Battle of Bandiradley
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Bandiradley in Somalia
began on December 23, 2006, when Ethiopia
n and Puntland
forces, along with Warlord Abdi Qeybdid fought the forces of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) defending Bandiradley. The fighting pushed the Islamists out of Bandiradley and over the border south into Adado
district, Galgadud region, by December 25.
. The areas of Galgadud and Mudug were drawn into the conflict arising between the state of Puntland, and the areas coming under the control of the ICU. While local leaders tried to organize into the autonomous state of Galmudug
, over time it was forced to side with the forces of Puntland and more so with the forces of Ethiopia, in order to repel the ICU.
On March 7–8, 1999, Ethiopia claimed it had made a cross-border incursion into Ballanballe searching for members of Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya
(AIAI) who had reportedly kidnapped a person and stolen medical supplies, and denied reports of looting. Allegations from that time also claim Ethiopia was the supplier of various Somali warlords, while Eritrea was arming other warlords.
On November 12, the ICU took the town of Bandiradley after a firefight with the forces of Abdi Qeybdid.
On November 13, the President of Puntland, General Adde Musa
personally led 50 battlewagon
s to Galkayo to confront the Islamists.
On November 22, Ethiopia imposed a curfew on the town of Ballanballe and was searching residents entering or leaving the village in response to attacks on Ethiopian convoys in Somalia
On November 26, thousands of ICU troops were reported deploying in Abudwaq, within 15 km (9.3 mi) of the Ethiopian border. On November 27, troops were forcibly returning people who had fled to avoid fighting to their homes, reassuring them they would not come to harm.
On November 28, Ethiopian forces in the Galkayo, Mudug area were estimated to be about 500-strong, with over 100 vehicles including tanks. There was an exchange of gunfire and missiles. Afterwards, the ICU held a rally in Bandiradley, at which ICU commander Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed accused the Ethiopians of firing 12 missiles at Islamist positions.
On December 1, in Galkayo, it was reported 9 clerics of the Islamic Tabliq sect had been arrested under the orders of Colonel Abdi Qeybdiid.
On December 7–8, the militia of warlord Abdi Qeybdid took part in skirmishes against forces of the ICU near the small settlement of Sadah Higle between Bandiradley and Galkayo. This rapidly led to an exchange of shelling between Ethiopian and ICU troops. Hundreds of Ethiopian troops accompanied by forces from Puntland took up position near the town. Puntland forces claimed they had been provoked by rocket and mortar fire. ICU forces stated Ethiopian troops "started firing missiles toward our positions." At least one ICU fighter was claimed killed in the exchange.
On December 16, it was reported a local Islamic court named Imamu Shahfici was set up in Abudwaq. It urged Islamists to resist the Ethiopians
Further combat was kept in abeyance until the general outbreak of hostilities on December 20.
On December 19, 18 technicals
and a large number of Ethiopian troops entered Ballanballe, Galgadud province, to reinforce troops already positioned in the town. Just prior to the battle, on December 22, Ethiopian troops departed Ballanballe where they had been in occupation for the past three months. This was reportedly done at the urging of the tribal elders, who did not wish fighting to break out between the ICU and Ethiopia in their town.
.
On December 23, 500 Ethiopian troops and 8 tanks were reported to be heading towards Bandiradley
Yet Islamist fighters retreated from their positions. They were pursued south to the area between Galinsor and Bandiradley, where the Islamists were defeated. The ICU forces were further pursued to Adado in Galgadud, which they abandoned late on December 25, 2006.
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
began on December 23, 2006, when Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n and Puntland
Puntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
forces, along with Warlord Abdi Qeybdid fought the forces of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) defending Bandiradley. The fighting pushed the Islamists out of Bandiradley and over the border south into Adado
Adado
Adado is a town in the central Galguduud region of Somalia. It is situated in the Adado District....
district, Galgadud region, by December 25.
Somali Civil War
The battle has roots in the long-standing Somali Civil WarSomali Civil War
The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. The conflict, which began in 1991, has caused destabilisation throughout the country, with the current phase of the conflict seeing the Somali government losing substantial control of the state to rebel forces...
. The areas of Galgadud and Mudug were drawn into the conflict arising between the state of Puntland, and the areas coming under the control of the ICU. While local leaders tried to organize into the autonomous state of Galmudug
Galmudug
Galmudug is an autonomous region in central Somalia. It is bordered to its north by the Puntland region, to the west by Ethiopia, and to the south by other regions of Somalia.Galmudug's name is derived from a conflation of the Galguduud and Mudug provinces...
