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Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga اتحاد المحاكم الإسلامية Islamic Courts Union
Flag Coat of arms
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/civil war km² (not ranked) n/a sq mi
- Water (%)	Negl.
Population
- n/a estimate	unknown (not ranked)
- Density	unknown/km² (not ranked) n/a/sq mi
GDP (PPP)	- estimate
- Total	n/a (not ranked)
- Per capita	n/a (not ranked)
HDI  (-)	n/a (n/a) (unranked)
Currency	Somali shilling (SOS)
Time zone	MSK (UTC+3)
- Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+3)
Internet TLD	.so
Calling code	+252 (Somalia)

The Islamic Courts Union (ICU, Somali: Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga, Arabic: اتحاد المحاكم الإسلامية Ittihād al-mahākim al-islāmiyya) are a group of Sharia Courts who banded together to form a rival administration to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, with Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as head of the ICU. They are also known as the Joint Islamic Courts, Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), Somalia Islamic Courts Council (SICC)^[1] or the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC)^[2] and Western media often refer to the group as the Somali Islamists. Image File history File links Current_event_marker. ... Image File history File links Icu_flag. ... Image File history File links ICU_seal. ... This page lists state and national mottos for the worlds independent states and if applicable, their component states. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is evoking and eulogizing the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nations government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1400x1512, 44 KB) Map of ICU territory, for country infobox. ... This is a list of national capitals of the world in alphabetical order. ... Mogadishus location in Somalia Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: ‎ ; Italian: ), is the largest city in Somalia, and its nominal capital. ... Kismayu or Kismayo (Somali: Kismaayo) is a city in the Jubbada Hoose region of Somalia. ... An official language is a language that is given a privileged legal status in a state, or other legally-defined territory. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... Sharia ( translit: ) is the body of Islamic law. ... A Krytocracy is a government ruled by judges. ... Sheikh Sharif Ahmed (born January 1964) is the leader of the Islamic Court Union (ICU), which currently controls Somalias capital of Mogadishu. ... Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, age 71[1], is the head of the 90-member shura council of the Islamic Courts Union of Somalia. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 km² and 1,000,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... This is a list of sovereign states and other territories by population, using the most recently available official figures. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries/dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The figures in the following table are based on areas including inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). ... Purchasing power parity (PPP) is in economics the method of using the long-run equilibrium exchange rate of two currencies to equalize the currencies purchasing power. ... Map of world GDP (PPP) by country using the IMF list for 2005 There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Map of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita, based on the 2005 IMF data. ... World map indicating Human Development Index (2004). ... This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Programmes Human Development Report 2006, compiled on the basis of 2004 data. ... The Somali shilling (shilin soomaali) is the currency used in the African nation of Somalia. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries not observing daylight saving Moscow Time (Russian: ) is the time zone for the city of Moscow, Russia and most of western Russia, including Saint Petersburg, Russia. ... Coordinated Universal Time (UTC - see below for explanation) is a high-precision atomic time standard. ...  Areas that observe daylight saving time  Areas that once observed daylight saving time  Areas that have never observed daylight saving time A 2001 public service announcement for the upcoming turning back of the clocks Daylight saving time (DST), also known as summer time, is a conventional local time adopted by... Coordinated Universal Time (UTC - see below for explanation) is a high-precision atomic time standard. ... The following is a list of currently existing Internet Top-level domains (TLDs). ... .so is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Somalia. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... Arabic ( or just ), is the largest member of the family of Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew, Amharic, and Aramaic. ... Sharia ( translit: ) is the body of Islamic law. ... The Transitional Federal Parliament is the parliament of Somalia. ... Chairman of the ICU, Sharif Ahmed. ... This article is about political Islamism. ...

Until recently, they controlled most of Somalia and the vast majority of its population, including most major cities such as Jowhar, Kismayo, Beledweyne, and the capital Mogadishu. Only the arid Northern regions (Puntland, Somaliland), and the furthest interior regions of the south were outside their control. In December 2006, the ICU lost much territory after defeats at the battles of Baidoa, Bandiradley, and Beledweyne, retreating to the capital, Mogadishu. On December 28 they abandoned Mogadishu, leaving the city in chaos while they moved south towards Kismayo, which allowed the TFG and Ethiopian troops to take over the city.^[3] After a stand at the Battle of Jilib, the ICU abandoned the city of Kismayo on January 1, 2007. Stripped of almost all their territory, it is speculated the ICU will pursue guerrilla -style warfare against the government.^[4] 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. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Beledweyne (also transliterated as Belet Uen) is a city in Somalia. ... Mogadishus location in Somalia Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: ‎ ; Italian: ), is the largest city in Somalia, and its nominal capital. ... Motto: None Anthem(s): Puntland Somalian National Anthem Capital Garowe Largest city Bosaso Official language(s) Somali and Arabic Government  - President Mohamud Muse Hersi  - Vice-President Hasan Dahir Independence From Somalia   - Declared 1998   - Recognition none  Area  - Total ~250,000 km² (not ranked) n/a sq mi   - Water (%) Negl. ... Capital Hargeisa Somali, Arabic and English Government Republic Independence From Somalia and United Kingdom   - Declared May 18, 1991 . ... Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Foreign fighters Alleged:  Eritrea Transitional Federal Government Ethiopia[1] Casualties 700 dead or wounded (TFG claim) SomaliNet 400 killed (ICU claim) [1] The Battle of Baidoa began on December 20, 2006 when the Somali Transitional Federal Governments forces (TFG) allied with Ethiopian... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Ethiopia Puntland Galmudug (Abdi Qeybdid) Commanders Puntland: Abdulrahman Said Dhegaweyne Galmudug: Col. ... 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. ... Mogadishus location in Somalia Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: ‎ ; Italian: ), is the largest city in Somalia, and its nominal capital. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Foreign fighters Transitional Federal Government Ethiopia[1][2] The Battle of Jilib is an ongoing battle in the 2006 Somali War fought between the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and affiliated militias against Ethiopian and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces for control of the... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 2007 (MMVII) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Guerilla may refer to Guerrilla warfare. ...

