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{{Short description|Battle of the Somali civil war}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox military conflict {{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Battle of Mogadishu (2007) | conflict = Battle of Mogadishu (2007)
|partof=the ] in Somalia | partof = the ]
|date=21 March – 26 April 2007 | date = 21 March – 26 April 2007
|image=] | image = Mogadishu march 2007.jpg
| image_size = 300px
|caption=Mogadishu skyline during the fighting in March 2007
| caption = Mogadishu skyline during the fighting in March 2007
|place=]
| place = ]
|result=Tactical Ethiopian/TFG victory, insurgency not quelled
| result = Tactical Ethiopian/TFG victory, insurgency not quelled
|combatant1=
] ] (PRM)<br> {{flagicon|Somalia}} ] clan militiamen | combatant1 = {{flagicon image|AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg}} ] (PRM)<br> {{flagicon|Somalia}} ] clan militiamen
|combatant2={{flag|Ethiopia}}<br/>{{flagicon|Somalia}} ]<br/>{{flag|Uganda}} | combatant2 = {{flag|Ethiopia|1996}}<br/>{{flagicon|Somalia}} ]<br/>{{flag|Uganda}}
|commander1= | commander1 =
|commander2= | commander2 =
|strength1= | strength1 =
|strength2= | strength2 =
|casualties1=427 killed<br>150 captured<ref>{{cite news | casualties1 = 427 killed<br>150 captured<ref>{{cite news
| author =Aweys Osman Yusuf |author=Aweys Osman Yusuf
| title =Ethiopia says 1,000 insurgents killed in Mogadishu clashes |title=Ethiopia says 1,000 insurgents killed in Mogadishu clashes
| publisher =] |publisher=]
| date =20 May 2007 |date=20 May 2007
| url =http://shabelle.net/news/ne2946.htm |url=http://shabelle.net/news/ne2946.htm
|accessdate=20 May 2007
| accessdate = 20 May 2007 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070927200517/http://shabelle.net/news/ne2946.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 27 September 2007}}</ref><ref>http://au.news.yahoo.com/071017/2/14p6i.html</ref>
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200517/http://shabelle.net/news/ne2946.htm
|casualties2=11 killed<br>('''Somalia''')<br>37 killed<br>68 wounded<br>('''Ethiopia''')<ref name="Death toll1"> – Somalinet.com</ref><ref></ref><ref name=autogenerated2>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070403/ap_on_re_af/somalia;_ylt=Ak5Ap1jZBBVx3Fvs6_vyvEm96Q8F</ref><ref name="Death toll2"> – BBC News</ref><ref name=autogenerated2 /><br>1 killed<ref></ref><br>5 wounded<br>('''Uganda''')<br>1 ] helicopter gunship shot down<br>2 tanks damaged
|archivedate=27 September 2007
|casualties3='''Civilian casualties:<br>'''1,176 Somali civilians killed (] claim)<ref name="Hawiyeclaim">{{cite news
|url-status=usurped
}}</ref><ref>{{dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref>
| casualties2 = 11 killed<br>('''Somalia''')<br>37 killed<br>68 wounded<br>('''Ethiopia''')<ref name="renamed_from_154_on_20220218183437"> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522105129/http://www.somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/8752 |date=22 May 2011 }} – Somalinet.com</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://article.wn.com/view/2007/04/14/Two_soldiers_on_patrol_killed_in_ambush/ |title=Two soldiers on patrol killed in ambush – Worldnews.com |publisher=Article.wn.com |accessdate=9 July 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718075000/http://article.wn.com/view/2007/04/14/Two_soldiers_on_patrol_killed_in_ambush/| archivedate= 18 July 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated2>{{dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref><ref name="Death toll2"> – BBC News</ref><br>1 killed<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705172359/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/688838AE-6F3B-4B32-A364-09C6ADC871C6.htm |date=5 July 2007 }}</ref><br>5 wounded<br>('''Uganda''')<br>1 ] helicopter gunship shot down<br>2 tanks damaged
| casualties3 = '''Civilian casualties:<br>'''1,176 Somali civilians killed (] claim)<ref name="Hawiyeclaim">{{cite news
| title =Mogadishu clashes 'killed 1,000' | title =Mogadishu clashes 'killed 1,000'
| publisher =BBC | publisher =BBC
| date =10 April 2007 | date =10 April 2007
| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6540609.stm | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6540609.stm
| accessdate = 10 April 2007 }}</ref> | accessdate =10 April 2007 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070418030739/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6540609.stm| archivedate=18 April 2007| url-status= live}}</ref>
4,600 Somali civilians wounded 4,600 Somali civilians wounded<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6540609.stm |title=Africa &#124; Mogadishu clashes 'killed 1,000' |publisher=BBC News |date=10 April 2007 |accessdate=9 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldnews&storyID=2007-04-20T221123Z_01_L20705753_RTRUKOC_0_US-SOMALIA-CONFLICT.xml |title=Business & Financial News, Breaking US & International News &#124; Reuters.com |publisher=Today.reuters.com |date=9 February 2009 |accessdate=9 July 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711204442/http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldnews |archivedate=11 July 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<br>11 Belarusian civilians ]}} <br>11 Belarusian civilians ]
}}
{{Campaignbox War in Somalia (2006–2009)}} {{Campaignbox War in Somalia (2006–2009)}}


