contents

- Introduction

- What were happening before the intervention?a-Civil War

- The intervention: necessary or not?

- What kind of intervention was, and what happened?

- Is there any conflict,war nowadays?

- Conclusion

2 | P a g e

What is “humanitarian” about and humanitarian armed intervention?

What are the ethical and legal basis to intervene ?

Aim of this paper is to answer these questions by analyzing the United States intervention in Somalia , the operation “Restore Hope”.

As in the begging of this century, humanitarian intervention and terrorism are the hot political and military concerns .

- References and Bibliography Map of Somalia and Humanitarian Intervention proposals

3 | P a g e

IntroductionBy ending of 1990, Somalia was going to a chaotic situation ,it was down economically and

politically too. It was completely involved in internal conflicts. People could not even ensure food to survive, they were starving therefore there were deaths on massive scale.

It was Post Cold War era and Somalia was not considered anymore as strategic position to Soviets or Americans which previously propped up Siad Barre ,the coming dictator to rule

after.

No country or International Organizations made diplomatic efforts to prohibit warring Somali factions or offer economic aid to guarantee people’s lives, to save them from famine , except the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and some valiant NGO’s. The proceedings of United Nations at a chaotic period on Somalia, attracted the attention of different experts of international relations also as that of the domestic public, but in the

beginning the taken measures were modest and lacked efficacy on the ground.

Then as situation was becoming horrorific and overwhelming ,due to some individuals on U.S Administrations and after Congress had discussed ,United States started acting ,

initially it was gradually then boldly. The intervention consisted on airlifts also on ground forces, an enormous number of 30,000 US and allied troops.

Then , after the immediate operation the US troops departed and UN returned being the official international regulator of the Somali community then enlarged by helping nation

building, although US had an influential role as well.US went on attempt of having political negotiations after the loss of 18 US soldiers lives trying to capture General Mohamed Farah

Aidid .Later on mid 1994, the food situation was normalized ,although the factions and banditry clans were again fully active.

The Somalia crisis is an example that indicates the need of well managed and balance between political, and military and humanitarian approaches in those situations where

these elements are present.While the military response in Somalia clearly helped meet the short-term humanitarian needs, its very massiveness seemed to distract attention from the

4 | P a g e

root political causes of the problem, without whose resolution the country would (and did) relapse into warfare.1

What were happening before the intervention?

Somalia was politically , economically and socially under repression of Siad Biarre regime who had taken government control since 1969.Arrival of Siad Biarre in power, at his initial taking over has been judged positively ,contributing in constructing a modernized country

leaving traditional clanism on past and advancing on political and financial stability.

But he, subsequently, started making policies which were in favor of some specific clans at the expense of the others.Then groups of people were organized to resist the regime and its

way of human rights abuses.

On late 1970’s , Ogadeni ,the ethnic Somali , were escaping from Ethiopia and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provided help but Siad Barre declared

war against Ethiopia in 1997 , aiming to annex areas which were populated by Somalis. For this reason Barre won large support but his popularity started decreasing when Somalia

began to face very problematic issues such enormous number of refugee flows , economic downgrading which led to war loss. Barre was looking at refugee aid programs to ask for

resources in order to cover the minimal needs of refugees (he claimed to be 1.2 million) but the number estimated by UNHCR was 300,000.2

Barre was able to extract donors from Italy, and the two protagonists of Cold War ,mostly from its principal benefactor , The Soviets during 1969-77, then it shifted to US assistance from1978 to ’88 , which had deep interests because of Somalia’s strategic position ,being located at Middle East oil suppliers.United States made sure to have military access to the

capital city of Somalia , and the second important city Berbera’s port countering the Soviets influence and presence in Ethiopia and it provided economic aid to Somalia’s government

in large amount of dollars.The problem was that most of direct economic was going to maintain Siad Barre’s forces rather than being used for economic development and income

level improvement.

1 [John G Sommer,Hope Restored? Humanitarian aid in Somalia 1990-1994, page 7]2 [Interview with Amy Nelson of the State Department's Bureau for RefugeePrograms, Office of African Refugee Assistance, 6/3/94, Washington, D.C.]

5 | P a g e

But what was going wrong with international assistance?

Military weapons were used against the government’s opposition groups , so the whole society started to get militarized .Oppressed groups and liberal groups seeking democracy

and the end of human rights abuses , saw as the only way to use same means , to use force in order to end the despotic regime of Siad Barre.3

- Civil War Starts

By the end of the Cold war , strategic asset of Somalia’s role to U.S ended too, and Somalia remained without a outside contributor and full of weapon of different sources. But the hot

peak was reached when Barre decided to bomb Hargeisa and Burao ,two cities in north Somalia in 1988, it was a cause of warfare outbreak. Barre regime started punishing

dissidents and the result was the increase of refugee flows and violation of human rights which made international donators cut off their aid programs and US reduce the military

equipment aid.

