El Baraf
Ceelbaraf (Elbaraf)
Ceelbaraf Ceel Baraf | |
|---|---|
town and district | |
| Nickname: Degmada Ceelbaraf | |
  Ceelbaraf (Elbaraf) Location in Somalia. | |
| Coordinates: 3°12′26.2″N 45°45′31.5″E / 3.207278°N 45.758750°E | |
| Country |  Somalia |
| State |  Hirshabelle |
| Region | Middle Shabelle |
| Area | |
| • Land | 2,808 km2 (1,084 sq mi) |
| Population (July, 2021) | |
| • Total | 384,630 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Ceelbaraf (Elbaraf) is a town and district in the Middle Shabelle, Somalia. It is a transportation hub at the junction of roads and had been effectively controlled by the Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab since 2009 and by the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) since 2016.
Inhabitants[edit]
The inhabitants are predominantly Agoonyar Gaabane, a branch of the Abgaal, a branch of the Hawiye clan.[1] They are in conflict with the Hawaadle, another branch of the Hawiye clan, who live in a neighboring village.[2]
History[edit]
In June 2002, the forces of Muhammad Umar Habeb of the Warsangali clan attacked El Baraf. El Baraf was controlled by the warlords of Dahir Dayah, then Minister of Interior of the Transitional National Government of Somalia.[1]
In February 2008, a struggle between Hawaadle and Abgaal, a branch of the Hawiye clan, set the stage for fighting in Qoryale and El Baraf. The clashes displaced hundreds of families and thousands of people. The inhabitants of the Hawaadle clan took refuge in Jalalaqsi and those of the Abgaal clan in Mahaday.[2]
Ruling by Al-Shabaab[edit]
In June 2009, there was fighting in El Baraf between forces supporting the TFG government and Al-Shabaab, displacing the residents.[3] For the next seven years, El Baraf was controlled by Al-Shabaab.[4]
In March 2011, the Hawiye clan declared the establishment of the "CAWL Autonomous Region" centered on Sheekh Ibraahim Taajir (Sheekh Ibraahim Yare), which was described as consisting of five towns: Galcad (Galgudud region), Masaga-waa (Galgudud region), Budbud (Mudug region) Cigo (Galgdud region), and El Baraf (Central Sheberi region).[5]
In November 2011, al-Shabaab in El Buur fled and the Ethiopian army and moved in to El Baraf village and other areas.[6]
Recapture by AMISOM[edit]
In February 2016, Somali government forces and AMISOM forces jointly took control of El Baraf village, which was controlled by al-Shabaab.[7]
In October 2016, Al Shabaab destroyed El Baraf's wells. Many residents moved in search of water sources. Water shortages have triggered a decline in services such as healthcare and education,[8] and AMISOM has requested international organizations and NGOs to provide clean water.[9]
In November 2016, al-Shabaab attacked the AMISOM base in El Baraf.[10]
In March 2017, Somali government forces arrested members of al-Shabaab in El Baraf.[11]
In December 2018, more than 15 people died due to clan fighting.[12] The struggle occurred between El Baraf and Jalalaqsi and is believed to have been caused by khat trading in Jowhar. The government of Hirshabelle State, a constituent of the Federal Republic of Somalia, held a meeting to mediate.[13]
In September 2019, some 50 people from Alkowsar in the Adan Yabal district of the Middle Shabelle region returned to El Baraf as emissaries of al-Shabaab, where they were arrested and prohibited from contacting their relatives.[14]
In October 2019, Somali government soldiers shot and killed a young man in El Baraf. The murdered man was the son of a well-known businessman. It was also reported that murders by Somali government soldiers are not uncommon.[15]
In October 2020, three people, including a Somali military officer, were killed by a landmine near El Baraf.[16]
In September 2021, al-Shabaab attacked the Burundi military base at El Baraf.[17]
In May 2022, al-Shabaab attacked the Burundi military base at El Baraf. Al-Shabaab reportedly killed 170 AU soldiers, but the Burundi military reported 10 dead and 5 missing.[18]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Fear of more clashes in Middle Shabelle". thenewhumanitarian.org. 2002-06-18. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ a b iDMC (2008-07-29). "SOMALIA: Massive displacement and humanitarian need" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ "Dagaalo xoogan oo saakay ka dhacay Deegaanka Ceelbaraf Gobalka Sh/dhexe". warsheekh.com. 2009-06-28. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ "La vie normale est de retour dans la ville d'El Baraf après sa libération". amisom-au.org. 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Maamul Goboleed cusub oo looga dhawaaqay magaalada Muqdisho (SAWIRRO)". hiiraan.com. 2011-03-16. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ "Al-Shabaab Redeploys to Face Ethiopia". piracyreport.com. 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ "AMISOM iyo ciidamada dowladad oo la wareegay saldhigii Alshabaab ee Shabeelaha Dhexe". goobjooge.net. 2016-02-24. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ "Afhayeenka AMISOM oo sheegay in xaalad beni'aadanimo ay ka jirto magaalada Ceel Baraf". radiomuqdisho.so. 2016-10-26. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Dadka reer Ceel-Baraf oo Codsaday in Lala Soo Gaaro Biyo Nadiif ah". voasomali.com. 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Ururka Al Shabaab Oo Weeray Saldhig Ay Ciidamada Amisom Ku Leeyahiin Degmada Ceel Baraf". gedotimes.com. 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Ciidamada dowladda Somalia oo ka baxay Ceel-Baraf". garoweonline.com. 2017-03-08. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Maleeshiyaad ku dagaalamay deegaanno dhaca xadka gobollada Hiiraan iyo Galguduud". hiiraan.com. 2018-12-22. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Golaha Wakiilada Hirshabeelle oo ka walaacsan dagaal Beeleed ka soo cusboonaaday Xuduuda Jalalaqsi iyo Ceel-baraf". kalfadhi.com. 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Ceel-Baraf oo lagu xiray ergo kasoo laabatay deeganada Alshabaab maamulaan". ceelhuur. 2019-09-08. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Ceel-Baraf: Askari Dilay Wiil Dhalinyaro Ah". goobjoog.com. 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Qarax khasaare geystay oo ka dhacay Sh.dhexe". wadani.com. 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Ciidamada Burundi Ee Degan Ceel-Baraf Oo Weerar La Kulmey". radioalfurqaan.com. 2021-09-07. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
- ^ "Al-Shabab attack on African Union forces in Somalia: What we know". bbc.com. 2022-05-04. Retrieved 2022-05-05.