Battle of Kismayo (2008)

The Battle of Kismayo began on August 20, 2008 when an alliance of local clans coalesced to expel Marehan clan militias from Kismayo, after they ruled the town with an iron grip since April 2007. [1]

Battle of Kismayo
Part of the War in Somalia
DateAugust 20–22, 2008
Location
Kismayo, Somalia
Result Al-Shabaab victory
Belligerents
Alliance of local clans [1] Marehan pro-government militias
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale
Casualties and losses
At least 89 killed[2]

Fighting

Fighters began an offensive to conquer the Southern Somali port of Kismayo from pro-government militias, taking the battle to Ethiopian forces in Kismayo and their protectorate clan, the Marehan clan. The Ogaden clan led by Ahmed Madoobe took the town. After the retreat of the Ethiopian army, the Marehan militia led by Barre Hiiraale were seen fleeing the city in all directions before eventually succumbing to Ras Kaambooni on August 22.[3] Three days of fighting reportedly killed 89 people and injured 207 more.[1]

According to Interim Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf, Kismayo was not under the Ethiopian-backed transitional government's control, and there were no Ethiopian forces in the area at the time of the battle; clan militias in Kismayo claimed to be part of the government, however.[4]

Aftermath

The fighting in Kismayo is reported to have displaced an estimated 35,000 people. [5]

References
  1. "Somalia’s Islamists seize Kismayo" Archived September 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Garowe Online, August 22, 2008.
  2. "Somali city clears bodies after deadly clashes", CNN, August 23, 2008.
  3. "Scores killed in Somalia fighting", Al Jazeera, August 23, 2008. Archived June 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Death toll hits 20 as al Shabaab capture Kismayo" Archived August 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Garowe Online, August 21, 2008.
  5. IRIN 2008, 'SOMALIA: Thousands displaced as insurgents take control of Kismayo', IRIN News, 25 August. Retrieved on 25 August 2008.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.