The Federal Republic of Somalia

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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...

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