The '''Battle of Mogadishu''' began on 21 March 2007 in the Shirkole area of ] between Somali ] forces and ], and Islamist insurgents. The '''Battle of Mogadishu''' began on 21 March 2007 in the Shirkole area of ] between Somali ] forces and allied ], and Islamist insurgents. The battle usually includes the dates, when referenced, in order to distinguish it amongst the ] during the decades-long ].

Fighting quickly escalated the following days with ] clan militants joining the Islamists in the fight. As Ethiopians brought reinforcements including heavy weapons, insurgent areas of the city were heavily shelled. On 26 April 2007 the battle was over and claimed as a victory for the Ethiopian and Somali forces. At least one thousand people died in the fighting.

==Background==
Since January 2007, residents of Mogadishu have been gripped by a campaign of violence that killed and injured hundreds of civilians, provoked the largest and most rapid displacement of a civilian population for many years: Following the establishment of Ethiopian and TFG troops in Mogadishu in January 2007, residents of Mogadishu witnessed a steady spiral of attacks by insurgent forces aimed at Ethiopian and TFG military forces and TFG officials. Increasingly, Ethiopian forces launched ], rockets, and artillery fire in response.


==The battle== ==The battle==
===First round of fighting=== ===First round of fighting===
A failed 21 March and 22 disarmament operation by the TFG resulted in the capture of TFG troops. A failed 21 March and 22 disarmament operation by the TFG resulted in the capture of TFG troops.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}


====Cargo plane shot down==== ====Cargo plane shot down====
{{Main|2007 Mogadishu TransAVIAexport Airlines Il-76 crash}} {{Main|2007 Mogadishu TransAVIAexport Airlines Il-76 crash}}
On 23 March 2007, a ] ] ] plane crashed in ]. The plane is thought to have been shot down. There were 11 people on board the aircraft, all but one ]ian crew members died in the crash. The other remaining survivors were found wandering around the crash site and later died in hospitals. On 23 March 2007, a ] ] plane crashed in ]. The plane is thought to have been shot down. There were 11 people on board the aircraft, all but one Belarusian crew members died in the crash. The other remaining survivors were found wandering around the crash site and later died in hospitals.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}


===2nd round of fighting=== ===2nd round of fighting===
On 1 April, it was reported that the death toll of the previous four days of heavy fighting in the capital is at least 849 killed civilians, 200 insurgents and 36 Ethiopian soldiers along with the one Ugandan soldier, for a total of 1,086 dead.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}
Heavy gun battles had restarted on 29 March as the Ethiopian forces supported by ]s captured new areas in Mogadishu.

