Siege of Baidoa
{{Short description|Military conflict in Somalia}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Siege of Baidoa
| partof = the War in Somalia
| date = July 8, 2008–January 26, 2009
| image = Political situation in Somalia following the Ethiopian withdrawal.png
| image_size = 300px
| caption =
| place = Bay region, Somalia
| result = Al-Shabaab victory; fall of Baidoa
| combatant1 = 22x20px Al-Shabaab
| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Somalia}} (Transitional Federal Government)
{{flag|Ethiopia}}
| commander1 =
| commander2 =
| strength1 =
| strength2 =
| coordinates = {{coord|display=title,inline}}
}}
{{Campaignbox War in Somalia (2006–2009)}}
The siege of Baidoa was a military confrontation lasting from July 2008 to January 2009 during the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia, during which al-Shabaab laid siege to the headquarters of the Ethiopian backed Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG).
During January 2009, the first TFG collapsed and Al-Shabaab overran the seat of the government in Baidoa.{{Cite web |last=Thompkins |first=Gwen |date=29 January 2009 |title=Somali Government In Exile; Islamists Take Over |url=https://www.npr.org/2009/01/29/99995400/somali-government-in-exile-islamists-take-over |website=National Public Radio |quote=this week, the transitional government collapsed completely. A group of radical Islamist fighters overran the seat of government in the town of Baidoa}}
Timeline
A year after Ethiopia's invasion of Somalia, the insurgency fighting against the military occupation intensified pressure on Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) troops in the Bay region.{{Cite book |url=https://icg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/147-somalia-to-move-beyond-the-failed-state.pdf |title=Somalia: To Move Beyond the Failed State |publisher=International Crisis Group |publication-date=23 December 2008}} Despite capturing Mogadishu from the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) at the end of 2006, many TFG ministers opted to stay in Baidoa, the provisional capital in Bay, due to the insurgency's growing threat.{{Cite web |date=6 May 2008 |title=Somalia: Routinely Targeted: Attacks on Civilians in Somalia |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr52/006/2008/en/ |website=Amnesty International}} By mid-2008, Al-Shabaab, ICU loyalists, and supporters of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) emerged as the main insurgent forces across Somalia.{{Cite book |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/afr520092008eng.pdf |title=Routinely Targeted: Attacks on civilians in Somalia |date=May 2008 |publisher=Amnesty International |pages=3}} The Mogadishu-Afgooye-Baidoa highway became a key insurgency hotspot, with escalating attacks around Baidoa city as well.{{Cite book |url=https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/SOMALIA%20S2008466.pdf |title=Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia |date=16 July 2008 |publisher=United Nations Security Council}}
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{{Cite web |title=11 soldiers killed in attack on Baidoa town overnight-witnesses |url=http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=6719&tirsan=4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192838/http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=6719&tirsan=4 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |accessdate=16 December 2022 |website=Mareeg}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/07/08/africa/OUKWD-UK-SOMALIA-CONFLICT.php|title=Islamist rebels attack Somali government HQ - International Herald Tribune|accessdate=16 December 2022}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=6710&tirsan=3|title=Somalia: Mortars fired overnight in Baidoa|accessdate=16 December 2022}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hiiraan.com/news2/2008/July/uic_seizes_weapons_and_vehicles_spokesman.aspx|title=UIC Seizes Weapons and Vehicles, Spokesman|website=www.hiiraan.com|access-date=16 December 2022}} Three Islamists were killed in the battle, as well as one confirmed government soldier dead.{{Cite web|url=http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/4_killed_as_insurgents_soldiers_battle_in_Somalia.shtml|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210035942/http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/4_killed_as_insurgents_soldiers_battle_in_Somalia.shtml|url-status=dead|title=Garowe Online - Home|archive-date=10 February 2012|access-date=16 December 2022}} The convoy was attacked a second time in Wanla Weyne before finally reaching Baidoa.{{Cite web|url=http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/4_killed_as_insurgents_soldiers_battle_in_Somalia.shtml|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210035942/http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/4_killed_as_insurgents_soldiers_battle_in_Somalia.shtml|url-status=dead|title=4 killed as insurgents, soldiers battle in Somalia|archive-date=10 February 2012|access-date=16 December 2022}}
