What the Mogadishu is going on in Somalia?
The African country of Somalia, now known for its modern-day pirates, was pinpointed as one of several states that deeply affected modern US policy on intervention on the African continent as a whole (notably reluctance in Rwanda and Darfur). It is one of several predominantly Muslim states in the region, and has been so for a considerable length of time. Remarkably, as the European powers began colonizing the continent in the 19th century, Somalia’s Dervish State resisted the invading armies on several occasions. In 1920, however, the Dervish State collapsed and became a British protectorate, Somaliland. Throughout WWII, portions of present day Somalia were controlled by Italy and were used as a staging point to attack Ethiopia and British-controlled Somaliland. Most of the Somali citizens assisted the Allies, but the state remained a British protectorate after the war ended. Throughout the late 40’s and early 50’s, Britain made territorial exchanges between independent Ethiopia and protectorate Somalia, a move which only served to increase angst toward the European rulers. This culminated in Somalia’s independence in 1960.
Despite decisive presidential elections in the years that followed, the various clans in the state were unable to interact peacefully. In 1969, the ruling President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke was assassinated by one of his own bodyguards. Immediately afterward, a coup d'état placed General Siad Barre in the presidency. Barre claimed that Somalia was a Socialist state, gaining support from the Soviet Union, but the country was effectively a dictatorship. The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party, led by Barre, launched the Ogaden War of 1977-1978, which sought to reclaim Ethiopian territory. With varied support from global superpowers, the Somali army failed to defeat the Ethiopian army, and the war only created disdain towards the military government.
The increasingly belligerent and erratic behavior of Barre, combined with fuel shortages and unbearable inflation, led to the still ongoing Somali Civil War in 1991. Barre was removed from power by Ethiopian-backed clans, but he remained in the southern region of the country until his death in 1995. Part of the country declared itself a separate entity, a move which has not been recognized by any other country. From 1992-1995, the United Nations sought to provide humanitarian aid and establish a lasting peace. Troops from Pakistan and the United States were directly involved in fighting in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, an event later known as the Black Hawk Down incident. By 1995, the UN and the US both withdrew their troops despite increasing humanitarian crises.
The following years saw four separate declarations of autonomy within the state itself (not counting the Somaliland region which still seeks complete independence), as well as some attempts at uniting the turbulent country. Most notable of the latter was the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), which was started in 2004 in Kenya. The TFG has fought several battles against the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), who wished to establish Sharia law throughout Somalia. Despite the collapse of the ICU in 2006 and Ethiopia’s intervention to maintain order, there is no stability in the country. The presence of African Union troops is met with Islamist resistance (led by a group called the PRM), and the infrastructure lies in ruins. While their economy has been noted amongst the strongest in Africa by the UN, former President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed resigned in 2008 because he had failed to end the conflict. Though a coalition government now exists under President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, guided by the watchful eye of the United Nations, small steps forward are rare. Without a more country-specific approach, with awareness of the various tribal factions and political beliefs, no peace for tumultuous Somalia is attainable.
The purpose of this column is to inform people about global events. While one article is not enough to fully explain a conflict, it is enough to provide the reader with the basics. It is my hope that when you are finished reading, you can readily answer the question, “What the (blank) is going on in (blank?)”
