Somali Civil War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Somalian Civil War | |||||||
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 Mike Durant's helicopter "Super Six-Four" heading out over Mogadishu on 3 October 1993. |
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| Recent conflicts in the Horn of Africa |
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| Eritrean War of Independence – Ogaden War – Somali Civil War – Ethiopian-Eritrean War |
| Somali Civil War |
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| Phases Civil War (1988-1992) · UN intervention (1992-1993) · Civil War (1993-2006) · Civil War (2006-present) Engagements Provide Relief – Deliverance – Restore Hope – 1st Mogadishu – 2nd Mogadishu |
The Somali Civil War is an armed conflict in Somalia, which started in 1988. In 1991, the northern portion of the country declared its independence as Somaliland; although de facto independent and relatively stable compared to the tumultuous south, it has not been recognized by any foreign government. UN Security Council Resolution 794 was unanimously passed on December 3, 1992, which approved a coalition of United Nations peacekeepers led by the United States to form UNITAF, tasked with ensuring humanitarian aid being distributed and peace being established in Somalia. The UN humanitarian troops landed in 1993 and started a two-year effort (primarily in the south) to alleviate famine conditions.
Critics of US involvement pointed out that "just before pro-U.S. President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991, nearly two-thirds of the country's territory had been granted as oil concessions to Conoco, Amoco, Chevron and Phillips. Conoco even lent its Mogadishu corporate compound to the U.S. embassy a few days before the Marines landed, with the first Bush administration's special envoy using it as his temporary headquarters."[1][2][3]
Many Somalis opposed the foreign presence. In October, several gun battles in Mogadishu between local gunmen and peacekeepers resulted in the death of 24 Pakistanis and 19 US soldiers (total US deaths were 31). Most of the Americans were killed in the Battle of Mogadishu. The incident later became the basis for the book and movie Black Hawk Down. The UN withdrew on March 3, 1995, having suffered more significant casualties. Order in Somalia still has not been restored.
Yet again another secession from Somalia took place in the northeastern region. The self-proclaimed state took the name Puntland after declaring "temporary" independence in 1998, with the intention that it would participate in any Somali reconciliation to form a new central government.
A third secession occurred in 1998 with the declaration of the state of Jubaland. The territory of Jubaland is now encompassed by the state of Southwestern Somalia and its status is unclear.
A fourth self-proclaimed entity led by the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) was set up in 1999, along the lines of the Puntland. That "temporary" secession was reasserted in 2002. This led to the autonomy of Southwestern Somalia. The RRA had originally set up an autonomous administration over the Bay and Bakool regions of south and central Somalia in 1999.
[edit] 2006-present period
In June 2006, a new force, the Union of Islamic Courts succeeded in capturing the capital, Mogadishu, from a loose alliance of different warlords.
[edit] References
- ^ Kretzman, Steve (Jan/Feb 2003). "Oil, Security, War The geopolitics of U.S. energy planning". Multinational Monitor magazine.
- ^ Fineman, Mark (January 18 1993). "Column One; The Oil Factor In Somalia;Four American Petroleum Giants Had Agreements With The African Nation Before Its Civil War Began. They Could Reap Big Rewards If Peace Is Restored.". Los Angeles Times: p. 1.
- ^ George, Dev (1995). "Will the majors return to Somalia?". Offshore: p. 8.
