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Black Hawk Down
Black Hawk Down or the Battle of Mogadishu was fought between Somalian and US forces on the third and fourth of October, 1993. This battle resulted in two US helicopters being shot down over the city of Mogadishu. The US reported 18 deaths, 73 wounded, and 1 captured, while the Somalians reported 315 deaths and 812 wounded. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mogadishu_(1993) -
Al-Shabaab Founded
Al-Shabaab is an extremist militant Islamic group that is centralized in Somalia. The arabic translation of Al-Shabaab is "the youth", which relates to the group well since it is largely comprised of Somalian youth. This group's main goals when established were to make Somalia an Islamic state, remove all foreigners, and rid the country of all Western influence. Sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15336689
http://www.adl.org/terrorism/symbols/al_shabaab.asp -
Ethiopia Invades Somalia
In December of 2006, Ethiopia invaded Somalia because they disagreed with the Islamic Courts and wanted to establish a government that was supported by both the UN and Western powers. The Ethiopian forces backed by the US who supplied weapons were able to force the Islamic Courts out of Somalia, though Ethiopian forces were met with opposition from Al-Shabaab. Sources: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-01-07-ethiopia_x.htm?csp=1 -
Al-Shabaab Sends Warning to African Union Peacekeepers
Al-Shabaab posted a video online that was directed towards African Union Peacekeepers. This video declared if the African Union Peacekeepers set foot in Somalia they would be killed. In the video a hooded member of Al-Shabaab stated, "Somalia is not a place where you will earn a salary — it is a place where you will die".Though the African Union was only attempting to maintain peace, Al-Shabaab said they saw them as enemies. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union_Mission_to_Somalia -
Attempt to Kill the Prime Minister of Somalia
An Al-Shabaab suicide bomber attempted to end the life of the Prime Minister of Somalia, Ali Mohamed Gedi. Gedi was unharmed, but seven guards in the Gedi's house, which was the target of the suicide bomber, were killed. Sources: http://www.biyokulule.com/view_content.php?articleid=2697 -
Al-Shabaab's Leader is Killed
On May 1, 2008, Aden Hashi Ayro, Al-Shabaab's leader, was killed by a US airstrike. The airstrike's target was Ayro's house that was about 300 miles north of the Somalian capital of Mogadishu. Ayro was credited with linking Al-Shabaab with Al-Qaeda.
Sources: http://www.adl.org/terrorism/symbols/al_shabaab.asp
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/192539.php -
Al-Shabaab Car Bombing Attempt
A member of Al-Shabaab attempted to kill Somalia's state minister for defence, Sheikh Yusuf Mohammad Siad, by driving a car with explosives into Siad's car, but he instead hit a local bus. Siad was unharmed, but his two body guards suffered minor injuries. Sources: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/02/suicide_bomber_targe_5.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shabaab_(militant_group) -
Bombings in Uganda
These bombings commonly known as the Twin Bombings occurred in the Ugandan capital of Kampala. On the night of July 11, 2010, two bars were targeted by Al-Shabaab suicide bombers. Both bars were full of people watching the World Cup final. As many as sixty-four fatalities resulted from these attacks. Sources: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/11/world/la-fgw-uganda-bomb-07112010 -
Attacks on Mogadishu
Al-Shabaab started attacking the Somalian capital of Mogadishu, which resulted in at least three hundred deaths. Attacks in Mogadishu by Al-Shabaab members lasted through August of the following year.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shabaab_(militant_group) -
Al-Shabaab Starts Receiving Funding from Somali Pirates
After Ethiopia withdrew it's forces from Somalia, Al-Shabaab started to receive funds from Somali Pirates. Al-Shabaab refused to allow imported goods into the areas of Somalia they controlled, so they relied on the supplies these pirates provided them. The US soon stationed two thousand troops off the coast to ensure the situation stayed under control. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shabaab_(militant_group) -
Al-Shabaab's Leader is Removed from Power
Moallim Jinwa who was the Al-Shabaab leader was removed from power. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shabaab_(militant_group) -
Al-Shabaab Joins Al-Qaeda
Al-Shabaab leader, Mukhtar Abu al-Zubair, publically announced that Al-Shabaab was joining forces with Al-Qaeda. Sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16979440
