Greater Somalia War, the vision of uniting the various historically and predominantly Somali-inhabited areas of the Horn of Africa into a Greater Somalia was temporarily sidelined. Thousands of refugees have been granted political asylum in Kenya. Talk of pan-Somali unification movements for the moment took a backseat, as the Republic splintered into a few autonomous smaller regional or clan-based governing zones. The government of the secessionist region of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia has consistently attempted to break away from the Somali Republic and launched an unsuccessful though persistent campaign to seek recognition from international organizations and countries. Somaliland further clashed with Puntland
2009 timeline of the War in Somalia of at least 17 civilians. In Galgadud region a water shortage hampered by fighting in the region has killed at least two children as reported by village elders. In North-western Somalia in the town of Hudor Al Shabaab took over the community from TFG-led forces resulting in the deaths of 10 TFG soldiers, six Al Shabaab insurgents and at least four civilians. This is in addition to the heavy fighting in Mogadishu. A boat with Somali refugees sank in the coastal waters of Yemen leaving 45 people dead. The Somali transitional government has signed a cease-fire and a truce with