Somalia has endured years of political instability and war. Currently Somalia continues to struggle with its identity and possible future. In the last three years Somalia has undergone radical changes in both government and counter terrorism efforts. Instability within the government has lead to multiple power vacuums, leading to the creation and strengthening of terrorist organizations and the creation of multiple pirating operations. With the establishment of an organized government and the backing of the international community piracy has declined. Additional international aid has assisted in the weakening of a primary terrorist organization in Somalia, Al-Shabab. As Al-Shabab weakens and struggles to fight the Somali government it is highly probable they will transition to guerrilla operations. It is unlikely Somalia will see a major change in its society in the next five years. Al Shabab still controls portions of the country and will begin to transition into Guerrilla operations against the new Somalia government and surrounding governments that support the new Somalia government. Successful continued counter terrorism efforts could have a positive role in Somalia’s future, leading to security within the country leading to possible investment in natural resources within the country. As counter terrorism efforts require money, which Somalia has little of it is not a realistic expectation that any major positive changes will occur in Somalia.
Current Events: Years of instability and failed governments have led to rampant corruption, war and famine. It wasn’t until a new internationally-backed government was placed in power that the country began to enjoy a measure of stability. Natural disasters, such as drought and...
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...d such as uranium iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt and natural gas. Regional security will be critical to provide outside entities to invest in Somalia and generate currency and further the economy. It is unlikely, that within the next decade Somalia will be able to completely eradicate Al-Shabab or other Extremist groups within its borders. Somalia’s pew parliament is in its infancy and must be tested before
Works Cited
"Somalia Profile." BBC News. N.p., 19 Dec. 2013. Web. 09 Apr. 2014
“Somali Refugees in Africa: patterns, challenges and way forward” http://uaps2011.princeton.edu/papers/110169
"Somalia Profile." BBC News. N.p., 19 Dec. 2013. Web. 09 Apr. 2014
"Somalia Profile." BBC News. N.p., 19 Dec. 2013. Web. 09 Apr. 2014
"The World Fact Book." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 27 Mar. 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
Civil War is another shared similarity between both Somalia and the United States. In 1991, following the overthrow of the dictator, Siad Barre, Somalia descended into anarchy. With no government presence to maintain some type of order, clan-based warlords began competing with each other, thus beginning civil unjust. While northern parts of Somalia, as well as the self-declared “Republic of Somaliland,” have remained somewhat peaceful, internal fighting flares up with little to no warning. Since 1991, it is estimated that 350, 000 to 1,000,000 Somalia’s have died due to the lack...
The purpose of this document is to discuss the horrible acts one may recognize as the genocide in Somalia. One may deliberate regularly on the reasons or circumstances that lead to the mistreatment and killings of a whole country; how could this happen? Why are no other countries willing to step in and give aid to the Somali people whom are suffering on a daily basis? In reality, many concerns have been addressed, whether by discussions or actions. There may be different philosophies or viewpoints as to why the genocide was conducted and not stopped. Genocide is a cruel and inhumane event and is a world problem.
Before the war, Somalia had a well-functioning democratic republic government. Under the 1979 Constitution, the president held executive power. The president was the head and leader of the country’s sole legal political party, The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party. Elected to serve a 7-year term, the president was nominated by the party’s central committee. Ever since the civil war in 1991, when the government collapsed, Somalia has been in a state of civil war and anarchy (“Somalian Government”).
The World Fact Book. (n.d.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved August 12, 2011, from https://www.cia.gov (Primary)
“World Factbook: Government Type.” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 2 April 2014.
At that time in the early 1990’s, the U.S. was the only superpower country left in the world. The Soviet Union collapsed after the Cold War and the left the U.S. at the top. With the U.S. being the only superpower left, it meant that they were the only ones who could try to keep peace between other countries and hopefully end violence in the world. At the time, Somalia was a complete disaster and still is to this day. They have no structural government and warlords rule parts of the country.
In response to the recent failure of the international community to prevent the famine crisis in the Horn of Africa since July 2011, Suzanne Dvorak the chief executive of Save the Children wrote that, “We need to provide help now. But we cannot forget that these children are wasting away in a disaster that we could - and should - have prevented” she added, “The UN estimates that every $1 spent in prevention saves $7 in emergency spending.” (Dvorak, 2011).
