| 5,761,896 |
2.06516 |
45.39 |
Somalia |
|
AS militias launched a series of coordinated attacks against several TFG/AMISOM positions in Kaaraan District in the evening of 21/01. Casualties could not be confirmed. |
| 5,761,901 |
2.08438 |
45.39 |
Somalia |
|
AMISOM and TFG forces launched a large-scale offensive against the remaining AS positions in Heliwa and Dayniile districts in the early hours of 20/01. The offensive had in fact started the night before with an intense artillery preparation targeting AS bases in these two districts. AMISOM/TFG forces were reported to have taken control of the remaining urban areas of Heliwa District that were still under AS influence (Livestock Market, Maslah area, up to Darmooley village (5km NE of ex-Control Balcad, on the main road to Balcad/Jowhar). AMISOM/TFG forces also managed to quickly take control of the Mogadishu University building and Baraakat cemetery to the north of Yaaqshiid District (3,5km N of Industrial Road), an area known to host an important AS camp and training facility. The situation in the center of Dayniile District remained however relatively confused. No activity had been reported in the area throughout most of the day of 20/01 but later in the evening AMISOM/TFG forces seemed to have launched an attack from their bases in Tiida and along Industrial Road towards the northern section of the district (airport, hospital). AMISOM forces were reported to have passed AS positions around these two locations and reached the general area of Ali Madhi's farm, around 8,5km NW of the Dayniile Hospital and 5,5km SE of the Shabelle River. As of Sunday 22/01 afternoon AMISOM forces had still not fully dislodged AS militias from the center of the Dayniile District. AS militias were reported to have offered little resistance in Heliwa District and around the Mogadishu University. Casualties could not be confirmed. |
| 5,761,905 |
0.4833 |
42.7666 |
Somalia |
|
Three warplanes believed to be Kenyan reportedly bombed AS positions in Mabuungo village, around 80km NE of Kismayo (exact location to be confirmed). The extent and nature of casualties/damage is not ascertained. |
| 5,761,908 |
8.47358 |
47.35441 |
Somalia |
|
Hundreds of women, children and youth held a demonstration in Laas Caanood town in support of the newly created State of Khatumo, announced from Taleex on 16/01. Waving Somali flags the demonstrators blocked streets with rocks and burning tires and threw stones at government offices and Telesom and Somtel compounds. Local businesses were forced to close by demonstrators. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the demonstration started spontaneously after a rumor circulated in town indicating that a number of buses and trucks had been transporting people from Burao the day before to conduct pro-Somaliland demonstrations in Laas Caanood. |
| 5,761,911 |
4.73598 |
45.20427 |
Somalia |
|
SVS militias reportedly confiscated weapons of local clan militias from the Bantu/Makame clan that had just been mobilized by TFG MPs on mission in Belet Weyne. The militias were to form a TFG security force in town. The incident occurred at the former jail where the militias had been gathered. The SVS militias which outnumbered the Makane group managed to confiscate seven weapons without fighting. The Bantu/Makame clan is demographically one of the most important ethnic group in Belet Weyne District. |
| 5,761,915 |
6.76924 |
47.43061 |
Somalia |
|
An American-German citizen reported to be a freelance journalist was kidnapped by gunmen while on its way between Galkacyo South and the Galkacyo airstrip in the early afternoon of 21/01. The perpetrators are reported to be part of a pirate group, from the Sa'ad/Niimcaale sub-sub clan. The victim was reportedly travelling in a vehicle belonging to a pirate associated to Mohamed Garfanje, a pirate leader based in Hobyo. The attackers were using a technical and two Land-Cruisers also reported to be belonging to a lieutenant of Mohamed Garfanje. It is believed that the perpetrators benefited from the complicity of the escort used by the victim and were in fact part of the escort the journalist had used when travelling to Hobyo. A Somali-German national who was assisting the journalist and who was trying to protect him was beaten and left on the scene. The victim is believed to have been taken in the direction of Hobyo or Xarar-Dhere. Separate reports indicate that an attempt to kidnap the journalist had already been made when he was staying in Ambassador Hotel in Galkacyo South, before he travelled to Hobyo, but that the management of the hotel had been informed in advance and had beefed up its security to prevent any attack. |
| 5,761,919 |
8.47358 |
47.35441 |
Somalia |
|
Somaliland police and military units that were dispatch to disperse a demonstration were reported to have shot in the direction of the crowd, killing two to six persons and injuring eight to fifteen. |
| 5,767,814 |
2.06777 |
45.35 |
Somalia |
|
Police raid militant hideouts, make arrests and recover weapons. |
| 5,761,942 |
2.06809 |
45.33577 |
Somalia |
|
A pro-AS website confirmed on 21/01 that Mr. Bilal al Berqawi - a top Al-Qaida leader in East Africa from British nationality and Lebanese descent - had been killed in an airstrike targeting AS positions in an undisclosed location on 05/01/2012. The man was presented as an early Mujahideen who had been fighting in Somalia since before the set-up of the ICU and is believed to have been second in command after Mr. Fazul Mohamed - killed the year before at a TFG check-point in ex-Control Afgooye in Mogadishu in June 2011. The statement specifies that the airstrike had been conducted by a suspected US drone. |
| 5,761,947 |
2.0735 |
45.28 |
Somalia |
|
AS militias launched a series of hit-and-run attacks against AMISOM/TFG positions in Dayniile and Kaaraan districts in the evening of 22/01. |
