The Somali Civil War

By: Christian Haig and Yuyi Li

Table of Contents• Geography

• People

• History

– Rise of Siad Barre

– Siad Barre and Dictatorship

– Ogaden War (1977-1978)

– Uprising in the NW (1978-1982)

– Overthrow of Siad Barre

– The Result

– More Violence in Somalia

– Effect of Turmoil

• United Nations Operation in Somalia I

• United Nations Operation in Somalia II

•Post UNISOM Somalia

•TNG and ICU

•ICU and Ethiopia

•TNG-ICU Conflict

•Ethiopian Invasion

•Islamist Groups

•Coalition Government

•Recent Occurrences

•Problems that the UN face in Somalia

•UN Role in Somalia

•Solutions

•Bibliography

Geography

Capital: MogadishuCoastline = 2,720 kmHorn of Africa

North hilly

Central & South flat

"Somalia Map - African Countries, Map of Somalia Facts Landforms - World Atlas." World Atlas including Geography Facts, Maps, Flags - Worldatlas.com. Web. 07 Jan. 2012. <http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/so.htm>.

People

60% = nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists (north)

25% = farmers who live mainly in the fertile agricultural zone (south)

15% = urban

"Understanding Somalia." MercatorNet: promoting human dignity. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Jan. 2012. <http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/

" Somalia Tips." Somalia Tips. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Jan. 2012. <http://somaliatips.files.wordpress.com

History Clans Imperialism (late 1800s)

Britain,Italy,France Independence (June 26th,1960)

United Republic of Somalia

Abdullahi Issa & Aden Abdullah Osman Daar

Abdirashid Ali Shermarke

History (cont.)

Assassination of President Sharmarke Army seizes power, 1969

General Siad Barre leads overthrow regime

Rise of Siad Barre

Scientific Socialism Marxism + Koranic interpretation

Expansionist Somali nationalism Homogenous, centralized nation-state

Unstable because of clans Attempted to reclaim territory from Ethiopia

Siad Barre's Dictatorship Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC)

End "tribalism, nepotism, corruption, and misrule"

Aligned with Soviet Union National Security Services (NSS)

'Somali Gestapo' Clan favoritism

M.O.D (the Mareehaan, Ogaden and Dulbahante)

Ogaden War (1977-1978)

Ogaden region in Ethiopia Somali National Army

3 years after fall of Ethiopia’s Emperor Haile Sellasie

Soviet Union & Cuba alliance change Supported new Marxist Ethiopia Withdrew support from Barre

Ogaden War (1977-1978) cont.

Effects of the war 1983 → 1.3 million refugees in Somalia

Economy in the north Clan favoritism & resentment

Issaq clan Ogadeen clan

Uprising in the NW (1978-1982)

Majeerteen clan The Red Berets

Destroyed water reservoirs 2,000 Majeerteen died from thirst Violence against women/children

Overthrow of Siad Barre

Somali National Movement (SNM)

1979

Isaaq exiles 1980s → Ogadeen

refugees in (north) Isaaq clan territory

1988 SNM raided refugee camp

Barre = civilian assault

United States government provided $163.5 million to Barre

Lost Iranian ally

1979 revolution

Horn of Africa to Gulf oil shipping routes

Barre's army =120,000 troops

Overthrow of Siad Barre (cont.) United Somali Congress (USC)

1989 Hawiye clan exiles

Red Berets Violence against Hawiye and Isaaq clans

Bombing of Hargeisa, 2nd largest city, 70% destroyed, 400,000 fled to Ethiopia

January 27th,1991 → USC fought back Drove Siad Barre out of Mogadishu

The Result

Republic of Somaliland Somali National Movement (SNM) NW Mohammad Ibrahim Egal → “president of

Somaliland United Somali Congress (USC)

Seized Mogadishu Siad Barre dies in exile 4 years later →

Nigeria

More Violence in Somalia

USC has no plans for permanent government

No reconciliation between factions and armed groups

USC splits Muhammad Fara Aidid & Ali Mahdi

Mahdi → Somali Salvation Alliance (SSA) Declared himself “president of Somalia”

More Violence in Somalia (cont.)

Somali National Front (SNF) Siad Barre's supporters

Guerbaharre

1991 → 6 months open combat between groups

September 1991 → USC dominated, more street fighting in Mogadishu

Effects of Turmoil

Government & civil society decayed Food distribution collapsed Drought exacerbated the effects

Famine in south 1992, international aid

80% food shipments looted by armed groups & government

The United Nations decides to intervene

United Nations Operation in Somalia I (April 1992 - March 1993)

Monitor cease fire

Escort delivery of humanitarian supplies

Resolution 751 (1992)

Mission strengthens

Resolution 767 (1992)

Operational zones: Berbera, Bossasso, Mogadishu and Kismayo

Military of 750 units, all ranks Worked with United Task Force (UNITAF)

Resolution 794 (1992): “All means necessary”

24 countries led by the USA

UNOSOM I (cont.)