The battles began around 5:30 am local time in two directions of the capital. Reports said that two tanks belonging to the Ethiopian forces were damaged in the clashes raging in Mogadishu.
]
Witnesses that one of the Ethiopian tanks was damaged on the industrial road in the capital where the fighting is still continuing while another one damaged in the frontline area. The Ethiopians were reported to have towed the damaged tanks. 11 people, mostly civilians have been killed by stray bullets. Two Ethiopian helicopter gunships started bombardments on the rebel positions in the capital.<ref>http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2647.htm</ref>

Somalinet reported that at least 15 Ethiopian military personnel have been killed and others wounded in the gun battles that took place in Mogadishu on 29 March. Reuters confirmed that at least 28 people were killed in the fighting.<ref>http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/9052</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/03/30/copter.somalia.reut/index.html }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref>

On 30 March, an Ethiopian ] helicopter was seen shot down in the Somali capital as it bombed military positions held by insurgents.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6509729.stm | work=BBC News | title=Helicopter shot down in Somalia | date=30 March 2007 | accessdate=26 April 2010}}</ref>

On 31 March, a ]n soldier was killed by artillery in Mogadishu in the first hh reported by African peacekeepers in the Somali capital. A spokesman stated that "Our troops were guarding the presidential compound on Saturday when it was struck by mortars killing one our soldiers." Meanwhile, the ] said the fighting in Mogadishu was the worst in more than 15 years.<ref>http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/688838AE-6F3B-4B32-A364-09C6ADC871C6.htm</ref>

On 1 April, it was reported that the death toll of the previous four days of heavy fighting in the capital is at least 849 killed civilians, 200 insurgents and 36 Ethiopian soldiers along with the one Ugandan soldier, for a total of 1,086 dead. {{Citation needed|date=June 2007}}


===2nd ceasefire=== ===2nd ceasefire===
Fighting was essentially halted for 2 April, after ] clan leaders declared a truce with Ethiopian military officials starting 2 pm 1 April. They further called on Ethiopian troops to withdraw from areas they had occupied during the past few days of fighting.<ref>{{cite news

Fighting was essentially halted for 2 April, after Hawiye clan leaders declared a truce with Ethiopian military officials starting 2 pm 1 April. They further called on Ethiopian troops to withdraw from areas they had occupied during the past few days of fighting.<ref>{{cite news
| title =Truce declared by clan on Mogadishu Fighting | title =Truce declared by clan on Mogadishu Fighting
| publisher =] | publisher =]
| date =1 April 2007 | date =1 April 2007
| url =http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Truce_declared_by_clan_on_Mogadishu_Fighting.shtml | url =http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Truce_declared_by_clan_on_Mogadishu_Fighting.shtml
| accessdate = 2 April 2007 }}</ref> Although there had been a lull in fighting on 2 April,<ref>{{cite news | accessdate =2 April 2007
| url-status =dead
| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225803/http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Truce_declared_by_clan_on_Mogadishu_Fighting.shtml
| archivedate =26 September 2007
}}</ref> Although there had been a lull in fighting on 2 April,<ref>{{cite news
| title =Thousands flee Somalia fighting | title =Thousands flee Somalia fighting
| publisher =BBC | publisher =BBC
| date =2 April 2007 | date =2 April 2007
| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6517205.stm | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6517205.stm
| accessdate = 2 April 2007 }}</ref> Salad Ali Jelle, the deputy Defence Minister of the TFG denied that there had been or would be any ceasefires between Hawiye clan leaders and Ethiopian military forces. Jelle stated that it was not Hawiyes involved in the recent fighting, but "remnants of the defeated Islamist" and called upon civilians residing in insurgent positions to evacuate the area.<ref name="SomLullCivToll">{{cite news | accessdate =2 April 2007 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070416055945/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6517205.stm| archivedate= 16 April 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> Salad Ali Jelle, the deputy Defence Minister of the TFG denied that there had been or would be any ceasefires between Hawiye clan leaders and Ethiopian military forces. Jelle stated that it was not Hawiyes involved in the recent fighting, but "remnants of the defeated Islamist" and called upon civilians residing in insurgent positions to evacuate the area.<ref name="SomLullCivToll">{{cite news
| first=Mohamed | first =Mohamed
| last=Abdi Farah | last =Abdi Farah
| title =Somalia: Mogadishu resumes calm as gun shots could be heard | title =Somalia: Mogadishu resumes calm as gun shots could be heard
| publisher =] | publisher =]
| date =2 April 2007 | date =2 April 2007
| url =http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/9161 | url =http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/9161
| accessdate = 2 April 2007 }}</ref> | accessdate =2 April 2007
| url-status =dead
| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20120206133057/http://www.somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/9161
| archivedate =6 February 2012
}}</ref>


