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Somalia
Source: BBC
This Horn of Africa country has had no recognized central government since 1991, when President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown. Instead, power is divided between various groups including the internationally backed Transitional Federal Institutions, the Union of Islamic Courts and other regional entities such as the breakaway Somaliland, Puntland and Jubaland. International involvement in the Eastern African country has utterly failed to secure peace. In 1992, in addition to an arms embargo, the UN launched military operations to bring “humanitarian relief” to Somalia. US forces arrived in advance of its own accord, stating a need to remove warlords from the region to put a stop to destabilizing clan warfare. The US exacerbated the conflict by pitting warlords against one another, supporting leaders whose power had started to decline. US troops withdrew from Somalia in May 1994 followed by UN forces in March 1995. Since then, the US has clandestinely carried out operations there, claiming that the country is a site of terrorist activity.
International peace efforts resumed in 2006 as a conflict between rival militias intensified. The Transitional Federal Government was challenged by the Union of Islamic Courts which increased its control over Somalia and some regions of Ethiopia, threatening regional stability. The US started to show covert support for an Ethiopian offensive against the Courts, claiming legitimate security concerns for Ethiopia. In December 2006, the Transitional Federal Government launched a counter-offensive with the support of Ethiopian troops, pushing the Union of Islamic Courts to collapse. In addition to maintaining an arm embargo on Somalia, the UN Security Council authorized the African Union to establish a peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) to support dialogue and reconciliation in Somalia. The AU is trying to organize the deployment of such force, but troop contributors have not been forthcoming.
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Key UN Documents | Analysis | Articles | Archived Articles
Key UN Documents
Resolution 1831 (August 19, 2008)
The UN Security Council has unanimously decided to renew the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) for a period of six months. The resolution states that the full deployment of AMISOM will help facilitate the full withdrawal of non-African Union forces and help promote lasting peace and stability in the country. The Council has stated its willingness to consider an alternative peacekeeping force to take over from AMISOM, but this is depends on political progress and increased security.
The Security Council has renewed for six months a mandate for the African Union led AMISOM peacekeeping mission in Somalia. The Resolution was passed despite an obvious lack of support in Africa, with only Uganda and Burundi providing troops to the mission. The mandate authorizes the use of force by the peacekeepers to protect infrastructure, and provide security to enable humanitarian assistance in the country.
Welcoming Ethiopia’s decision to withdraw its troops from Somalia, and determining that the situation in Somalia still constitutes a threat to international peace and security, Resolution 1744 authorizes the deployment of an African Union mission in Somalia to support dialogue and reconciliation, offer protection to the Transitional Federal Government and to assist with the National Security and Stabilization Plan.
Despite mounting criticisms against troop deployment in Somalia, the Security Council has decided to establish an African Union protection and training mission in the country. The peacekeeping mission mandate includes protecting the internationally recognized Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) and monitoring peace dialogue between the TFI and the Islamic Courts Union.
Back to the top Analysis
A detailed analysis on the UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.Routinely Targeted: Attacks on Civilians in Somalia (May 6, 2008)
The Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Ethiopian military forces commit extrajudicial killings, torture, rape and arbitrary detention in Somalia, says Amnesty International. The TFG, aided by Ethiopia and the US, overthrew the Somali ruling government in 2007. The report urges the UN Security Council to condemn violations of international human rights law by the TFG and Ethiopia, strengthen a UN Arms Embargo against Somalia, and encourage the UN peacekeeping force in Somalia (AMISOM) to protect the lives of civilians.Somalia: Conflict A Threat to Regional Peace (November 15, 2007)
The conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea has spilled over into Somalia, complicating Ethiopia’s influence in Mogadishu. Somalia has been involved in a complex net of relationships between the US, EU and Ethiopia since before the Cold War. Political chaos has contributed to Somalia’s instability and violence since 1991. The Muslim movement al-Shabaab violently opposed the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and its Ethiopian ally. The author shows how international interference has made the situation worse, and claims that multilateral institutions - such as the EU, Arab League, IGAD, UN and African Union – would help more than single interest-driven countries, like the US. (Nation – Nairobi)Humanitarian Intervention: the Case of Somalia
An annotated resource list from Worldview that emphasizes the problematic side of the UN operation in Somalia.
