# Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA), 1995–2004 > The RRA, 1995–2004: founding at Jhaffey, the taking of Huddur and Baidoa, Ethiopian support, the 2002 South West State and split, and the move into the TFG. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/rahanweyn-resistance-army/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## In short The Rahanweyn Resistance Army was the armed movement of the [Digil](/en/society/digil/) and [Mirifle](/en/society/mirifle/), the Maay-speaking clan-family of the Bay and Bakool farmlands, often called the Rahanweyn. It was formed to take back Baidoa and the surrounding regions after they were occupied in 1995, and it became the base for the first South West State. For the society and language of this area, see [Baidoa and Bay](/en/regions/bay/) and [Bakool](/en/regions/bakool/). ## Why it was formed, 1995 In March 1995 the Digil-Mirifle had set up a Supreme Governing Council in Baidoa. On 17 September 1995 the militia of General [Mohamed Farah](/en/people/mo-farah/) Aidid's Somali National Alliance took Baidoa and ended the council ([Wikipedia, Rahanweyn Resistance Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahanweyn_Resistance_Army)). See [Mohamed Farrah Aidid](/en/people/mohamed-farrah-aidid/). On 13 October 1995 a *shir* (assembly) at Jhaffey, west of Baidoa, founded the RRA and elected Colonel Hassan Mohamed Nur "Shatigadud" as its chairman (same source). ## Leaders - **Colonel Hassan Mohamed Nur "Shatigadud"** (1946–2013), chairman. - **[Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade](/en/people/mohamed-ibrahim-habsade/)** and **[Sheikh](/en/regions/sheikh/) Adan Mohamed Nur "Madobe"**, his two deputies. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahanweyn_Resistance_Army); [BBC News, 31 July 2002, via ecoi.net](https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/20491)) ## Campaign, 1996–1999 - **Early 1996.** The RRA attacked positions held by Aidid's forces in Huddur and Baidoa. - **October 1998.** It took Huddur, the main town of Bakool. By early November Aidid's forces had fallen back to Baidoa. - **6 June 1999.** It took Baidoa. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahanweyn_Resistance_Army)) Reports at the time disagreed about Ethiopia's part. Wire reports collected by GlobalSecurity said the RRA took Baidoa with the backing of an Ethiopian force, and then took Bur Hakaba the same month. [Hussein Aidid](/en/people/hussein-farrah-aidid/)'s side said Ethiopian troops took the town themselves. Neither claim could be checked independently at the time ([GlobalSecurity, "Ethiopia: 2nd war with Somalia, 1998–1999"](https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/ethiopia3.htm)). ## The Arta conference and the SRRC, 2000–2001 The Arta peace conference in Djibouti (May–August 2000) formed the [Transitional National Government](/en/history/transitional-governments-2000-2012/) and paused RRA operations. Within months the RRA left the Arta arrangement ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahanweyn_Resistance_Army)) and joined the [Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council](/en/history/somalia-reconciliation-and-restoration-council/), a coalition opposed to the TNG. The wider story is told in [2000–2006: Transitional governments and the rise of the courts](/en/history/rebuilding-2000-2006/). ## The South West State and the 2002 split In April 2002 the RRA declared an autonomous "South West State of Somalia" for Bay, Bakool and neighbouring regions, with Shatigadud as president ([Uppsala Conflict Data Program, RRA internal conflict](https://ucdp.uu.se/nonstate/5304)). In July 2002 fighting broke out in Baidoa between forces loyal to Shatigadud and forces loyal to his former deputies [Adan Madobe](/en/people/aden-madobe/) and Habsade. BBC News reported on 31 July 2002 that at least 12 people had been killed ([BBC News, via ecoi.net](https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/20491)). Fighting continued into late 2002; the dispute was partly over whether to back the SRRC or the TNG ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahanweyn_Resistance_Army)). ## Into the TFG, 2004 The leaders later reconciled, and all joined the Transitional Federal Government formed in 2004 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahanweyn_Resistance_Army)). In 2002 the RRA had also signed the Geneva Call deed of commitment banning landmines, with fifteen other factions (same source, citing Landmine Monitor). The present member state is described in [South West State](/en/states/south-west-state/). ## Sources differ - **Ethiopia's part in the 1999 capture of Baidoa.** Reported as support for the RRA by some agencies, as a direct Ethiopian capture by Aidid's side, and not confirmed independently. - **The date of the South West State.** April 2002 in most reports; some accounts place its first declaration earlier. ## Read the primary sources yourself - BBC News, "Militiamen fight for Somali town" (31 July 2002): [ecoi.net record](https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/20491). - Landmine Monitor, *Somalia* reports 2002 and 2005, which describe the RRA's deed of commitment. --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.