===3rd round of fighting=== ===3rd round of fighting===
On 11 April, at least two people have been killed and three others were wounded in a renewed fighting that erupted in north of the Somalia capital between interim government troops and local insurgents overnight.<ref>http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2721.htm</ref> However, on 12 April Somalia's Ambassador to ] ] stated that Mogadishu was now peaceful for the first time in sixteen years.<ref>http://english.people.com.cn/200704/12/eng20070412_365930.html</ref> On 11 April, at least two people have been killed and three others were wounded in a renewed fighting that erupted in north of the Somalia capital between interim government troops and local insurgents overnight.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2721.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070927195850/http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2721.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=27 September 2007 |title=Home |publisher=Shabelle |date=3 November 2010 |accessdate=9 July 2011 }}</ref> However, on 12 April Somalia's Ambassador to ] ] stated that Mogadishu was now peaceful for the first time in sixteen years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.people.com.cn/200704/12/eng20070412_365930.html |title=People's Daily Online - Somali ambassador says Mogadishu becomes peaceful in 16 years |publisher=English.people.com.cn |date=12 April 2007 |accessdate=9 July 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110605233918/http://english.people.com.cn/200704/12/eng20070412_365930.html| archivedate= 5 June 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref>


{{Rquote|right|Early in the morning of the first day, bullets started flying between the insurgents and the government; we could not even leave our homes. The militia that were fighting were behind our compound, I don’t know if they were Al-Shaabab or Hawiye fighters. They were firing mortars and then running away. They were firing the mortars at the TFG and the Ethiopians, at the Presidential Palace and at the Ministry of Defense where the Ethiopians were based. Whenever the insurgents fired mortars at the Ethiopians, the Ethiopians responded with shells, but the Ethiopians shot them un-targeted, they killed many civilians and even our animals.|42-year-old woman from Towfiq district, describing the events of 29 March 2007.<ref name=hrw>, ]</ref>}} {{Rquote|right|Early in the morning of the first day, bullets started flying between the insurgents and the government; we could not even leave our homes. The militia that were fighting were behind our compound, I don’t know if they were Al-Shaabab or Hawiye fighters. They were firing mortars and then running away. They were firing the mortars at the TFG and the Ethiopians, at the Presidential Palace and at the Ministry of Defense where the Ethiopians were based. Whenever the insurgents fired mortars at the Ethiopians, the Ethiopians responded with shells, but the Ethiopians shot them un-targeted, they killed many civilians and even our animals.|42-year-old woman from Towfiq district, describing the events of 29 March 2007.<ref name=hrw>, ]</ref>}}


On 14 April, two government soldiers are killed in an ambush in the capital.<ref>http://article.wn.com/view/2007/04/14/Two_soldiers_on_patrol_killed_in_ambush/</ref> On 14 April, two government soldiers are killed in an ambush in the capital.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://article.wn.com/view/2007/04/14/Two_soldiers_on_patrol_killed_in_ambush/ |title=Two soldiers on patrol killed in ambush - Worldnews.com |publisher=Article.wn.com |accessdate=9 July 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718075000/http://article.wn.com/view/2007/04/14/Two_soldiers_on_patrol_killed_in_ambush/| archivedate= 18 July 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref>