But the bombing irritated people in northwestern ,who were seeking for revenge and the consequence was the split of the region by declaring their independence.

As war gradually was infecting all areas of the country in 1989-90, in same time it was paralyzing agricultural sectors, food production decreased and the state could not fulfill

anymore population food requirements , importing 50 % of the needs.4

Events happening in Somalia could not attract International community’s attention which was focused elsewhere , like Iraq and Kuwait , eastern and central Europe also central

America.

On December 1990 – January 1991 , Somalia was on a chaotic situation , totally in crises ,which was going worse and worse , therefore UN diplomatic troops and other

different NGO’s staff as well as American Embassy personal saw it necessary to retire from Somalia.

3 [Charles L. Geshekter, "The Death of Somalia in Historical Perspective," draftchapter for Unity vs. Separatism in the Middle East]4 [Alex de Waal and Rakiye Omaar, "Sowing the Seeds of War and Famine,"GreenNet wire dispatch, February 25, 1994.]

6 | P a g e

On January 26 , Siad Barre regime had fallen and all administration collapsed. We realize the return of International Organizations such ICRC and MSF ,as situation during ’91 was more

tranquil but new security threats and civil disorder emerged.

Banditry was seen as the easiest way to ensure food ,so stealing become familiary to ordinary life ,and new political rivalry started among groups which defeated Barre’s forces. General Mohamed Farah Aidid and Ali Mahdi Mohamed , were two persons leading their

factions to gain political ascendancy and pretending to come in power , were direct threat to a peaceful Somalia in a post-Barre time.

During 1991 you could notice frightening statistics of people suffering from famine, as production of food was in its minimal productive conditions.

In may 1991 , American Senate felt obligated to pass a bill calling on president Bush to take immediately measures and look toward humanitarian efforts to conduct peace

negotiations, as earlier the Congress had reduced military aid at Barre regime time.

The intervention: Necessary or not ?

I totally agree that it was indispensable intervention in order to “restore hope”.I see no other way that could have solve out the crisis in Somalia. And according to me the right

questions that should be quests is “If the intervention was in time or U.S should had intervened before?”

Also we must agree that intervention was necessary and prominent, because the crisis could be overwhelming the whole sotheastern African region.

Tragic number of lives were lost, and somehow it is a failure of International Community that didn’t take immediate steps in order to have prevented the catastrophic situation. A

precise action , on time , would minimize the deaths and destructions.

Letting aside the sovereignty constrains, we could list different reasons why it was necessary to respond by a military intervention to the situation ,having in mind the

incapability of United Nation to take military actions because of its limited sources ,which make U.S morally legal to intervene.

7 | P a g e

Firstly, it was a war and people were being killed.The government was not accountable and it was a hursh regime which was taking people’s lives.(At Siad Barre time)

Secondly, the ongoing war was destroying at the large scale productive lands of food, and whole population was starving , suffering from famine.The lack of the basic needs to live

was a loud outcall for intervention.

Thirdly , the new militia leaders fighting for political power can be considered the same as previous deficient ruler , Barre , and it would be a disaster if country would walk on same

dictatorial path.

Then we can mention the role of military airlifts ,in delivering the foods to people ,which was the solely manner to distribute the goods to the people in need because roads were

not safe by the guerrilla threat.

What is not be neglected is the role of U.S in post Cold War era and post Gulf War.It was a dominating power , now posing as a world regulator ,would be important on convincing the

people to disarm.

And disbarment had to be equally done between factions, leaving no side stronger than other, to make sure the conflict did not rise again.

8 | P a g e

What kind of intervention was, and what happened?

It was a military intervention , by airlifts and ground forces. Firstly ,acting gradually then being concrete and acting boldly.

In April 1992 ,after the ceasefire agreed on 3 March between two militia leaders of Mogadishu , Former UN Secretary General Boutros-Ghali ,intended to built peace

mechanisms through a technical team sent by him in Somalia who would negotiate with both part’s representatives ,from Aidid and Ali Mahdi , leading to formation of UNOSOM I.

The agreement failed as it lacked an enforcement mechanism.

US initial involvement started On March 25, 1991, when Assistant Secretary of State Herman Cohen declared Somalia a civil strife disaster, the official step needed to activate

the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to respond.5

Information flowing into US Department of State was unprecedented ,which distracted US attention. But President Bush’s national security advisor and other counselors told US

president to stay out of this case ,by opposing the scarce financial resources and considering US interests in area as peripheral.

Then under media and diplomatic pressure ,US administration through a long process of decision making decided to intervene military. On December 9 ,1992 about 1700 US

Marines chosen for the Restore Hope operation reached seaside of Mogadishu.

the Unified Task Force (UNITAF troops ), mostly US troops speeded into Somalia .

Seeing no other choice , Aidid and Ali Mahdi signed a truce within the US troops arrival day.

The troops were controlling the most problematic key zones and trying to disarm the people. Establishing civil service centers ,US troops were operating in a normal way until 24

Pakistani soldiers were killed by guerrilla people in Mogadishu, which somehow affected the U.S and made them to “change the mission.”

