Rahanweyn Resistance Army
Encyclopedia
The Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA), also known as the Reewin Resistance Army, is an autonomist militant group operating in the two southwestern regions of Somalia
, Bay
and Bakool
. It was the first Reewin armed faction to emerge during the Somali civil war
. The stated goal of the RRA is the creation and recognition of an independent state of Southwestern Somalia
, currently led by Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud
. It is currently under the authority of the Transitional Federal Government
.
The RRA was found in a shir assembly at Jhaffey, west of Baidoa
, on 13 October 1995. Col. Hassan Mohamed Nur, "Shaargaduud" (Red Shirt) was elected chair, and an executive committee composed of officers, traditional and religious leaders, and intellectuals was established. The formation of the RRA was triggered by the invasion of Baidoa by Hussein Mohamed Farrah
's militia on 17 September 1995, which overthrew the local government, The Digil-Mirifle Supreme Governing Council, which was established in March 1995. Aideed completed the occupation of Reewin land by capturing Huddur in the Bakool Region
.
The RRA's first major task was to recruit, train, and arm young Reewin men and women. Former officers supervised the training and all Reewin clans contributed men, arms, and money. Early in 1996, the RRA attacked the more important installations held by Aideed in Huddur and Baidoa. When reconciliation efforts, especially the Sodere Declaration and Cairo Accords, failed after the death of Aidid in a street fight and the succession of his son, "Aideed Junior," the RRA insisted that it would not negotiate with those who occupied Reewin land.
In October 1998, the RRA liberated Huddur and, by early November, Aideed's militia had retreated to Baidoa. This victory consolidated the RRA's military and political status locally and internationally. On 6 June 1999, the RRA liberated Baidoa and continued to fight against Aideed forces in the Lower Shabelle region. However, the Arta
Reconciliation Conference of May–August, 2000, which established a transitional national government, suspended further RRA military action. However, within a few months, the RRA broke away from the Arta agreements and began to work towards the establishment of an autonomous state.
Under Shatigadud's leadership, the RRA planted landmines in many areas under its control in the war, as did many factions in the Civil War. It was also a participant, along with fifteen other factions of the civil war, in the November 11, 2002 Deed of Commitment to ban landmines.
Internal disputes in the RRA erupted in 2002 between Shatigadud, who wished to support the new Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council
(SRRC) and his two deputies, Sheikh
Aden Madobe and Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade
, who wished to continue to support the Transitional National Government
(TNG). The conflict resulted in many deaths and calls for Shatigadud to step down as President. Habsade continued to meet with TNG leaders ostensibly with the hope of being part of the nascent national government. The warring leaders of the RRA were eventually reconciled and, though conflicts periodically erupted thereafter, all joined the Transitional Federal Government
at its formation.
In June 2006 Botan Ise Alin
's militia that was allied to Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism
has surrendered to RRA after the Second Battle of Mogadishu
by Islamic Court Union forces.
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, Bay
Bay, Somalia
Bay is an administrative region in southern Somalia.-Overview:It is bordered by the Somalian regions of Bakool, Lower Shabele, Middle Juba and Gedo....
and Bakool
Bakool
-Overiew:It is bordered by the Ogaden and the Somalian regions of Hiiraan, Bay and Gedo.Bakool, like Gedo and Bay, as well as most parts of the Jubbada Dhexe region, used to be a part of the old Upper Region, which was subdivided in the mid 1980s...
. It was the first Reewin armed faction to emerge during the Somali civil war
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. The conflict, which began in 1991, has caused destabilisation throughout the country, with the current phase of the conflict seeing the Somali government losing substantial control of the state to rebel forces...
. The stated goal of the RRA is the creation and recognition of an independent state of Southwestern Somalia
Southwestern Somalia
Southwestern Somalia was an ostensibly autonomous self-proclaimed state in Somalia founded by Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud, leader of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army on April 1, 2002...
, currently led by Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud
Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud
Colonel Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud is a Somali faction leader, and chairman of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army , which sought to establish the autonomous state of Southwestern Somalia. Recently, he is said to have played a role in the capture of Mogadishu by Ethiopian and Transitional Federal...
. It is currently under the authority of the Transitional Federal Government
Transitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government is the current internationally recognized government of the Republic of Somalia. It was established as one of the Transitional Federal Institutions of government as defined in the Transitional Federal Charter adopted in November 2004 by the Transitional...
.