Back to the top Articles
2008 | 2007 | Archived Articles
Source: Political World
2008 A New Approach to Bringing Order in Somalia (August 18, 2008)
Armed conflict between the Ethiopian-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and rebel groups has left Somalia in a constant state of war. The TFG, created to bring peace through a centralized top-down approach, has failed. This International Herald Tribune article argues that the TFG must decentralize political power to allow the Somali people to rebuild the country from the bottom up. In order to achieve a lasting peace, Somalia, a country sharply divided along clan lines, must localize government structures.External Factors and the Prospect of Peace in Somalia (August 7, 2008)
The peace agreement between Somalia’s interim government and the main opposition group has failed due to external factors. This Media Monitors Network article argues that the presence of Ethiopian troops on Somali territory, seen by Somalia’s opposition as an occupation force, are fueling conflict. And Eritrea, Ethiopia’s greatest rival, continues to support Somali rebels in order to undermine the peace process and discredit Ethiopia’s role as a peacekeeper in Somalia.Somalia: Prolonging the Agony (July 29, 2008)
The Djibouti peace accord, signed between the Somali government and the main opposition faction, is falling apart as violent clashes continue. The new head of the rebel coalition, Sheik Hassan Aweys, resists the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force, which he fears would support the government. Many Somali citizens, seeking peace also reject a UN force and demand that the Ethiopian troops currently backing the government withdraw. (International Relations and Security Network)Security Council Urged to Deploy Stabilization Force in Somalia (July 23, 2008)
The Djibouti Agreement, signed in June 2008 by the Somali government and rebel groups, sought to end the country’s 17-year-old internal war, but armed clashes continue. Ali Ahmed Jama Jengeli, Somalia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, warns of the dire humanitarian needs of the more than 800,000 people displaced by the conflict. He urges the Security Council to ensure peace and security in Somalia by deploying an international peace and stabilization force. (ReliefWeb)Somalia: Will Djibouti Do the Trick? (July 5, 2008)
Despite a peace agreement between the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the moderate minority from the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia rebel group, peace remains unlikely. The author warns that the agreement shows no real prospect of ending conflict because the Somali government and the UN excluded the al-Shabaab militant group and key members of the Union of Islamic Courts from the peace negotiations. The article urges the UN to restart the peace talks, but this time to include all the groups involved. (International Crisis Group)UN Sanctions Action Against Pirates (July 1, 2008)
The UN Security Council has allowed countries co-operating with the Somali Transitional Federal Government the right to enter Somalia's territorial waters and use “all means necessary” to repress acts of piracy. For the past two years, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has worked to draw the Security Council’s attention to the matter of increased piracy and armed robbery in Somalia’s coastal waters. The six-month resolution only applies to the situation in Somalia and affirms that cooperating states do not have the right to deny innocent passengers to the ships of any third state. (allAfrica)Lost Opportunities in the Horn of Africa: How Conflicts Connect and Peace Agreements Unravel (June 23, 2008)
This Chatham House report argues that instead of handling each conflict separately, the UN and the African Union (AU) should deal with the Horn of Africa as if it were a “Regional Security Complex.” The report urges the UN and AU to cooperate with local religious and civil society leaders to better integrate peacekeeping efforts in the region. By doing so, policymakers can further political and economic integration in the Horn region and avoid basing their efforts on richer countries’ agendas.Somalia: Business as Usual (June 19, 2008)
In order to declare victory in the Djibouti peace talks, the Somali government and opposition factions signed the UN-brokered peace agreement despite the document’s ambiguity on key issues. The Somali government claims the text does not directly demand the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops. The opposition, however, insists that UN forces replace the Ethiopian troops within 120 days of the signing. Meanwhile, Ethiopian forces, which did not sign the accord, are still clashing with non-signatory rebel groups. (International Relations and Security Network)Somalia: Cautious Welcome for UN-Brokered Peace Deal (June 10, 2008)
