Baidoa (Somali: Baydhabo) is a city in south-central Somalia, situated 256 kilometers (159 miles) by road northwest of the capital Mogadishu. It is the capital of the Bay Region, which is historically inhabited by the Digil and Mirifle clans. Mogadishus location in Somalia Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: ‎ ; Italian: ), is the largest city in Somalia, and its nominal capital. ... Bay is a region (gobolka) in southern Somalia. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

History

Various factions of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) struggle for control of the city. On 30 May 2005 forces loyal to Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigudud, former RRA chairman, and Shaykh Adan Madobe, former first secretary, attacked the town, which is controlled by the forces of Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade. This had followed months of building tensions as the various militia factions built up their arsenals. In the immediate aftermath of the fighting, both the Shatigudud/Madobe and Habsade militias were seen to be preparing for further clashes. The fighting was seen as another sign of a faltering transition. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Rahanwein Resistance Army. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Transitional Federal Government, of which Shatigudud and Madobe are ministers, wishes to move a joint national capital from Mogadishu to Baidoa and Jowhar. President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed has little support in Mogadishu and wishes to avoid the influence of the capital's powerful warlords. Habsade, who is aligned with the warlords of Mogadishu and sees President Yusuf as a pawn of Ethiopia, wishes to keep the capital from moving. The Transitional Government was able to convene a parliamentary sittings of 275 members in Baidoa in February, 2006, inside a grain warehouse that had been temporarily converted. Despite the symbolic importance of the occasion, there have been no additional moves to establish government bodies or agencies in the city, beyond simply maintaining a militia presence there. The Transitional Federal Parliament is an interim parliament of Somalia formed in neighbouring Kenya in 2004. ... Jauhar (sometimes written jowhar) was originally the voluntary death on a funeral pyre of the queen or the royal women of defeated Rajput cities or forts in order to avoid capture. ... It has been suggested that 2006 Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed assassination attempt be merged into this article or section. ...

Following the victory of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) in the Second Battle of Mogadishu, which ended 6 June 2006 when the warlords' troops in Mogadishu were driven from that town -- most of whom fled to Jowhar - many of Baidoa's residents fear that the ICU, which became the most powerful faction in Somalia, will attempt to take control of this town too. However, the recent alleged deployment of 500 troops from Ethiopia to Baidoa is may stymie the ICU's ambitions for the city, as it is unlikely that the ICU would be able to prevail against regular forces in the open, desert topography of the city. There are fears that this intervention may escalate if Ethiopia's traditional rival, Eritrea intervenes in turn on behalf of the ICU, although this is considered improbable. Motto: none Anthem: none Capital (and largest city) Mogadishu Somali and Arabic Government  - Executive Chairman Sharif Sheikh Ahmed  - Shura Chairman Hassan Dahir Aweys Civil War Faction Has not declared autonamy nor independence   - Established June 6th 2006 in Mogadishu  Area  - Total not finalized/civil war km² (not ranked) n/a sq... Combatants Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism Militia loyal to the Islamic Court Union Commanders Mohamed Qanyare, Muse Sudi, Nuur Daqle Sheikh Sharif Ahmed Strength unknown unknown Casualties unknown unknown The Second Battle of Mogadishu was a battle fought for control of Mogadishu, the capital city of... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining // 1508 - Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year truce and cede several territories to Venice 1513... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On July 20 it was reported by the BBC [1] that a column of 100 Ethiopian military vehicles including armoured personnel carriers have crossed from the border town of Dolo Oda into Somalia. This follows reports of ICU forces advancing to within 60 km of Baidoa. Further reports stated that Ethiopian troops had been seen in uniform on the streets of the town. However, the Ethiopian government denies its forces have entered Somalia. The British Broadcasting Corporation, invariably known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, employing 26,000 staff in the UK alone and with a budget of £4 billion. ... East German BRDMs on parade during celebrations of the 40th anniversary of East Germany in 1989 Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are light armoured fighting vehicles for the transport of infantry. ...

On September 26, according to Stratfor [2], "Uganda flew a planeload of troops [...] to Baidoa, the seat of Somalia's interim government, aiming to keep Somalia's Islamists from becoming a force to support Islamist insurgents throughout the region." Strategic Forecasting, Inc. ...

On November 24, the Associated Press [3] reported that hundreds of Ethiopian troops had arrived in Baidoa to protect Somalia's government against the Conservative Council of Islamic Courts (a new name adopted by the ICU in June [4]). The troops proceeded on to Baidoa in a convoy of more than 130 trucks. The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ...

See also

• Battle of Baidoa

Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Transitional Federal Parliament Ethiopia Casualties 100 killed (TFG claim) [1] 203 killed (ICU claim) [2] The Battle of Baidoa began on December 20, 2006 between the Somali transitional governments forces with Ethiopian forces stationed there and attacking Islamic Courts Union forces. ...

External links

• Somalia warlords clash in Baidoa, BBC, 30 May 2005
• Uneasy calm after five killed in Baidoa, IRIN, 30 May 2005
• 1,500 Ethiopian troops enter border region (Garow Online)

Coordinates: 3°07′N 43°39′E The British Broadcasting Corporation, invariably known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, employing 26,000 staff in the UK alone and with a budget of £4 billion. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Integrated Regional Information Networks, commonly known as IRIN, is a project of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tasked with providing information relevant to those responding to and affected by complex emergencies, such a conflict-induced forced migration, and natural disasters, such as hurricanes and... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...