history and security challenges in somalia
TRANSCRIPT
SomaliaBy: Paul Thomas Garraty
OBJECTIVES1) Describe what, where, when who is
involved.
2) Identify are the dominant groups affected. Who are the big players?
3) Characterize the violence.
4) Explain the steps that have been taken to alleviate the violence.
5) Describe what the the future of Somalia may look like.
Background
- Small country located on the “horn” of Africa’s east coast
- Became independent of Britain in 1960
- Capital is Mogadishu, located in the south, on the coast
The Rise of Mohamed Siad Barre1969 - Overthrew government and became head of state
Rule characterized by stability through intimidation - suspected of committing human rights violations against political dissidents
Known to be opportunistic; sided with whoever gave him money and resources
The Road to Civil WarBarre’s government stops receiving support from the US & is eventually overthrown in 1991
Society implodes - famine also breaks out. 500, 000 die as a result of the violence and starvation
US intervenes; successful at first, but Al Qaeda starts arming warlords & Americans become targets
US withdraws after Black Hawk Down incident
The Rise of Islamist Jihadism- Competing warlords permit Sharia courts to
be set up to retain some degree of civic order
- Al Qaeda offers Somali jihadists seats at their training campuses in Afghanistan and Sudan - those returning from the camps would create “Al Shabaab”
- Al Shabaab begins conquering more and more territory throughout Somalia; seizing weapons as they do
PiracyBecomes rampant 2007
Costs the global economy between $1 billion & $16 billion annually
“Captain Phillips” incident brings attention to it
International military pressure discourages it - haven’t seen a Somali pirate attack in two years
Al Shabaab vs. The West- Al Shabaab retakes Mogadishu in 2009 after
Ethiopian troops leave; new government begs for help
- US & African Union respond with military funding and troops, respectively
- Al Shabaab joins Al Qaeda - US begins conducting drone strikes
- Al Shabaab becomes weakened - lashes out by way of terrorist attacks
Jus Post Bellum- Al Shabaab continues to lose; politically and militarily. Order slowly
returning
- Somali, African Union, and UN governments trying to help address causes of radicalization in order to prevent future Al Shabaab recruitment surges.
In summary:1) Dominant groups: Warlords, people in military, jihadists. Not really based on ethnicity.
2) Characterization of violence:
- Politicide w/ Barre
- Can be argued that Al Shabaab committed Genocide.
3) Steps to alleviate violence:
- Nothing really done to stop Barre
- African Union (US backed) steps in to confront Al Shabaab
4) Future:
- Jus Post Bellum
ReferencesAlvi, Suroosh, VICE News, Al Shabaab in Somalia: Terror Episode 2 (2016)
Bergen, Peter, The United States of Jihad: Investigating America’s Homegrown Terrorists (2016)Bodansky, Yossef, Chechen Jihad : Al Qaeda's Training Ground and the Next Wave of Terror (2007)
CIA World Factbook: Somalia: Introduction, Geography (2016)
Gilpin, Raymond Counting the Costs of Somali Piracy (2009) pg. 11
James, George, New York Times, Somalia's Overthrown Dictator, Mohammed Siad Barre, Is Dead (1995)
Kriel, Robyn, CNN, Kenya's Westgate mall reopens, nearly two years after bloody terror attack (2015)
Maritime Executive, "Cautious Optimism" as Piracy Numbers Decline” (October 2016)
Mattis, James, General, USMC (ret.), University of California, Reflections with General James Mattis - Conversations with History (2014)
Navy SEAL Museum, Maersk Alabama Lifeboat and Mk 25 Sniper Rifle from “Easter SEAL Rescue (Retrieved 2016)
O’Meara, Richard, Jus Post Bellum: Reflections on the Right Way to End a War, Journal on Terrorism & Security Analysis, Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSCT), Vol. 6, 2011
Osei-Tutu, THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE SOMALI PIRACY, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (2011) pg. 5
Power, Samantha, “A Problem from Hell” AMERICA and the AGE of GENOCIDE” (2002) pg 507