Somali opposition leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys rejects a UN-backed three-month ceasefire deal signed by Somalia’s transitional government and rebel groups. Aweys claims that the “war will continue until Somalia is liberated from the Ethiopian troops.” The agreement demands a withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somali territory, but Ethiopian forces will only leave once the UN deploys a peacekeeping force. UN and the African Union troop deployments are falling short, though, and so far, only Uganda and Burundi have sent troops to Somalia. (allAfrica)UN Peace Mission Tackles Somalia (June 2, 2008)
Members of the Security Council met with representatives of the Transitional Federal Government and opposition groups during a visiting mission to Djibouti. Council members hope to initiate direct peace talks between the various Somali groups. This BBC article suggests that the mission will be ultimately unsuccessful unless US-backed Ethiopian troops withdraw from Somalia, and the government includes opposition group Al-Shabab in the peace talks.UN Experts Report Flourishing Illegal Arms Trade in Somalia Involving Governments and Traders (May 23, 2008)
A UN Monitoring Group investigating the violation of the 1992 UN arms embargo, reports that Ethiopian forces in Somalia are fueling the illegal arms trade by importing military equipment to help arm pro-government militias. South Africa’s UN Ambassador, Dumisani Kumalo said, that both states and private traders were suppliers of military equipment and that warlords, militants and businesses were among the recipients. The Monitoring Group stated that corruption in the Somali government, in addition to the presence of Ethiopian troops, makes it difficult for the UN peacekeepers to track the sale and purchase of illegal weapons. (International Herald Tribune)Security Council Planning for UN Peacekeepers in Somalia (May 15, 2008)
Members of the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a Resolution to replace African Union troops (AMISOM) in Somalia with UN peacekeepers. The Resolution asks the Secretary General to plan for a peacekeeping mission for the country, only if security conditions on the ground improve. The Security Council also recommends that the UN political office for Somalia move from Nairobi to Mogadishu, and urges UN member states to enforce an arms embargo against the country. (New York Times)Somalia’s Government Teeters on Collapse (March 29, 2008)
The UN-backed Transitional Federal Government in Somalia has urged the United Nations to provide extra funding and peacekeeping troops to strengthen its tenuous grip on power. The New York Times notes that Somalia remains “the most dangerous in the world for aid workers,” and that war, displacement and high food prices have left the country on the brink of severe famine.Somalia is Worst Humanitarian Crisis, UN Official (January 30, 2008)
Somalia is the “most pressing humanitarian emergency in the world – even worse than Darfur”, according to UNHCR representative Guillermo Bettocchi. Ongoing fighting between allied Somali-Ethiopian troops and opposing groups has caused endemic instability within the country, with over one million people internally displaced. The violence has also limited the distribution of aid and furthered attacks on NGO workers. With over 15% of the population described as “acutely malnourished,” Bettocchi calls upon UN member states to pressure all actors in Somalia to find a political solution to the violence. (AlertNet)
2007 UN Envoy Calls on Saudi Arabia to Play a Leading Role in Bringing Peace to Somalia (December 18, 2007)
UN envoy for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, has proposed a “two-track” peace plan to the UN Security Council. The plan consists of “immediate and effective action on the political and security fronts.” Abdallah stressed the importance of talks between the transitional government and the opposition towards a nationaly united government. He also wants reinforcement from the African Union force, mainly with the help of neighboring Saudi Arabia, before the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission. (Associated Press)Somali Insurgency to Intensify (December 16, 2007)
The military wing of Somalia’s Islamist movement, al-Shabab, continues to strike against the government and Ethiopian troops. The movement has been attacking the moderate Muslim government, and wants to rule Somalia under sharia law. Al-Shabab also wants an Ethiopian withdrawal from Somalia. (Reuters)Concerned at Conditions in Somalia, Security Council Urges End to Violence (November 19, 2007)
In spite of a “deteriorating political, security and humanitarian situation in Somalia,” the Security Council hasn’t sent a UN peacekeeping mission because Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over the mission’s viability. Council members recognized the need for an increase of support to the African Union Mission (AMISOM). The Council also expressed support of the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs), the UN’s mediation efforts and enhanced international assistance. (UN News)UN Envoy Lauds Peaceful End to Crisis Within Somali Transitional Government (October 30, 2007)