History

Main article: Somali Civil War (2006)

Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Alleged: Eritrea Foreign Jihadists Various Warlords Transitional Federal Government Puntland Ethiopia Commanders Muhammad Ibraheem Bilal Hasan Hersi Turki Yusuf Siad Inda-Addeh Mukhtar Robow Barre Adan Shire Hirale (Jubaland), Abdi Qeybdid, Adde Musa (Puntland) Strength 10,000 - 30,000 soldiers 500 - 2000 technicals...

Before the second battle of Mogadishu

After the collapse of the Somali government in 1991, a system of sharia-based Islamic courts became the main judicial system, funded through fees paid by litigants. Over time the courts began to offer other services such as education and health care. The courts also acted as local police forces, being paid by local businesses to reduce crime. The Islamic courts took on the responsibility for halting robberies and drug-dealing, as well as stopping the showing of what it claims to be pornographic films in local movie houses. Somalia is almost entirely Muslim, and these institutions initially had wide public support. The early years of the courts include such outfits as Sheikh Ali Dheere's, established in north Mogadishu in 1994 and the Beled Weyene court initiated in 1996. They soon saw the sense in working together through a joint committee to promote security. This move was initiated by four of the courts - Ifka Halan, Circolo, Warshadda and Hararyaale - who formed a committee to co-ordinate their affairs, to exchange criminals from different clans and to integrate security forces. In 1999 the group began to assert its authority. Supporters of the Islamic courts and other institutions united to form the ICU, an armed militia. In April of that year they took control of the main market in Mogadishu and, in July, captured the road from Mogadishu to Afgoi.^[5] Sharia ( translit: ) is the body of Islamic law. ... This article is about law in society. ... Health care or healthcare is the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical, nursing, and allied health professions. ... Retail selling Street selling is the bottom of the chain and can be accomplished through purchasing from prostitutes, through cloaked retail stores or refuse houses for users in the act located in red-light districts which often also deal in paraphernalia, dealers marketing merriment at night clubs and other events... Pornography (from Greek πόρνη (porne) prostitute and γραφή (grafe) writing), more informally referred to as porn or porno, is the representation of the human body or sexual activity with the goal of sexual arousal. ... Lexington Minuteman representing militia minuteman John Parker A militia is the activity of one or more citizens organized to provide defense or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ...

After conquering Mogadishu

Main articles: Second Battle of Mogadishu and Rise of the Islamic Courts Union (2006)

Flag of ICU Military

In the year 2000, the courts formed a union of Islamic courts, partly to consolidate resources and power and partly to aid in handing down decisions across, rather than within, clan lines.^[6] 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... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Alleged: Eritrea Foreign Jihadists ARPCT, comprising Various Warlords Transitional Federal Government Puntland Autonomous Region Rahanweyn Resistance Army Ethiopia[1] Alleged:  Uganda[2] Commanders Muhammad Ibraheem Bilal Hasan Hersi Turki Yusuf Siad Inda-Addeh Mukhtar Robow Adan Ayrow Barre Adan Shire Hirale (Jubaland), Abdi... Image File history File links Somalia_Islamic_Courts_Flag. ... Image File history File links Somalia_Islamic_Courts_Flag. ...

However, as the courts began to assert themselves as the dispensers of justice they came into conflict with the secular warlords who controlled most of the city. In reaction to the growing power of the ICU, a group of Mogadishu warlords formed the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT). This was a major change, as these warlords had been fighting each other for many years. By the beginning of 2006, these two groups had repeatedly clashed, and in May 2006 it escalated into street fighting in the capital, claiming the lives of more than 300 people. On 5 June 2006, the ICU claimed that they were in control of Mogadishu.^[7] This article concerns secularity, that is, being secular, in various senses. ... Warlord is a term that refers to one who has de facto military control of a subnational area, due to armed forces which are personally obedient to — somewhat circularly — that warlord. ... The Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT) is a Somali alliance made by powerfull warlords and businesspeople, while some of them were ministers in the transitional federal government of Somalia. ... 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 5 is the 156th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (157th in leap years), with 209 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Meanwhile, in the United States the Bush administration neither confirmed nor denied support for either side. However, American officials have anonymously confirmed that the U.S. government was funding the ARPCT, due to concerns that the ICU is linked to al-Qaeda and is sheltering three al-Qaeda leaders involved in past terror attacks, including the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. ^[8] George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... The Bush administration includes President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney, Bushs Cabinet, and other select officials and advisors. ... Al-Qaeda (Arabic: القاعدة, the foundation or the base) is the name given to a worldwide network of militant Islamist organizations under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. ...

