Battle of Caving Banks

Events in the year 2024 in Somalia.

Incumbents

• President: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
• Prime Minister: Hamza Abdi Barre
• Speaker of the House: Abdi Hashi Abdullahi

Events

Ongoing: 2024 timeline of the Somali Civil War

January

• 8 January — Said Abdullahi Deni is re-elected as the President of the semi-autonomous state of Puntland, which maintains tense relations with the federal government in Mogadishu.^[1]
• 10 January – Al-Shabaab insurgents capture a United Nations helicopter carrying seven people, killing one person and abducting five others, while the seventh person is missing. The helicopter had landed in al-Shabaab controlled territory after encountering "a defect" shortly after takeoff from Beledweyne, Hiran.^[2]
• 16 January – An al-Shabaab suicide bomber kills three people and wounds two others outside the Mayor of Mogadishu's office.^[3]
• 25 January — Prominent figures, including Federal President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Presidents of Southwest, Galmudug, and Hirshabelle States, participate in the inauguration of Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni.^[4]

February

• 6 February — 2024 Mogadishu market bombing - Ten people are killed and 30 others are injured following explosions in the Bakaara Market, Mogadishu believed to be perpetrated by Al-Shabab, who reportedly planted explosive devices underground.^[5]
• 7 February — A suicide bombing in Afgooye kills three people and injures ten others.^[6]
• 10 February — Four Emirati soldiers and a Bahraini military officer are killed, while ten others are injured, when a soldier opens fire at a military base in Mogadishu, before being killed in the ensuing shootout. Al-Shabaab claims responsibility.^[7]

March

• 14 March:
  • At least six people, including both combatants and civilians are killed following clashes near administrative stations in Beledweyne between forces loyal to Hirshabelle State and Hiraan State.^[8]
  • 2024 Mogadishu YSL Hotel attack and siege - An al-Shabaab member blows himself up outside a hotel in Mogadishu, killing three guards and two security forces. Six gunmen then stormed the hotel in 13-hour siege, leading to a gunfight with the army in which three soldiers and the six attackers are killed. Twenty-seven people are wounded.^[9]
• 19 March — A drone strike occurs outside Afgooye, killing more than 22 people and injuring 21, including many children. The strike is reportedly conducted by a Turkish drone, specifically the TB2.^[10]
• 23 March — Al-Shabaab militants storm a military base in Busley, near Mogadishu, killing seven soldiers, including the commander, and ten militants. The attack involves suicide car bombs and the seizure of military vehicles.^[11]
• 31 March — Puntland withdraws its recognition of the federal government due to a constitutional crisis caused by the federal parliament's Parliament's adoption of changes to a disputed provisional constitution without consulting Puntland, under which the President and Government were originally elected.^[12][13]

April

• 1 April — Puntland declares its intention to operate as an independent state until the changes to the Somali constitution adopted on 30 March are ratified through a popular referendum.^[14]
• 3 April — Following Puntland's declaration of self-autonomy, Ambassador Mesganu Arga of Ethiopia welcomes a senior ministerial delegation led by Puntland’s Minister of Finance on enhancing trade, investment, energy cooperation, and joint infrastructure projects to strengthen bilateral ties.^[15]
• 4 April:
  • Al-Shabaab militants recapture Daaru-Nimca village in Middle Shabelle without resistance after Somali troops withdraw.^[16]
  • The federal government orders the expulsion of Ethiopian Ambassador Mesganu Arga and the closure of Ethiopia’s consulates in Somaliland and Puntland, citing Ethiopian interference in Somalia’s internal affairs.^[17]
  • The Government of Puntland has responded to the decision issued today by the Federal Government of Somalia to close the Ethiopian Consulate in Garowe, Puntland’s Information Minister, Mohamoud Aidid Dirir, stated that “the federal government has no jurisdiction in Puntland to close Ethiopia’s Consulate in Garowe.”^[18]
• 5 April — Puntland and Somaliland have rejected Federal Government's order to close the Ethiopian consulate. A statement from the Puntland State House, issued on April 5, reads: “The Puntland government clarifies and reaffirms its intention to advance its interests and engage directly with neighboring countries, international partners, and all parties interested in Somali affairs. In the same vein, the decision to shut down the consulate in Garowe will not have any bearing and does not concern Puntland.”^[19]
• 6 April — Al-Shabaab attacked a strategic town near the Somali capital. The militants carried out a suicide vehicle attack on a NISA base, followed by armed men in the Balcad district of Hirshabelle State. They targeted three checkpoints and a security office. The militants then retreated from the town to strategic areas, awaiting a response from the Somali National Army.^[20]
• 7 April — Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, has conducted a cabinet reshuffle, introducing key appointments across various ministries. Ahmed Moallin Fiqi transitions to Minister of Foreign Affairs from his former role as Interior Minister. Ali Yusuf Ali Hoosh takes on the role of Minister for Interior Affairs, Federal & Reconciliation. General Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag is appointed as Minister of Internal Security, while Abdullahi Bidhaan Warsame becomes Minister of Energy and Water. Mohamed Aden Moallin assumes the position of Minister of Post, Telecom & Technology, and Ahmed Omar Mohamed is appointed State Minister for Environment and Climate Change.^[21]
• 8 April — U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has received information about threats to various locations in Mogadishu, including Aden Adde International Airport, all movements of U.S. Embassy personnel have been canceled for Tuesday, April 9, 2024. The level-four travel advisory for Somalia, advising against all travel, remains in effect due to concerns regarding crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health issues, kidnapping, and piracy.^[22]
• 9 April — Following this advisory, a series of mortar attacks occurred in different parts of Mogadishu on the same day including presidential palace, Villa Somalia, and flights by Turkish and Ethiopian Airlines were canceled due to security threats.^[23]
• 10 April — Vice President of the Puntland Government, Ilyas Osman Lugatoor, celebrated Eid al-Fitr with the people of Garowe at the Mire Aware Stadium. After the Eid prayers, he extended congratulations for the completion of Ramadan.^[24]
• 11 April — Somali National Army successfully repelled an attempted attack by Al-Shabaab at the Bar Sanguni base in the Lower Jubba region. This operation took place early Thursday morning and resulted in the killing of scores of militants and the capture of some alive. General Dayah Abdi, the infantry commander, reported "heavy losses" inflicted on the Al-Shabaab fighters.^[25]

Holidays

Source:^[26]

• 1 January - New Year's Day
• 7 February - Isra' and Mi'raj
• 10–11 April – Eid al-Fitr
• 1 May - Labour Day
• 16 June – Eid al-Adha
• 1 July – Independence Day
• 7 July – Islamic New Year
• 16–17 July – Ashura
• 15 September – Milad un-Nabi

See also

• 2024 in Somaliland

References

External links

• Online calendar