The Center of Belet Weyne 1993

Bridge over the Shebelle River in the westside of Belet Weyne

Beledweyne (also transliterated as Belet Uen or Belet Weyne) is a city in Somalia. It is the capital of the Hiraan province, and is located in the central valley of the Shebelle River near the border with Ethiopia, some 206 miles (332 km) north of the capital Mogadishu. Straddling a meander of the river, it consists of four main districts called: October (Bundo-weyn), Howlwadaag, Koshin, and Hawa-tako. The Shabelle divides the town into east and west. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 398 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 509 pixel, file size: 207 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 398 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 509 pixel, file size: 207 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixelsFull resolution (995 × 661 pixel, file size: 89 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixelsFull resolution (995 × 661 pixel, file size: 89 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Categories: Regions of Somalia | Africa geography stubs ... The Shebelle River (with numerous spelling variations, including Shabele and Shabell, sometimes with Wabe or Webi prepended, Shabeelle in Somalia) begins in the highlands of Ethiopia, and then flows southeast into Somalia towards Mogadishu. ... Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: ; Italian: ), is the largest city in Somalia, and its capital. ...

Beledweyne is one of the oldest cities in Somalia, and the city where the first generation of modern Somali politicians have their roots, from Aden Abdullah Osman Daar to Mohamed Farah Aidid. Following the relocation of his capital to Taleex in 1909, Mohammed Abdullah Hassan and the Darwiish Army constructed a fort here to consolidate his control over the Ogaden.^[1] The Darwiish army sent to BeledWeyne and the rest of Hiiraan were lead by Maxamed Macalin Cagadhiig from the Dhulbahante Clan. This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Mohammed Farrah Aidid Mohamed Farrah Aidid (Somali: Maxamed Faarax Caydiid) (1934 - August 1, 1996) was a Somali politician and the leader of the Habr Gidr clan, who hindered international famine relief efforts in the early 1990s and challenged the presence of United Nations and United States troops in the country. ... Taleex, also known as Taleh; is an city, and capital of the similarly-named district located in northeast Somalia, now known as the State of Puntland, and also claimed as territory of the Republic of Somaliland). ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Mohammed Abdullah Hasssan on his famous horse Xin-Faniin Mohammed Abdullah Hassan (Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan, Sayyid) (born April 7, 1864, in the north of Somalia, died December 21, 1920 in Imi, Ethiopia) was Somalias religious and nationalist leader (called the Mad Mullah by the British, although he was neither... Regional flag Ogaden (pronounced and often spelled Ogadēn, Somali: ) is a part of the Somali Region in Ethiopia. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Until recently, the town had been the base of operations of the self-proclaimed governor of Hiraan, Yusuf Ahmed Hagar (also known as Yusuf Mohamud Hagar and "Daba-Ged" or "Dabageed"^[2]). He had been forced to flee by the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) whose forces, under the command of Yusuf Makaraan took the town in August 2006 and established a sharia court under Sheik Farah Moalim.^[3][4] Though "Dabageed" returned to the town following the Battle of Beledweyne, on January 1, 2007, Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed declared Hussein Mohamud Moalim as new administrator for Hiiran region, replacing Dabageed, and Saleyman Ahmed Hilawle was nominated as assistant administrator.^[5] Yusuf Ahmed Hagar, also known as Dabageed or Daba-Ged, is governor of the Hiran region of Somalia. ... Motto: none Anthem: none Capital formerly Mogadishu and Kismayu Largest city n/a Official languages Somali and Arabic Government Sharia Krytocracy  - Executive Chairman Sharif Sheikh Ahmed  - Shura Chairman Hassan Dahir Aweys Civil War Faction Has not declared autonomy or independence   - Established June 6th 2006 in Mogadishu  Area  - Total not finalized... August 2006 is the eighth month of that year, and has yet to occur. ... Sharia (Arabic: transliteration: ) is the body of Islamic law. ... Combatants Islamic Courts Union  Ethiopia Casualties 60 killed [1] 12 taken prisoner The Battle of Beledweyne occured on December 24 to December 25, 2006 when Ethiopian troops seized that Somalian town from Islamic Courts Union fighters, according to some news agencies. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (Somali: ) (b. ...