Somalia, a country in the Horn of Africa, suffers from a humanitarian crisis and security deterioration. Neighboring Ethiopia’s conflict between its troops and insurgencies perpetuates the crisis. Since Muhammad Siad Barre’s regime ended in 1991, the country has been lacking a functional central government. The situation has deteriorated due to political tensions among its government parties. United Nations special envoy to Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, asked the Transitional Federal Government to overcome internal political differences and reach peaceful solutions. (UN News)New Somali Alliance Threatens War (September 12, 2007)
The created Alliance for the Liberation of Somalia, organized a meeting in Eritrea to discuss Somali liberation and the removal of Ethiopian troops. Its aim is “to remove the Ethiopian-backed government by negotiation - or war.” One of the 300 delegates present, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, offered his support for the ALS and a free Somalia. Ethiopia promises to withdraw when African Union peacekeepers arrive in Mogadishu. (BBC)Somalia: Africa Insight – Why Talk in Hotels Won’t Yield Long Term Peace (September 7, 2007)
This article pleads for better understanding of the crisis in Somalia before further intervention takes place. The author writes that a new Somalia with a united government is possible, but success must emerge from internal processes and not external pressure. It’s likely, though, that outsiders will continue to be aggressively involved. The United States has had special forces operating in the country and considers it a major site for the “war on terror.” Somalia’s neighbor, Ethiopia has a large military presence in Somalia that has given rise to more violence. The UN Security Council, under pressure from the US and the UK, authorized a peacekeeping mission that has not yet been implemented. (Nation-Nairobi)UN Faces Calls for Action in Somalia (August 15, 2007)
Somali officials and NGOs such as Human Rights Watch are asking to the UN Security Council to address the increasing violence between Islamic insurgents, clan-based militias, the Transitional government and its Ethiopian backers. They ask the Security Council to reinforce the AU troops already present in Mogadishu. However, the Security Council says it will not authorize a peacekeeping mission until all parties engage in a genuine political process of national reconciliation. And, clan-based conferences such as the one in July 2007 will not suffice unless they include the Islamists. (Christian Science Monitor)Shell-Shocked: Civilians Under Siege in Mogadishu (August 2007)
This Human Rights Watch report describes how both US-backed Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Ethiopian forces, and Islamic insurgent groups, have committed war crimes in battling each other. In March 2007, Ethiopia indiscriminately bombed densely populated Mogadishu neighborhoods and attacked hospitals, and insurgents deployed into the same residential areas. The report calls on the UN Security Council, US and EU supporters of the TFG and Ethiopia to condemn these crimes and to ensure that abuse of civilians stops immediately, by ending impunity and promoting accountability.Somalia: Will Peace Hold After National Summit? (July 31, 2007)
Delegates from the Dir, Darood, Hawiye and Digil/Mirifle clans, and the coalition of smaller Somali clans, met in Mogadishu in a move towards reconciliation and the eventual creation of a government. Among other issues, the clans discussed the separation of politics and religion, and especially the future role of Islam in Somalia. (East African)Somalia Awash in Illegal Weapons, UN Monitors Say (July 26, 2007)
The UN’s Monitoring Group on Somalia revealed that Eritrea smuggles SA-18 surface-to-air missiles, suicide belts, explosives and detonators to the Somali Islamic insurgent group Shabab, in violation of an international arms embargo. The report suggested that these violations signify the spread of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict into Somalia and also questioned what the US refers to as its “counter-terrorism” efforts in Somalia, which include air strikes and support of Ethiopia. (Associated Press)Somalia’s Compromised National Reconciliation Conference (July 19, 2007)
President of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TNC) Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed arranged for clan-based, rather than political-party-based, representation at the Somali National Reconciliation Conference (NRC). This approach will likely perpetuate rather than reconcile political differences in Somalia, allowing Yusuf to retain power. Yusuf’s power-hungry tactics put the UN Security Council, US and EU in a bind as they fully supported his government when it ousted the Islamic Union of Courts in December 2006. (Power and Interest News Report)UN Unveils Contingency Plan for Peacekeepers in Somalia (June 29, 2007)
