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The Battle of Mogadishu (2009) started with an Islamist offensive, when rebels from al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam attacked and captured government bases in the capital of Mogadishu, the fighting soon spread causing hundreds of casualties. It ended up becoming the largest battle in Mogadishu since the Ethiopian withdrawal in January. The Islamist offensive lasted from 8 May to 14 May and ended with relative success as they managed to take control over most of the capital, while ARS-D and government (TFG) forces withdrew into AMISOM protected territories. But despite major gains, the rebels failed to topple the government during the eight days of fighting and small scale clashes continued until 22 May, when the government launched a major offensive to retake the city, as Islamist forces had mostly withdrawn into the Central Region and the government was now backed by powerful warlord Indho Ade. The government offensive initially had some success as they captured a few bases, however in a matter of hours the Islamist launched a successful counter offensive and re-captured the lost areas and made even more gains. As a result, the government offensive was aborted on 23 May. The offensive was however resumed on 1 June, resulting in a third round of fighting which lasted until 4 June and saw the government make enormous gains. Islamists launched a new offensive on 16 June, lasting until 23 June, entering government strongholds in Eastern Mogadishu for the first time, the offensive was relatively successful and saw most neighbourhoods in Kaaraan, Shibis, Abdiaziz and Wardhigley fall to their control. The government launched another offensive on 1 July, insurgents however successfully repelled the offensive, making gains until 5 July, when al-Shabaab's leader Sheikh Moktar Ali Zubeyr gave government forces a five-day ultimatum to hand over their weapons. The ultimatum was however rejected and so, al-Shabaab launched several attacks on key sites in the city provoking a major government offensive on 11 – 12 July, which led to a total expulsion of Islamist forces from the city. Islamists however returned on 13 July, with large re-enforcements from the South Eastern Region, government forces withdrew from all captured positions and minor clashes continued. A Seventh round of fighting was finally held between 21 and 27 August, which ended mostly indecisive. In early October the Al-Shabaab-Hizbul Islam alliance was broken by a power struggle in Kisimayo were after the two groups turned on each other. Both groups kept up their fight with the TFG however the split between the two groups marked a downwards trend in violence. A report at the end of the year said that 1,739 people had been killed throughout 2009 by violence in Mogadishu.〔http://allafrica.com/stories/201001010001.html〕 ==Prelude== Sheikh Sharif Ahmed assumed the presidency on 31 January 2009, which marked the start of a new phase in the Somali Civil War as Islamist hardliners such al-Shabaab and newly created Hizbul Islam vowed to continue the war.〔allafrica (http://allafrica.com/stories/200902050135.html Islamist Groups Merge to Fight Sheikh Sharif ), 4 February 2009〕 Throughout February there were clashes in Mogadishu, but they were mostly attacks on AMISOM forces. On 2 February a bomb hit an AMISOM convoy killing 18 civilians; AMISOM peacekeepers responded by opening fire on al-Shabaab insurgents, leaving over 20 people killed.〔Google News (18 die in Somalia after bomb hits AU convoy: officials ), 2 February 2009〕 4 February, Tahlil Ahmed, the director of independent news agency, HornAfrik was shot and killed by gunmen in the city, insurgents denied any involvement.〔BBC (Radio chief in Somalia shot dead ), 4 February 2009〕 On 8 February a gunbattle between AMISOM peacekeepers and al-Shabaab insurgents resulted in the death of three civilians that were caught in the crossfire, after rebels attacked the peacekeepers.〔(Three killed in Somali rebel attack ), 8 February 2009〕 12 February, two civilians were killed when al-Shabaab fired 11 mortars into the government-controlled seaport.〔allafrica (Mortar Shells Kill 2 And Injure 6 in Mogadishu ), 12 February 2009〕 20 February, another ambush on AMISOM forces resulted in a gun battle which left one civilian dead.〔(Somalia: AU force attacked in Mogadishu, civilian killed ), 20 February 2009〕 (詳細はBombs kill Somalia peacekeepers ), 22 February 2009〕 The attack was widely condemned by international observers as well as government and opposition leaders. A clash in Afgoy, on the same day, left one insurgent and one soldier dead.〔(Clashes in Afgoy leave 1 Insurgent, 1 Soldier dead )〕 ICU militiamen and TFG soldiers clashed with each other on 23 February, leaving four people dead.