Bulo Marer | |
---|---|
Town | |
Coordinates: 1°37′55″N 44°31′20″E / 1.63194°N 44.52222°E | |
Country | Somalia |
Region | Lower Shebelle |
Time zone | UTC+3 ( EAT) |
Bulo Marer ( Somali: Buulo Mareer, Bulla Marer, Bula Mareer, Bulo Barer, Bulomarer) is a town in the southwestern Lower Shebelle region of Somalia. It was a base of Al-Shabaab, and was the site of an ill-fated 2013 military operation during which French commandos attempted to free a French hostage that was being held by the insurgent group. [1] The town was taken by Somali government forces assisted by AMISOM troops after a battle on August 30, 2014. [2] It was the site of the 2024 African Union base attack in Bulo Marer.
In November 2008, Bulo Marer was reported to have a protected water well. [3]
In November 2008, the Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab occupied Bulo Marer. [4]
A photo showing al-Shabaab soldiers in Bulo Marer was published in 2008. [5]
In January 2013, the French-United States military attempted unsuccessfully to rescue hostages from Al-Shabaab in Bulo Marer. [6] [7]
In April 2014, the Tunni clan of Bulo Marer reportedly provided food to Al-Shabaab. [8]
In August 2014, Al-Shabaab's media arm, Al-Kataib, broadcast a documentary about the failed January 2013 attack on Bulo Marer by the French-United States military. [6]
In August 2014, Somali armed forces and African Union (AU) forces occupied Bulo Marer. [8] Until then, Al-Shabaab had made Bulo Marer one of its key strongholds, robbing travelers and collecting taxes from residents. [9]
In April 2016, four civilians were killed when their vehicle was destroyed in Bulo Marer after they failed to follow military stop orders. [10]
In March 2019, Al-Shabaab carried out an attack on the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) base. [11]
In May 2023, Al-Shabaab attacked a base manned by Ugandan troops of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in Bulo Marer. [12] The Somalia government said 30 people were killed in the attack. Al-Shabaab said it killed 137 soldiers. [13] Uganda's president announced that 54 people were killed. [14]