United States Role in Somalia: Crucial to Development

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United States Role in Somalia: Crucial to Development

With a long history of violence, rebellion, and chaos, the African country of Somalia now seeks guidance. The country’s violent past started when military forces overthrew the last democratically elected government in October 1969, about 37 years ago. Military rule undermined, and ultimately destroyed the country. The military regime divided citizens into allies and enemies, and rewarded its allies while it punished whole communities. Life conditions in Somalia became so unbearable that the President Bush, Sr. was forced to act, and ordered thousands of American troops to enter Somalia in order to open the roads so that emergency food aid could be urgently delivered to the citizens. Despite their good intentions, American and UN programs for rebuilding the government were unorganized, which led to the murders of 18 American soldiers, by Mogadishu’s militias. At this time, a new American President, Bill Clinton was forced to take on the task of aiding Somalia. He was so shaken by the murders of the American soldiers, that he immediately evacuated U.S forces from Somalia. Other nations who had contributed troops to the campaign, as well as the UN, followed, and Somalia was left to the warlords. Somalia, like many other countries in Africa, is in desperate need of help. With the increasing conflict present in Somalia, many wonder what the United States’ role should be; after many failed attempts to help Somalia regain its capital, the United States must make a decision on which actions to take on the country. The United States role in African countries like Somalia should include; (1) offering diplomatic help to Somalia so that it can reestablish its sovereignty (2) initiating a...

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...develop the economy of Somalia, the U.S should first work on developing the agriculture of Somalia. To do so, the United States must help to create a self-sufficient agricultural system in Somalia. Somalia should learn to use more modern ways of food production, including new and advanced irrigation systems, and animal husbandry. In order to provide Somalia with a stable economy, new financial institutions, such as banks should encourage the people of Somalia to invest in new businesses, which will in turn create new industries and new jobs for the citizens of Somalia.

The U.S must play a crucial role in the regaining of Somalia from warlords and extremist groups. In order to make progress, the warring parties need to renounce violence, as a way of resolving disputes. Once this conflict has been resolved, Somalia can focus on developing its full potential.

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