Somalia

Where is Somalia?

Brief History of Somalia

Post-World War II Was a protectorate

of Great Britain 1960 Achieved independence

1970s Military dictatorship Under Mohamed Siyyad Barre

Brief History of Somalia 1978 Somali forces pushed out of Ogaden with the help of Soviet

advisers and Cuban troops. Barre expels Soviet advisers and gains support of United

States. 1980s Somalia's strategic importance was diminished due to end of

the Cold War Government became even more totalitarian

1991 Mohamed Siad Barre is ousted. Civil War!

Somali Civil War – 1991 Results: Power struggle between clan warlords kills or wounds thousands

of civilians Based on clan allegiances and competition for resources Disrupted agriculture, food & water distribution

Somali Civil War – 1991 Famine – approx. 300,000

dead UN Security Council

authorized limited peacekeeping operation disregarded by warring

factions

Warlords

Nation ruled by a number of WARLOARDS person with power who has military and civil

control over an area Armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to

central government Alliance of Warlords formed in 1992 Operated under authority of Mohamed Farrah

Aidid Declared himself President of Somalia

US Response December 1992-

President Bush ordered Operation Restore Hope restore order in Somalia

President Bill Clinton took office in January 1993 and continued operation

The Home-Front Many Somalis resented the

international forces Many took up arms - actively

resisted UN and US

On June 5, 1993, one of the deadliest attacks on UN forces in Somalia occurred 24 UN soldiers were killed in

Mogadishu (controlled by Aidid)

The UN Responds

Next day, UN issued a Resolution

calling for arrest and trial of those responsible for ambush US and UN began an attack on

Aidid’s control Aidid remained defiant –

violence escalated

The Battle of Mogadishu October 3 & 4, 1993

Mogadishu, Somalia Operation was to

capture top officials to Aidid

The Battle of Mogadishu During the operation, two US Black Hawk

helicopters were shot down Some soldiers trapped at the crash sites combined task force was sent to rescue the trapped soldiers

Results US Forces 19 Killed 84 Wounded

Somali Forces Est. 700+ Killed Est. 1,500 Wounded

The End of International Involvement Withdrawal Pres. Clinton called

for full withdrawal by March 1994. UN also withdrew

forces Ended UN effort to

assist a nation in anarchy/civil war

2000 Clan leaders and senior figures meeting elect Abdulkassim Salat Hassan

president of Somalia. 2000 October – Hassan arrives in Mogadishu to heroes' welcome.

Hassan announces his government, the first in the country since 1991. 2004 In 14th attempt since 1991 to restore central government, a new

parliament is installed. In October the body elects Abdullahi Yusuf as president.

2011 Pirate attacks on ships worldwide hit seven-year high in 2010, with

Somali pirates accounting for 49 of 52 ships seized 2012 Somalia's first formal parliament in more than 20 years is sworn in

Today

January 2013: USA recognizes Somali government for first time since 1990s

On the Left: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

On the Right: Donald Steinber, Deputy Administrator of USAID

Fallout from Mogadishu

Fallout from Mogadishu Became a cautionary influence on US policy When US considers sending soldiers into foreign crisis zones – “remember

Somalia”

Americans repulsed at the images of soldiers' corpses being dragged through the streets