On 6 June 2006 the ICU further claimed it was in control of all the lands up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) inland from Mogadishu. The warlords were reported to have either been captured or to have fled the city, abandoning most of their weapons, with the majority fleeing to Jowhar, which was taken by the ICU militia on 14 June.^[9] This brought ICU in control of much of the weaponry in the country, which made a resurgence by the warlords difficult without outside support. The ICU also controlled significant territory outside the capital, which included the important town of Balad. In mid-August, ICU militiamen swept into the port town of Hobyo 500 kilometers north of Mogadishu, meeting no opposition.^[10] The ICU organized a clean-up campaign for the streets of Mogadishu on 20 July. This was the first time litter and rubbish had been collected in the entire city since it collapsed into chaos over a decade previously.^[11] 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) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 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. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... Balad is a town in the Middle Shabelle region of Somalia. ... Hobyo is an ancient harbor city in the Mudugh region of Somalia. ... July 20 is the 201st day (202nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 164 days remaining. ...

On July 15, 2006, the Islamic Courts opened Mogadishu international airport, which had been closed since the withdrawal of the international forces in 1995. The first airplane chartered by the Arab League flew from the airport for the first time in 11 years picking up Islamic Courts delegates to Sudanese capital Khartoum. ^[12] July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 169 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Arab League or League of Arab States (Arabic: ‎), is an organization of predominately Arab states (compare Arab world). ... Map of Sudan with Khartoum Khartoum ( الخرطوم al-Ḫarṭūm Elephant Trunk) is the capital of Sudan and of Khartoum State. ...

On August 15, 2006, the UIC captured Haradhere, some 500km northeast of Mogadishu, which had become a safe haven for pirates, who had forced shipping firms and international organisations to pay large ransoms for the release of vessels and crews. ^[13] August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On August 25, 2006 the Islamic Courts reopened historical Mogadishu seaport, which was formerly one of the busiest in East Africa but had been shut down for 10 years.^[14] August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...  Eastern Africa (UN subregion)  East African Community  Central African Federation (defunct)  geographic, including above East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easternmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. ...

On October 5, 2006 the Islamic Courts declared the formation of the supreme Islamic Sharia court of Banadir province, ending all tribal Islamic Courts in the capital. ^[15] October 5 is the 278th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (279th in Leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

War with Ethiopia

Main article: War in Somalia (2006-present)

On December 8, the Islamic Courts Union claimed to have been involved in heavy fighting with Somali transitional government forces, backed by Ethiopian troops. On December 21, heavy fighting erupted between ICU forces and Ethiopian-backed forces. The battles happened initially in two areas - the military base of Daynuunay and the military base of Iidale. 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... December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The ICU made calls for jihad against Ethiopia, which were met by international mujahideen volunteers arriving in Somalia. Jihad, sometimes spelled Jawwad, Jahad, Jehad, Jihaad, Jiaad, Djehad, or Cihad, (Arabic: ‎ ) is an Islamic term, meaning to strive or struggle in the way of God, and is sometimes referred to as the sixth pillar of Islam, although it has no official status. ... Mujahideen (Arabic: ‎, , strugglers) is an Islamic-Arabic term for Muslims fighting in a war, or involved in any other struggle. ...

The ICU lost a considerable amount of territory after defeats at the December 20 - 26 battles of Baidoa, Bay region, Bandiradley, in Mudug, and Beledweyne, Hiran region, retreating to the capital, Mogadishu. December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 26 is the 360th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, 361st in leap years. ... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Foreign fighters Alleged:  Eritrea Transitional Federal Government Ethiopia[1] Casualties 700 dead or wounded (TFG claim) SomaliNet 400 killed (ICU claim) [1] The Battle of Baidoa began on December 20, 2006 when the Somali Transitional Federal Governments forces (TFG) allied with Ethiopian... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Ethiopia Puntland Galmudug (Abdi Qeybdid) Commanders Puntland: Abdulrahman Said Dhegaweyne Galmudug: Col. ... 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. ... Mogadishus location in Somalia Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: ‎ ; Italian: ), is the largest city in Somalia, and its nominal capital. ...

After abandoning control of Mogadishu, leaders from the ICU proceeded to fortify the Jubba River valley area including the towns of Jilib and Kismayo. Days later, on December 31 Ethiopian supported Somali forces advanced on the last stronghold of the ICU, Kismayo before it was abandoned by the Islamists. 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... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

However many analysts predict that a new guerilla warfare will emerge between UIC forces and the Ethiopian military.

