Somalia

Instability and Insecurity Since 1991

The current conflict is rooting in the anarchy following the overthrow of the Siyad Barre government in 1991. Between 1991 and 1993, Somalia experienced some of the worst fighting in its history as open conflict took place throughout the country.

Major insurgent groups split along clan lines to compete for political and economic power. The fighting led to large-scale massacres of innocent civilians, but also created the conditions for an unprecedented regional famine, where tens of thousands died of starvation and related diseases as insurgent groups obstructed aid efforts and looted relief goods.

In 1993, the US led a humanitarian and nation-building intervention under the auspices of the UN (the United Task Force, UNITAF). However, the forces were withdrawn after a firefight in Mogadishu resulted in US troop casualties. By March 1995, the preceding UN peacekeeping operations in Somalia, UNOSOM I and II, also withdrew.

In April 1992 a UN peacekeeping force, UNOSOM, was deployed to Somalia, soon to be joined by UNITAF, an US-led taskforce. The UN missions had little success and were unable to address the root causes of the violence or negotiate an effective peace settlement. By March 1995, all UN peacekeeping forces left Somalia.

Years of Failed Peace Processes

After the UN withdrew in 1995, several regional peace processes were attempted, many of which were unsuccessful due to warlord participation in lieu of traditional leaders and civil society measures. Multiple groups dissatisfied with the negotiations routinely ignored agreements reached without their consent, triggering further violent conflict.

A breakthrough was reached in Djibouti in 2000. In Djibouti, a successful negotiation resulted in the creation of the first transitional government of Somalia, including a 245-member parliament sharing power between major clans. Unfortunately, the government lacked credibility in Somalia and in the international community, and was largely unable to gain control of areas outside of Mogadishu.

The Rise and Fall of the Islamic Courts

While the new transitional government established a political infrastructure in Somalia, over 11 Islamic Courts from different clans began operating in Mogadishu under sharia law. These courts soon allied as the Islamic Courts Union, driving warlords out of Mogadishu and raising fears that Somalia would become a terrorist haven.

As the Islamic Courts consolidated their power in Somalia, Ethiopia increased its support for the transitional government by deploying troops to the Somalia border. In December 2006, the Ethiopian Army invaded Somalia to support the transitional government. After a short period of fighting, the Somali Transitional Government and the Ethiopian army dispersed the Islamic Courts' Union in January 2007.

Current Conflict

Beginning in early 2007, insurgents, primarily the al-Shabaab began to launch attacks targeting Somalia government officials and Ethiopian soldiers. These attacks often indiscriminately killed or harmed innocent non-combatant civilians. These attacks increased throughout 2007 and continued to be very high in 2008. All of the actors in the conflict have perpetrated mass atrocities against non-combatant civilians.

In early 2007, the UN authorized the African Union to deploy a peacekeeping operation to Somalia in order to provide security and facilitate humanitarian activities in the country. With an initial mandate of six months, the mission (AMISOM) has been extended until mid-2009. However, its limited size and scope, and the targeting of peacekeepers have prevented AMISOM from fulfilling its mandate.

Despite a peace agreement in late 2008 and the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops in 2009 and the presence of AU peacekeepers on the ground, insecurity still plagues Somalia. Coupled with the lack of infrastructure, this slows the delivery of humanitarian aid, further imperiling Somali civilians.

For more information about threats in Somalia, please visit the Suggested Reading Materials page or read the Human Rights Watch report "So Much to Fear."