Information on the current situation in El Wak could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

In December 1992 the Indian Ocean Newsletter reported that fighting between the Somali National Front (SNF) and the Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM) had taken place near El Wak (12 Dec. 1992, 2). The SNF is a Marehan-based group, then led by General Mohamed Sayeed Hersi "Morgan," the son-in-law of deposed Somali president Siad Barre, while the SPM is a Ogadeni-based group led by Colonel Omar Jees (also Jess), who is an ally of General Mohamed Farah Aidid (Hawiye-Habr Gedir) (ibid.). The source does not indicate who controlled El Wak between 1991 and 1993. El Wak is on the Kenyan border in the Gedo Region, south of Mandera and west of Bardera, this last town being under the control of the SNF in December 1992 (ibid.). According to a 1995 UNDP report, El Wak is also the name of a district in Gedo on the border with Kenya (1995, 2). A map published in New African in 1991 shows the Gedo Region, including the El Wak border area, to be under the control of the SNF (Sept. 1991, 19).

Baidoa is the capital of the Bay Region, which is west of the Somali capital of Mogadishu. Various sources indicate that the Rahenwein were predominant in the Baidoa area prior to the civil conflict in Somalia (EU Aug. 1995; Magna Carta Maps 1993; Gilkes Sept. 1994, 141).

Between 1991 and 1993, various Somali factions clashed in Baidoa. Baidoa came under attack by anti-Barre forces in January 1991 (ION 19 Jan. 1991, 5; ibid. 26 Jan. 1991, 5), and had fallen to a combined attack by Jess' SPM (Ogaden) and Aidid's United Somali Congress (USC-Hawiye) forces by 26 January 1991 (ibid.). Gilkes writes that the Rahenwein Somali Democratic Movement (SDM) controlled Baidoa for most of 1991, but was unable to completely repel SNF forces from the area (Gilkes Sept. 1994, 141). The SDM-SNF clashes destroyed agricultural production in the area, which contributed to the 1992 famine that gripped Somalia and the Baidoa region in particular (ibid.). With the SNF still posing a threat to the region's Rahenwein population, one faction of the SDM sought help from General Aidid's militia in late 1991 (ibid. Sept. 1994, 142; AC 7 Feb. 1992, ).

In April 1992 Barre mounted a counter-attack on Mogadishu but his forces were repulsed to Baidoa, which is 240 kilometres west of the Somali capital (ARB 1-30 Apr. 1992, 10553; ION 25 Apr. 1992, 2). By June 1992 Aidid's forces had pushed Barre out of Somalia and into Kenya, and Aidid set up a temporary base in Baidoa (ARB 1-30 June 1992, 10621; Gilkes Sept. 1994, 142). Baidoa itself had been captured by a combined USC-SDM force (ION 2 May 1992, 2). The region remained insecure however, as local armed groups clashed with Aidid's militia (Voice of the Somali Republic 21 July 1992; ibid. 8 Dec. 1992; ARB Sept. 1-30 1992, 10723). Gilkes states that there were numerous allegations of Aidid's militia preying upon the Rahenwein in a manner not unlike that of the defeated SNF forces (Sept. 1994, 142). Baidoa remained a stronghold of the Rahenwein , the SDM was split along factional lines between those who supported the alliance with Aidid, and those who were aligned with Aidid's Hawiye-Abgal opponent Ali Mahdi, who headed up the Somali Salvation Alliance (SSA) (ibid. 143). For further information on the various SDM alliances and their impact on the Rahenwein, please consult pages 140-44 of Gilkes, which is available at Regional Documentation Centres.

As a result of the famine which caused thousands of people to come into the town in search of food, Baidoa's population increased dramatically (ARB Sept. 1992, 10693). The city became the centre for a massive emergency food aid programme (ibid. 1-30 Sept. 1992, 10723; AC 25 Sept. 1992, 3). It also was occupied by United Nations troops during the UN intervention in Somalia (AFP 15 Dec. 1992).

For additional information on the situation of Baidoa between 1991 and 1993, please consult the attachments which are arranged in chronological order for your convenience. The Indexed Media Review, which is available in Regional Documentation Centres, also contains reports on Baidoa in 1993.

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 (AC) [London]. 7 February 1992. Vol. 33, No. 3. "Somalia: Ways to End the Slaughter."

_____. 25 September 1992. Vol. 33, No. 19. "Somalia: The Politics of Hunger."

Africa Research Bulletin (ARB): Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. September 1-30 1992. Vol. 29, No. 9. "Somalia: Thousands Die Each Day."

_____. June 1-30 1992. Vol. 29, No. 6. "Somalia: Gen. Aideed Claims Victory."

_____. April 1-30 1992. Vol. 29, No. 4. "Somalia: Barreh Escapes to Kenya."

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 15 December 1992. "U.S., French Military Convoy Leaves Mogadishu." (FBIS-AFR-92-241 15 Dec. 1992, p. 6)

EC Somalia Unit, European Union (EU). August 1995. "Distribution of Somali Clans and Neighbouring People." A Study of Decentralized Political Structures for Somalia: A menu of Options. London: European Union/United Nations Development Office for Somalia.

Gilkes, P. September 1994. The Price of Peace: Somalia and the United Nations: 1991-1994. Bedfordshire, UK: Save the Children Fund, UK.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) [Paris]. 12 December 1992. "Somalia: Regional Shock Wave."

