Application of Logical Lines of Operation for Somalia Irregular Warfare Campaign

For more than two decades, Somalia has been subject to a constant change of crisis including civil war and state collapse, clan wars and separation of state, famine, natural disasters, and the rise of terrorist groups attempting to gain control of the country. In 1988 the country was thrown into civil war led by the Somali National Movement (SNM) who opposed how Somali President Muhammad Siad Barre administered the country. President Barre was deposed in 1991 and clan wars tear the country apart as opposing factions fright for control of assets. Hundreds of thousands of Somalis die from civil war, disease, and starvation.

In 2004, Somalia saw the establishment of a Transitional Federal Government (TFG). The Islamic Courts Union (ICU) takes control of Mogadishu in 2006 but is pushed out by TFG and Ethiopian forces. The ICU later becomes the terrorist group, Al-Shabaab who continues to attacks TFG forces to present day in an attempt to establish an Islamic state in Somalia. In 2012, a new parliament and speaker are elected and a provisional constitution is adopted. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is elected President.

U.S. foreign policy objectives in Somalia are to promote political and economic stability, prevent the use of Somalia as a haven for International terrorism, and alleviate the humanitarian crisis caused by years of conflict, drought, flooding, and poor governance according to the U.S. Department of State. In order to stay aligned with these objectives, the U.S. must utilize an unconventional warfare approach where in achieving success for one problem contributes to the success of other problems and helps achieve the main goal. This can be accomplished through use of a strategy or series of steps known as Logical Lines of Op...

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...s and provide security to ensure they stay open, and allocate resources to grow the fishing industry within the country. Providing the necessary materials to develop the growth of agriculture and utilizing the local population for the labor force will decrease unemployment and over time will allow the populace to return to their homes and resume a “sense of normalcy” that has been absent from their lives for more than twenty years.

While one or more of these LLO’s may be more important than another, they are all interrelated and play an integral part in the success of the overall end state. Utilization of combat operations, Host Nation Security forces, essential services, governance, and economic development LLO’s are techniques used to provide unity of effort for HN and multinational forces to work towards a common goal during an irregular warfare campaign.