On 17 April, heavy street fighting renewed in the northern part of Mogadishu, with at least 11 dead civilians. And on the next day heavy mortar fire erupted killing another 3 civilians.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2007/04/18/11_killed_in_somalia_fighting/</ref> The fighting continued into 19 April, with another 12 civilians dead, while a ] at an Ethiopian army base wounding at least 10 Ethiopian soldiers. In addition 10 more soldiers were wounded when their truck hit a landmine in the city.<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18202128/</ref> On 17 April, heavy street fighting renewed in the northern part of Mogadishu, with at least 11 dead civilians. And on the next day heavy mortar fire erupted killing another 3 civilians.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2007/04/18/11_killed_in_somalia_fighting/ |title=Heavy Street Fighting Renewed in the Northern Part of Mogadishu }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The fighting continued into 19 April, with another 12 civilians dead, while a ] at an Ethiopian army base wounding at least 10 Ethiopian soldiers. In addition 10 more soldiers were wounded when their truck hit a landmine in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna18202128 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629213256/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18202128/ |url-status=live |archive-date=29 June 2007 |title=Fighting in Somali capital kills 12 - World news - Africa - msnbc.com |publisher=MSNBC |date=19 April 2007 |access-date=9 July 2011}}</ref>


Aid workers report that nearly half a million people fled the city, almost 1/2 of the population and only fighters and men protecting their property remain in the city.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6575039.stm | work=BBC News | title=Heavy Somali fighting amid crisis | date=20 April 2007 | accessdate=26 April 2010}}</ref> Aid workers report that nearly half a million people fled the city, almost 1/2 of the population and only fighters and men protecting their property remain in the city.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6575039.stm |work=BBC News |title=Heavy Somali fighting amid crisis |date=20 April 2007 |accessdate=26 April 2010}}</ref>


It was reported that in the latest round of fighting from 17 April to 24 April, at least 358 people had been killed, including 45 insurgents, and 680 were wounded. It is estimated that close to 320,000 Somalis have fled Mogadishu since February, with many more still trapped there.<ref></ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-04-24-somalia_N.htm | work=USA Today | title=Nearly 350 dead in fierce Somali fighting | date=24 April 2007 | accessdate=26 April 2010}}</ref> It was reported that in the latest round of fighting from 17 to 24 April, at least 358 people had been killed, including 45 insurgents, and 680 were wounded. It is estimated that close to 320,000 Somalis have fled Mogadishu since February, with many more still trapped there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EKOI-72J3FM?OpenDocument |title=News: Somalia, 51 killed as Somalia fighting rages |publisher=ReliefWeb |date=22 April 2007 |accessdate=9 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-04-24-somalia_N.htm | work=USA Today | title=Nearly 350 dead in fierce Somali fighting | date=24 April 2007 | accessdate=26 April 2010}}</ref>


On 26 April, Ethiopian troops took insurgent strongholds in Northern Mogadishu. They first occupied Tawfiq and Ramadan, before moving further north and capturing the Balad checkpoint in Northern Mogadishu, the main one for Mogadishu and an important supply line for insurgents.<ref>http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=87&art_id=nw20070426130724673C513263</ref> On 26 April, Ethiopian troops took insurgent strongholds in Northern Mogadishu. They first occupied Tawfiq and Ramadan, before moving further north and capturing the Balad checkpoint in Northern Mogadishu, the main one for Mogadishu and an important supply line for insurgents.<ref>{{cite web|author=Independent Newspapers Online |url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=87&art_id=nw20070426130724673C513263 |title=Ethiopian troops take back Mogadishu - Africa &#124; IOL News |publisher=IOL.co.za |date=26 April 2007 |accessdate=9 July 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20071026051408/http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=87&art_id=nw20070426130724673C513263| archivedate=26 October 2007| url-status= live}}</ref>


Somali Prime Minister ] declared victory over the insurgents on 26 April, saying "The worst of the fighting in the city is now over" and urging displaced residents to return to their homes. He also claimed that his forces, backed by Ethiopian tanks and artillery, had overrun an insurgent stronghold in northern Mogadishu, capturing at least 100 enemy fighters. Somali Prime Minister ] declared victory over the insurgents on 26 April, saying "the worst of the fighting in the city is now over" and urging displaced residents to return to their homes. He also claimed that his forces, backed by Ethiopian tanks and artillery, had overrun an insurgent stronghold in northern Mogadishu, capturing at least 100 enemy fighters.

