Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is a country in Eastern Africa that borders the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and neighbors Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti. For years, Somalia has been plagued with poverty, famine, violence, and insurgency within its borders. As this country moves forward, its foreign relations, security, and economic growth will play key factors in its future. In order for these factors to flourish, the current threats to the country must be eliminated, or at a minimum, suppressed. Unfortunately, the same threats that Somalia faces also present a threat to neighboring countries and countries in other parts of the world.
Threats
A significant threat to the country of Somalia is the al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist organization known as al-Shabaab. This group is known for using guerrilla warfare and terrorist tactics against the Somali Federal Government (SFG), African Union Mission in Somalia peacekeepers (AMISOM), and nongovernmental aid organizations. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for bombings and various types of suicide attacks in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, and in central and northern Somalia (The National Counterterrorism Center). They continue to conduct indirect assaults and asymmetric tactics, as well as claim credit for attacks in Kenya, the country that assisted Somalia in attacks against the terror group in 2011 (U.S. Department of State, 2013). The Westgate Shopping Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya has been one of their more recent and prestigious attacks that gained media attention. This attack demonstrated the capabilities of the group’s elite “Suicide Brigade”, and indicated potential consequences for any country that attempts to attacks them in Somalia (AFP, 2013...
... middle of paper ...
...7.html
The National Counterterrorism Center. (n.d.). Counterterrorism 2014 Calendar. Retrieved from http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/al_shabaab.html
U.S. Department of State. (2013, May 30). Country Reports on Terrorism 2012. Retrieved from U.S.Department of State Deplomacy in Action: http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2012/209979.htm
Waal, A. D. (2103, Oct 3). How Not to Help Somalia. Retrieved Mar 19, 2014, from LRB Blog: http://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2013/10/03/alex-de-waal/how-not-to-help-somalia/
Waterman, S. (2013, April 15). Retrieved 03 17, 2014, from The Washington Times: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/apr/15/americans-think-more-about-terror-crime-study/
Young, S. (2013, Oct 7). Oil companies in Somalia must deal with central govt -Minister. Retrieved 03 16, 2014, from Reuters: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/10/07/somalia-oil-idUKL6N0HX21V20131007
glance, one would not expect to find any similarities between the countries of Somalia and the United States. Even though the differences outweigh similarities, after deeper examination, Somalia and the United States do share a few similarities. These similarities include British rule, Civil War, and acts of domestic terror. A few differences may be government, climate, and military. At some point in history, both Somalia and the United States were under British rule. Somalia’s modern history began
a unstable environment for more than ten hours a day. All of these things are in violation of the children human rights. Child labor is most common in the countries of Ethiopia, Pakistan, Burundi, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Somalia,
Somalia, also known as the Democratic Republic of Somalia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Somalia history can be traced back as far as the Paleolithic period. (Funk & Wagnalls, 1900) Ancient structures, ruined cities, and stone walls found in Somalia, is evidence of a country that once thrived with a sophisticated civilization (p. 132). Somalia is a country that was once known for its rich geographical location located near oil wells in the Persian Gulf and a mainstream for international
politically and economically, however, according to the Failed State Index of 2013, Somalia takes the number one spot as the most failed state in the world. A medley of colonialism, single-party rule, civil war, and terrorism has made political development in this country next to impossible. This paper will delve into the history and more specific reasons behind this poor ranking, with the hopes of understanding how Somalia reached this point and what can be done to reverse the situation. I. The Repercussions
Overview of the Country A virtual guide to Ethiopia, the land formerly known as Abyssinia. Ethiopia is a landlocked country on the Horn of Africa, in the east of the continent. It is bordered by Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Somaliland (Somalia). Ethiopia covers an area of 1,126,829 km², this is about twice the size of France or the U.S. state of Texas. Highest elevation is Mount Ras Dashen with 4620 m. A population of more than 90 million inhabitants makes the country
Somalia vs United States Somalia, which is about the size of Texas, is a small country located in Eastern Africa next to the Indian Ocean. The United States, which is located on the Western Hemisphere, is bordered by Mexico and Canada and is between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Separated not only by the Atlantic Ocean, Somalia and the United States are also separated by the differences in economies and populations. These two countries that are quite opposite in size have some similarities
Prior to 1960, Italy, Britain, and France controlled what is now known as Somalia. Each had control over certain territory. The British took Italian Somaliland during World War II, which led the United Nations to returning trusteeship of the territory to Italy under the premise that Somalia would receive its independence within 10 years (Metz xxii). Edmund Burke’s Theory of Modern Revolutions states four steps a modern country will experience after its independence. The first step of the theory is
specific problems the African people of Somalia live through every day. The problems that occur in Somalia not only affect how the citizens live, but their mental and physical appearances. Somalia is a country located on the east coast of Africa, opening them up to major issues with piracy. Piracy causes chaos to Somalia and prevents the country from focusing on more important matters. Worldwide political issues and governmental problems also affect how Somalia works and the citizens live. The weak
Pacifying the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro: Towards a Redefinition Clientelism in Favelas Politics Thesis Statement I would argue that the Pacification Policy implemented in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro since 2008 will redefine clientele politics in the favelas. Arias (2006) argues that drug traffic led to a two tierce clientelism where politicians deal with drugs lords, who then transmit the benefit to favelas inhabitants who will then exchange their vote. I would argue that politicians engage
Ethiopia is located in the Eastern region of Africa. According to the Embassy of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ethiopia lies between the geographical coordinates of 3’ and 14. 8’ latitude and 33’and 48’ longitude. Ethiopia encompasses a majority of the area known as the Horn of Africa. The CIA World Factbook states that Ethiopia is approximately 1,104,300 square kilometers (686,180 miles). To give a better perspective of the sheer size of this country, it is about twice the size of the
big-picture success, while supporters focus on the preservation of lives and short-term maintenance of quality-of-life. How do we satisfy the human desire for both? Perhaps we should opt for non-monetary donations, or push for productive yet fundamental federal aid. Choosing a specific cause to support, such as medical research or clothing, would prevent political grafting while supporting people in need. The objectives should be essential and reproductive, such as education, agriculture, or marketing. These
Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries civilizations not only in Africa, but also in the entire world. It is located in East Africa, and is known as the Horn of Africa. The bordering countries include Djabouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan. The main languages spoken in Ethiopia are Amharic, Ormigna, and Tigrigna, along with many others. Just like many countries in Africa, the most taught foreign language in schools is English. During the fourth century, Christianity was introduced
commonly preformed on females between the ages from four years to, in some cases, 25 years. FGM is most commonly practiced in 26 of 43 African countries. According to the PATH organization report, FGM is prevalent in Somalia, Zaire, Mali, Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, and the Central African Republic. FGM is also found among ethnic groups in Oman, the UAE, Yemen, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. According to the statistics collected by WHO, 93.7% of Eritrean women, 98% of Somalian women, 97% of Egyptian women
Background Facts Part of many empires and republics in the past, Montenegro declared independence from former Yugoslavia to become a sovereign state on 3 June 2006. Montenegro classifies as a developed country on the Human Development Index and is a member of the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, and a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean. It is an official candidate for membership in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
is a country completely surrounded by land, and positioned in the northeast region of Africa. Formally known as Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is the second most populated country in Africa. As of 2009 the population is estimated to be greater than 79.2 million people, and ranked the tenth largest by area with 1,100,000 km per square inch. Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya are located on the outskirts of Ethiopia. There are eighty different languages used in Ethiopia. Afar