When should the US become involved in the affairs of other countries?

Why didn’t the US help more in the Rwandan genocide of 1994?

Conflict in Somalia

Somalia, Africa Somalia is located in Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia.

SOMALIA TIMELINE British and Italian parts of Somalia become independent, merge and form the United Republic of Somalia; Aden Abdullah Osman Daar elected president Abdi Rashid Ali Shermarke beats Aden Abdullah Osman Daar in elections for president Muhammad Siad Barre assumes power in coup after President Shermarke is assassinated Barre declares Somalia a socialist state and nationalizes most of the economy

Severe drought causes widespread starvation.

Opposition to Barre's regime begins to emerge after he excludes members of other clans from government positions, which are filled with people from his own Marehan clan.

Background: Somalia Cold War legacy: economic ruin and country awash with weapons 1991: USC overthrow Siad Barre 1992: Somali state collapses

1992: Death of Somalia USC splits in warring factions (a) President Ali Mahdi (b) Gen. M. Farah Aideed Growing humanitarian crisis: war and famine UN agencies flee Somalia Deployment of UNOSOM (Aug)

Somalia: war and famine

Summary of Presentation Foreign governments set up feeding centers in Somalia, such as the one pictured, in order to help the Somali people overcome starvation.

Famine in Somalia Major Causes: War One major reason for famine in Somalia is the factional fighting that has consumed the continent of Africa. – As a result, many people are denied food simply because they are on the wrong side of a war. United States troops were sent to Somalia in December 1992 to protect food and relief supplies and to help restore order in the country, which was ravaged by civil war. Here, a U.S. soldier opens a sack of food for the people.

Warring groups would steal food from starving people

US Marines land near Mogadishu ahead of a UN peacekeeping force sent to restore order and safeguard relief supplies. However, they had little understanding of the Somali culture.

US Army Rangers are killed when Somali militias shoot down two US helicopters in Mogadishu and a battle ensues. Hundreds of Somalis die in the battle depicted in the film "Black Hawk Down". US mission formally ends in March 1994.

US Black Hawk Helicopter crashes

Mission over US soldier’s body is dragged through the streets of Mogadishu

UN peacekeepers leave, having failed to achieve their mission Warlord Muhammad Aideed dies of his wounds and is succeeded by his son, Hussein.

No help for Rwanda Because of the terrible outcome in Somalia, the US and the UN fail to help end the genocide that occurs in Rwanda in April 1994

Somalia is still an unstable country Somali pirates are currently over taking ships and boats to kidnap people and collect ransom.