How the Surre and Bimaal Southern Somali National Movement (SSNM) took Control of Merca and lost to SNA Sept 1994 and Occupation of Merca The Bimaal Lands

Several sources reported that the Habr Gidir clan under the control of General Aideed's Somali National Alliance (SNA) seized control of Merca in April 1994 (Xinhua 3 May 1994; Human Rights Watch/Africa Apr. 1995, 39; Gilkes Sept. 1994, 148; AFP 14 Apr. 1994; Africa Confidential 17 June 1994, 7). AFP reported that the Southern Somali National Movement (SSNM) had controlled the Indian Ocean port city and had been allied with Aideed's SNA until the two organizations had a falling out (ibid.).

According to Gilkes, the SSNM represented various Dir subclans but divided into pro-Aideed and anti-Aideed factions in 1993 (Sept. 1994, 147). Merca is within the territory of the Biyamaal/Xiniftire/Dir clan, which is home to Colonel Abdi Warsame, the SSNM leader who broke with Aideed's SNA (ibid.). Warsame then aligned himself with the Somali Salvation Alliance (SSA) of Ali Mahdi, Aideed's rival in Mogadishu (ibid.). The pro-Aideed faction of the SSNM, led by Abdi Aziz Sheikh Yusuf, also retained the SSNM name, and largely represents the Surre/Mehe/Dir clan which mostly originates northeast of Mogadishu in the Mudug region (ibid.).


Gilkes states the SNA forces that took Merca were nearly all from the Saad subclan of the Habr Gidir and were "likely to be seen as an occupying force by the Biyamaal/Dir, even though they were fighting on behalf of the SSNM/SNA" (ibid.). Human Rights Watch/Africa reported that most of the indigenous population of Merca, the Biyaamal, fled the city following the arrival of the Habr Gedir (Apr. 1995, 39).

More recently in 1996, Aideed's forces in Merca have fought several battles with Osman Hassan Ali "Atto's" another Habr Gedir faction within the Hawiye-based United Somali Congress (USC) of the SNA (IPS 24 Apr. 1996; AFP 26 Mar. 1996; ibid. 22 Mar. 1996; ibid. 20 Mar. 1996; ibid. 19 Mar. 1996). According to a August 1996 USAID report, Aideed's forces regained control of Merca in early May following more clashes with fighters from Atto's faction (19 Aug. 1996, 3).

Information on whether the SNA recruited people from the Reer Hamar to their militia in 1995 could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB. However, for general information on forcible recruitment in Somalia, please consult Response to Information Request SOM21584.E of 18 August 1995, which is available at Regional Documentation Centres.


References
Africa Confidential [London]. 17 June 1994. Vol. 35, No. 12. "Somalia: Aydeed's Local Difficulties."
Agence France Presse (AFP). 26 March 1996. "Fighting Rages in Somalia Between Two Rival Factions." (NEXIS)
_____. 22 March 1996. "Somalia Fighting Leaves at Least 10 Dead: Witnesses." (NEXIS)
_____. 20 March 1996. "Somalia Militia Faction Leaves Port to Aidid." (NEXIS)
_____. 19 March 1996. "Somalie-Violence." (NEXIS)
_____. [Paris, in English]. 14 April 1994. "SNA Seizes Control of Merca." (BBC Summary 16 Apr. 1994/NEXIS)
Gilkes, P. September 1994. The Price of Peace: Somalia and the United Nations: 1991-1994. Bedfordshire, UK: Save the Children Fund, UK.
Human Rights Watch (HRW)/Africa. April 1995. Somalia Faces the Future. New York: Human Rights Watch/Africa.
Inter Press Service (IPS). 24 April 1996. Moyiga Nduru. "Somalia-Politics: No End in Sight to Banana War." (NEXIS)
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Humanitarian Response, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), Washington, DC. 19 August 1996. Situation Report No. 3. "Somalia - Complex Emergency".
The Xinhua News Agency. 3 May 1994. "Situation in Somalia is Very Grave." (NEXIS)