- 28 Apr 2011 21:44
#13695894
Hi, I was curious to ask and see what people think about the UN's role in Somalia and specifically in relation to Al-Shabaab. Should the government be receiving more support? What should be done?
Somalia is a failed state and there is no denying that the country has more or less been in authoritative limbo since. I think it is very important to discuss Somalia’s future as it could develop ideas on the matter and may help those who are not up to date with information on this very important situation. The reason it is important to get up to date is that the current happenings in Somalia are barely covered in the U.S. media, other than a pirate attack here and again, and the situation in the Somalia is too serious not to deserve such strong recognition. Because nothing in Somalia has changed all too much since the U.S. backed out of Mogudishu in 1994 there has not been too much to talk about, particularly any stories that would be relative at all to a typical American. The truth however is that a lot it going on currently in Somalia that will not only impact the future of Somalia but the future of the world as well.
A little historical background
In 1990 Siyad Barre was overthrown from power leaving rival clan lords to compete for control of the country. Soon after as a clan lord rose into power Somalia saw 350,000 Somali’s die in 1992 of famine, starvation and civil war. This information was released to American television networks and thus prompting George H.W. Bush to begin “Operation restore hope,” in large part due to public pressure. Although the goal of the operation was deliver much needed aid to the country while protecting the shipments from warlords, chaos ensued and soon the bodies of dead American soldiers were being dragged on the streets of Mogudishu. Images of this caused public outrage and in 1994 the U.S. withdrew their troops from Mogudishu having accomplished practically nothing. Since this time there has been constant fighting for control of the country and Somalia has made little progress. Somalia is still a country in need of help as they remain one of the poorest and least fortunate countries today with any real sign of peace in the country in the near future.
Currently in the world Somalia may be known as the country with the pirates who hijack ships. Not to say Somali piracy is nat an issue but there is a much bigger issue at hand and that s the radicalist Islam group named Al-Shabab. Al-Shabab controls much of Somalia south of Mogudishu and is considered a strong and growing threat to Somalia and the region. The group is considered a terrorist organization, allied with Al-Qaeda. They recruit very young and use suicide bombers as a weapon of choice. The government has been at war with Al-Shabab since 2002 and has made little to no overall progress. The country also remains one of the poorest countries with the majority of the population living under two American dollars every day. Refugee camps containing mostly Somali refugees are some of the biggest refugee camps in the world. The reality today however is that these camps will only become bigger as time goes on and everything stays the same with the Somali government always fighting of Al-Shabab for control of Mogadishu and never making much progress.
One must conclude from the failure to make real progress in Somalia that more help is needed to help bring the country more peace and stability. As in most cases the sooner this is done the better not only to end suffering but also to slowly help the country become less dependant on foreign aid. The money it would cost may not amount to the amount of money needed to keep 33 percent of Somali’s fed but would lead Somalia in the right direction and possibly save U.N. aid funding for the future. What I suggest should be done is an increased amount of effort and funding by the U.N. and NATO to promptly begin a war against Al-Shabab in the south of Somalia that should not be too difficult. Although there is worry because of what happened to U.S. troops in 1994, times have changed. International troops would be welcomed by most Somali’s and Al-Shabab would not be able to outlast a serious commitment of time, and troops. That being said invading Somalia is a risk that it seems most are not willing to take right now, mostly due to the fact that it may not appear necessarily urgent and it seems risky. The truth to this is it may become urgent as Al-Shabab gets more time and as the country continues to struggle in future years. Right now however Somalia seems very close to stuck and hopeless in regard to a brighter future and it is my belief that this should not be the case.
Somalia is a failed state and there is no denying that the country has more or less been in authoritative limbo since. I think it is very important to discuss Somalia’s future as it could develop ideas on the matter and may help those who are not up to date with information on this very important situation. The reason it is important to get up to date is that the current happenings in Somalia are barely covered in the U.S. media, other than a pirate attack here and again, and the situation in the Somalia is too serious not to deserve such strong recognition. Because nothing in Somalia has changed all too much since the U.S. backed out of Mogudishu in 1994 there has not been too much to talk about, particularly any stories that would be relative at all to a typical American. The truth however is that a lot it going on currently in Somalia that will not only impact the future of Somalia but the future of the world as well.
A little historical background
In 1990 Siyad Barre was overthrown from power leaving rival clan lords to compete for control of the country. Soon after as a clan lord rose into power Somalia saw 350,000 Somali’s die in 1992 of famine, starvation and civil war. This information was released to American television networks and thus prompting George H.W. Bush to begin “Operation restore hope,” in large part due to public pressure. Although the goal of the operation was deliver much needed aid to the country while protecting the shipments from warlords, chaos ensued and soon the bodies of dead American soldiers were being dragged on the streets of Mogudishu. Images of this caused public outrage and in 1994 the U.S. withdrew their troops from Mogudishu having accomplished practically nothing. Since this time there has been constant fighting for control of the country and Somalia has made little progress. Somalia is still a country in need of help as they remain one of the poorest and least fortunate countries today with any real sign of peace in the country in the near future.
Currently in the world Somalia may be known as the country with the pirates who hijack ships. Not to say Somali piracy is nat an issue but there is a much bigger issue at hand and that s the radicalist Islam group named Al-Shabab. Al-Shabab controls much of Somalia south of Mogudishu and is considered a strong and growing threat to Somalia and the region. The group is considered a terrorist organization, allied with Al-Qaeda. They recruit very young and use suicide bombers as a weapon of choice. The government has been at war with Al-Shabab since 2002 and has made little to no overall progress. The country also remains one of the poorest countries with the majority of the population living under two American dollars every day. Refugee camps containing mostly Somali refugees are some of the biggest refugee camps in the world. The reality today however is that these camps will only become bigger as time goes on and everything stays the same with the Somali government always fighting of Al-Shabab for control of Mogadishu and never making much progress.
One must conclude from the failure to make real progress in Somalia that more help is needed to help bring the country more peace and stability. As in most cases the sooner this is done the better not only to end suffering but also to slowly help the country become less dependant on foreign aid. The money it would cost may not amount to the amount of money needed to keep 33 percent of Somali’s fed but would lead Somalia in the right direction and possibly save U.N. aid funding for the future. What I suggest should be done is an increased amount of effort and funding by the U.N. and NATO to promptly begin a war against Al-Shabab in the south of Somalia that should not be too difficult. Although there is worry because of what happened to U.S. troops in 1994, times have changed. International troops would be welcomed by most Somali’s and Al-Shabab would not be able to outlast a serious commitment of time, and troops. That being said invading Somalia is a risk that it seems most are not willing to take right now, mostly due to the fact that it may not appear necessarily urgent and it seems risky. The truth to this is it may become urgent as Al-Shabab gets more time and as the country continues to struggle in future years. Right now however Somalia seems very close to stuck and hopeless in regard to a brighter future and it is my belief that this should not be the case.
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