2009 timeline of the Somali Civil War
In Afgoi District eighteen miles south of Mogadishu a Somali journalist covering fighting between al-Shabaab members and a moderate Islamist group was shot and killed in the cross-fire of a vicious firefight.
[6] Fighting occurred in northern Somalia in the community of Guri'el 270 miles north of Mogadishu between Sufi militiamen nominally in support of the transitional government under the banner of Ahlu Sanah Waljama'ah against Al Shabaab insurgents that resulted in the deaths of six people mostly on each side except for one civilian that had been shot to death earlier in the day by Ethiopian soldiers.
[9] Also, a brief firefight erupted in Qansah Dheere resulting in the death of one Ethiopian soldier that was assisting the takeover of the town from Al Shabaab militants.
[17] The mayor of Garbaharey town in Gedo region where fighting has been ongoing between al-Shabaab forces and Ethiopians for the last two weeks and resulted in the deaths of 5 bodyguards.
[19] The town of Balad 45 kilometers east of Mogadishu fell to heavy-armed Islamic Court Union (ICU) forces after an intense firefight with Al Shabaab militants.
[25] Ethiopian troops started to withdraw from Mogadishu, pulling out of their two main bases in the city overnight, and were heading back into Ethiopia.
[29] Abdirahaman Xaji Mohamed known as Wadiiro was executed in Kismayo by Islamic insurgents after being convicted in a kangaroo setting of being against the Al Shabaab government in the Lower Shabelle region.
[30] 310 civilians in two different incidents drowned trying to cross the Sea of Aden to Yemen from Somalia directly linked to the anarchy of President Yusuf's resignation and the resurgent Al Shabaab insurgents and subsequent pull-out of Ethiopian soldiers.
[31] Al Shabaab insurgents launched mortar shells at AU peacekeepers in Mogadishu killing 2 civilians and injuring nine other people.
[39] Both ARS wings (Asmara and Djibouti) call for an end to fighting in Mogadishu and dialogue over the presence of AU forces in the capital.
However, by decree all Somali soldiers that were captured in the battle were released by the Islamists and local clan elders told civilians in Baidoa to continue "life as before".
[44] Fighting in Central Somalia has left four people dead after government-allied Sufi militiamen took over a community from Al Shabaab forces.
[46][47] Amisom soldiers are being blamed for several deaths in the Mogadishu area after Somali fishermen reported that their boats have been fired on by African Union peacekeepers killing several people in the last few days.
[56] One civilian businessman was shot and killed in Bossasso Puntland similarly eerily to attacks on business people in Bakara Market in Mogadishu during the Ethiopian occupation.
[70] Fighting in north-eastern province of Puntland resulted in the deaths of two militiamen and two civilians after two different clan militias fought it out in a small village.
[77] Burundi soldiers were attacked in the capital of Mogadishu by Al Shabaab insurgents resulting in the death of two fighters and the injuring of eight other people, 7 civilian, and 1 peacekeeper.
[86] In Balad town, north of Mogadishu it was reported by Reuters that two moderate Islamist leaders were executed by Al Shabaab militants.
[98] A Somali Islamic lawmaker escaped assassination in Mogadishu but a government bodyguard and his civilian driver was shot and killed in the attack by Al Shabaab militants.
[102] Fighting occurred in the Lower Jubba town of Jamamne after youths connected to Al Shabaab refused their commander's orders to disarm.
A civilian reported seeing government forces moving ten bodies of masked men, al-Shabaab, and three comrades who had been killed in the fighting on 14 May.
[124] In Central Somalia, al-Shabaab militants took control of the Bula-Barde district in Hiraan, from Islamic Court Union forces, allied with the Somali government in Mogadishu.
[126] On the morning of May 14, 2009 al-Shabaab attempted to retake the village and was turned back from the town by Islamic forces resulting in three insurgents, 1 Somali soldier and three more civilians being killed.
[131] Al-Shabaab took control of the strategic town of Jowhar, north of Mogadishu, from ICU forces after fighting that left three pro-government militiamen dead.
Seven insurgents and twelve civilians were killed in the fighting and it is believed if future clashes occur, Hiz Islam's leader Aweys will join the moderate government of Ahmed as they are more in tune with how Somalia should be run.
[140] An insurgent commander, who had recently defected from the Islamic Courts Union was assassinated in south Mogadishu by armed men with pistols.
Those killed included Security Minister Omar Hashi Aden and Somalia's former ambassador to Ethiopia, Abdikarin Farah Laqanyo.
Hizbul Islam and al-Shabaab militia attacked government-held districts including Kaaraan, Shibis, Abdiaziz and Wardhigley, where the Villa Somalia presidential palace is located.
[164] On July 5, Somali radio journalist Mohammed Yusuf Nihile was shot in his stomach and succumbed to his wounds in a Mogadishu hospital.
The African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), guarding the palace, became involved in the fighting and was unable to take control of rebel strongholds.
Heavy shelling between al-Shabaab and government forces in southern and northern districts in Mogadishu left at least 25 people dead and more than 60 wounded.
