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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.
Bulo Marer
Buulo Mareer, Bulla Marer, Bula Mareer, Bulo Barer, Bulomarer | |
|---|---|
Town | |
  Bulo Marer Location. .jpg) Bulo Marer Bulo Marer (Somalia) | |
| Coordinates: 1°37′55″N 44°31′20″E | |
| Country | Somalia |
| Region | Lower Shebelle |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
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In November 2008, Bulo Marer was reported to have a protected water well.[3]
Capture by Al-Shabaab
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 May 2014, 3 alleged spies for the Somali and Ethiopian governments were publicly executed in a park in Bulo Marer.[9]
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]
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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.[10]
In April 2016, four civilians were killed when their vehicle was destroyed in Bulo Marer after they failed to follow military stop orders.[11]
In March 2019, Al-Shabaab carried out an attack on the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) base.[12]
In May 2023, Al-Shabaab attacked a base manned by Ugandan troops of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in Bulo Marer.[13] The Somalia government said 30 people were killed in the attack. Al-Shabaab said it killed 137 soldiers.[14] Uganda's president announced that 54 people were killed.[15]
In July 2024, public outrage ensued in Bulo Marer after 3 farmers were shot, and 2 were killed and beheaded by Ugandan ATMIS soldiers. Al-Shabaab broadcast in a radio message that they vowed to retaliate for the farmers' deaths. There was no immediate response from ATMIS or the Somali government.[16]
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