User:Zachaguirre/sandbox

Beginning
The Second Battle of Mogadishu was a battle fought for control of Somalia's capital city, Mogadishu. The opposing forces were the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT), and militia loyal to the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). The conflict began in mid-February 2006, when Somali warlords formed the ARPCT to challenge the ICU's emerging influence. The ICU's influence was largely generated by wealthy financial donors who sought to enable the Islamic Courts Union to seize power in the country to bring stability. The battle is referred to as the Second Battle to distinguish it amongst the nine major Battles of Mogadishu during the decades long Somali Civil War.

By 15 July 2006, the entirety of Mogadishu was under UIC control.

On 14 June 2006, following a stand-off that lasted for approximately eight days, the ICU reportedly attacked the remaining ARPCT forces in Jowhar, routing them and seizing the town. Ali Mohamed Gedi has since then requested peacekeeping forces from the African Union, and neighboring states such as Kenya have imposed sanctions on the fleeing warlords, barring them entry into their lands. By 15 July 2006, the entirety of Mogadishu was under UIC control. With a decisive ICU victory, the organization became the first group to seize full control of the capital city since the organization had taken power from Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991.

Added:

On 7 June 2018, it was found that the United States was funding the ARPCT due to concerns that the ICU had ties to al-Qaeda. From a CIA basecamp in Kenya, Americans had given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the ARPCT.

By 15 July 2006, the entirety of Mogadishu was under UIC control.

The ICU's influence was largely generated by wealthy financial donors who sought to enable the Islamic Courts Union to seize power in the country to bring stability

With a decisive ICU victory, the organization became the first group to seize full control of the capital city since the organization had taken power from Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991.

A member of the ARPCT coalition said that the coalition has "no immediate plans," following their decisive loss.

Background
In 2005, it was reported that multiple independent Islamic courts had started to work cooperatively under the umbrella of Shariah Law, which would then become the Islamic Courts Union. This movement then seize power of Mogadishu, creating an Islamic movement throughout Somalia. This cooperation among Islamic courts caused Somalian warlords and businessmen to band together and form the ARPCT, with the support of American and Ethiopian aid. After this unification, the members began to mobilize in order to prevent an Islamic movement from taking full power over the capital city. The ARPCT began by conducting various attacks and kidnappings in early 2006, but as the year went on these aggressions caused a conflict to arise.

^^ ALL NEW BY ME

The Battle
The exact resumption of hostilities is unknown; by 24 March 2006, the BBC was reporting the "most serious clashes for almost a decade" with almost 70 dead.

In May 2006, the fighting intensified between warlords and militia loyal to ICU, which controlled around 80% of the city. On 4 June 2006, the ICU seized Balad, 30 miles north of Mogadishu. Balad had previously been under the control of forces loyal to Musa Sudi Yalahow. By 5 June, at least 350 people, mostly civilians, had been killed.[citation needed]

On 5 June 2006, Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi fired four ministers (who were also clan leaders) whose private armies were involved in the fighting. Gedi fired National Security Minister Mohamed Afrah Qanyare, Commerce Minister Musa Sudi Yalahow, Militia Rehabilitation Minister Botan Ise Alin and Religious Affairs Minister Omar Muhamoud Finnish, according to government spokesman Abdirahman Nur Mohamed Dinari. He also invited the Islamic courts for talks.

On 5 June 2006, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, the ICU's chairman, reportedly seized Mogadishu, saying in a radio broadcast: "We won the fight against the enemy of Islam. Mogadishu is under control of its people." The ICU's success has been attributed to the Islamic movement's ability to transcend clan politics.

Following Mogadishu's fall, there were two competing rallies. Mogadishu's largest clan, the Abgaal, held a rally in the city's northern part, reportedly drawing about 3000. AP reports the demonstrators shouting “We don't need Islamic deception!” and “We don't want Islamic courts, we want peace!” There was a competing rally in support of the ICU. At that rally, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed is quoted as saying "Until we get the Islamic state, we will continue with the Islamic struggle in Somalia," to a crowd of about 500.

The ARPCT's remaining forces are said to have fled to Jowhar. A member of the ARPCT coalition said that the coalition has "no immediate plans," following their decisive loss.

On 14 June 2006, following a stand-off that lasted for approximately eight days, the ICU reportedly attacked the remaining ARPCT forces in Jowhar, routing them and seizing the town.

Legacy
Ali Mohamed Gedi has since then requested peacekeeping forces from the African Union, and neighboring states such as Kenya have imposed sanctions on the fleeing warlords, barring them entry into their lands.

Despite this decisive victory of the Islamic Courts Union, the stability in the region was not

GONNA REMOVE BACKGROUND AND ADD IN CAUSES AND PUT THE ACTUAL BATTLE IN ITS OWN HEADER


 * TOP PART
 * CAUSES
 * DURING THE BATTLE
 * LEGACY
 * AMERICAN INTERVENTION