Battle of Mogadishu (2006)

Second Battle of Mogadishu
Part of the Advance of the Islamic Courts Union
Location of Mogadishu in Somalia
Date 7 May – 11 July 2006 Location Mogadishu, Somalia Result Decisive Islamic Courts Union victory Effective end of ARPCT
Belligerents
Islamic Courts Union	Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism
Commanders and leaders
Sheikh Sharif Ahmed Hassan Dahir Aweys	Mohamed Qanyare Musa Sudi Yalahow Nuur Daqle
Strength
unknown	unknown
Casualties and losses
Over 350 deaths

Decisive Islamic Courts Union victory

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 Union (ICU). The conflict began in mid-February 2006, when Somali warlords formed the ARPCT to challenge the ICU's emerging influence. The battle is referred to as the Second Battle to distinguish it amongst the during the decades long Somali Civil War.

It had been found after the battle that the United States was funding the ARPCT due to concerns that the ICU had ties to al-Qaeda. The ICU militia won control of Mogadishu and ARPCT forces left the city.

The exact resumption of hostilities is unknown; by 24 March 2006, the BBC was reporting the "most serious clashes for almost a decade" with almost 70 dead.

In May 2006, the fighting intensified between warlords and militia loyal to ICU, which controlled around 80% of the city. On 4 June 2006, the ICU seized Balad, 30 miles north of Mogadishu. Balad had previously been under the control of forces loyal to Musa Sudi Yalahow. By 5 June, at least 350 people, mostly civilians, had been killed.

On 5 June 2006, Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi fired four ministers (who were also clan leaders) whose private armies were involved in the fighting. Gedi fired National Security Minister Mohamed Afrah Qanyare, Commerce Minister Musa Sudi Yalahow, Militia Rehabilitation Minister Botan Ise Alin and Religious Affairs Minister Omar Muhamoud Finnish, according to government spokesman Abdirahman Nur Mohamed Dinari. He also invited the Islamic courts for talks.

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Wikipedia