Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism
The Somali Warlord Alliance, officially called the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (abbreviated ARPCT; Somali: Isbaheysiga Ladagaalanka Argagaxisadda), was a Somali alliance created by various Somali warlords and businessmen with the backing of the American Central Intelligence Agency in order to challenge the emerging influence of the Islamic Courts Union during the Somali Civil War.
| Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism | |
|---|---|
| Isbaheysiga Ladagaalanka Argagaxisadda | |
Flag of ARPCT | |
| Also known as | Somali Warlord Alliance |
| Leaders | Botan Ise Alin Mohamed Afrah Qanyare Musa Sudi Yalahow Nuur Daqle Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdiid Omar Muhamoud Finnish |
| Foundation | 2006 |
| Dissolved | June 2006 |
| Ideology | Secularism |
| Allies | Ethiopia TFG United States |
| Opponents | Islamic Courts Union Al-Shabaab Ras Kamboni Brigades |
| Battles and wars | 2006 Islamic Courts Union offensive • Battle of Mogadishu (2006) |
The leadership of the alliance consisted Botan Ise Alin, Mohammed Dheere, Mohamed Qanyare, Musa Sudi Yalahow, Nuur Daqle, Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdiid, Omar Muhamoud Finnish and others. Some of them were ministers within the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).
The Islamic Courts Union and warlord alliance fought the Battle of Mogadishu during spring and summer of 2006. The battle ended in a decisive victory for the Islamic Courts, and by July 10th, the ICU took full control of the city. Following the defeat, the TFG removed 4 prominent ARPCT members from the positions they had held in the government. Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdiid defected from the alliance in June 2006, saying that "Since the formation of ARPCT, Mogadishu has been a centre of a military crisis that has led to the needless death of hundreds of people, therefore I decide to quit the alliance to build on the gains of the Islamic tribunals and give peace a chance".
As the Ethiopian invasion was underway in September 2006, ENDF forces in Somalia began rearming some warlords who had been defeated by the ICU during the battle for Mogadishu. When Ethiopian and TFG troops advanced on Mogadishu four months later at the end of December 2006, they were followed by the warlords. The Ethiopians allowed numerous warlords to regain control over the fiefdoms they had previously lost to the courts.