, over time it was forced to side with the forces of Puntland and more so with the forces of Ethiopia, in order to repel the ICU.
Prior Ethiopian interventions in the area
The borders of Galgadud and Mudug regions were under dispute with Ethiopia following the August 1982 border clashes. The towns of Ballanballe and Goldogub had been under Ethiopian occupation from that time up until June 1988 when all troops were to pull back 9 miles from the disputed borders, and Ethiopia granted back the towns to Somalia.On March 7–8, 1999, Ethiopia claimed it had made a cross-border incursion into Ballanballe searching for members of Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya
Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya
Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya or AIAI is a defunct Islamist militant group in Somalia that was added to the U.S. list of terrorist organizations on September 24, 2001...
(AIAI) who had reportedly kidnapped a person and stolen medical supplies, and denied reports of looting. Allegations from that time also claim Ethiopia was the supplier of various Somali warlords, while Eritrea was arming other warlords.
Prelude to battle
On August 14, 2006, local tribal leaders opposed to the advance of the ICU, as well as wishing autonomy from the state of Puntland, organized Ethio-Puntland Militias and put Abdi Qeybdid in charge of them.On November 12, the ICU took the town of Bandiradley after a firefight with the forces of Abdi Qeybdid.
On November 13, the President of Puntland, General Adde Musa
Mohamud Muse Hersi
Mohamud "Adde" Muse Hersi is a Somali politician. He was the President of the Puntland region of Somalia from January 8, 2005 to January 8, 2009.-Biography:...
personally led 50 battlewagon
Technical (fighting vehicle)
A technical is a type of improvised fighting vehicle, typically a civilian or military non-combat vehicle, modified to provide an offensive capability similar to a military gun truck...
s to Galkayo to confront the Islamists.
On November 22, Ethiopia imposed a curfew on the town of Ballanballe and was searching residents entering or leaving the village in response to attacks on Ethiopian convoys in Somalia
On November 26, thousands of ICU troops were reported deploying in Abudwaq, within 15 km (9.3 mi) of the Ethiopian border. On November 27, troops were forcibly returning people who had fled to avoid fighting to their homes, reassuring them they would not come to harm.
On November 28, Ethiopian forces in the Galkayo, Mudug area were estimated to be about 500-strong, with over 100 vehicles including tanks. There was an exchange of gunfire and missiles. Afterwards, the ICU held a rally in Bandiradley, at which ICU commander Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed accused the Ethiopians of firing 12 missiles at Islamist positions.
On December 1, in Galkayo, it was reported 9 clerics of the Islamic Tabliq sect had been arrested under the orders of Colonel Abdi Qeybdiid.
On December 7–8, the militia of warlord Abdi Qeybdid took part in skirmishes against forces of the ICU near the small settlement of Sadah Higle between Bandiradley and Galkayo. This rapidly led to an exchange of shelling between Ethiopian and ICU troops. Hundreds of Ethiopian troops accompanied by forces from Puntland took up position near the town. Puntland forces claimed they had been provoked by rocket and mortar fire. ICU forces stated Ethiopian troops "started firing missiles toward our positions." At least one ICU fighter was claimed killed in the exchange.
On December 16, it was reported a local Islamic court named Imamu Shahfici was set up in Abudwaq. It urged Islamists to resist the Ethiopians
Further combat was kept in abeyance until the general outbreak of hostilities on December 20.
On December 19, 18 technicals
Technical (fighting vehicle)
A technical is a type of improvised fighting vehicle, typically a civilian or military non-combat vehicle, modified to provide an offensive capability similar to a military gun truck...
and a large number of Ethiopian troops entered Ballanballe, Galgadud province, to reinforce troops already positioned in the town. Just prior to the battle, on December 22, Ethiopian troops departed Ballanballe where they had been in occupation for the past three months. This was reportedly done at the urging of the tribal elders, who did not wish fighting to break out between the ICU and Ethiopia in their town.
The battle
On December 22, Ethiopian troops were said to be amassing in Galkayo for what might turn into a second front of the war near PuntlandPuntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
.
On December 23, 500 Ethiopian troops and 8 tanks were reported to be heading towards Bandiradley
Yet Islamist fighters retreated from their positions. They were pursued south to the area between Galinsor and Bandiradley, where the Islamists were defeated. The ICU forces were further pursued to Adado in Galgadud, which they abandoned late on December 25, 2006.