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 Siad Barre 1980s Somalia's strategic importance was diminished due to end of the Cold War Government became even more totalitarian

Somali Civil War – 1991 Results: Barre is ousted from leadership 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 w/ 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

December 1992- President Bush ordered Operation Restore Hope 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

Back in Somalia 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)

Next day, UN issued a Resolution 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

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