Resignation of Leadership

Main article: Fall of Mogadishu

On December 27, after a brief skirmish on December 27 at the Battle of Jowhar, the leaders of the ICU, including Sheiks Hassan Dahir Aweys, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Abdirahman Janaqow resigned in a capitulation recognizing the new state of affairs in Somalia. They issued the following decisions: Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Foreign fighters Transitional Federal Government Ethiopia[1][2] The Fall of Mogadishu began on December 27, 2006, when the militaries of Somalias United Nations-approved Transitional Federal Government and Ethiopia surrounded the Somalian capital of Mogadishu after a swift string of TFG... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (362nd in leap years). ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (362nd in leap years). ... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Foreign fighters Transitional Federal Government Ethiopia[1][2] The Battle of Jowhar was a battle between the Somalian Islamic Courts Union and Transitional Federal Government during the Somali Civil War. ... Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, age 71[1], is the head of the 90-member shura council of the Islamic Courts Union of Somalia. ... Sheikh Sharif Ahmed (born January 1964) is the leader of the Islamic Court Union (ICU), which currently controls Somalias capital of Mogadishu. ...

1. It is national duty to protect the sovereignty and the integrity of Somalia and its people.
2. The ICU allows that Somalis should have the option to determine their future and would be ready for taking over the responsibility.
3. The Islamic Courts Union agreed not to allow anyone to create violence in Mogadishu and anybody that is found guilty would be brought before the law and would be taken for the suitable punishment according to the Islamic Sharia.
4. The ICU fighters are responsible for establishing the security and stability in the Somalian capital Mogadishu.
5. Lastly, the ICU is calling on all the Islamic fighters in Somalia, where ever they may be, to maintain security and stability in their localities and get ready in the police stations and other security installations.^[16]

The ICU withdrew from the capital on December 28. Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamad Gedi stated that the legislature would shortly declare a period of martial law. December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ...

Structure and composition

Background

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Executive Chairman of the Islamic Courts

As the name implies, the ICU is a union of Sharia law courts. These courts formed out of the chaos of the 1990s to administer justice in the districts in which they were established. Due to the chaos in Somalia, each court maintained a large militia to act as both police force and military. In February of 2006, 11 of these courts chose to pool their military resources in order to take over Mogadishu. (See Second Battle of Mogadishu) Image File history File links Sharifah. ... Image File history File links Sharifah. ... Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. ... 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...

Map showing the political structure of the ICU at the peak of its influence

Each member of the ICU is a Sharia judge in charge of a specified court in a particular district of Somalia, and it is up to him to determine how Sharia law is enforced. These interpretations can either be very literal or very broad, with various Hadiths being either regarded or disregarded, and correspondingly has led to varying levels of liberty and repression. Some courts do not enforce beyond what the Quran requires; others have beaten people for watching bollywood and western movies or playing "licentious" music. One famous allegations that was cited numerous times, yet was denied by the ICU, was that there was a ban on the viewing of football (soccer) matches^[17]. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (482x601, 22 KB) I made this map from a previous district map uploaded on Wikipedia, to show the individual courts and structure of the ICU. I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (482x601, 22 KB) I made this map from a previous district map uploaded on Wikipedia, to show the individual courts and structure of the ICU. I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify... The Hadith (الحديث, pl. ... Bollywood (DevanāgarÄ«: बॉलीवुड, Nastaliq: بالیوڈ) is the informal name given to the popular Mumbai-based Hindi-Urdu language film industry in India. ...

In order to organize the courts into a more coherent organization, rather than a like-minded collection of independent judges, a "Supreme Islamic Court of Banadir" was created, with the most senior judges forming this high court. This court deals with wide issues, as well as foreign relations, and commands the ICU military forces as a whole. The chairman of the Supreme Islamic Court is Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. A consultative Shura council chaired by Sheikh Hassan Aweys approves the decisions made by the Supreme Islamic Court, and has therefore been called the "real power" in the ICU. The Shura cannot act unilaterally either, so this is not entirely true. In simplistic terms, this makes Ahmed the "President" of the ICU and Aweys the "Prime Minister". When Ahmed is otherwise indisposed (visiting a foreign country, ill, etc) Sheikh Abdirahman Jinakow is the Acting Chairman. Sheikh Sharif Ahmed (born January 1964) is the leader of the Islamic Court Union (ICU), which currently controls Somalias capital of Mogadishu. ... Shura is an Arabic word for consultation. It is believed to be the method by which pre-Islamic Arabian tribes selected leaders and made major decisions. ... Mr. ...

Sheikh Hassan Aweys, Shura Chairman of the Islamic Courts

Below the Supreme Council and Shura Council are the regional courts spread throughout the country, which govern over the day to day issues of justice and law. These courts have enormous independence, and so the laws and regulations in ICU territory can vary wildly from town to town based on the particular moderation or radicalism of the local court. Image File history File links 060626_SOMALIA_AWEYS_vsm. ... Image File history File links 060626_SOMALIA_AWEYS_vsm. ...