==Aftermath==
Within days since the declaration of victory by the TFG, insurgent attacks resumed, increasingly based on targeting Ethiopian and TFG forces with remote-controlled explosive devices.<ref></ref>

===Casualties===
Local human rights groups and Hawiye clan elders estimated that the numbers of civilians killed in the first round of fighting in March 2007 alone ranged from nearly 400 to 1,000, with more than 4,000 others wounded. Hawiye elders estimated that the second round of fighting resulted in the deaths of almost 300 civilians and wounded 587 more. It was not possible to give more precise mortality figures for several reasons.<ref name=autogenerated1></ref>

The intensity of the fighting and bombardment in late-March restricted civilian movement in and around conflict areas. As the fighting escalated on 29 March, many of the dead were left in their homes, in other buildings, or even on the streets where they had been killed because it was too dangerous to collect and bury the bodies. By 2 April, when Ethiopian forces and Hawiye clan elders negotiated a ceasefire to collect and bury the dead, some bodies had already seriously decomposed in the heat, making identification difficult.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

Combatants' casualties were not disclosed each side.

===Displacement===
At least 365,000 people fled Mogadishu in the period from February to May 2007, according to UN estimates. Many of those who fled the city escaped during the temporary ceasefire beginning 2 April and in the roughly two-week period that followed. Tens of thousands of people stayed within the vicinity of Mogadishu, relocating to neighboring towns such as ] and ] (respectively 30 and 100 kilometers from the city, but many others travelled as far as ] and ] in the north or all the way to the ]n border in the south.<ref></ref>

==Human rights abuses and crimes==
{{See also|Human rights abuse}}
All parties involved in the conflict have violated the laws of war. It should be noted, however, that a violation by one side does not justify a violation by the other. For example, insurgent forces unlawfully deployed in densely populated neighborhoods would not justify Ethiopian forces bombarding those areas indiscriminately.<ref name=autogenerated3></ref>

===Violations by the insurgency===
According to HRW, the insurgency deployed their forces in densely populated civilian areas and often launched mortar rounds in “hit-and-run” tactics that placed civilians at unnecessary risk. It is unknown, however, whether insurgents purposefully used civilians to shield themselves from attack, a war crime.

Among the violations cited by HRW are also attacks on TFG civilian personnel and firing of mortars in a manner that did not discriminate between civilians and military objectives. Also, in at least one incident executed captured combatants in their custody, and subjected the bodies to degrading treatment.<ref name=autogenerated3 />

===Violations by the Ethiopian military===
The Ethiopian troops failed to take all precautions to avoid incidental loss of civilian life and property. They failed to verify if their targets were military objectives. Also, they failed to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian casualties by their choice of means (firing inherently indiscriminate rockets in urban areas) and methods (using mortars and other indirect weapons without spotters) of warfare.

According to HRW, the Ethiopian military routinely and indiscriminately fired rockets, mortars, and artillery in a manner that did not differ between civilian and military objectives or that caused civilian loss of life that exceeded the expected military gain. The use of area ]s in populated areas and the failure to cancel attacks once the harm to civilians became known is evidence of criminal intent necessary to demonstrate the commission of ]s.

