Everything about Kismayo totally explained
Kismayo or
Kismayu (;, ; ) is a
port city in the
Jubbada Hoose region of
Somalia and is the country's third largest city (after
Mogadishu and
Hargeisa. It is situated 328 miles (528 km) southwest of Mogadishu, near the mouth of the
Jubba River, where that river flows into the
Indian Ocean. As of 2007, the population is calculated to be around 700,000.
History
The city, along with the surrounding region, was ruled by the
Zanzibar sultans in 1835. From 1875 to 1876, Kismayu was occupied by
Ottoman Egypt under
Isma'il Pasha. It was part of
Trans-Juba, which belonged to the
British, from
July 1,
1895, as part of the
East Africa Company's
East Africa Protectorate. On
July 15,
1924, it was ceded to
Italy and became part of the Colony of
Trans-Juba (
Oltre Giuba). In 1926, the area was incorporated into the colony of
Italian Somaliland, and became the capital of its Trans-Juba province.
Districts
The city is divided into five
degmo, or districts, namely
Farjano,
Faanoole,
Siinaay,
Shaqaalaha and
Calanleey. Because the city started with Calenleey, it's the oldest of all four districts. The district is home to a diverse group of Somalis, including the Baajuun, Hindi (Indian), Carab (Arabs), Mushunguli (Bantu), Barawaani (Bravanese), and many other minorities.
Somali Civil War
After the former Somali President
Siad Barre was overthrown, Kismayo became a city in constant turmoil, fought over by warring clans vying for control of the area. There was prolonged fight for control of the city among various tribes.
Islamic Courts Union
On
January 16,
2006, nine people were killed in heavy fighting, between factions of the Jubba Valley Alliance, for control of Kismayo. On
September 24,
2006, Kismayo was invaded by the
Islamic Courts Union (ICU).
War in Somalia
Following a great loss of territory to an
Ethiopian-TFG army in December 2006, the ICU first retreated to the capital,
Mogadishu, but
abandoned Mogadishu without conflict on
28 December 2006, moving south towards Kismayo and allowing TFG and
Ethiopian troops to take over the capital. It was feared that the ICU would make a defiant last stand in Kismayu. When the
Battle of Jilib began on
31 December 2006, clan elders within Kismayo reportedly demanded that the ICU leave the city. Mohammed Arab, a clan leader said "We told them that they were going to lose, and that our city would get destroyed." However, a mutiny within the ICU caused their forces to disintegrate, and
abandon both
Jilib and Kismayo. They were reported to be fleeing towards the Kenyan border. As of December, 2007, th ICU forces have taken control of about half of the city, around half the districts of Mogadishu, and totalling around 80% of their former territories, leaving the the Ethopiean-backed regime in the same precarious situation as it was in Baidoa at the start of 2007.
Further Information
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