In a report to the Security Council, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon hinted at plans to replace the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISON) with UN peacekeepers. The UN peacekeeping operation would promote national reconciliation and stabilization rather than bolster the US and Ethiopia-backed Transitional Government in Baidoa. Preferably, the parties involved would sign a peace agreement or ceasefire that ends hostilities and enshrines a formal acceptance of a UN presence. These parties include 50,000 to 70,000 clan militia and radical armed groups. (Inter Press Service)Somali PM Wants UN Peacekeepers (June 29, 2007)
Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi appealed to the UN Security Council to take over for the African Union (AU) mission in Somalia, which currently operates at only 1,600 out of 8,000 proposed troops. But the UN declined to commit peacekeepers and focused on the reconciliation summit scheduled for July 2007. Outgoing UK Ambassador to the UN Emyr Jones Parry pointed out that “you can’t put peacekeeping troops in if there’s no peace to keep.” (BBC)UN Urges Attention to Somalia (May 22, 2007)
UN humanitarian chief John Holmes pushed for both Somali leaders and world governments not to underestimate the desperate humanitarian situation in the country, which he considers one of the most serious in the world. Holmes claimed that fighting from March 12 to April 26 killed 1,670 people and caused around 400,000 to flee Mogadishu. Holmes also relays that Somali civil society worries that the UN has effectively abandoned Somalia’s cause.(Associated Press)Somalia Looks to Include Islamists in Reconciliation (May 20, 2007)
Mail&Guardian reports that Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf is allowing members of the ousted Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) to participate in the country’s upcoming reconciliation conference as long as “they are selected by their clans and renounce violence.” Italian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Patrizia Sentinelli says that Yusuf has promised that choosing delegates from the UIC will be done in a “fair manner.”Somalia – “A Depressing Project” (May 15, 2007)
The US alleges that its main goals for Somalia are to provide humanitarian aid, to “establish effective government” in the country and “to prevent Somalia from becoming a terrorist haven.” The BBC reports that Ethiopia is unlikely to want to withdraw its troops from Somalia until it is certain that the Union of Islamic Courts will not come back to power.Ethiopia Warned on Somali Pullout (May 15, 2007)
Continued Ethiopian troop presence in Somalia may “block political dialogue,” but withdrawal before the arrival of African Union peacekeepers would be catastrophic, warns AU Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announces that he wants to lift the onerous financial burden of having his troops in Somalia, and hopes that African countries that have pledged troops to the mission will keep their promises. (BBC)Somalia: The Hidden War for Oil (May 7, 2007)
This Pambazuka article asserts that contrary to mainstream media reporting, the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia would not have taken place without US support. It highlights the problem that Ethiopia was not prepared for the aftermath of the invasion, where growing insurgency against the Transitional Federal Government has delayed Ethiopian troop withdrawal. Among other things, the author makes the link between the invasion and the allocation of Somali oil fields to US oil companies.Getting Ethiopia out of Somalia (May 3, 2007)
The US-backed Ethiopian presence in Somalia, which overthrew the Union of Islamic Courts and helped the clan-based Transitional Federal Government regain power, has provoked more resistance from some minor clans, business groups and Islamists, and escalated violence. The article voices Somali fears that Ethiopia plans to balkanize their country into clan based regions in order to gain access to the sea. It also highlights the problem that the Transitional Federal Government has decided to exclude even more individuals and groups than before, which will lead to further destabilization. (Boston Globe)Row Over Aid to Fleeing Somalis (April 25, 2007)
The BBC reports that the Transitional Federal Government is hampering humanitarian aid efforts aimed at those displaced from Mogadishu, by demanding to inspect all shipments into the country among other administrative obstacles. UN, EU and US diplomats in the region have all appealed to the government to stop complicating aid delivery. In a meeting with the John Holmes, Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, the Somali government promised to make changes in receiving foreign aid.UN Warns Against Military Solution in Somalia (April 21, 2007)