For decades there has been an ongoing dispute of the Ogaden region of Eastern Ethiopia. The Ogaden region is in Ethiopia’s Somalia Regional State which borders Somalia. Several battles between the Somalis people in that region and the Ethiopian military has left the Ogaden area war torn. Current conflicts between the Ethiopian military and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) have forced Ethiopia to put more troops in the area. With escalating tensions in the region both sides continue to employ tactics that are viewed by the international communities as war crimes. The conflict between the two organizations is impacting the efforts that the US is trying to conduct in Ethiopia and the humanitarian effort going on in Somalia. I am going to give a few examples of the ongoing issues and try and determine if there is a peaceful resolution to the conflicts.
For my essay I will be evaluating the sub-saharan African country of Liberia. Over the course of this essay i shall try and shed some light on the main threats to peace and stability in the country. Threats that, if not treated responsibly and correctly, could throw Liberia, the Liberian people and potentially a large proportion of West Africa back into the violence and political instability that has plagued the region over the last few decades.
At the height of the conflict, about one third of the country's people were displaced. The chronic financial crisis became severe and the economy was close to collapsing. Poverty has become deeper in the rural areas of the Congo where poor people are now powerless, vulnerable and isolated. This is a big contributor to the poverty Congo is experiencing today, because little has improved and won’t improve until these problems are fixed. Overall, Central Africa’s dependence on agriculture could improve the wellbeing of the people but a long history of corruption, violence, and prevalent transportation issues have hindered an improvement in the economy resulting in poverty in the region.
In the Africa, lies the country Somalia, which is located on east coast of the continent. Its capital, Mogadishu, however has inconveniently brought its own problems, from colonization to politics, disagreements arise, causing tension throughout the country. Somalia’s historical background and culture ultimately lead to the war in its capital, it lead to the War of Mogadishu.
6. Somalia – In 1992, after 23 months of Barre’s rain there was an estimated 300,000 people who died of starvation. A vanguard of UN peacekeeping forces was sent in to restore order.
The Horn of Africa is one of the most important hubs for maritime traffic in the world today. Raw goods, including oil, that are departing the nations of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East must pass through this area in route to Europe and the West. Three-fourths of the Earth is covered in water and roughly eighty percent of global economic goods are transported via commercial maritime shippers. The volume of maritime trade is highly congested in this region. Ships must pass through either the Gulf of Aden and ultimately to the Mediterranean or proceed south from the Arabian Sea towards the southern trip of Africa via the Indian Ocean. Piracy in the region has increasing dramatically in the last decade, largely because Somalia and Yemen can be considered failed states. The lack of government involvement in suppressing pirate activities has indirectly allowed them to flourish. The sheer size of the area, roughly two and a half billion square miles, goes predominantly unpatrolled. The scope of the problem piracy poses pales in comparison to the size of the ocean in which they successfully operate.
“The Temple [of The Sagrada Família] grows slowly, but this has always been the case with everything destined to have a long life. Hundred-year-old oak trees take many years to grow tall; on the other hand, reeds grow quickly, but in autumn the wind knocks them down and there is no more to be said"1. These words, spoken by Antoni Gaudi about his life-long work, Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, are a means to justify the extremely long time needed for the construction of the Sagrada Família, while referencing the themes and structural concepts he borrowed from nature in his designs. While this logical explanation may give comfort to some, others doubt the temple’s eventual completion, as its construction has just passed 123 years, with roughly half of the temple completed.1 Although churches and cathedrals have always endured long periods of construction, the plan set forth by Gaudi is of such an elaborate nature as to set the temple in a league of its own. The drive of Gaudi and others involved in the project are very representative of the Catalan people. Catalonia, and specifically Barcelona, has historically been a successful and prosperous region in Western Europe, a leader in politics and trade, but lost much of its importance and independence in modern times. Catalan nationality persevered, and Barcelona sought ways to reaffirm their identity and show the world it is a city rich with life and culture. While many projects would follow, perhaps the best example of this desire to show the world the worth of Catalonia is embodied in the Sagrada Família. The grand magnitude and elaborate attention to detail involved in the construction of the Sagrada Família are a clear portrayal of the ideal of Catalan pride.