Villa Somalia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Villa Somalia is the presidential palace of Somalia, which sits on high ground near the shores of the Indian Ocean in Mogadishu, with access to both the harbor and airport.[1]
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[edit] Siad Barre
The complex was the seat of the first president of Somalia, Aden Abdullah Osman Daar of the Somali Youth League (SYL), and Siad Barre, the President of Somalia before his ouster in 1991.[1]
[edit] Somali Civil War
In 1991, the Presidential Palace was captured by the forces of Mohamed Farrah Aidid's United Somali Congress (USC) after a fierce battle for control of the capital.[2]
By the time the United Nations relief missions, known as UNOSOM I, to Mogadishu were launched, Ali Mahdi Muhammad had split off from Aidid and declared himself interim President, thus dividing the USC. He took control of Villa Somalia. Both warlords fought for control of the city.[3]
[edit] Islamic Courts
In 2006, for eight weeks following the Second Battle of Mogadishu it was held by clan forces loyal to Hussein Mohamed Farrah, but was eventually turned over in late July to the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). Abdirahman Janaqaw announced the complex would be used to hold an Islamic sharia court.[1]
[edit] Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
The Islamists held on to Villa Somalia until it was taken over by forces loyal to the Transitional Federal Government formed by the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) on December 28, 2006, after the retreat of the ICU from the capital.[4]
On January 1, 2007, in a move towards disarmament, the government announced a weapons turn-in. All collected arms would be registered at Villa Somalia. Villa Baidoa was also mentioned as an arms collection point.[5] An amnesty to Islamists was also extended.[6]
On January 8, 2007 as the Battle of Ras Kamboni raged, TFG President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed entered Mogadishu for the first time since being elected. It was announced the government would be relocated to Villa Somalia, from its interim location at Baidoa.[7]
[edit] Links
- Villa Somalia Satellite Photo from Wikimapia (Coordinates: 2°2'27"N 45°20'7"E)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "At least 20 members of Somalia's parliament hand in resignations", Associated Press, 2006-07-26. Retrieved on 2007-01-09.
- ^ A Journalist in Mogadishu
- ^ US Department of the Army: Analysis of Somalia, December 1993
- ^ "Somali pro-govt militias seize buildings in capital", Reuters, 2006-12-28. Retrieved on 2007-01-09.
- ^ Islamic militants in Somalia flee after stronghold falls Associated Press
- ^ Somali government to disarm the civilian population in three days Shabelle Media Network
- ^ "Somalia president visits Mogadishu after Ethiopian victory", Garowe Online, 2008-01-08. Retrieved on 2007-01-08.