A UN report on Somalia calls on the international community to support, financially and logistically, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). This will allow the mission to fully deploy and Ethiopian troops to withdraw. The report also warns that military intervention by regional actors is likely to cause tension between clans with different loyalties and hinder the reconciliation process in the long-term. (Agence France Presse)Blame Game Over Somali Conflict (April 13, 2007)
At a regional meeting in Nairobi, Ethiopian officials blame Eritrea for undermining Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government and accuse Eritrea of being “actively involved in terrorism” in the region. Eritrea asserts that the Ethiopian invasion has not brought peace, stability or democracy to Somalia. Many feel that the fighting in the country reflects a proxy war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. 1,400 Ugandan peacekeeping troops were deployed in March in Somalia, and Burundi has agreed to contribute to the mission of the African Union. The AU mission deplores the fact that logistical and financial support promised to the peacekeepers by donors has not arrived. (News24)UN Envoy Calls for Political Solution to Conflict in Somalia (April 13, 2007)
United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative for Somalia, Francois Lonseny Fall, says that peace in Somalia depends on reconciliation through “an inclusive dialogue.” He urges the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a regional development organization made up of seven African countries, to continue supporting the African Union in its deployment of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and also stresses the importance of the co-operation of the AU, the IGAD, the League of Arab States and the UN in achieving political settlement in Somalia. (Xinhua)US-Made Mess in Somalia (April 9, 2007)
Ivan Eland, Director of the Center on Peace & Liberty at the Independent Institute writes that the unfounded US belief that Somalia would become a haven for terrorists, led it to support unpopular warlords in the country. This gave rise to Somali support for the radical Islamist movement where there was none before. Eland sees the same pattern of US counter-productive intervention in Afghanistan in the 80s and in Iraq, and warns that the unpopularity and weakness of the US-backed Transitional Federal Government may lead to resurgence of the Islamists in the future.North Koreans Arm Ethiopians as US Assents (April 7, 2007)
Shortly after successfully pushing for the imposition of strict UN sanctions against Pyongyang, the US allowed Ethiopia to purchase arms from North Korea, in violation of the UN ban. According to the New York Times, the US allowed the deal to take place, because it sees Ethiopia’s intervention against the Union of Islamic Courts in Somalia as being part of the “war on terror.”Somalia: What Peace Are They Keeping? (April 6, 2007)
This article looks at the stabilizing role the Islamic Courts played in the traditionally clan-based political structures in Somalia. However, the Courts’ regional ambitions, coupled with the US suspicion that the Courts were involved with terrorist organizations, led to a US-backed Ethiopian intervention and the fall of the Courts in December 2006. While insisting on the need to replace Ethiopian troops in Somalia, the article questions whether Somalis will consider African Union troops more neutral, as they may seem to bolster the deeply unpopular Transitional Federal Government. (Nation-Nairobi)Somalia Has Best Chance in Years for Peace (March 2, 2007)
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Eric Laroche feels that the country has reached a turning point in its long conflict, but says that a minimum presence of 8,000 foreign troops in the region is necessary to stave off further violence. Laroche adds that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has a “kind of representativeness” that the warlords did not when they were in power and that Somalis back significantly the TFG. (Reuters)UN Council Considers Somalia Mission Resolution (February 12, 2007)
The UN Security Council considers a British-drafted resolution to authorize an African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission to take "all necessary measures" to restore security, support the government and assist with humanitarian aid. The draft resolution also lifts a 1992 arms embargo and allows the import of weapons to be used by the AU force only. The AU force will replace the Ethiopian troops stationed in the region since the ousting of the Union of Islamic courts. (Reuters)There and Back Again in Somalia (February 11, 2007)
This Middle East Report Online article follows the events in Somalia since 2004 when the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was formed. The ensuing power struggle between the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) and the TFG has had cross boundary involvement, with Ethiopia, Eritrea and the US playing main roles in the conflict. Following the collapse of the UIC in December 2006, the article assesses the TFG’s challenges in promoting dialogue towards a more inclusive government, deployment of an African Union peacekeeping force (AMISOM) to replace departing Ethiopian forces; and strengthening of the TFG’s capacity to govern.Oil in Darfur? Special Ops in Somalia? (February 7, 2007)
