Armed groups and militias
Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA), 1995–2004
The Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) was an armed movement founded on 13 October 1995 at Jhaffey, west of Baidoa, after forces of General Mohamed Farah Aidid took Baidoa that September. Led by Colonel Hassan Mohamed Nur 'Shatigadud', it drew its support from the Digil and Mirifle (Rahanweyn) of Bay and Bakool. It took Baidoa on 6 June 1999, with Ethiopian backing according to several reports, declared a South West State in 2002, and its leaders later joined the Transitional Federal Government.
In short
The Rahanweyn Resistance Army was the armed movement of the Digil and 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 and 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 Aidid's Somali National Alliance took Baidoa and ended the council (Wikipedia, Rahanweyn Resistance Army). See 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 and Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur "Madobe", his two deputies.
(Wikipedia; BBC News, 31 July 2002, via ecoi.net)
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.
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'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").
The Arta conference and the SRRC, 2000–2001
The Arta peace conference in Djibouti (May–August 2000) formed the Transitional National Government and paused RRA operations. Within months the RRA left the Arta arrangement (Wikipedia) and joined the 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.
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). In July 2002 fighting broke out in Baidoa between forces loyal to Shatigadud and forces loyal to his former deputies Adan Madobe and Habsade. BBC News reported on 31 July 2002 that at least 12 people had been killed (BBC News, via ecoi.net). Fighting continued into late 2002; the dispute was partly over whether to back the SRRC or the TNG (Wikipedia).
Into the TFG, 2004
The leaders later reconciled, and all joined the Transitional Federal Government formed in 2004 (Wikipedia). 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.
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.
- Landmine Monitor, Somalia reports 2002 and 2005, which describe the RRA's deed of commitment.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Rahanweyn Resistance Army · en.wikipedia.org
- BBC News, 31 July 2002, via ecoi.net · ecoi.net
- GlobalSecurity, "Ethiopia: 2nd war with Somalia, 1998–1999" · globalsecurity.org
- Uppsala Conflict Data Program, RRA internal conflict · ucdp.uu.se
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- Somali Democratic Movement (SDM)The Somali Democratic Movement, the Digil and Mirifle movement founded in 1989: its place in the Somali National Alliance, the 1993 Baidoa congress and council, and its successor, the RRA.
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