Baidoa

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Baidoa
Baidoa Location in Somalia
Coordinates: 3°07′N 43°39′E / 3.117°N 43.65°E / 3.117; 43.65
Country	Somalia
Somalia	Bay Region
District
Time zone	+3

Baidoa (Somali: Baydhabo) is a city in south-central Somalia, situated 256 kilometers (159 miles) by road northwest of the capital Mogadishu. It is the capital of the Bay Region, which is historically inhabited by the Digil and Mirifle clans. Other Somali clans who have large presence in Bay Region include Gaaljecel and Dir.

Baidoa city consists of four districts: Isha, Horseed, Berdaale and Howlwadaag. It also has the name of the district in which this city resides. Baidoa is the third largest city of Somalia, the fourth most important after Kismayo. It is currently the provisional capital of Somalia.

History

Various factions of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) struggle for control of the city. On 30 May 2005 forces loyal to Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigudud, former RRA chairman, and Sheikh Adan Madobe, former first secretary, attacked the town, which is controlled by the forces of Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade. This had followed months of building tensions as the various militia factions built up their arsenals. In the immediate aftermath of the fighting, both the Shatigudud/Madobe and Habsade militias were seen to be preparing for further clashes.

Baidoa Seat of TFG Parliament

The Transitional Government was able to convene a parliamentary sittings of 275 members in Baidoa in February, 2006, inside a grain warehouse that had been temporarily converted. Despite the symbolic importance of the occasion, there have been no additional moves to establish government bodies or agencies in the city, beyond simply maintaining a militia presence there.

Since the collapse of the Somali Centernal Government, subsequent temporary governments sought refuge between Jowhar and Baidoa. The country's regular capital, Mogadishu was too dangerous for any government services.

On July 20, 2006 it was reported by the BBC [1] that a column of 100 Ethiopian military vehicles including armoured personnel carriers had crossed from the border town of Dolo Odo into Somalia. This follows reports of ICU forces advancing to within 60 km of Baidoa. Further reports stated that Ethiopian troops had been seen in uniform on the streets of the town. However, the Ethiopian government denied that its forces had entered Somalia.

On September 26, according to Stratfor [2], "Uganda flew a planeload of troops [...] to Baidoa, the seat of Somalia's interim government, aiming to keep Somalia's Islamists from becoming a force to support Islamist insurgents throughout the region."

On November 24, the Associated Press [3] reported that hundreds of Ethiopian troops had arrived in Baidoa to protect Somalia's government against the Conservative Council of Islamic Courts (a new name adopted by the ICU in June [4]). The troops proceeded on to Baidoa in a convoy of more than 130 trucks.

On December 24, Baidoa was reported to be one of several targets of Ethiopian airstrikes. [5] On January 30, 2009, Al-Shabaab captured the city, leading to the expulsion of the Transitional Federal Government.

See also

• Battle of Baidoa

External links

• Somalia warlords clash in Baidoa, BBC, 30 May 2005
• Uneasy calm after five killed in Baidoa, IRIN, 30 May 2005
• 1,500 Ethiopian troops enter border region (Garow Online)

Coordinates: 3°07′N 43°39′E / 3.117°N 43.65°E / 3.117; 43.65