1. #7 - Somalia

2. Where is Somalia?

3. 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

4. Somali Civil War – 1991 Results: Barre is ousted from leadership
Disrupted agriculture, food & water distribution
Based on clan allegiances and competition for resources

5. Somali Civil War – 1991 Famine – approx. 300,000 dead
UN Security Council authorized limited peacekeeping operation
disregarded by warring factions

6. Warlords Nation ruled by a number of WARLORDS
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

7. US Response
December President Bush ordered Operation Restore Hope
restore order in Somalia
President Bill Clinton took office in January and continued operation

8. The Home-Front 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)

9. 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

10. The Battle of Mogadishu
October 3 & 4, Mogadishu, Somalia
Operation was to capture top officials to Aidid

11. 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 Killed
Est. 1,500 Wounded

12. 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

13. Today
January 2013: USA recognizes Somali government for first time since 1990s
Reading: Islamic fundamentalism & Pirates

14. 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

15. Fallout from Mogadishu