SomaliaAnn, Brad, and Marie

Praise the Homelandhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i0x7dcBKcs

Some Quick Facts about Somalia● Located on the Horn of Africa

● Neighbors include Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia

● Long coastline and year-round hot weather

● A country of about 10 million people, around which 85% of the population are

ethnic Somali

● The major religion is Islam (Sunni)

Historic Violence in Somalia Pre-Imperialism (Before 1887)

Imperialism (From 1887 to 1960)

Post-Imperialism (From 1960 to 1991)

Pre-Imperialism (Before 1887)The Clans of Somalia

● Ethnic Somalis are divided into various clans and subclans.

● There is no clear agreement on the organization and relationships between all of

the clans, as they themselves are in disagreement.

● Major clans include Darod, Dir, Hawiye, Issaq and Rahanweyn

● In Somali culture, clans often act as a safety net, a community and a justice

system.

Islam and its Effect on Somalia

● arrived on the Somali Peninsula after the Hijra late in the 7th century through

Arab merchants

● has led to a strong connection back to various Arabic religious and political

groups.

● is a source of unification within Somalia

● by western standards, has been a source of violence for minority groups,

particularly women.

Imperialism (From 1887 to 1960)● In 1887, Great Britain proclaimed protectorate over what is today Somaliland

● In 1890, Great Britain took over southern lands and ceded them to Italy.

● Great Britain and Italy had incredibly different governing approaches.

● From 1950 to 1960, Somalia went through the process of becoming fully

independent.

Italy developed a comprehensive

economic plan for the more

agrarian southern Somalia

Great Britain neglected the creation

of infrastructure in northern

Somalia (more nomadic)

Border Disputes

With Kenya

● in 1925 the Italian protectorate region took over land east of the Jubba River,

originally owned by Kenya

With Ethiopia

● Ethiopia has on several occasions attempted to encroach on Somali territory,

which involves added tension over religion.

Post-Imperialism (From 1960 to 1991)● British Somaliland and Somalia merged to become fully independent in 1960

under Aden Abdullah Osmand Daar as president.

● Some minor border disputes with Kenya in 1963

● Abdi Rashid Ali Shermarke, the original prime minister was elected president in

1967.

A Turning Point in Somali History

● In 1969, President Shermarke was assassinated

by one of his own bodyguards.

● Within the month, a military coup d’etat left

Mohamed Siad Barre, an army official, leader of

the Supreme Revolutionary Council (Later the

Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party).

Somalia Under Siad Barre

● Barre believed in scientific socialism, and took governmental cues from outside

socialist and communist regimes.

● Infamous accounts of brutal oppression and gross human rights violations

● Despite Somalia’s fractured history of clan conflict, Barre attempted to impose a

blanket centralized state over every faction.

● Barre was well known for filling government positions with members of his own

clan, the Marehan, and particularly excluding members of the Mijertyn and Issaq.

● Those who were named as political opposition were systematically suppressed,

and often forced to endure grossly unfair trials, long term detention and torture,

conducted by the National Security Service.

● It was the same National Security Service that was responsible for the near

genocide in the Northwest during this time period, particularly targeting Issaq,

Hawiyes and Darod clan members.

● The government also tried to invade and incorporate various territories

throughout the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia’s ethnically Somali territory

Odagen.

After Barre’s Rule

● Siad Barre’s regime was finally ousted in 1991 by clan militia supported by

Ethiopia and Libya.

● Tension arose in following government between United Somali Congress

President General Mahamed Farah Aideed and interim Somali President Ali

Mahdi Mohammed.

● General Aideed was a member of the Sa’ad sub-clan, President Ali Mahdi

Mohamed was from the Abgal sub clan

● Widespread fighting led to 14,000 deaths in Mogadishu between 11/91 and 3/92.

● In 1991, Northern clans united by the Somali National Movement declared an

independent Republic of Somaliland

● In 1998 the regions of Bari, Nugaal, and northern Mudug declared themselves as a

semi autonomous state, Puntland.

● Puntland continues to this day to disputes its border with Somaliland as it claims

the regions of Sool and Sanaag, and portions of Togdheer.

Al-Shabaab● Formed in 2006

● “The Youth” in Arabic

● Radical offshoot of the Union of Islamic

Courts, officially merged with Al-Qaeda

in 2012

● Made up of around 9,000 fighters,

including illiterate children (some

recruited under duress) and foreign

jihadists.

