Galgala campaign
Encyclopedia
The Galaga campaign was a military campaign by Puntland
, that started on August 8 and was completed on October 17, 2010. It was aimed re-gaining control of the Galaga hills, including many villages, that had fallen in hands of a militia loyal to Sheikh Mohamed Said Atom
, a warlord which pledged allegiance to al-Shabaab and declared he would fight Puntland until Islamic law was implemented. He was backed by fighters from his own Warsangali
clan, which had been involved in a tribal rebellion against Puntland's authorities in 2006 when they oppsed a deal Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamud Farole
signed with Australia
n company Range Resources
for mineral and hydrocarbon exploration and development in the Galgala area. Atom is also alleged to have smuggled arms from Puntland to al-Shabaab fighters in Southern Somalia, in the past and is also allegedly involved with Piracy in Somalia
.
The campaign started on August 8, in response to an al-Shabaab attack on July 26 which killed 2 Puntland soldiers. In response to the crackdown, al-Shabaab launched several bombings, targeting civilian centers such as the city of Bossaso. The campaign ended on October 17, as Puntland forces seized the villages of Dhagah Barur, Dhagahdheer, and Dindigle, which was al-Shabaab's last stronghold in the region.
After Puntland seized control of the last insurgent strongholds on October 26, 2010 they alleged that Sheikh Atom had fled to Burao, in Somaliland
, a separatist administration West of Puntland. They also accused Somaliland of arming and funding the insurgents in Galaga and alleged that Somaliland forces were active inside Puntland, fighting alongside the insurgents. They also claimed to have killed Somaliland forces during the conflict. Somaliland has denied all these allegations. Hostilities between the Puntland and Somaliland administrations stem from a border dispute over the Sool
and Sanaag
regions.
Puntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
, that started on August 8 and was completed on October 17, 2010. It was aimed re-gaining control of the Galaga hills, including many villages, that had fallen in hands of a militia loyal to Sheikh Mohamed Said Atom
Mohamed Said Atom
Mohamed Said Atom , alternatively Sheikh Mohamed Said Atom, is a Somali arms-smuggler, warlord and Al-Shabaab commander.-Al-Shabaab operative:...
, a warlord which pledged allegiance to al-Shabaab and declared he would fight Puntland until Islamic law was implemented. He was backed by fighters from his own Warsangali
Warsangali
The Warsangeli , is a Somali clan, part of the Harti confederation of Darod sub-clans...
clan, which had been involved in a tribal rebellion against Puntland's authorities in 2006 when they oppsed a deal Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamud Farole
Abdirahman Mohamud Farole
Abdirahman Mohamud Farole is a Somali politician. He is the fourth and current President of Puntland.-Biography:Farole was born in the qandala region of Somalia in 1945. He first pursued his post-secondary education locally, earning a Diploma of Public Health in 1964 from the Scuola Professionale...
signed with Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n company Range Resources
Range Resources
Range Resources is a Texas-based natural gas company mainly engaged in the fracking and well drilling of shale gas contained in the Marcellus Formation in the Eastern United States. The company was first to devise techniques for extracting gas from the Marcellus Shale, through the use of test...
for mineral and hydrocarbon exploration and development in the Galgala area. Atom is also alleged to have smuggled arms from Puntland to al-Shabaab fighters in Southern Somalia, in the past and is also allegedly involved with Piracy in Somalia
Piracy in Somalia
Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a threat to international shipping since the second phase of the Somali Civil War in the early 21st century...
.
The campaign started on August 8, in response to an al-Shabaab attack on July 26 which killed 2 Puntland soldiers. In response to the crackdown, al-Shabaab launched several bombings, targeting civilian centers such as the city of Bossaso. The campaign ended on October 17, as Puntland forces seized the villages of Dhagah Barur, Dhagahdheer, and Dindigle, which was al-Shabaab's last stronghold in the region.
After Puntland seized control of the last insurgent strongholds on October 26, 2010 they alleged that Sheikh Atom had fled to Burao, in Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
, a separatist administration West of Puntland. They also accused Somaliland of arming and funding the insurgents in Galaga and alleged that Somaliland forces were active inside Puntland, fighting alongside the insurgents. They also claimed to have killed Somaliland forces during the conflict. Somaliland has denied all these allegations. Hostilities between the Puntland and Somaliland administrations stem from a border dispute over the Sool
Sool
Sool is an administrative region in northern Somalia.-Overview:With its capital at Las Anod, Sool is historically known for being the seat of the anti-colonial Dervish movement....
and Sanaag
Sanaag
Sanaag is an administrative region in northern Somalia. Its capital city is Erigavo.Sanaag has a long coastline facing the Gulf of Aden to the north, and is bordered by the Somali regions of Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sool and Bari....
regions.