The battles for Kismayo, 2006 to 2012

In short

Kismayo, the main port of the Jubba regions, was fought over repeatedly because its seaport and airport brought in taxes and trade. This page sets out each change of control from 2006 to 2012 as the sources report it. Later events are covered in Jubaland security forces and Presidents of Jubaland.

2006 to January 2007: the Islamic Courts

Forces of the Islamic Courts Union took Kismayo from the Juba Valley Alliance in September 2006. After the courts lost Mogadishu in December 2006, clan elders in Kismayo told them to leave; one, Mohammed Arab, said: "We told them that they were going to lose, and that our city would get destroyed." Ethiopian and transitional government forces entered the town on 1 January 2007 (Wikipedia, Fall of Kismayo, citing The New York Times and The Guardian). See War in Somalia, 2006 to 2009.

August 2008: al-Shabaab and the Islamists return

From 20 to 22 August 2008 Islamist fighters attacked the city, held by Marehan militias loyal to Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale, and took it when the militias withdrew. The Long War Journal reported more than 70 people killed and that the Islamic Courts had taken the city (Long War Journal, 22 August 2008). Wikipedia names the attacking commanders as Ahmed Madobe and Hassan al-Turki and records about 35,000 people displaced (Wikipedia, Battle of Kismayo (2008), citing Garowe Online and CNN).

October 2009: al-Shabaab against Hizbul Islam

The groups that took Kismayo in 2008 then split. The Ras Kamboni Brigade and Anole, factions of Hizbul Islam, rejected a new al-Shabaab administration that left them out; taxes at the seaport were an important source of money for both sides (VOA, October 2009). On 1 October 2009 al-Shabaab raided Hizbul Islam-held districts in the north of the city, and at least 30 people were killed in more than five hours of fighting. Al-Shabaab's spokesman Sheikh Hassan Yaqub declared a "holy war" on Hizbul Islam; another spokesman, Ali Mohamud Rage, later said the group was fighting Ahmed Madobe alone (Long War Journal, 1 October 2009). Al-Shabaab held the town and the two factions withdrew to villages about 30 km away (VOA, 2009). See Raskamboni movement.

September 2012: the Kenyan-led offensive

In the early hours of 28 September 2012 Kenyan and Somali forces, backed by air strikes, landed near Kismayo. About 12,000 people had left the city in the four weeks before. Al-Shabaab's spokesman, Ali Mohamud Rage, said the group "ordered a tactical retreat at midnight" and would keep fighting; Kenya's deputy prime minister, Musalia Mudavadi, called it "a significant victory". Al Jazeera described the city as the backbone of al-Shabaab's funding, through taxes on business and shipping (Al Jazeera, 29 September 2012). Kenyan and Raskamboni forces entered the city on 1 October (Wikipedia, Battle of Kismayo (2012)). See Kenya's military in Somalia.

Sources differ

• Deaths in August 2008. More than 70 (Long War Journal) or at least 89 (Wikipedia, citing CNN).
• Who led in 2009. Al-Shabaab said it was fighting Ahmed Madobe, not Hizbul Islam; Hizbul Islam spokesmen said their fighters were defending themselves (Long War Journal).
• Who took the city in 2012. Al Jazeera reported Kenyan and Somali forces; Wikipedia also names AMISOM and the Raskamboni militia.

Read the primary sources yourself

• Al Jazeera, "Al-Shabab rebels pull out of key Somali town" (2012): article.
• Long War Journal, "Turf war in Kismayo" (2009): article.
• Voice of America, on the October 2009 fighting: article.