〔(Govt forces fight each other as President returns ), 23 February 2009〕 In total at least two TFG soldiers, 11 AMISOM peacekeepers, three insurgents and 55 civilians were killed before the Battle of South Mogadishu (24 – 25 February). (詳細はallafrica (Party of Islam Chairman Condemns Recent Attacks ), 28 February 2009〕 Among the dead where, at least six policemen and 15 Insurgents. The battle was condemned by both sides due to the large amount of civilian casualties. In March, April and May there were several mortar attacks, killing dozens. The mortar attacks were usually aimed at the presidential palace or the parliamentary building but sometimes also AMISOM bases, usually only resulting in civilian casualties.〔mareeg (Islamist attacks kills 3 civilians in the capital ), 4 March 2009〕〔allafrica (10 Killed in Mogadishu Bombardment ), 15 April 2009〕〔allafrica (Mortar Shells Attacked in the Centre of Parliament, Eight People Killed ), 26 April 2009〕〔allafrica (Six Killed in Attack on African Union Peacekeepers ), 27 April 2009〕〔allafrica (President Condemns Recent Attacks On Parliament ), 5 May 2009〕 Per these reports: between 26 February and 6 May 2009, some 21 Insurgents, 23 Government Forces, two AMISOM Peacekeepers and 31 Civilians (including several aid workers) were killed in Mogadishu clashes. 16 April, Somali lawmaker Abdulahi Isse Abtidon was assassinated in Mogadishu. Before that, mortar attacks had already injured 2 MPs.〔allafrica (New Lawmaker Fatally Shot in Mogadishu ), 16 April 2009〕 Though no group claimed responsibility, the government blamed al-Shabaab for it.〔allafrica (Islamic Courts Union Say Al-Shabab is Behind the Assassinations ), 17 April 2009〕 On 21 April a second MP was assassinated: Mohamed Mohamud Jimale ("Agaweyne")〔allafrica (Second Islamic Courts Union Official Killed in Mogadishu ), 22 April 2009〕 This man was also a military commander of the ICU.〔allafrica (Another Islamic Courts Commander Killed in Mogadishu ), 22 April 2009〕 On 23 April, Abdi Mohamed Dhabaney, the Hodan district commissioner escaped explosion attack on Maka al-Mukarama road which was intended to kill him.〔allafrica (District Commissioner Escapes Explosion Attack ), 24 April 2009〕 ICU leaders were also targeted on 5 May, though that attack killed only a bodyguard. In total ICU militia commanders and a Somali lawmaker with close ties to the ICU were gunned down in Mogadishu in April.〔allafrica (One Killed After Unknown Gunmen Attack Islamic Courts Officers ), 6 May 2009〕 23 April, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, leader of the Asmara-based wing of the ARS and most important figure of Hizbul Islam, returned to Mogadishu after 2 years of exile in Eritrea.〔allafrica (Sheikh Aweys Returns to Country to 'Reconcile Islamist Factions' ), 24 April 2009〕 He refused to talk to Somali President: Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, demanding an AMISOM withdraw first. The two, traded though words, heavily criticizing each other.〔allafrica (Sheikh Sharif And Sheikh Aweys Trade Tough Words ), 27 April 2009〕 Sheikh Sharif ruled out an AMISOM withdraw.〔allafrica (President Rules Out African Union Withdrawal ), 29 April 2009〕 Sheikh Aweys' security advisor later also accused Somali Security Minister Omar Hashi of "inciting war".〔allafrica (Aweys' Advisor Accuses Security Minister of 'Inciting War' ), 6 May 2009〕 On 30 April, senior al-Shabaab commander Sheikh Muktar, was assassinated in the Bakara market in response to attacks on Somali MPs.〔allafrica (Al Shabaab Militant Gunned Down in Mogadishu ), 30 April 2009〕 7 May an al-Shabaab officer escaped an assassination attempt resulting into a heavy gunfight between his security guards and ICU forces.〔allafrica (Fighting Between Al-Shabab And Islamic Courts Union is Continuing in Mogadishu ), 8 May 2009〕 4 May, forces loyal to Sheikh Aweys and al-Shabaab attacked the ex-pasta factory in Northern Mogadishu which was used as Ethiopian base and then as base for Sheikh Indho Ade's militia which were at the time (May 2009) still part of Hizbul Islam, though involved in a power struggle with the rest of the group.〔allafrica (Former Allies Involved in Mogadishu Skirmish ), 4 May 2009〕 On the same day, some government forces sold their armed trucks to al-Shabaab.〔allafrica (Presidential Security Forces 'Sell Armed Trucks' to Al Shabaab ), 4 May 2005〕 On 7 May, Indho Ade even met with President Sheikh Sharif to discuss peace.〔allafrica (Notorious Ex-Warlord Meets President, Five Killed in Fighting ), 8 May 2009〕 In early May, opposition fighters were pouring weapons and fighters into Mogadishu, preparing for their 8 May, offensive.〔allafrica (Opposition 'Pours Weapons Into Mogadishu' ), 6 May 2009〕 The government accused Eritrea of providing these weapons,〔allafrica (Govt Calls for the World to Intervene in 'Eritrean Meddling' ), 5 May 2009〕 something which opposition figures denied.〔allafrica (ARS Denies That Eritrea Deployed Weapons ), 5 May 2009〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Battle of Mogadishu (2009)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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