Battle of South Mogadishu

The Battle of South Mogadishu occurred in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on February 24, 2009.

Battle of South Mogadishu
Part of the Somali Civil War (2009–present)
The battle occurred in the Somali capital of Mogadishu
Date February 24–25, 2009 Location Mogadishu, Somalia Result Indecisive
Belligerents
Al-Shabaab Hisbi Islam[1]	ARS-D-TFG coalition
Commanders and leaders
Abu Mansur Omar Iman	Sharif Ahmed
Units involved
unknown	unknown
Strength
unknown	unknown
Casualties and losses
15 insurgents killed	6 policemen killed
48 civilians killed

The battle's name includes South, when referenced, in order to distinguish it amongst the nine major Battles of Mogadishu during the decades long Somali Civil War. This was the first battle in that city after Somalia had made the effort to elect a new president in January 2009, and this embryonic return to democracy means that this is considered a starting point of the Somali Civil War (2009–present) within the longer civil war.[2]

The battle, fought mainly in the south of the city, left at least 87 people dead and 90 more injured.[2] Rebels fired volleys of mortar bombs at the presidential palace, located on a hilltop in the Wardhigley district.[2][3] A base for African Union and government troops in the Hodan district was also fired upon as was the nearby Howlwadag district.[2] The recently elected President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was said to be within his palace at the time of the incident.[2]

At least 11 civilians were amongst the dead, with workers at the main Madena Hospital indicating that at one stage approximately 45 wounded had been admitted.[3] 15 Al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam fighters and 6 Transitional Federal Government Policemen were killed in the fighting.