Fall of Mogadishu

Not to be confused with Battle of Mogadishu (disambiguation).

The fall of Mogadishu occurred on 28 December 2006, when the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) advanced into the capital to install the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). The Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which had controlled the capital since June 2006, withdrew from the city after a week of fighting ENDF/TFG forces in southern and central Somalia.

Fall of Mogadishu
Part of the War in Somalia (2006–2009)
Date 28 December 2006 Location Mogadishu, Somalia Result Ethiopian/TFG Victory ICU withdraws from capital ENDF/TFG forces take control of Mogadishu Emergence of Islamist insurgency
Belligerents
Transitional Federal Government Ethiopia	Islamic Courts Union

The city's fall marked the beginning of the Ethiopian military occupation in Mogadishu and the start of a rising Islamist insurgency. The security situation in the capital began to rapidly deteriorate soon after and warlords who had been removed by the ICU began to reassert themselves.

Background

Further information: Ethiopian invasion of Somalia

After series of military defeats following a week a fighting, the Islamic Courts Union began withdrawing it forces across its front lines almost simultaneously. The TFG envoy to Ethiopia announced they would lay siege to Mogadishu until it surrendered, rather than directly assault the city. "We are not going to fight for Mogadishu to avoid civilian casualties…Our troops will surround Mogadishu until they surrender," he told reporters in Addis Ababa. On 26 December, Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi announced the Ethiopia troops were not planning to enter Mogadishu.

On 27 December, the Islamic Courts vowed to wage a guerilla movement that would extend for "years and years and years." That day ENDF/TFG forces advanced on Mogadishu from two directions and residents began fleeing the capital. The city was reported to be in an anarchic state as Islamists fighters began withdrawing and changing uniforms. The drug Khat, which had been banned by the ICU, returned to public sale. As Ethiopian troops approached, they were accompanied by the warlords who the ICU had defeated in mid-2006. The Ethiopians allowed the warlords to regain control over the fiefdoms they had previously lost to the courts.

Resignation of ICU Leaders

As fighting neared Mogadishu, the Islamists turned over their weapons to the clans in the capital and the Hawiye, one of Somalia's largest clans, began discussing a peaceful resolution with the interim government. The stability created by the Islamic militias also began to collapse with people returning to their homes and bandits once again roaming the streets. Fighting began early on the 27th in Yaqshid, a district in northern Mogadishu, as clan militias attempted to raid an arms warehouse. The clan militias, who had been disarmed by the ICU, appeared to be attempting to rearm in preparation for the return of the warlords associated with the government. Abdirahman Dinari, spokesperson for the TFG, stated that these were a minority of militias and that they would be "dealt with" once they had taken control of the city. Most businesses had closed by the 28th, as proprietors waited for developments.

The top leaders of the ICU, including Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Sheikh Abdirahman Janaqow, resigned in anticipation of the siege. Their official press release called upon ICU fighters to secure the areas in which they were stationed and expressed their regret that foreign powers had invaded the country and that Somalia would return to chaos.

Entry of ENDF/TFG

On December 28, TFG spokesman Abdirahman Dinari cautiously expressed, "We are taking control of the city and I will confirm when we have established complete control… Our forces already effectively control Mogadishu because we have taken over the two control points on the main roads outside the city… Within two to three hours we will capture the whole city." He also added that the government was in control of 95% of the country, but a state of emergency would be imposed to bring law and order back to the country. An ebullient Member of Parliament, Mohamed Jama Fuurah, called Reuters from the port of Mogadishu saying, "The government has taken over Mogadishu. We are now in charge." Pro-government militias were said to have control of key locations, including the former presidential palace.

Ali Ghedi, the Prime Minister of the transitional government, stated that Somali government troops had entered Mogadishu without resistance, as well as the town of Afgoye on its outskirts. Mohamed Jama Furuh, a member of parliament and former warlord, took control of Mogadishu's seaport on the government's behalf, an area he had controlled before the rise of the ICU as a warlord. The President, Abdullahi Yusuf, asserted that TFG troops were not a threat to the city-dwellers, though there were some reports of gunfire in the city. On December 29, Ghedi entered the city after consultations with clan leaders on the outskirts. He was received by cheering crowds and anti-Ethiopian protests.

Roughly 3,000 ICU fighters fled towards the port city of Kismayo, their last remaining stronghold, 300 miles (500 km) to the south. In Kismayo, executive leader of the ICU, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was defiant, "We will not run away from our enemies. We will never depart from Somalia. We will stay in our homeland."

Military occupation and insurgency

On December 31, in Mogadishu a missile aimed at Ethiopian troops slammed into a residential area reportedly killing one woman and injuring a man and their daughter. Also, an explosion occurred around 9pm local time at the Hotel Ramadan in Yaaqshiid district, former headquarters of the ICU. Two people were injured. It was speculated that the target might have been Ethiopian troops who had taken over control of the hotel.

On 7 January, anti-Ethiopian protests broke out in Mogadishu, with hundreds of residents hurling stones and shouting threats towards ENDF troops. Ethiopian troops opened fire on the crowd after stones struck their patrol car, resulting in the death of two; including a 13-year boy. That same night a former ICU official was also assassinated in the city by gunmen. In an attempt the assert control over the city, TFG PM Ali Gedi announced a 3 day ultimatum for the population to turn over their weapons. On 13 January, the TFG imposed martial law. The directives, which included a ban on public meetings, attempts to organize political campaigns and major media outlets, was enforced by Ethiopian troops. Warlord militia checkpoints began reappearing on Mogadishu roads and insecurity started once again returning to the city.