an organisation with many years of experience in Somalia, withdrew from Baidoa due to the imminent attack.[10]

On August 27, a bombing attack in the city left the son of a Somali MP dead along with one of his bodyguards.[11]

On September 5, Islamist fighters attacked an Ethiopian Army convoy that recently left the city in the town of Bardale, 55 kilometers southwest of Baidoa. Two Ethiopian soldiers, two insurgents and one civilian were killed in the attack and one Ethiopian Army truck was burned.[12] Two days later on September 7, insurgents attacked a police station in the city but there were no casualties.[13]

On September 20, heavy fighting between Somali government troops and the insurgents killed at least two soldiers, three insurgents and one civilian in the city when a government checkpoint was attacked.[14][15]

On October 2, three separate insurgent attacks in the town killed two civilians and one soldier.[16] On October 13, more heavy fighting resulted in the deaths of four insurgents and two Ethiopian soldiers after an Ethiopian Army convoy, heading into Baidoa, was ambushed.[17]

On December 24, a landmine killed three policemen in the city.[18]

On January 26, 2009, Islamist forces captured Baidoa, which was by this point the last major city controlled by the Transitional Government. The city's capture came after Ethiopian troops completely pulled out of the country only a day prior. Pro-government and anti-Islamist forces remained in control of a corridor of territory along the border with Ethiopia, and most of Gedo and Bakool. Somali MP Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade and his troops, along with ten other MP's, surrendered to Islamist forces as they entered Baidoa. During the takeover, government troops and militiamen attempted to resist, resulting in fighting that left five civilians and four soldiers dead but were not able to stop the insurgent advance.[19][20]

References

  1. ^ "11 soldiers killed in attack on Baidoa town overnight-witnesses". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Islamist rebels attack Somali government HQ - International Herald Tribune". Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Somalia: Mortars fired overnight in Baidoa". Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  4. ^ "UIC Seizes Weapons and Vehicles, Spokesman". www.hiiraan.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Garowe Online - Home". Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  6. ^ "4 killed as insurgents, soldiers battle in Somalia". Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Archived copy". www.shabelle.net. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ "Situs Agen Judi Casino Online Terpopuler - Insidesomalia.org". Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Somalia's Islamist guerrillas capture Burhakaba, Bardhere towns". Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Last UNDP officials pull out Baidoa town on security grounds". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Mareeg". Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "Archived copy". www.shabelle.net. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 September 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "Main Page". Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ "Somalia: Landmine Kills 3 Policemen". allAfrica. Mogadishu. Shabelle Media Network. 24 December 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  19. ^ "Alshabab seizes Baidoa'MPs surrendered". Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  20. ^ "Somalia: Baidoa town cool after Islamists takeover". Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
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