ICU Chairman Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is seen as a moderate and he has repeatedly declared that the objective of the ICU is the restoration of order after 15 years of violence. However, of the eleven courts composing the Union, two have reputations as radical. One is led by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who is on the U.S. list of terrorism suspects as the former head of the al-Itihaad al-Islamiya group, which has been linked to al-Qaeda. Western diplomats are also concerned by a second leader, Adan Hashi Ayro, who was trained in Afghanistan and whose militia has been implicated in the deaths of five foreign aid workers and a BBC producer. Suspects from the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings are believed to be hiding in Somalia, and to be aided by the ICU [1][2]. There have also been reports of foreign mujahideen fighting alongside the ICU. It is widely believed that the U.S. has provided funding for the secular warlord alliance due to these fears. However, Somalia has little history of radical Islam and the ICU has not embraced the most extreme forms of Islamic law, such as amputation of thieves' hands.^[5] Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (Arabic: Unity of Islam or AIAI) was an Islamist militant group in Somalia. ... Al-Qaeda (Arabic: القاعدة, the foundation or the base) is the name given to a worldwide network of militant Islamist organizations under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... Aftermath at the Nairobi embassy. ... Mujahideen (Arabic: ‎, , strugglers) is an Islamic-Arabic term for Muslims fighting in a war, or involved in any other struggle. ... Partial hand amputation For the song Amputations by Death Cab for Cutie, see You Can Play these Songs with Chords Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma (also referred to as avulsion) or surgery. ...

Hizbul Shabaab

The Hizbul Shabaab, also known as Al-Shabaab, or simply as "Shabaab", is the Youth Wing of the ICU. It is a radical and somewhat independent organization under the ICU umbrella which is integrated quite tightly with the ICU armed forces, acting as a sort of "special forces" for the ICU. Hizbul Shabaab (Arabic, The Party of Youth)[1] or Al-Shabaab (Arabic, The Youth) is the militant youth movement wing of the Islamic Courts Union, organized between June and August 2006, and described as an extremist splinter group. ...

The Shabab has caused difficulties for the ICU in maintaining a good international image on a number of occasions due to their hot-headedness and zealousness, such as abducting critical journalists, harassing overly-hip youngsters, and most infamously, murdering wounded JVA soldiers in a Bu'aale hospital^[18]. Jubaland (Somali: Jubbaland) or Juba Valley (Somali: Dooxada Jubba), formerly Trans-Juba (Italian: ), is the southwesternmost part of Somalia, on the far side of the Juba River (thus Trans-Juba), bordering on Kenya. ... Buaale is a capital town of Jubbada Dhexe, Somalia. ...

The ICU formally apologized for each of the incidents, and attempted to make it clear that these actions did not reflect ICU policy. Nevertheless, these incidents gave their opponents excellent propaganda ammunition, and aided the global perception of the ICU being like the Taliban. Flag flown by the Taliban. ...

Relationship to Other Somalian Powers

The only other major power in central Somalia was the Transitional Federal Government. As a result of the collapse of the warlords' power, the four warlord representatives in the transitional government were stripped of their cabinet posts. The transitional government is based in Baidoa, 250 kilometers from Mogadishu. After the ICU victory in Mogadishu, the transitional government voted to request foreign peacekeepers from the African Union in a mission known as IGASOM. The African Union supports the transitional government, though it did not provide forces to defend it against the advances of the ICU. The ICU rejected the need for peacekeepers, arguing Somalia needs aid, not more external troops. The Interim Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi stated he wished to meet with the ICU leaders. ^[19] This resulted in the Treaty of Khartoum of 5 September 2006, in which it was agreed the ICU and the Transitional Government would be merged; however, the ICU insisted on the precondition Ethiopian troops would leave the country beforehand. Ethiopian forces did not withdraw, and the treaty agreement fell apart. The Transitional Federal Parliament is an interim parliament of Somalia formed in neighbouring Kenya in 2004. ... Baidoa (Somali: Baydhabo) is a city in south-central Somalia, situated 256 kilometers (159 miles) by road northwest of the capital Mogadishu. ... Anthem: Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together Capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Membership 53 member states Official languages The languages of Africa, as well as Arabic, English, French, and Portuguese Formation - As Organisation of African Unity - As AU - May 25, 1963 - July 9, 2002 Chairman of the African Union Denis... The IGAD Peace Support Mission to Somalia or IGASOM, is an Intergovernmental Authority on Development regional peacekeeping force to Somalia which was approved by the African Union on September 14, 2006. ... A peacekeeper can be a person involved in peacekeeping. ... Ali Mohammed Ghedi Ali Mohammed Ghedi or Mohammed Ali Ghedi (Somali: ; born 1952) is the Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia. ... September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The two other major power centres in the country are the governments of Puntland and Somaliland, both of which assert their autonomy or, in the case of Somaliland, independence. In November 2006 the Islamic Courts said Puntland's forces had carried out a pre-emptive strike against their fighters who were gathering on the edge of Puntland near Galinsoor (see Battle of Bandiradley). ^[20] The government of Puntland has vowed to resist any attack by the Islamic Courts. ^[21] Motto: None Anthem(s): Puntland Somalian National Anthem Capital Garowe Largest city Bosaso Official language(s) Somali and Arabic Government  - President Mohamud Muse Hersi  - Vice-President Hasan Dahir Independence From Somalia   - Declared 1998   - Recognition none  Area  - Total ~250,000 km² (not ranked) n/a sq mi   - Water (%) Negl. ... Capital Hargeisa Somali, Arabic and English Government Republic Independence From Somalia and United Kingdom   - Declared May 18, 1991 . ... 67 die and about 300,000 people are affected by floods in Ethiopias Somali Region of Ogaden after the Shabelle River bursts its banks. ... Galinsoor is a town that is located near the border between Mudug and Galgaduud regions of Somalia. ... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Ethiopia Puntland Galmudug (Abdi Qeybdid) Commanders Puntland: Abdulrahman Said Dhegaweyne Galmudug: Col. ...