On July 10, Islamists seized the control of Deynunay town, located 20 km south of Baidoa, killing one government soldier, a spokesman said.{{cite web |url=http://www.shabelle.net/english/2008/07/10/southwestern-somali-town-overrun-islamists-spokesman |title=Archived copy |website=www.shabelle.net |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220141737/http://www.shabelle.net/english/2008/07/10/southwestern-somali-town-overrun-islamists-spokesman |archive-date=20 December 2021 |url-status=usurped}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://insidesomalia.org/News/Politics-%7C-Somalia/Heavy-Confrontation-in-Some-Parts-of-Bay-Region-in-Southern-Somalia.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203152732/http://insidesomalia.org/News/Politics-%7C-Somalia/Heavy-Confrontation-in-Some-Parts-of-Bay-Region-in-Southern-Somalia.html|url-status=usurped|title=Heavy Confrontation in Some Parts of Bay Region in Southern Somalia|archive-date=3 December 2008|access-date=16 December 2022}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_s_Islamist_guerrillas_capture_Burhakaba_Bardhere_towns.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720012626/http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_s_Islamist_guerrillas_capture_Burhakaba_Bardhere_towns.shtml|url-status=dead|title=Somalia's Islamist guerrillas capture Burhakaba, Bardhere towns|archive-date=20 July 2008|access-date=16 December 2022}} The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), an organisation with many years of experience in Somalia, withdrew from Baidoa due to the imminent attack.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=6808&tirsan=3|title=Last UNDP officials pull out Baidoa town on security grounds|accessdate=16 December 2022|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172145/http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=6808&tirsan=3|url-status=dead}}
On August 27, a bombing attack in the city left the son of a Somali MP dead along with one of his bodyguards.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=7565&tirsan=3&PHPSESSID=466d6a27ea4608608b32868cb3d8f996 |title=Mareeg |access-date=2008-08-28 |archive-date=2011-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714033907/http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=7565&tirsan=3&PHPSESSID=466d6a27ea4608608b32868cb3d8f996 |url-status=dead }}
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Insurgents_target_Ethiopia_army_convoy_in_Somalia_countryside_5_killed.shtml |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-09-07|df=dmy-all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922010527/http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Insurgents_target_Ethiopia_army_convoy_in_Somalia_countryside_5_killed.shtml |archive-date=2008-09-22 }} Two days later on September 7, insurgents attacked a police station in the city but there were no casualties.{{cite web |url=http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_Insurgent_attacks_in_Mogadishu_Baidoa.shtml |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-09-07|df=dmy-all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914024043/http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_Insurgent_attacks_in_Mogadishu_Baidoa.shtml |archive-date=2008-09-14 }}
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.shabelle.net/News/ViewNews.asp?NewsID=1285 |title=Archived copy |website=www.shabelle.net |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903212233/http://www.shabelle.net/News/ViewNews.asp?NewsID=1285 |archive-date=3 September 2021 |url-status=usurped}}{{cite web |url=http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_al_Shabaab_attack_Baidoa_police_checkpoint_6_killed.shtml |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-09-22|df=dmy-all |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923212809/http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_al_Shabaab_attack_Baidoa_police_checkpoint_6_killed.shtml |archive-date=2008-09-23 }}
On October 2, three separate insurgent attacks in the town killed two civilians and one soldier.{{cite web |url=http://www.shabelle.net/News/ViewNews.asp?NewsID=1494|df=dmy-all |title=Main Page |access-date=2008-10-03 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205092212/http://www.shabelle.net/News/ViewNews.asp?NewsID=1494 |archive-date=2008-12-05 }} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/16_killed_in_south_Somalia_insurgent_attacks.shtml |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-10-15 |url-status=dead|df=dmy-all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016001808/http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/16_killed_in_south_Somalia_insurgent_attacks.shtml |archive-date=2008-10-16 }}
On December 24, a landmine killed three policemen in the city.{{cite news |title=Somalia: Landmine Kills 3 Policemen |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200812240715.html |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=allAfrica |agency=Shabelle Media Network |date=24 December 2008 |location=Mogadishu}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=10181&tirsan=3|title=Alshabab seizes Baidoa'MPs surrendered|access-date=16 December 2022|archive-date=25 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525163605/http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=10181&tirsan=3|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.somaliweyn.org/pages/news/Jan_09/27Jan20.html |title=Somalia: Baidoa town cool after Islamists takeover |access-date=2009-01-27 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202035200/http://somaliweyn.org/pages/news/Jan_09/27Jan20.html |archivedate=2009-02-02 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{War in Somalia (2006–2009)}}
Category:2008 crimes in Somalia
Category:Sieges involving Ethiopia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baidoa, Siege of}}
Category:Battles involving al-Shabaab (militant group)
Category:Attacks on military installations in 2008
Category:Attacks on military installations in 2009