Clan strife

Hawadle clan is the majority and controls the town.The Main part of The town is dominated by the Hawadle (Xawaadle). The western part of the town is controlled by [Gaaljecel and Jajele] also Makane(Bantu) and other clans are resides the town. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

In June 2005, fighting between the Galje'el and Jajele clans in the western end of town lasted for four days, resulting in 30 dead, 70 wounded and hundreds more displaced. This left the town on an uneasy footing.^[6] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

There were also reprisal killings of suspected Islamists following the December 2006 Battle of Beledweyne.^[7] December 2006 is the twelfth and final month of the year and will begin in 2 day(s). ... Combatants Islamic Courts Union  Ethiopia Casualties 60 killed [1] 12 taken prisoner The Battle of Beledweyne occured on December 24 to December 25, 2006 when Ethiopian troops seized that Somalian town from Islamic Courts Union fighters, according to some news agencies. ...

Military history

It is considered a strategic city due to its location.

During the 1970s, Beledweyne was a staging area for the Western Somali Liberation Front (WSLF) which sought to liberate the Ogaden area of Ethiopia and make it part of Somalia (see Greater Somalia). When the Ethiopians drove the Somali army and the WSLF out of the Ogaden during the Ogaden War, Beledweyne became the center of a refugee crisis that brought tens of thousands of Ogadeni refugees from Ethiopia into Somalia. The Ogadenis, part of the Somali Darood clan–the clan of Somali dictator Mohamed Siyaad Barre–clashed with local Hawadle of the Hawiye clan and set off the events that eventually led to Somalia's civil war. Somali guerrilla activity in the Ogaden and in the Haud area east of Harer flared sporadically after Somalia gained its independence in 1960, but the guerrilla activity remained essentially a police concern until a border war erupted in 1964. ... Flag of Somalia, the five edges of the star are said to symbolize the five parts of Greater Somalia Greater Somalia refers to those regions in the Horn of Africa in which ethnic Somalis live. ... Combatants Ethiopia Cuba South Yemen Somalia WSLF Commanders Mengistu Haile Mariam Vasily Petrov[1][2] Siad Barre Strength 217,000 Ethiopians 1,500 Soviet advisors 15,000 Cubans 2,000 South Yemenis SNA 60,000 WSLF 15,000 Casualties Unknown 20,000 killed or wounded 1/2 of the Air... Darood can mean: Darod, a Somali clan Darood-e-pak, an Urdu phrase complimenting the Prophet Muhammad. ... Mohamed Siad Barre (Somali: Maxamed Siyaad Barre) (1919 – January 2, 1995) was the Head of State of Somalia from 1969 to 1991. ... Hawiye is a Somali clan whose members live in central and southern Somalia, in larger numbers in Kenya and Ethiopia, and in smaller numbers in other countries. ... The Somali Civil War is an armed conflict in Somalia that started in 1988. ...

During the War in Somalia (2006-present), the internationally-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG), supported by Ethiopian troops, took the town from the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist militias Alleged:  Eritrea Foreign jihadists Puntland Galmudug Transitional Government of Somalia  Ethiopia[1] Commanders Hassan Aweys Hasan Hersi Adan Ayrow Barre Adan Shire Hirale Abdi Qeybdid Adde Musa (Puntland) Meles Zenawi Strength 10,000 – 30,000 soldiers 500 – 2000 technicals Heavy weapons including artillery... The Transitional Federal Parliament is an interim parliament of Somalia formed in neighbouring Kenya in 2004. ... Combatants Islamic Courts Union  Ethiopia Casualties 60 killed [1] 12 taken prisoner The Battle of Beledweyne occured on December 24 to December 25, 2006 when Ethiopian troops seized that Somalian town from Islamic Courts Union fighters, according to some news agencies. ... Motto: none Anthem: none Capital formerly Mogadishu and Kismayu Largest city n/a Official languages Somali and Arabic Government Sharia Krytocracy  - Executive Chairman Sharif Sheikh Ahmed  - Shura Chairman Hassan Dahir Aweys Civil War Faction Has not declared autonomy or independence   - Established June 6th 2006 in Mogadishu  Area  - Total not finalized...

Notes

1. ^ Said S. Samatar, Oral Poetry and Somali Nationalism (Cambridge: University Press, 1982), pp. 133
2. ^ "Anti ICU lost key towns in Somalia", SomaliNet, December 25, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-25. 
3. ^ Somalia's Conflict Enters a Phase of Duress PINR
4. ^ Islamic leader in key Somali town says 'the world better learn who we are' Associated Press
5. ^ Somali president nominates a new administrator for Hiran region Shabelle Media Network
6. ^ SOMALIA: Death toll rises as fighting continues in Beletweyne IRIN
7. ^ Yusuf, Aweys Osman. "Somalis in Hiran urged not hunt down former Islamist fighters", shabelle.net, 2006-12-31. Retrieved on 2007-01-05. 

Coordinates: 4°44′9.5″N, 45°12′14.3″E December 25 is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 6 days remaining in the year. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 25 is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 6 days remaining in the year. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...