_____. 2 May 1992. "Somalia: Troops Faithful to Siad Barre Thwarted."

_____. 25 April 1992. "Somalia: Thwarted Offensive by Troops Faithful to Siad Barre."

_____. 19 January 1991. "Somalia: USC Makes Sluggish Progress."

_____. 26 January 1991. "Somalia: Guerrilla Advances and Announces Cease-Fire."

Magna Carta Maps. 1993. "Somalia." Washington, DC: Magna Carta.

New African [London]. September 1991. "Political Patchwork."

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nairobi. 26 June 1995. "Situational Report: Gedo Region, Somalia."

Voice of the Somali Republic [Mogadishu, in Somali]. 8 December 1992. "Baidoa Fighting Claims 120 Dead." (FBIS-AFR-92-236 8 Dec. 1992, p. 5)

_____. 21 July 1992. "Security Situation in Baidoa Said 'Very Unstable'." (FBIS-AFR-92-141 22 July 1992, p.4)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 27 November 1993. "Several Wounded in New Somali Clan Fighting." (NEXIS)

_____. 22 October 1993. "Butrus-Ghali Pays Brief Visit to Baidoa, Mogadishu, Arrival Triggers Clashes in South." (FBIS-AFR-93-203 22 Oct. 1993, p. 11)

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Humanitarian Response, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), Washington, DC. 15 October 1993. Situation Report No. 22. "Somalia - Civil Strife," pp. 1, 4.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) [Paris]. 9 October 1993. "Somalia: French Sidestepping Islamists," p. 2.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Humanitarian Response, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), Washington, DC. 26 May 1993. Situation Report No. 21. "Somalia - Civil Strife," pp. 1, 4-5.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) [Paris]. 3 April 1993. "Somalia: A French Takeover," p. 2.

Africa Confidential [London]. 19 March 1993. Vol. 34, No. 6. "Pressure on Aydeed," p. 2.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Humanitarian Response, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), Washington, DC. 12 March 1993. Situation Report No. 19. "Somalia - Civil Strife," pp. 1, 4-5.

_____. 18 January 1993. Situation Report No. 18. "Somalia - Civil Strife," pp. 1, 4.

Africa Research Bulletin (ARB): Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 1-31 December 1992. Vol. 29, No. 12. "Factional Warlords," p. 10833.

Reuters. 21 December 1992. BC Cycle. "Gunmen Attack French Troops, Three Somalis Wounded." (NEXIS)

Africa Confidential (AC) [London]. 18 December 1992a. Vol. 33, No. 25. "Somalia: Beyond the Pax Americana," pp. 2, 4-5.

_____. 18 December 1992b. Vol. 33, No. 25. "Forces and Factions," p. 3.

Le Monde [Paris]. 17 December 1992. Dominique Le Guilledoux. "Baidoa, Villle Libérée." (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 16 December 1992. "Further on Baidoa Operation." (FBIS-AFR-92-243 17 Dec. 1992, pp. 6-7)

_____. 15 December 1992. "U.S., French Military Convoy Leaves Mogadishu." (FBIS-AFR-92-241 15 Dec. 1992, p. 6)

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) [Paris]. 12 December 1992. "Somalia: Regional Shock Wave," p. 4.

Reuters. 11 December 1992. BC Cycle. Aidan Hartley. "Gunmen Flee Somali City of Baidoa As U.S. Troops Advance." (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 11 December 1992. "Situation in Baidoa Worsening." (FBIS-AFR-92-240 14 Dec. 1992, p. 17)

The Times [London]. 8 December 1992. Sam Kiley. "Somali Fight for Control of Food Store Leaves 50 Dead." (NEXIS)

Voice of the Somali Republic [Mogadishu, in Somali]. 8 December 1992. "Baidoa Fighting Claims 120 Dead." (FBIS-AFR-92-236 8 Dec. 1992, p. 5)

Reuters. 7 December 1992. BC Cycle. "Somali Clan Clashes Kill 48 in Baidoa." (NEXIS)

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Humanitarian Response, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), Washington, DC. 6 November 1992. Situation Report No. 15. "Somalia - Civil Strife," pp. 1, 2, 4.

_____. 1 October 1992. Situation Report No. 14. "Somalia - Civil Strife," pp. 1, 2, 4.

Africa Research Bulletin (ARB): Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 1-30 September 1992. Vol. 29, No. 9. "Somalia: Thousands Die Each Day," p. 10723.

_____. 1-31 August 1992. Vol. 29, No. 8. "Somalia: UN Intervenes," pp. 10692-93.

Voice of the Somali Republic [Mogadishu, in Somali]. 21 July 1992. "Security Situation in Baidoa Said 'Very Unstable'." (FBIS-AFR-92-141 22 July 1992, p.4)

Africa Research Bulletin (ARB): Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 1-30 June 1992. Vol. 29, No. 6. "Somalia: Gen. Aideed Claims Victory," p. 10621.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) [Paris]. 2 May 1992. "Somalia: Troops Faithful to Siad Barre Thwarted," p. 2.

Africa Research Bulletin (ARB): Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 1-30 April 1992. Vol. 29, No. 4. "Somalia: Barreh Escapes to Kenya," pp. 10552-53.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) [Paris]. 25 April 1992. "Somalia: Thwarted Offensive by Troops Faithful to Siad Barre," p. 2.

Africa Confidential (AC) [London]. 7 February 1992. Vol. 33, No. 3. "Somalia: Ways to End the Slaughter," pp. 5-6.

New African [London]. September 1991. "Political Patchwork," p. 19.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) [Paris]. 26 January 1991. "Somalia: Guerrilla Advances and Announces Cease-Fire," p. 5.

_____. 19 January 1991. "Somalia: USC Makes Sluggish Progress," p. 5.