Information on the current situation in Baidoa [SOM24646.E]

According to several sources General Aidid's forces (United Somali Congress/Somali National Alliance (USC-SNA)), seized control of Baidoa in September 1995 (Africa Confidential 23 Aug. 1996, 3; Africa News 19 Aug. 1996; The Financial Times 3 Aug. 1996; AFP 8 Aug. 1996). Since then Aidid's forces have fought several skirmishes with the Rahanwein Resistance Army (RRA) in the area surrounding Baidoa (ibid.; ibid. 4 Aug. 1996; ibid. 13 May 1996; ibid. 7 Apr. 1996; ibid. 4 March 1996; ibid. 3 March 1996; Africa Confidential 23 Aug. 1996, 3; Africa News 19 Aug. 1996; Xinhua 1 May 1996; ibid. 4 Jan. 1996; The Indian Ocean Newsletter 20 Apr. 1996; Deutsche Presse-Agentur 4 Mar. 1996; AP 3 Mar. 1996; ibid. 10 Jan. 1996; Radio Mogadishu 14 Feb. 1996; Reuters 4 Jan. 1996).

More recent United Nations situation reports state that the situation in Baidoa and the surrounding countryside is tense as fighting continues between the RRA and Aidid's forces (Aug. 1996, 2; July 1996, 2; June 1996a, 3; June 1996b, 2). The same source reports that all roads into the city, except for the Baidoa-Mogadishu road, are mined (ibid. Aug. 1996, 2). In July 1996 the United Nations reported that up to half of the people fleeing the Bay and Bakool regions were doing so because of the insecurity in the regions (ibid. July 1996, 6).

For additional information on the conflict between the RRA and General Aidid in the Baidoa area, please consult the attachments.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References


Africa Confidential [London]. 23 August 1996. Vol. 37, No. 17. "Somalia: Aydeed's Legacy."

Africa News [Durham, NC]. 19 August 1996. "Somalia; Somali Clan Militia Resumes Battle After Ceasefire Collapse." (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse (AFP). 8 August 1996. "Somali Warlord Working For Peace But Denounces Aidid's Son." (NEXIS)

_____. 4 August 1996. Hugh Nevill. "Battle for Baidoa Looming: Retired General." (NEXIS)

_____. 13 May 1996. "Eleven Killed, 23 Wounded in Factional Violence in Central Somalia." (NEXIS)

_____. 7 April 1996. "Rahanwein Rebels Claim Recapture of Huddur." (NEXIS)

_____. 4 March 1996. "Aidid Captures Somali-Ethiopian Border Town." (NEXIS)

_____. 3 March 1996. "19 Killed in Violence in Somali Town of Baidoa." (NEXIS)

The Associated Press (AP). 3 March 1996. "In a Push to Extend Control...." (NEXIS)

_____. 10 January 1996. "A Clan Militia Spokesman Said Wednesday...." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 4 March 1996. BC Cycle. "Thousands Flee From Fighting in Southern Somalia." (NEXIS)

The Financial Times [London]. 3 August 1996. London Edition. Michela Wrong. "Somali Warlord's Death May Spur End to Civil War." (NEXIS)

The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 20 April 1996. No. 715. "EC Doesn't Appreciate Aideed." (NEXIS)

Radio Mogadishu [ Pro-Ali Mahdi Mohammad Radio, Mogadishu, in Somali]. 14 February 1996. "Somalia; Over 40 Aydid Men Said Killed in Fighting." (BBC Summary 15 Feb. 1996/NEXIS)

Reuters. 4 January 1996. BC Cycle. "At Least 12 Killed in Fighting Over Somali Town." (NEXIS)

United Nations. August 1996. From Relief to Development in Somalia: Situation Report for the Period 16 July-2 August 1996. Nairobi: Office of the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Somalia.

_____. July 1996. From Relief to Development in Somalia: Situation Report for the Period 1-15 July 1996. Nairobi: Office of the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Somalia.

_____. June 1996a. From Relief to Development in Somalia: Situation Report for the Period 16-30 June 1996. Nairobi: Office of the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Somalia.

_____. June 1996b. From Relief to Development in Somalia: Situation Report for the Period 1-15 June 1996. Nairobi: Office of the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Somalia.

The Xinhua News Agency. 1 May 1996. "More Clashes Occur in Southwestern Somalia." (NEXIS)

_____. 4 January 1996. "Fighting Breaks Out in Somali Town, Killing." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Africa News [Durham, NC]. 19 August 1996. "Somalia; Somali Clan Militia Resumes Battle After Ceasefire Collapse." (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse (AFP). 4 August 1996. Hugh Nevill. "Battle for Baidoa Looming: Retired General." (NEXIS)

_____. 13 May 1996. "Eleven Killed, 23 Wounded in Factional Violence in Central Somalia." (NEXIS)

_____. 7 April 1996. "Rahanwein Rebels Claim Recapture of Huddur." (NEXIS)

_____. 3 March 1996. "19 Killed In Violence in Somali Town of Baidoa." (NEXIS)

The Associated Press (AP). 10 January 1996. "A Clan Militia Spokesman Said Wednesday...." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 4 March 1996. BC Cycle. "Thousands Flee From Fighting in Southern Somalia." (NEXIS)

United Nations. August 1996. From Relief to Development in Somalia: Situation Report for the Period 16 July-2 August 1996. Nairobi: Office of the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Somalia, pp. 2.

_____. July 1996. From Relief to Development in Somalia: Situation Report for the Period 1-15 July 1996. Nairobi: Office of the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Somalia, p. 2, 6.

_____. June 1996. From Relief to Development in Somalia: Situation Report for the Period 16-30 June 1996. Nairobi: Office of the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Somalia, p. 3.

_____. June 1996. From Relief to Development in Somalia: Situation Report for the Period 1-15 June 1996. Nairobi: Office of the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Somalia, pp. 2-3.

The Xinhua News Agency. 1 May 1996. "More Clashes Occur in Southwestern Somalia." (NEXIS)

_____. 4 January 1996. "Fighting Breaks Out in Somali Town, Killing." (NEXIS)