Individual Islamic Courts

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Image File history File links Wiki_letter_w. ... This article is on the beliefs of the followers of the Salaf. ... Qutbism is an Islamic ideology created by Sayyed Qutb. ... This article is on the beliefs of the followers of the Salaf. ... This article is on the beliefs of the followers of the Salaf. ... Saad ( Somali: Sacad Siciid or Sacad ) is a Somali clan that is part of the Habar Gedir of the Hawiye clan[1]. The Sacad have always played an important role in Somali history. ... This article is on the beliefs of the followers of the Salaf. ... Look up liberal on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Liberal may refer to: Politics: Liberalism American liberalism, a political trend in the USA Political progressivism, a political ideology that is for change, often associated with liberal movements Liberty, the condition of being free from control or restrictions Liberal Party, members of... This article is on the beliefs of the followers of the Salaf. ... Saad ( Somali: Sacad Siciid or Sacad ) is a Somali clan that is part of the Habar Gedir of the Hawiye clan[1]. The Sacad have always played an important role in Somali history. ... This article is on the beliefs of the followers of the Salaf. ...

Noted ICU Leaders

• Shaykh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is the leader of the ICU. Ahmed was born in Chabila, Somalia and studied at Libyan and Sudanese universities. He is from the Abgaal branch of the Hawiye clan. He has also worked as a secondary school teacher of geography, Arabic, and religious studies. He speaks Arabic, Somali, and English.

• Shaykh Hasan Hersi "Al-Turki" is formerly leader of Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (AIAI); he goes by the name of "Al-Turki" or "The Turk". Since 2004, Hassan Al-Turki has been designated under US Presidential Executive Order 13224 for terrorist financing.^[22]

• Shaykh Yusuf Siad Inda'ade (or Inda Ade) served as deputy and financier for Hasan Dahir Aweys. He had been the chief security of Islamic Courts.^[23] He is controversial for the fact that he was a former warlord who occupied Lower Shabeele in 2003. He later allied himself with the Islamic Courts. The Islamic Courts advanced to central and south Somalia regions, including the Kismayo area, before Inda'ade pledged his support, giving them control of Lower Shabelle region. ^[24] In December 2006, during the intense fighting with Ethiopia, he was not present and was in pilgrimage in Mecca.
• Shaykh Mukhtar Robow who goes by the name of "Abu Mansur", was the deputy chief of security for the Islamic Courts. He had been credited with being instrumental in the victory of the Second Battle of Mogadishu against the ARPCT (CIA-backed warlords). In December 2006, during the intense fighting with Ethiopia, he was not present and was in pilgrimage in Mecca.
• Professor Ibrahim Hassan Addow (M.Ed, Ph.D) was the head of foreign affairs department for the ICU. He lived in the United States and worked as an administrator at American University in Washington, D.C., before returning to Somalia in 1999. He is the dean of Benadir University in Mogadishu and had respresented the Islamic courts in its negotiations with the Somali transitional government. ^[25]

Sheikh Sharif Ahmed (born January 1964) is the leader of the Islamic Court Union (ICU), which currently controls Somalias capital of Mogadishu. ... The Hawiye (or Hawiya) is a Somali clan, comprising about 25% of the Somali population. ... Arabic ( or just ), is the largest member of the family of Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew, Amharic, and Aramaic. ... Sheik Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki (also known as Hassan Al-Turki, or Al-Turki–The Turk) is an Islamist leader of Somalia. ... Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (Arabic: Unity of Islam or AIAI) was an Islamist militant group in Somalia. ... Executive Order 13224 was signed into law by George Walker Bush on September 23rd, 2001 as a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. ... Location of Shabeellaha Hoose in Somalia Lower Shabele (Somali: Shabeellaha Hoose; Arabic: ‎ ) is an administrative region (gobolka) in southern Somalia. ... This article is about the city in Saudi Arabia. ... 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... The Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT) is a Somali alliance made by powerfull warlords and businesspeople, while some of them were ministers in the transitional federal government of Somalia. ... The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ... For other universities known as American University, see American University (disambiguation). ...

