Somali Conflicts • Modern Somalia- “lawless state”? • Traditional conflict management • Culture of confrontation godob (revenge for cumulative grievances) • Council of elders (xeer) with powers of expulsion, holy men • Diya – blood money • Intermarriage between clans • Qat chewing • Poetry – expressing clan positions
History • Many wars with Christian Ethiopia and Europeans
Colonial Era • Somalia fell victim to the scramble for Africa in the 19th century • North Somalia was British and Italy invaded Ethiopia and Somalia in the 1930s
Somali Conflicts 2 • Colonialism: British/Italian • Partitioning of Somali people • Issues of land ownership, productivity disruption • Colonial military/bureaucratic elite • Imposition of colonial law • Independence = 1960 • Lack of gov’t diversity • Push for “development” – export crops • State-controlled military to replace xeer • Control of national resources
Post colonialism in 1960s • After World War II, Italy lost Somalia • Independence from Britain in 1960 Somali Republic • 1960s saw civil war and wars with Ethiopia -Decade ended with a coup d'étatGen. Mohammed Siad Barre came to power in 1969 Created new socialist Somalia • Built roads • Improved literacy • Grew stronger until war with Ethiopia to create “Greater Somalia”
Somali Conflicts 3 • General Siad Barre regime (1969-91) • Personal power, clan exclusion • “modernization” • Cold War politics of arms and aid • 1991 coup • Outside involvement • United Nations • U.S./U.S.S.R • Ethiopia • “New World Order”
Black Hawk Down • In 1993, the US/UN decided to arrest warlords • Mohammed Farah Aidid was the worst • US soldiers raided Mogadishu to capture him • The raid ended in failure, scenes of US soldiers dying forced the US out
3 major wars pre 1991 • Ogaden War with Ethiopia in 1977–78 • 1. war between the Somali military and the Somali National Movement (SNM) for control over northwest Somalia. • 2 The SNM was formed in 1981 by some members of the Isaaq clan following the Ogaden War. • embattled government forces against a growing • number of clan-based liberation movements in 1989 and 1990.
SOMALIA 1992-94 T, N, B U.S.-led United Nations occupation during civil war; raids against one Mogadishu faction.
New World Order • collapse of USSR end of Cold war “New World Order” • one size fits all model of state • “rule of law” replaces other authorities • international congregation of states, United Nations to “police” • collective security vs. peacekeeping
Somali Conflicts 4 • 1994-2006: Warlords, Moneylords • 1994: Transitional Federal Government (TFG), led by Abdullah Yusuf • Businessmen support clan militia leaders (NOT traditional elders) • For U.S., issue of terrorism, Somalis involvement in Kenya and Tanzania bombings • Union of Islamist Courts (UIC) • take over Mogadishu, 2005 • establish order, some peace
Somali Conflicts 5 • Dec, 2006: Ethiopia invades, with U.S. backing • growing Islamist insurgency • at present: Drought, displacement, looming famine, ongoing piracy • need for “security, reconciliation, capacity” • power sharing instead of a “victor’s peace”
US military raid in Somalia SOMALIA 2006-? Special Forces advise Ethiopian invasion that topples Islamist government; • AC-130 strikes , helicopter raids, • Cruise missile attacks vs. Islamist rebels; naval blockade against "pirates" & insurgents • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15336689
New state in Somalia • "The International Monetary Fund recognises the federal government of Somalia, headed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, paving the way for the resumption of relations after a 22-year interval," • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22132469
Somali diaspora in the USA • . http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19548520
