The Negative Effects Of International Intervention In Somalia

International intervention, regardless of the intentions, has negative repercussions. The American intervention in Somalia in 1991 was no exception. The American troops that were sent to Somalia were unprepared, unknowledgeable of the country and the culture, and ultimately lacked a basic understanding of what they were getting themselves into. While American troops have not since set foot in sub-Saharan Africa to provide humanitarian relief, the lasting effects over the past two decades, have been detrimental. This is not the only instance in which international intervention has had a negative outcome, and it certainly was not the last. In 1969 Somali ruler Siad Barre executed a successful military coup, and until 1991 he remained in power. From the time Siad Barre took over the government, Somalia began its slow descent into chaos. The country was suffering with a power

One of the many reasons for the failure of foreign intervention in Somalia, and other countries alike, is a lack of basic understanding of the country and its people. If one doesn’t understand the foundation on which a country was built, and the structure of its society, then they will be unable to provide any sort of successful assistance. In the case of the Somali famine, much like the Rwandan genocide, and the invasion of Afghanistan, this inadequate understanding led to failure. This failure has continued to live on decades later, igniting hate and anger. To put it into smaller scale, therapists are unable to help their patients if they can’t understand their problems. They must understand their history, their feelings, and their daily lives before they can even attempt to offer advice or solutions. Foreign intervention is the same, though on a much larger scale of course. A lack of common ground, communication, empathy and understanding, will inevitably lead to