Social policies

The Islamic Courts' original mission was to bring social justice and combat iniquity. However, after capturing Mogadishu, its mission transformed into imposing Sharia law all over Somalia and changing the constitution.

In the year 2000, the courts formed a union of Islamic courts, partly to consolidate resources and power and partly to aid in handing down decisions across, rather than within, clan lines. ^[6] This article is about the year 2000. ...

In an interview featured in the BBC Online Somali section in June 2006, Sheik Sharif Shaykh Ahmed said "the union of Islamic courts was established to ensure that Somali people suffering for 15 years would gain peace and full justice and freedom from the anarchic rule of warlords who refuted their people to no direction." After capturing Mogadishu, the Islamic Courts had enacted a series of decrees and laws that had temporarily brought hope for Somali expatriates, local minorities and women. The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... June 2006 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Extraordinary renditions. ...

• On October 5, 2006 the Islamic Courts had declared the formation of the supreme Islamic Sharia court of Banadir province. The announcement ceremony was attended by all Islamic officials; both consultative and executive councils, intellectuals and civil society members and took place in the former Somalian presidential palace in central Mogadishu. That announcement from the central Islamic Court was destined to end all tribal Islamic Courts in the capital. ^[15]

• On November 17, 2006, the ICU had banned the use, sale and transportation of khat altogether and the Islamic Court of Kismayo banned the sale of cigarettes. This was a controversial move as it was the main source of income for many war widows and orphans and a huge import-export business.

October 5 is the 278th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (279th in Leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Binomial name Catha edulis (Vahl) Forssk. ...

Alleged military support to the ICU

In November 2006, a UN arms monitoring group released information that all groups in Somalia were given logistical support by a dozen countries. Those countries rejected those allegations. These are the allegations documented by the UN monitoring group:

•  Djibouti: According to that report, the government of Djibouti has provided military uniforms and medicines in support of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). On July 30, 2006, a Djibouti Airlines aircraft landed at an airport in Mogadishu with medicines and military uniforms intended for ICU. The true nature of the cargo was disguised, and it was presented as being from the Red Crescent Society of Djibouti to conceal its origins. After the cargo was unloaded, the aircraft proceeded to Mogadishu's main airport.

•  Egypt: The government has allegedly provided training in support of ICU. On July 26, 2006, a meeting took place in Mogadishu between officials from ICU and visiting Libyan, Egyptian and Eritrean senior military officers at the residence of ICU finance chief Abdulkadir Abukar Omar Adani. According to the report, the meeting resolved that military training be provided to about 3,800 fighters at the Hilweyne military barracks, near Bal'ad town, north of Mogadishu.

•  Eritrea: The Eritrean government allegedly provided at least 28 separate consignments of arms, ammunition and military equipment. It also gave troops and training to the Islamic Courts Union. On April 26, 2006, a shipment of arms destined for ICU consisting of AK-47 assault rifles, PKM machine-guns, RPG-7s and ammunition arrived on a dhow at the seaport of El Ma'an. On May 6, 2006, an Eritrean Antonov military aircraft landed at Dhusamareeb in the Galgaduud region of Somalia. Awaiting the landing were about 75 people, five lorries and two Land Cruisers. The aircraft carried anti-aircraft guns which were loaded onto the lorries. On May 9, 2006, a dhow arrived at the El Ahmed seaport, and on board were fighters from Pakistan and the Oromo Liberation Front of Ethiopia. The fighters remained on the dhow. Five of the 75 people associated with the receipt of the anti-aircraft guns on May 6, 2006, boarded the dhow, along with some of anti-aircraft guns. ICU member Aden Hashi Farah "Eyrow," one of the leaders of the Hizbul Shabaab (youth movement), took possession of the arms and military uniforms.

• Hezbollah: Supposedly, the Hezbollah movement has provided military training to ICU and has made arrangements with other states on behalf of ICU for the latter to receive arms. In mid-July 2006, ICU apparently sent about 720 men to Lebanon to fight alongside Hezbollah against the Israeli military. The Somali force was personally selected by ICU's Hizbul Shabaab (youth movement) leader Aden Hashi Farah "Eyrow." One of the selection criteria was an individual's combat experience, which might include experience in Afghanistan. In exchange for the contribution of the Somali military force, Hezbollah arranged for additional support to be given to ICU by the governments of Iran and Syria.

•  Iran: The UN monitoring group stated that Iran has provided at least three consignments of arms and ammunition and medical supplies and the services of three medical doctors to ICU. On July 25, 2006, an aircraft containing a shipment of arms arrived at the Baledogle airport and was met by ICU head of the security affairs, Sheikh Yusuf Mohamed Siyaad "Indohaadde," and the chairman of the Dayniile Islamic Court, Sheikh Hussein Janaqow. The UN monitoring team says that the arms shipment consisted of machine guns and M79 grenade launchers. On August 17, 2006, a large dhow containing foods and arms destined for ICU arrived in El-Adde seaport, Mogadishu. The arms consisted of 80 man-portable, shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missiles and rocket launchers.