The military is also accused of attacks on hospitals— in which it appeared to deliberately target civilian objects known to contain civilians and widespread pillaging and looting of civilian property, including of medical equipment at hospitals.<ref name=autogenerated3 />

===Violations by the TFG forces===
The TFG forces failed to provide effective warnings when alerting civilians of impending military operations. Like the Ethiopian military, it participated in widespread pillaging and looting of civilian property. The TFG forces interfered with the delivery of humanitarian assistance and in some instances directly attacked humanitarian personnel. Also, it was reported that it committed mass arrests and mistreatment of persons in custody.<ref name=autogenerated3 />


==See also== ==See also==
*]
*] *]
*] *]
*] *] (2006)
*]
*]
*] (2009)
*]
*]


==Notes== ==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}} {{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
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{{War in Somalia (2006–2009)}} {{War in Somalia (2006–2009)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2010}}


{{coord missing|Somalia}} {{coord missing|Somalia}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mogadishu}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mogadishu, 2007 March-April}}

Latest revision as of 10:55, 1 November 2024

Battle of the Somali civil war

Battle of Mogadishu (2007)
Part of the War in Somalia

Mogadishu skyline during the fighting in March 2007
Date21 March – 26 April 2007
LocationMogadishu
Result Tactical Ethiopian/TFG victory, insurgency not quelled
Belligerents
Popular Resistance Movement (PRM)
Somalia Hawiye clan militiamen		  Ethiopia
Somalia Somalia
 Uganda
Casualties and losses
427 killed
150 captured		 11 killed
(Somalia)
37 killed
68 wounded
(Ethiopia)
1 killed
5 wounded
(Uganda)
1 Mil Mi-24 helicopter gunship shot down
2 tanks damaged

Civilian casualties:
1,176 Somali civilians killed (Hawiye claim) 4,600 Somali civilians wounded


11 Belarusian civilians killed
War in Somalia (2006–2009)
Timeline

Battles

The Battle of Mogadishu began on 21 March 2007 in the Shirkole area of Mogadishu between Somali Transitional Federal Government forces and allied Ethiopian troops, and Islamist insurgents. The battle usually includes the dates, when referenced, in order to distinguish it amongst the nine major Battles of Mogadishu during the decades-long Somali Civil War.

The battle

First round of fighting

A failed 21 March and 22 disarmament operation by the TFG resulted in the capture of TFG troops.

Cargo plane shot down

Main article: 2007 Mogadishu TransAVIAexport Airlines Il-76 crash

On 23 March 2007, a TransAVIAexport Airlines Ilyushin Il-76 plane crashed in Mogadishu. The plane is thought to have been shot down. There were 11 people on board the aircraft, all but one Belarusian crew members died in the crash. The other remaining survivors were found wandering around the crash site and later died in hospitals.

2nd round of fighting

On 1 April, it was reported that the death toll of the previous four days of heavy fighting in the capital is at least 849 killed civilians, 200 insurgents and 36 Ethiopian soldiers along with the one Ugandan soldier, for a total of 1,086 dead.

2nd ceasefire

Fighting was essentially halted for 2 April, after Hawiye clan leaders declared a truce with Ethiopian military officials starting 2 pm 1 April. They further called on Ethiopian troops to withdraw from areas they had occupied during the past few days of fighting. Although there had been a lull in fighting on 2 April, Salad Ali Jelle, the deputy Defence Minister of the TFG denied that there had been or would be any ceasefires between Hawiye clan leaders and Ethiopian military forces. Jelle stated that it was not Hawiyes involved in the recent fighting, but "remnants of the defeated Islamist" and called upon civilians residing in insurgent positions to evacuate the area.

3rd round of fighting

On 11 April, at least two people have been killed and three others were wounded in a renewed fighting that erupted in north of the Somalia capital between interim government troops and local insurgents overnight. However, on 12 April Somalia's Ambassador to Ethiopia Abdikarin Farah stated that Mogadishu was now peaceful for the first time in sixteen years.

Early in the morning of the first day, bullets started flying between the insurgents and the government; we could not even leave our homes. The militia that were fighting were behind our compound, I don’t know if they were Al-Shaabab or Hawiye fighters. They were firing mortars and then running away. They were firing the mortars at the TFG and the Ethiopians, at the Presidential Palace and at the Ministry of Defense where the Ethiopians were based. Whenever the insurgents fired mortars at the Ethiopians, the Ethiopians responded with shells, but the Ethiopians shot them un-targeted, they killed many civilians and even our animals.

