From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has been suggested that Fall of Kismayo be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Kismayo
Kismayo Location in Somalia
Coordinates: 0°21′37″S 42°32′55″E / -0.36028, 42.54861
Country	Somalia
Region	Jubbada Hoose
District
Population (2007)
- Total	70,000
Time zone	East Africa Time (UTC+3)

Kismayo or Kismayu (Somali: Kismaayo; Arabic: كيسمايو‎, transliteration: Kīsmāyū; Italian: Chisimaio) is a port city in the Jubbada Hoose region of Somalia and is the country's third largest city (after Mogadishu and Hargeisa.^{[1][not in citation given]} 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 2008, the population is calculated to be around 70,000. ^[2] As of 1993, the population was estimated at 170,000,^[3]. Kismayu's estimated population in 2002 was 201,000.^[4]

[edit] Districts

The city is divided into five degmo, or districts, namely Farjano, Faanoole, Shaqaalaha, siinaay. and Calanleey. Because the city started with Calenleey, it is the oldest of all four districts. Besides ethnic Somalis, the district is home to a diverse group of people, including Hindi (Indians), Carab (Arabs), Mushunguli (Bantu), Barawaani (Bravanese), Baajuun, and many other minorities.

Kismayo Airport, which was formerly a Somali Airforce training base, is situated about 10 km from the city. It has a large abandoned and looted Administration building with a badly-maintained 12,000 foot long runway. The airport was re-opened in October 2008, with the restriction that flights delivering khat were prohibited from landing at the airport.^[5] The airport was renamed after Imam Ahmed Gurey, a a 16th century Somali warrior.^[6]

Kismayo’s large docks are situated on a peninsula on the Indian Ocean coast. The peninsula was formerly one of the Bajuni Islands, and subsequently connected by a narrow causeway when the port was built, with United States assistance, in 1964. The port served served as a base for the Somali navy, as well as the Soviet Navy after a military coup in Somalia in 1969.^[7] The United States and Somalia jointly refurbished the port in 1984 after "extensive deterioration of the 2070 ft long four-berth, marginal wharf at the Port of Kismayo necessitated a major rehabilitation to maintain operations."^[8]

Kismayo University, established in August 2005, is located about 1 km north, along the Kismayo-Mogadishu main road.[1]

[edit] 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.^[9]

[edit] Somali Civil War

Main article: 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. By early 1993, Kismayu was the site of fighting between supporters of Mohammed Siad Hersi, known as General Morgan, and supporters of Col. Omar Jess of the Somali Patriotic Movement. In March 1993, a United States Marine amphibious group arrived in Kismayu, in an attempt to keep the peace as part of the United Nations intervention in Somalia.

By December 1993, General Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan's troops controlled Kismayo, despite the presence of peacekeepers. The last UN troops left Kismayu in December 1994.^[10] General Hersi Morgan declared Jubaland independent on September 3, 1998.^[11] but was was ousted from Kismayu in June 1999.^[12] From June 1999 - June 2001, Kismayo was the headquarters for the Allied Somali Forces, which was contesting the area known as Jubaland with the Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM). The ASF renamed itself the Juba Valley Alliance in June 2001. By 2003, there were 15,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) accommodated in Kismayo.

[edit] Islamic Courts Union

Main article: Rise of the Islamic Courts Union (2006)

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).^[13]

[edit] War in Somalia

Somali soldiers entering Kismayo during the Fall of Kismayo

Main article: War in Somalia (2006–present)

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.^[14] 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."^[15] 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.^[16] Th Ethiopian troops withdrew from Kismayu in March 2007, leaving it to the Transitional Federal Government.^[17]

As of December 2007, the ICU forces had taken control of about half of the city, around half the districts of Mogadishu, and totalling around 80% of their former territories, leaving the Ethopiean-backed regime in the same precarious situation as it was in Baidoa at the start of 2007.^[18]

In a battle in August 2008, al-Shabaab totally defeated local milita led by Barre Hiraale.^[19] The fighting in Kismayo is reported to have displaced an estimated 35,000 people. After the withdrawal of Hiiraale's fighters, al-Shabaab reportedly commenced a peaceful disarmament process targeting local armed groups that had been contributing to insecurity in Kismayo.^[20] In early September a night-time curfew was imposed.^[21]

[edit] Government

A new district administration was established on 6 September 2008. Its members reportedly represented the ICU and Al-Shabaab (three members each) plus a local clan (one member) which had played a part in the military assault.^[22] Representatives of the Islamic Courts Union have questioned the legitimacy of the authority.^[23]

The government is led by Sheikh Abubakar Al-Zaila’i.^[24] Sheikh Hassan Yakoub Ali is the information officer of the Islamist authority,^[25] and Abdigani Ali Gurhan serves as the health officer.^[26].

Some al-Shabab leaders have imposed harsh rules in Kismayo, including stoning Aisha Ibrahim Dubulow, a 13-year-old rape victim, to death after being accused of adultery.^[27].[2] Shortly after coming to power, the authorities imposed strict rules on journalists operating the the city.^[28] In December 2008, the local administration shut down Radio HornAfrik, an independent radio station based in Kismayu.^[29] The authorities also destroyed four Muslim shrines that "contained tombs of famous religious people and places of worship."^[30] The graves were of religious personalities honored by the Sufi sect.^[31] In late December, a Roman Catholic church in Kismayo was destroyed by sledge hammers.^[32].

According to refugees who fled Kismayo in the fall of 2008, "There is no freedom for young men there because of the Shabab. Even prayer is not optional. They make you cut your hair, and you can't wear tennis shoes." ^[33] The refugeees fled Kismayo after "Shabab began beating people not attending Friday prayers," and aggressively sought recruits from Kismayo's population.

[edit] Climate

The city of Kismayu is located in the fertile Juba Valley, and is known for clean and beautiful beaches and its tropical weather.^[34] The climate is hot year-round, with seasonal monsoon winds,and irregular rainfall with recurring droughts. The "gu" rains, also known as the Southwest monsoons, begin in April and last until June, producing a significant fresh water and allowing lush vegetation to grow. The gu season is followed by the “hagaa” or “xagaa” drought.

[edit] Economy

In October 2008, the daily labor rate was estimated at 157,500 Somali shillings ($4.50), up from 52,000 ($2.21) in January 2008, while kilogram of red rice rose from 14,170 ($0.61) to 46,000 ($1.31).^[35] A liter of diesel cost 43,000 shillings ($1.23) and a camel costs over 15 million shillings ($435). Total cereal production around Kismaayo is estimated to be 780MT.^[36]

Before the war, "there were a meat-tinning factory, a tannery, and a modern fish factory. There were two sugar refineries, one near Jilib on the lower reach of the Jubba and one at Jawhar (Giohar) on the middle reach of the Shabeelle."^[37]. As of January 2007, the market was bustling, but the "grapefruit farms on the outskirts of town are still a mess, irrigation canals are full of sand, roads are dreadful and government buildings are lonely, shot-up places."^[38]

[edit] See also

• Fall of Kismayo

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Kismayo web portal
• Kismayo University
• 1992 Map of Kismayu
• Map of Kismayo District

Coordinates: 0°21′37″S 42°32′55.6″E / -0.36028, 42.548778