United Nations passed the 837 Resolution calling for capture of responsible of the Pakistani soldiers killers, and UNSC (United Nation Security Council) supported US Government.

5 [John G Sommer , Hope Restored? Humanitarian aid in Somalia 1990-1994, page 17]

9 | P a g e

On June 12 1993 , allied troops with U.S troops leading U.N. Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) counter attacked and began an war for fourth months .

U.S troops were fighting versus Aidid supporters (SNA) and offering a reward for his capture. The war was getting more serious as U.S thought of sending more specialized

troops , Rangers .

But 18 of them were killed in Olympic Hotel , while were haunting for Aidid.

This made U.S shift its policies.

The new elected president, Bill Clinton , affected even by public doubt on intervention efficiency started looking more for diplomatic efforts , and US troops were reduced, now diplomatic representatives in Somalia were trying to negotiate with Aidid who refused.

But the ongoing situation was not anymore that emergent, on August 1993 Civil war was over , and the vacancies on food decreased. Also banditry was not anymore that much

problematic.

Convincing Aidid to participate Addis Peace Conference , was the begging of US “departure plan” by handing over the situation to United Nations, and Somalis themselves.

Even that Somalian political future was put in question , US started withdrawing their troops , as well as NGO’s who were taking away their staff due to insecurity incidents

relying more on local individuals.

On 1994 as U.S were leaving ,outbreak of cholera among people was a threating enemy which was taking many lives.

As one observer analyzed the Somalia scene in March 1994, "Fifteen months ago when George'Bush dispatched 25,000 U.S. Marines here, Somalia was a country with no

government, no electricity, no telephones, only a few schools, and no security on the streets because of widespread banditry. Now, as the United States nears the end of its

withdrawal, and after all the death and destruction by anti-tank missiles, Somalia is still a country with no government, no electricity, a few more schools, a few satellite telephones,

but still no security because of widespread banditry in the streets."6

6 Richburg, op. cit.

10 | P a g e

Is there any conflict, war nowadays?

Nowdays, Somalia is still politically unstable. There is no war but incidents and casual fighting occur , so the threat is always real of combatants who want to take an advantage on controlling the country as International attention is shifting to Libya , or to overthrown

regimes in Arab countries.

There exists fighting between Al-Shaabab group and the TFG forces, which makes the current situation in Somalia more irritating and aggravating every day.

Country is being governed undemocratically, as the parliament extended its tensure without making elections, which means that politics is self-serving not people’s serving.

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) operating currently in Somalia and approved by United Nations ,supposed to be a peace keeping force is often accused by

breaching the peace by recklessly shelling .

11 | P a g e

ConclusionThe major conclusion is that military, political and humanitarian initiatives must be well

coordinated in order to achieve successful ends.Referring to the case , I think that U.S gave short shrift to political issues ,which was penalizing in resolving crisis in short period and putting in doubt the efficiency of the

mission because its withdraw leaving Somalia without a legal government.

Rebuilding of the state had to be started politically.

If we ask if the intervention was legal or not, the most significant fact is the absence of legal and sovereign authorities in Somalia. Also we must agree that intervention was necessary and prominent, because the crisis could be overwhelming the whole southeastern African

region.

And U.S was morally obligated because of earlier support given to Siad Barre, initiator of crisis.

I consider the intervention ethical rather than amoral to some extent ,because humanitarian violence is an unavoidable paradox ,and in order to intervene solving a civil

war the intervention must have the behavioral features of an war .

To conclude I would state that Humanitarian Intervention in Somalia was necessary but not correctly done , and walking away when Somalia still needed help on recovering of wealth fare of the state which could have been the real achievement of the intervention ,was the

negative prospect of the intervention.

But the world needs the human rights safeguards , the abusive and violation of them has to be stopped .

12 | P a g e

References And Bibliography

1. [Hope Restored? Humanitarian aid in Somalia 1990-1994, John G Sommer , page 7] (Direct Reference)

2. [Interview with Amy Nelson of the State Department's Bureau for Refugee3. Programs, Office of African Refugee Assistance, 6/3/94, Washington, D.C.]

4. [Charles L. Geshekter, "The Death of Somalia in Historical Perspective," draft5. chapter for Unity vs. Separatism in the Middle East]

6. [Alex de Waal and Rakiye Omaar, "Sowing the Seeds of War and Famine,"7. GreenNet wire dispatch, February 25, 1994.]

8. [Hope Restored? Humanitarian aid in Somalia 1990-1994, John G Sommer , page 17]9. Richburg, op. cit. (Direct reference)

10. John Drysdale's What Happened to Somalia? (London: Haan Associates, 1994)11. Geo. B.N. Ayittey, "The Somali Crisis: Time for an Afiican Solution," Policy

Analysis, No. 205, Mar.28, 1994 (Washington, D.C.: Cato Institute)

13 | P a g e