— 42-year-old woman from Towfiq district, describing the events of 29 March 2007.

On 14 April, two government soldiers are killed in an ambush in the capital.

On 17 April, heavy street fighting renewed in the northern part of Mogadishu, with at least 11 dead civilians. And on the next day heavy mortar fire erupted killing another 3 civilians. The fighting continued into 19 April, with another 12 civilians dead, while a suicide car bomb exploded at an Ethiopian army base wounding at least 10 Ethiopian soldiers. In addition 10 more soldiers were wounded when their truck hit a landmine in the city.

Aid workers report that nearly half a million people fled the city, almost 1/2 of the population and only fighters and men protecting their property remain in the city.

It was reported that in the latest round of fighting from 17 to 24 April, at least 358 people had been killed, including 45 insurgents, and 680 were wounded. It is estimated that close to 320,000 Somalis have fled Mogadishu since February, with many more still trapped there.

On 26 April, Ethiopian troops took insurgent strongholds in Northern Mogadishu. They first occupied Tawfiq and Ramadan, before moving further north and capturing the Balad checkpoint in Northern Mogadishu, the main one for Mogadishu and an important supply line for insurgents.

Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi declared victory over the insurgents on 26 April, saying "the worst of the fighting in the city is now over" and urging displaced residents to return to their homes. He also claimed that his forces, backed by Ethiopian tanks and artillery, had overrun an insurgent stronghold in northern Mogadishu, capturing at least 100 enemy fighters.

See also

Notes

  1. Aweys Osman Yusuf (20 May 2007). "Ethiopia says 1,000 insurgents killed in Mogadishu clashes". Shabelle.net. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  3. Somalia: Death toll reaches 22 in Mogadishu clashes Archived 22 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine – Somalinet.com
  4. "Two soldiers on patrol killed in ambush – Worldnews.com". Article.wn.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  6. Heavy fighting in Somali capital – BBC News
  7. Al Jazeera English – News – Shelling Continues In Mogadishu Archived 5 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Mogadishu clashes 'killed 1,000'". BBC. 10 April 2007. Archived from the original on 18 April 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2007.
  9. "Africa | Mogadishu clashes 'killed 1,000'". BBC News. 10 April 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  10. "Business & Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com". Today.reuters.com. 9 February 2009. Archived from the original on 11 July 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  11. "Truce declared by clan on Mogadishu Fighting". Garoweonline. 1 April 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
  12. "Thousands flee Somalia fighting". BBC. 2 April 2007. Archived from the original on 16 April 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
  13. Abdi Farah, Mohamed (2 April 2007). "Somalia: Mogadishu resumes calm as gun shots could be heard". Somalinet. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
  14. "Home". Shabelle. 3 November 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  15. "People's Daily Online - Somali ambassador says Mogadishu becomes peaceful in 16 years". English.people.com.cn. 12 April 2007. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  16. VI. Patterns of Abuses by Parties to the Conflict in Mogadishu, Human Rights Watch
  17. "Two soldiers on patrol killed in ambush - Worldnews.com". Article.wn.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  18. "Heavy Street Fighting Renewed in the Northern Part of Mogadishu".
  19. "Fighting in Somali capital kills 12 - World news - Africa - msnbc.com". MSNBC. 19 April 2007. Archived from the original on 29 June 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  20. "Heavy Somali fighting amid crisis". BBC News. 20 April 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  21. "News: Somalia, 51 killed as Somalia fighting rages". ReliefWeb. 22 April 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  22. "Nearly 350 dead in fierce Somali fighting". USA Today. 24 April 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  23. Independent Newspapers Online (26 April 2007). "Ethiopian troops take back Mogadishu - Africa | IOL News". IOL.co.za. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2011.

External links

War in Somalia (2006–2009)
Timeline
Background
Battles
OEF–HOA
Other events
Key players

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