Villa Somalia
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.
The complex was the residence of the first president of Somalia, Aden Abdullah Osman Daar
of the Somali Youth League
(SYL); and of Siad Barre
, president until his ouster in 1991. The compound was subsequently captured by the forces of Mohamed Farrah Aidid's
United Somali Congress
(USC) after a fierce battle for control of the capital.
By the time a United Nations relief mission, UNOSOM I
, was launched to quell the fighting in Mogadishu, a Somali reconciliation conference had taken place in Djibouti
. At this meeting, Ali Mahdi Mohamed was elected President by Somali politicians and clan leaders
. However, political player and warlord
Mohamed Farah Aidid rejected Ali Mohamed's selection by the conference and refused to submit to his rule. This resulted in four months of continued fighting between Mohamed and Aidid, the latter declaring himself Interim President. Aidid took control of Villa Somalia while both warlords fought for control of the city.
In 2006, Villa Somalia was held for eight weeks by clan forces loyal to Hussein Mohamed Farrah
, following the Second Battle of Mogadishu
. In late July, the compound was turned over to the Islamic Courts Union. ICU leader Abdirahman Janaqaw announced the complex would host an Islam
ic Sharia court. The Islamists held onto Villa Somalia until the complex was taken over on December 28, 2006, by forces loyal to the Transitional Federal Government
(TFG), which is governed by the Transitional Federal Parliament
(TFP) of Somalia. The ICU had previously fled the capital due to an impending TFG and Ethiopia
n attack.
On January 1, 2007, in a move towards disarmament and reconciliation, the government announced a weapons turn-in. All collected arms were to be registered at Villa Somalia; Villa Baidoa
was also mentioned as an arms collection point. An amnesty to Islamists was also extended.
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 that the government would be relocated to Villa Somalia from its interim location at Baidoa.
In August 2009, Garowe Online reported some of the 40 tons of arms given by the U.S. government in military aid to the Transitional Federal Government stored at Villa Somali were now on sale in the Cirtoogte ("Sky Shooter") market, where they were fetching a high price when resold to members of the opposition Islamist fighters of al Shabaab.
Presidential Palace
A Presidential Palace is the official residence of the president in some countries. However, some countries do not call the official residence of a head of state a presidential palace...
of Somalia
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...
, which sits on high ground near the shores of the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
in Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, with access to both the harbor and airport.
The complex was the residence of the first president of Somalia, Aden Abdullah Osman Daar
Aden Abdullah Osman Daar
Aden Abdulle Osman Daar , popularly known as Aadan Cadde, was a Somali politician and the country's first President from July 1, 1960 to June 10, 1967.-Biography:...
of the Somali Youth League
Somali Youth League
The Somali Youth League was the first political party in Somalia. It played a key role in the nation's road to independence during the 1950s and 1960s.-History:...
(SYL); and of Siad Barre
Siad Barre
Mohamed Siad Barre was the military dictator and President of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1991. During his rule, he styled himself as Jaalle Siyaad ....
, president until his ouster in 1991. The compound was subsequently captured by the forces of Mohamed Farrah Aidid's
Mohamed Farrah Aidid
General Mohamed Ali Farrah Aidid was a controversial Somali military leader, often described as a warlord. A former general and diplomat, he was the chairman of the United Somali Congress and later led the Somali National Alliance...
United Somali Congress
United Somali Congress
The United Somali Congress is one of the major political and paramilitary organizations of Somalia. Formed in 1988, it played a key role in the ouster of the government of Siad Barre, and became a major target of the so-called Operation Restore Hope campaign in 1993...
(USC) after a fierce battle for control of the capital.
By the time a United Nations relief mission, UNOSOM I
UNOSOM I
United Nations Operation in Somalia I was the first part of a United Nations sponsored effort to provide, facilitate, and secure humanitarian relief in Somalia, as well as to monitor the first UN-brokered ceasefire of the Somali Civil War conflict in the early 1990s.The operation was established...
, was launched to quell the fighting in Mogadishu, a Somali reconciliation conference had taken place in Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
. At this meeting, Ali Mahdi Mohamed was elected President by Somali politicians and clan leaders
Chieftain
Chieftain may refer to:The leader or head of a group:* a tribal chief or a village head.* a member of the 'House of chiefs'.* a captain, to which 'chieftain' is etymologically related.* Clan chief, the head of a Scottish clan....
. However, political player and warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
Mohamed Farah Aidid rejected Ali Mohamed's selection by the conference and refused to submit to his rule. This resulted in four months of continued fighting between Mohamed and Aidid, the latter declaring himself Interim President. Aidid took control of Villa Somalia while both warlords fought for control of the city.
In 2006, Villa Somalia was held for eight weeks by clan forces loyal to 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:...
, following 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...
. In late July, the compound was turned over to the Islamic Courts Union. ICU leader Abdirahman Janaqaw announced the complex would host an Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic Sharia court. The Islamists held onto Villa Somalia until the complex was taken over on December 28, 2006, by forces loyal to 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...
(TFG), which is governed by the Transitional Federal Parliament
Transitional Federal Parliament
The Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali Republic is an interim Parliament of Somalia formed in neighboring Kenya in 2004.The Transitional Federal Parliament has 550 members representing Somalia's clans, Islamist opposition, representatives of citizens' groups and the Somali...
(TFP) of Somalia. The ICU had previously fled the capital due to an impending TFG and Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n attack.
On January 1, 2007, in a move towards disarmament and reconciliation, the government announced a weapons turn-in. All collected arms were to be registered at Villa Somalia; Villa 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....
was also mentioned as an arms collection point. An amnesty to Islamists was also extended.
On January 8, 2007, as the Battle of Ras Kamboni
Battle of Ras Kamboni
The Battle of Ras Kamboni was a battle in the 2006-2007 Somali War fought by the Islamic Courts Union and affiliated militias against Ethiopian and the Somali Transitional Federal Government forces for control of Ras Kamboni , a town near the Kenyan border which once served as a training camp for...
raged, TFG President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is a veteran Somali politician. He is one of the founders of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front, as well as the Puntland State of Somalia, where he served as the autonomous region's first President...
entered Mogadishu for the first time since being elected. It was announced that the government would be relocated to Villa Somalia from its interim location at Baidoa.
In August 2009, Garowe Online reported some of the 40 tons of arms given by the U.S. government in military aid to the Transitional Federal Government stored at Villa Somali were now on sale in the Cirtoogte ("Sky Shooter") market, where they were fetching a high price when resold to members of the opposition Islamist fighters of al Shabaab.