Somalia: War & Ethnic Strife
Mike Kanare
Somalia: War and Ethnic Strife
After a civil war lasting about 10 years and thousands of casualties, on both sides, a fight for Somalia still continues. The war in Somalia is an armed conflict involving Ethiopian and Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces against the Somali Islamist Umbrella Group, the Islamic Court Union (ICU) and other militias for control of the country. (War in Somalia) Somalia may be plagued with war for many years to come.
Somalia is an unstable and torn country in need of help. The war began soon after July 20th, 2006 when Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia to help back up the TFG in Baidoa, a town in southern Somalia. Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, leader of the ICU declared “Somalia in a state of war” and that the Somali people should become a part of the fight against Ethiopia. The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, said that they entered Somalia due to a direct threat to their own borders. “Ethiopian defense forces were forced to enter into war to protect the sovereignty of the nation. We are not trying to set up a government for Somalia, nor do we have an intention to meddle in Somalia's internal affairs. We have only been forced by the circumstances.” Said Zenawi. (Gettleman) The United Nations have estimated at least 8,000 Ethiopian forces are in the country of Somalia and of those 8,000 are troops, tanks, and warplanes bombing and destroying camps and villages.
Somalia may not have a chance at a time of peace. In the 1900’s more than 10 peace conferences were held to address the war in Somalia, but they were mostly unsuccessful. (Lewis) A conference held in the year 2000-sparked hope in many countries when it called for a 3-year plan for governing Somalia. In 2002 more peace conferences were held and took place in Kenya. These talks produced a transitional government, which was put into effect in early 2004. In October of that year, Abdullah Yusuf Ahmed was elected as president by the parliament for a five-year period. (Lewis) In 2005 there were plans to move the government into the Somali towns of Baidoa and Jowhar for safety reasons. Countries including the United States are giving the Somali government millions of dollars to make peacekeeping forces. The US has given Somalia 10 million dollars as funding for an 8,000 man peacekeeping group. The 10 million dollars for peacekeeping is part of a total of 40 million dollars that the US government has pledged to give the Somali government in effort to help stabilize the country. (BBC)
There is still war going on in Somalia to this day. This country has seen war for more than 15 years and it has had a huge effect on the country. But who’s to say that Somalia can’t turn around be become a prosperous country in the near future? It may take time and lots of help from other countries but in the end Somalia can come back.
Works Cited
"BBC NEWS | Africa | Somalia 'needs peace force soon'" BBC NEWS | News Front Page. 12 May 2009 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6233159.stm>. This site gave me more detailed information about peace efforts in Somalia.
"Ethiopia launches open war in Somalia | The San Diego Union-Tribune." San Diego, California, National News - The San Diego Union-Tribune. <http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061225/news_7n25somalia.html>. This cite gave me some background information about Ethiopia and what they had been doing.
"Somalia -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/553877/Somalia>. This site gave me information about the attempts of peace in Somalia.
"War in Somalia (2006?present)." ??????? ? ???????????? ?? ?????????. <http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/3040938>. This site gave me a lot of my core information on the country.
Last updated May 24th, 2009
Somalia: War and Ethnic Strife
After a civil war lasting about 10 years and thousands of casualties, on both sides, a fight for Somalia still continues. The war in Somalia is an armed conflict involving Ethiopian and Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces against the Somali Islamist Umbrella Group, the Islamic Court Union (ICU) and other militias for control of the country. (War in Somalia) Somalia may be plagued with war for many years to come.
Somalia is an unstable and torn country in need of help. The war began soon after July 20th, 2006 when Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia to help back up the TFG in Baidoa, a town in southern Somalia. Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, leader of the ICU declared “Somalia in a state of war” and that the Somali people should become a part of the fight against Ethiopia. The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, said that they entered Somalia due to a direct threat to their own borders. “Ethiopian defense forces were forced to enter into war to protect the sovereignty of the nation. We are not trying to set up a government for Somalia, nor do we have an intention to meddle in Somalia's internal affairs. We have only been forced by the circumstances.” Said Zenawi. (Gettleman) The United Nations have estimated at least 8,000 Ethiopian forces are in the country of Somalia and of those 8,000 are troops, tanks, and warplanes bombing and destroying camps and villages.
Somalia may not have a chance at a time of peace. In the 1900’s more than 10 peace conferences were held to address the war in Somalia, but they were mostly unsuccessful. (Lewis) A conference held in the year 2000-sparked hope in many countries when it called for a 3-year plan for governing Somalia. In 2002 more peace conferences were held and took place in Kenya. These talks produced a transitional government, which was put into effect in early 2004. In October of that year, Abdullah Yusuf Ahmed was elected as president by the parliament for a five-year period. (Lewis) In 2005 there were plans to move the government into the Somali towns of Baidoa and Jowhar for safety reasons. Countries including the United States are giving the Somali government millions of dollars to make peacekeeping forces. The US has given Somalia 10 million dollars as funding for an 8,000 man peacekeeping group. The 10 million dollars for peacekeeping is part of a total of 40 million dollars that the US government has pledged to give the Somali government in effort to help stabilize the country. (BBC)
There is still war going on in Somalia to this day. This country has seen war for more than 15 years and it has had a huge effect on the country. But who’s to say that Somalia can’t turn around be become a prosperous country in the near future? It may take time and lots of help from other countries but in the end Somalia can come back.
Works Cited
"BBC NEWS | Africa | Somalia 'needs peace force soon'" BBC NEWS | News Front Page. 12 May 2009 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6233159.stm>. This site gave me more detailed information about peace efforts in Somalia.
"Ethiopia launches open war in Somalia | The San Diego Union-Tribune." San Diego, California, National News - The San Diego Union-Tribune. <http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061225/news_7n25somalia.html>. This cite gave me some background information about Ethiopia and what they had been doing.
"Somalia -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/553877/Somalia>. This site gave me information about the attempts of peace in Somalia.
"War in Somalia (2006?present)." ??????? ? ???????????? ?? ?????????. <http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/3040938>. This site gave me a lot of my core information on the country.
Last updated May 24th, 2009