The RRA was found in a shir assembly at Jhaffey, west of Baidoa
Baidoa
Baidoa is a city in south-central Somalia, situated by road northwest of the capital Mogadishu. It is the capital of the Bay region, which is traditionally inhabited by the Digil and Mirifle clans....
, on 13 October 1995. Col. Hassan Mohamed Nur, "Shaargaduud" (Red Shirt) was elected chair, and an executive committee composed of officers, traditional and religious leaders, and intellectuals was established. The formation of the RRA was triggered by the invasion of Baidoa by Hussein Mohamed Farrah
Hussein Mohamed Farrah
Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid , is a United States Marine Corps veteran and a former president of Somalia. He is the son of General Mohamed Farrah Aidid.-Biography:...
's militia on 17 September 1995, which overthrew the local government, The Digil-Mirifle Supreme Governing Council, which was established in March 1995. Aideed completed the occupation of Reewin land by capturing Huddur in the Bakool Region
Bakool
-Overiew:It is bordered by the Ogaden and the Somalian regions of Hiiraan, Bay and Gedo.Bakool, like Gedo and Bay, as well as most parts of the Jubbada Dhexe region, used to be a part of the old Upper Region, which was subdivided in the mid 1980s...
.
The RRA's first major task was to recruit, train, and arm young Reewin men and women. Former officers supervised the training and all Reewin clans contributed men, arms, and money. Early in 1996, the RRA attacked the more important installations held by Aideed in Huddur and Baidoa. When reconciliation efforts, especially the Sodere Declaration and Cairo Accords, failed after the death of Aidid in a street fight and the succession of his son, "Aideed Junior," the RRA insisted that it would not negotiate with those who occupied Reewin land.
In October 1998, the RRA liberated Huddur and, by early November, Aideed's militia had retreated to Baidoa. This victory consolidated the RRA's military and political status locally and internationally. On 6 June 1999, the RRA liberated Baidoa and continued to fight against Aideed forces in the Lower Shabelle region. However, the Arta
Arta, Djibouti
Arta is a city located in southeastern Djibouti.-Overview:The town is connected by National Highway 4.In 2000, peace talks between various factions of the Somali Civil War were held in Arta, resulting in the establishment of the Transitional National Government of Somalia.-References:*...
Reconciliation Conference of May–August, 2000, which established a transitional national government, suspended further RRA military action. However, within a few months, the RRA broke away from the Arta agreements and began to work towards the establishment of an autonomous state.
Under Shatigadud's leadership, the RRA planted landmines in many areas under its control in the war, as did many factions in the Civil War. It was also a participant, along with fifteen other factions of the civil war, in the November 11, 2002 Deed of Commitment to ban landmines.
Internal disputes in the RRA erupted in 2002 between Shatigadud, who wished to support the new Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council
Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council
The Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council was a political movement, as well as an armed militia, founded by Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid, son of the late warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid...
(SRRC) and his two deputies, Sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Aden Madobe and Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade
Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade
Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade is former rebel soldier of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army, former Minister of Land and Air Transport, and current Minister of Agriculture in the Somali Transitional Federal Government....
, who wished to continue to support the Transitional National Government
Transitional National Government
The Transitional National Government of Somalia was established in April–May 2000 at the Somalia National Peace Conference held in Djibouti....
(TNG). The conflict resulted in many deaths and calls for Shatigadud to step down as President. Habsade continued to meet with TNG leaders ostensibly with the hope of being part of the nascent national government. The warring leaders of the RRA were eventually reconciled and, though conflicts periodically erupted thereafter, all joined the Transitional Federal Government
Transitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government is the current internationally recognized government of the Republic of Somalia. It was established as one of the Transitional Federal Institutions of government as defined in the Transitional Federal Charter adopted in November 2004 by the Transitional...
at its formation.
In June 2006 Botan Ise Alin
Botan Ise Alin
Botan Ise Alin was a Somali warlord, formerly based in Mogadishu, and a former member of the Somali Transitional Government, in which he was minister for the disarmament of militias...
's militia that was allied to Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism
Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism
The Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism was a Somali alliance created by various warlords and businesspeople. The alliance included Botan Ise Alin, Mohammed Dheere, Mohamed Qanyare, Musa Sudi Yalahow, Nuur Daqle, Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdiid, Omar Muhamoud Finnish and others...
has surrendered to RRA after the Second Battle of Mogadishu
Second Battle of Mogadishu
The Second Battle of Mogadishu was a battle fought for control of Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. The opposing forces were the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism , and militia loyal to the Islamic Court Union . The conflict began in mid-February, 2006, when Somali...
by Islamic Court Union forces.