Southwestern Somalia - Rivalry and Reconciliation Within The RRA

Rivalry and Reconciliation Within The RRA

After 3 October 2002 (except for a brief period on 14–16 December 2002), the regional capital Baidoa was controlled by Sheikh Aden Madobe and Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade. Shatigudud and Madobe reconciled on September 23, 2003, but the rivalry with Habsade continued. All three, including Habsade, were appointed Members of Parliament in the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) in November 2004. In January 2005, the traditional Rahanweyn Clan elders and civic society leaders again helped reconcile Shatigadud, Madobe, and Habsade. At that time, both Shatigadud and Madobe also became ministers in the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Prime Minister Ali Muhammad Ghedi.

However, in May 2005, Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade accused Madobe and Shatigudud of attacking Baidoa to take the city on behalf of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, who later used the city to establish a new interim capital within the country. In May 2005 alone, 19 were killed and 28 wounded in the fight over the city.

All three were in Baidoa on February 10, 2006 helping host the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) of Somalia hold its first Parliamentary session in Somalia (before this date, Parliament met in Kenya due to security problems in Somalia). The Transitional Federal Government based itself out of Baidoa and held little direct authority over any territory. Territorial administration often remained in the hands of the specific warlords, in this case Shatigadud, Madobe, and Habsade.

Shatigadud remains the popular leader of the Rahanweyn and, since his return, he has been named as the Chairman of the Council of the Rahanweyn court with both Madobe and Habsade being members. Habsade is allowed to be the local chief.