Direct ViolenceDirect Warfare from Political Turmoil, Terrorism by Al-Shabaab,

Physical Abuse by Peacekeepers

Direct Violence from Political TurmoilClans and Subclans

- the social safety net of society

- fighting over scarce resources

- division between the south and north exacerbates clan tensions

- racial divides

- nomadic vs. farming people

- infrastructure

- During the regime of Siad Barre also exacerbated

- government positions

- UNITAF and UNOSOM II-- funding the USC, viewed as a threat by General

Aideed

14,000 deaths

Terrorism by Al-ShabaabConnection to “Cure or Curse”-- types of religious violence

Violent attacks on the African Union bases and the Presidential Palace

Child-Soldiers

Tactics of war: Rape, Robbery, Targeting civilian centers

US killed Aden Hashi Ayro-- Ahmed Abdi Godane rises to power

- stricter imposition of Sharia law, particularly on women

- Use techniques of fear to prevent dissent-- stoning, public amputations

Divisions within Somalia (to add some context)

Violence by PeacekeepersConnections to USC and the African Union

- renting land, hiring employees, purchasing weapons

- fuels USC

Disproportionate force-- response to killing of Pakistani soldiers

Torture-- Canadian forces kill 16 year-old boy found near base

- Belgian authorities-- find 268 cases, at least 58 deaths

- Sexual abuse violations recently discovered by Ugandan forces

Structural ViolencePoverty and Starvation, Coastal Jobs and Piracy, Violence against

Women

Poverty and StarvationDenial of Education perpetuates poverty

- 20% attend school; 8% attend secondary school

- 38% adult literacy rate

- 36% of those going to school are women

2009-- 73% of people live on less than $2/day

- fighting over food

- 2011 famine-- increase in food prices; drought exacerbates future food price

problem (Al-Shabaab denied there was a famine and banned Western aid

agencies)

- kills at least 260,000 people

Coastal Jobs and Piracy80s-- coastal toxic waste dumping begins

- has led to increased illnesses throughout coastal villages

- 2004 Tsunami stirs up waste containers left behind

- Dump and then take valuable fish (tuna)

2009-- peak of about 214 piracy attacks

- UN intervenes in 2012

- Illegal fishing and toxic dumping resume

Coastal fishing jobs have no protection

Issues continue with no central government

Violence against Women (structural and direct elements)Shari’a law disproportionately affects women

- required to wear veil

- stoning of teenage women

Sexual abuse by peacekeepers

Health Care

- No prenatal care, little care during childbirth (45 deaths/day)

No voice in the political system-- local clan structures hold power when there is no

central authority

Vision of a Peaceful Somalia

What is the Vision?

Negative Peace: A disarmed society, incorporation of military groups into the

government, respected by the international community, Somaliland and Puntland

would be autonomous regions (achieved after Stage 1 of our strategy)

Positive Peace: the country is economically developed, a federal government with

states, each clan would have their own state, equal rights and opportunities for women

and other minority groups (achieved after Stage 2 and 3 of our strategy)

Overview: Strategy to Achieve Peace in SomaliaStage One: Creation Of Negative Peace

Integration of Religious Perspectives, Involvement from NGO’s and IGO’s,

Disarmament, Peace Education

Stage Two: Creation Of Positive Peace

Incorporating Gendered Perspectives, Environmental Protection, Economic

Development

Stage Three: Prevention of Future Issues

Education, Sustainable Development, Reconciliation

Stage One: Creation of a Negative PeacePeace Education

-Creating a system that educates Somalia of peaceful tactics that can be carried out by the populace

in order to create a more peaceful Somalia. Including Disarmament and reconciliation.

Disarmament

-Disarming the violent groups within Somalia, but still allowing for a police force in order to protect

the rights of the populace.

Third Party Involvement

-The use of Third parties, this includes NGO’s and IGO’s. Using IGO’s such as the United Nations,

in order to help create a stable political structure, and using NGO’s with areas like disarmament.

Integration of Religious Perspectives

-Integrating Religious groups into the political process and sphere, groups such as Al-Shabaab.

Doing so in a nonviolent manner that does not promote more direct violence by these groups.

Stage Two: Creation of a Positive PeaceIncorporating Gendered Perspectives

-Incorporating gendered perspectives in both the political sphere, but also

changing the way women are treated in Somali culture.

Economic Development

-Somalia is a very under developed country, tapping into somali resources apart

from fishing and farming, creating more stable jobs within the country.

Environmental Protection

-The creation of treaty’s on the waters around somalia in order to protect the

fishing industry of somalia.

Stage Three: Prevention of Future IssuesEducation

-The creation of a more structured educational system, which reaches all children

across the country.

Sustainable Development

-Placing limitation and procedures to make sure that the resources of somalia, are

not depleted too quickly.

Reconciliation

-Healing the wounds between all the different groups within somalia, to help stop

any future violent outbreaks.

Critique of Our Strategy Brad: Al-Shabaab would want to cooperate the way that we want them to; Outside

powers would be opposed to the integration of a group that has affiliated themselves

with al-Qaeda/Islamic Extremism

Marie: It is hard to guarantee international cooperation because many states have

benefitted from the situation in Somalia as they can take advantage of coastal

resources (fish and waste dumping).

Ann: Issues might arise with our state system based on clans. While many clans remain

dominant in specific regions, our plan doesn’t take into account that some clan

demographics are geographically separated, nor does it take into account any issues

that might arise with sub-clan conflict among sub-clans of the same clan.