100-Day Action Plan

massive infusion of food aid

aggressive expansion of supplementary feeding

provision of basic health services and mass measles immunization

urgent provision of clean water, sanitation and hygiene

provision of shelter materials, blankets and clothes

simultaneous delivery of seeds, tools and animal vaccines with food rations

prevention of further refugee outflows

institution-building and rehabilitation of civil society.

Factions shelled and hijacked supply ships and vehicles

Reconciliation

January 1993, meeting convened by the Secretary-General

14 Somali political movements agreed on a ceasefire

pledged to hand over all weapons to UNITAF and UNOSOM

General Agreement of 8 January 1993

Agreement On Implementing The Cease-fire And On Modalities Of Disarmament

Agreement On The Establishment Of An Ad Hoc Committee

The Conference on National Reconciliation in Somalia (March 1993)

leaders of 15 political movements endorsed an accord on disarmament, reconstruction and the formation of a transitional government.

Transition to UNOSOM II

Supplanted UNITAF To help ensure a secure environment in

Somalia Rebuild and reestablish

Infrastructure Economy

Chapter VII, Resolution 814 (1993)

UNOSOM II (March 1993 - March 1995)

Transition of operational control from UNITAF

Effective deployment and consolidation of United Nations operational control throughout Somalia and the border regions

Reduction of UNOSOM II military activity, and assistance to civil authorities in exercising greater responsibility

Reduction of UNOSOM II force

UNOSOM II (cont.)

Soldiers killed by factions → disregarded agreements of ceasefire

Resolution 837 (1993)

Take all necessary measures to defend armed attacks Quick Reaction Force

Nairobi Declaration & Addis Ababa Agreement

Peace throughout Somalia & ceasefire

Factions/clans broke agreement Secretary-General urged another conference to appoint new

government

End of UNOSOM II

Secretary-General: only the Somalis themselves could establish acceptable peace

International community could help the process → can't be sustained indefinitely

Withdraw of UNOSOM II force → March 28,1995 United Nations agencies and organizations NGOs

Blackhawk Down

"Black Hawk Down (2001) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 07 Jan. 2012. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265086/>.

Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern Warby Mark Bowden

Web. 07 Jan. 2012.<http://inquirer.philly.com/packages/somalia/>

Post UNOSOM Somalia

Central government Law system

TNG and the ICU International Conferences Area of conflict ICU dominance Effect of ICU rule

Al-Shabaab declares black Islamic flag in Somalia

ICU and Ethiopia ICU's power spread Ethiopian outlook African Union

ICU-TNG Conflict

African Union thwarted Arms buildup Jihad Baidoa

Ethiopian Invasion

Victory ICU's Fate

Islamist Groups

Al-Shabaab Hizbul Islam Islamic Courts Union

http://www.marinebuzz.com/marinebuzzuploads/SomaliPiratesHowRansomCollectedisSpent_2191/Somali_piracy.jpg

Coalition Government

Moderate Islamists and the TNG Mogadishu Technocratic government

Recent Occurences

Drought and famine Al-Shabaab Possible AU peacekeeper increase Kenya UN

Problems that the UN face in Somalia

• United Nations aid workers in the country are limited as there is no established

protection on site. Aid workers face the constant threat of kidnapping for ransom.

• International aid has been routinely looted due to a variety of factors including

government corruption and desperate food and health conditions.

• Islamist groups view the United Nations with distrust and deny it access to their

land, believing that the United Nations has a political agenda.

UN Role In Somalia

• No large-scale United Nations peacekeeping operation in the

country since the UNOSOM II.

• Passed Resolution 1838, in which an anti-piracy fleet is

sanctioned to operate off of Somalia's lawless coastline.

• The World Food Programme (WFP), a United Nations program, also has a

presence in the country.

• A United Nations program designated towards establishing a functioning

government in Somalia called the United Nations Political Office for Somalia is

currently active in Kenya.

Solutions1. UN Peacekeepers

– Offensive action– Protection of aid– Protection of government institutions

2. United Nations Political Office for Somalia– Development

• IMF

Solutions (cont.)

3. International Help

– AU

– Anti-insurgency

– Monetary goals

4. Political Unification

– TNG

– Puntland

– Somaliland

5. End to Piracy

6. Alleviate the Effects of the Famine

– Long term and short term goals

Bibliography1. The United Nations' database on the UNOSOM I & UNOSOM II

<https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unosomi.htm>

<http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unosom2backgr1.html>

2. From United Nations Political Office for Somalia

<http://unpos.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1911>

3. Somalia – Infrastructure, Power, and Communications

<http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Africa/Somalia-INFRASTRUCTURE-

POWER-AND-COMMUNICATIONS.html>

4. GlobalSecurity on the Somalia Civil War

<http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/somalia.htm>

5. From AllAfrica, information pertaining to the Islamist's stance on the United Nations was

obtained.

<http://allafrica.com/stories/201107260329.html>

6. General history of the Somali Civil War

<http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0861179.html>

7. Information on the Somali Civil War was taken from Conciliation Resources.

<http://www.c-r.org/our-work/accord/somalia/endless-war.php>

8. GlobalSecurity on the far-reaching consequences of the Somalia Civil War

<http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/somalia.htm>