To add to the above post;
In general though, while that era is an important chapter in the history of Balanbale town and generally of the Marehan Somali people between Balanbale and Shilabo settlements; the modern history of Balanbale is larger and is more strongly represented by extraordinary preserverence, recovery, and even triumph..
Balanbale of today is far from the destroyed town levelled to the ground with only 3 standing structures after a 6 year war occupation being used as artillery target practice.
It is a beautiful, vibrant, and ascendent Somali town impatient to come of age;
And even the vast overwhelming territory of Shilabo @ 85% so far has returned back to it's historical owners showing how even with collective punishment & ethnic displacement [both Geneva war crimes violations] brought to bear---the Arc of the Moral Universe is long, yes; but it definitely DOES bend toward justice.
The Modern History of "Balanbale" indeed.
ssdf traitors bring mengistu. then they surrendered to msb 
then they lost again to usc. the only niggas to lose 3 times in a single civil war no doubt. balanbale people appreciate the the consequences of ssdf treason. ssdf gave the town to their master mengistu n he only 2 mosques standing. everything else gone. unbelievable