This Global Research article discusses the concept of humanitarian intervention and the different actors involved – as well as their associated motivations – in pushing for intervention. In the case of Darfur, the author argues that a complex web including corporations, nongovernmental organizations and Western media outlets are all complicit in pushing governments to act to “save” the victims of the crisis. However, the article maintains that the motivation behind such intervention ultimately comes down to access and control of natural resources.Somalia in the Crosshairs (February 1, 2007)
Following the collapse of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), power in south-central Somalia is returning to warlords due to the weakness of the Transitional Federal Government. Right Web suggests that the US disproportionate use of force in seeking out terrorists has only bred more violence in the region and that by ousting the UIC, Washington has removed a legitimate political actor whose financial and political backing would have been fundamental in rebuilding the country.Somalia (February 2007)
This article from Le Monde diplomatique argues that US involvement in Somalia now represents a third front in the Bush administration’s “war on terror.” The author claims that one of the reasons behind US President George W. Bush’s decision to encourage Ethiopia to send forces into Mogadishu was that the former Somali government – the Union of Islamic Courts – was allegedly receiving funds from Iran.US Air Strikes in Somalia Condemned for Killing Innocent Civilians (January 21, 2007)
Human rights organizations have highly criticized the US for air strikes on Somalia. International humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilians as well as attacks that do not distinguish between military targets and civilians. According to Oxfam, the raids killed 70 civilian herdsmen. Amnesty International questions whether the US forces took the necessary precautions to distinguish between civilians and combatants in choosing their means of attack. (OneWorld)Somalia: UN Calls for Immediate Re-Engagement (January 18, 2007)
Following the collapse of the Islamic Courts, the UN urges the international community to re-engage in Somalia. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Eric Laroche, asks for immediate support in order to take advantage of “a momentum for reconciliation” in the country. Mogadishu welcomes the UN’s call, saying that UN presence would contribute to stability and reconciliation and would help the economy. Meanwhile, Hassan Sheikh Adan, speaker of the Somali transitional parliament, has been removed for his clash with the President and Prime Minister over his efforts to broker peace with the Union of Islamic Courts. Members of civil society in Somalia are worried that the move will create more divisions in the state at a time when the government is fragile. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)The Collapse of the Islamic Courts (January 17, 2007)
Following the collapse of the Islamic Courts, the Transitional Federal Government has taken control of Somalia with US and Ethiopian backing. This Pambazuka article identifies and analyzes the factors that the TFG’s survival depends on - control of the warlords from different factions, disarming of the Somali militias, relations with the defeated Islamists, future actions taken by the TFG and the world’s response to them.Could African Peacekeepers Tame Somalia? (January 10, 2007)
More than ten years ago, UN peacekeeping operations and US “humanitarian intervention” failed to stabilize Somalia following the 1991 ouster of President Mohamed Siad Barre. In light of escalating violence in the country between the Ethiopian-backed transitional government’s troops and Union of Islamic Courts fighters, some diplomats advocate an “African solution to African problems.” But analysts call such a mission unrealistic, as African forces remain under-funded, ill-equipped and overstretched in the continent’s other volatile regions. (AlertNet)Somalia: New Hotbed of Anti-Americanism (January 3, 2007)
The US-backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia has led to an increase of “anti-American” sentiment in the region, argues this Global Research article. The author claims that many Somalis – especially supporters of the United Islamic Courts (UIC) which controlled Mogadishu prior to the invasion – believe Ethiopia is acting at the behest of Washington. The article concludes that the Bush administration believed that toppling the UIC was essential to its “war on terrorism” because the Islamic government threatened US regional interests.
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