Balad, Somalia Explained

Official Name:Balcad
Settlement Type:Town
Pushpin Map:Somalia
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Somalia
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Somalia, Hirshabeelle State
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Middle Shabelle
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Balcad
Unit Pref:Metric
Timezone:EAT
Utc Offset:+3
Coordinates:2.65°N 48°W

Bal'ad District (Somali: Degmada Balcad|italic=yes) is one of the districts of Middle Shabelle region of Somalia. It is located about 36 kilometers northeast of the capital city of Mogadishu.

Conflict

During the spring of 1905, in the last years of Menelik II's expansions, a force of several thousand Ethiopian horseman armed with rifles pushed into the Shabelle valley near Balad. Only a days march from Mogadishu, several clans residing in the region rose up to engage in battles with the invading forces and defeated them.[1]

In December 2021, Balad town was attacked by Al Shabaab fighters. About eight people were killed in the fighting.[2] On 9 June, 2022, Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for a landmine explosion targeted at the Danab Brigade early in the morning on the outskirts of the town, which they claim killed at least 15 soldiers and destroyed one vehicle.[3]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Cassanelli, Lee V. . The Shaping of Somali Society: Reconstructing the History of a Pastoral People, 1600-1900 . . 1982 . 978-0-8122-7832-3 . 199–201 . en.
  2. Web site: Somalia's Al-Shabab Fighters Kill at Least 7 in Attack Near Capital. 2022-01-05. VOA. en.
  3. Web site: Al-Shabaab claims it killed 15 Somali soldiers in blast . shabellemedia.com . 10 June 2022 . 5 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221005204428/https://shabellemedia.com/al-shabaab-claims-it-killed-15-somali-soldiers-in-blast/ . dead .