•  Libya: Furthermore, the UN monitoring report states that the Libyan government has sent military aircraft to Somalia and has provided training, funds and at least a consignment of arms in support of ICU. On July 24, 2006, a delegation of military officers arrived at the Baledogle airport and on July 26, 2006, participated in a meeting in Mogadishu with ICU officials and visiting Egyptian and Eritrean senior military officers at the house of ICU finance chief Abdulkadir Abukar Omar Adani. On July 31, 2006, a vessel with arms and foods for ICU docked early in the morning at the seaport of El-Ma'an.

•  Saudi Arabia: Furthermore, the document states that Saudi Arabia has given logistical support in the form of foodstuff and medicines intended for use by the ICU. On June 11, 2006, a C-130 aircraft left Jazan for the Baledogle airport. But the government said the flight had taken place for "medical" reasons. On August 14, 2006 , seven trucks containing logistical supplies, including foods and ammunition, left Mogadishu for an ICU location in the central regions of Somalia. Accompanying the convoy were 320 ICU fighters sent to reinforce fighters in the central regions.

•  Syria: On July 27, 2006, 200 ICU fighters were transported by aircraft to Syria for training in guerrilla warfare.^[26]

Image File history File links Flag_of_Djibouti. ... July 30 is the 211th day (212th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 154 days remaining. ... Djibouti Airlines is an airline based in Djibouti. ... The Red Cross and the Red Crescent emblems, the symbols from which the Movement derives its name. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Egypt. ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Eritrea. ... Avtomat Kalashnikova model 1947 g. ... 7. ... A guerrilla fighter in Iraq ready to fire an RPG loaded with an OG-7V fragmentation warhead. ... The Oromo Liberation Front (also known as the OLF) is a political organization established in 1973 by Oromo nationalists to lead an alleged liberation struggle of the Oromo people against the Abyssinian colonial rule. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Hezbollah. ... For other uses, see Hezbollah (disambiguation). ... Combatants Hezbollah Amal LCP Islamic Courts Union[3]  Israel Commanders Hassan Nasrallah (Secretary General of Hezbollah), veteran Fatah operative Imad Mughniyeh[4] Dan Halutz (CoS), Moshe Kaplinsky[12], Udi Adam (Regional) Strength 600-1,000 active fighters (of 3,000 - 5,000 available and 10,000 reservists) [5] 30,000... to be merged with IDF (disambiguation) IDF may stand for: intermediate distribution frame (in telephony) Iceland Defense Force Irish Defence Forces Israel Defense Forces The AIDC F-CK Indigenous Defence Fighter This page disambiguates a three-character combination which might be any or all of an abbreviation, an acronym, an... Hizbul Shabaab (Arabic, The Party of Youth)[1] or Al-Shabaab (Arabic, The Youth) is the militant youth movement wing of the Islamic Courts Union, organized between June and August 2006, and described as an extremist splinter group. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iran. ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... Caliber: 40 mm grenade Action: Single shot, breech loaded Mass: 3 kg (6. ... August 17 is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Libya. ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia. ... June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ... August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Syria. ... July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... Look up guerrilla in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Notes and references

The Christian Science Monitor (CSM) is an international newspaper published daily, Monday through Friday. ... July 13 is the 194th day (195th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 171 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The New York Times is a newspaper published in New York City by Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr. ... June 5 is the 156th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (157th in leap years), with 209 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The current BBC News logo BBC News and Current Affairs is a major arm of the BBC responsible for the corporations newsgathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 169 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday 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... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 21 is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Peace Mission to Somalia

The IGAD Peace Support Mission to Somalia or IGASOM, is an Intergovernmental Authority on Development regional peacekeeping force to Somalia which was approved by the African Union on September 14, 2006. ...

External links

• Islamic Courts Union website (in Somalian)
• Conoco-Somalia Declassification Project, Conoco-Somalia Declassification Project, 2006
• Somali deaths in fierce clashes, BBC News, 24 March 2006
• Despite ceasefire call, fighting continues in Mogadishu, Christian Science Monitor, 10 May 2006
• Warring Somali ministers warned, BBC News, 13 May 2006
• U.S. Secretly Backing Warlords in Somalia, Washington Post, 17 May 2006
• Islamic Force, Warlords Clash in Somalia, Associated Press, 27 May 2006
• Violence Flares in Somalia (VIDEO), ogrish.com, updated 28 May 2006
• New power emerges from the south, Somalinet.com, 4 June 2006
• Islamists seize key Somali town, BBC News, 4 June 2006
• Islamists claim control of Mogadishu, Al Jazeera News, 5 June 2006
• Somalia: a State of Need, IRIN Film (18 min streaming video), December 2006
• Somalia’s Islamists, International Crisis Group Report, 12 December 2005