The United States in Somalia · Brief History of Somalia 1978 Somali forces pushed out of Ogaden...
Transcript of The United States in Somalia · Brief History of Somalia 1978 Somali forces pushed out of Ogaden...
Somalia
Where is Somalia?
Brief History of Somalia
Post-World War II Was a protectorate
of Great Britain 1960 Achieved independence
1970s Military dictatorship Under Mohamed Siyyad Barre
Brief History of Somalia 1978 Somali forces pushed out of Ogaden with the help of Soviet
advisers and Cuban troops. Barre expels Soviet advisers and gains support of United
States. 1980s Somalia's strategic importance was diminished due to end of
the Cold War Government became even more totalitarian
1991 Mohamed Siad Barre is ousted. Civil War!
Somali Civil War – 1991 Results: Power struggle between clan warlords kills or wounds thousands
of civilians Based on clan allegiances and competition for resources Disrupted agriculture, food & water distribution
Somali Civil War – 1991 Famine – approx. 300,000
dead UN Security Council
authorized limited peacekeeping operation disregarded by warring
factions
Warlords
Nation ruled by a number of WARLOARDS person with power who has military and civil
control over an area Armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to
central government Alliance of Warlords formed in 1992 Operated under authority of Mohamed Farrah
Aidid Declared himself President of Somalia
US Response December 1992-
President Bush ordered Operation Restore Hope restore order in Somalia
President Bill Clinton took office in January 1993 and continued operation
The Home-Front Many Somalis resented the
international forces Many took up arms - actively
resisted UN and US
On June 5, 1993, one of the deadliest attacks on UN forces in Somalia occurred 24 UN soldiers were killed in
Mogadishu (controlled by Aidid)
The UN Responds
Next day, UN issued a Resolution
calling for arrest and trial of those responsible for ambush US and UN began an attack on
Aidid’s control Aidid remained defiant –
violence escalated
The Battle of Mogadishu October 3 & 4, 1993
Mogadishu, Somalia Operation was to
capture top officials to Aidid
The Battle of Mogadishu During the operation, two US Black Hawk
helicopters were shot down Some soldiers trapped at the crash sites combined task force was sent to rescue the trapped soldiers
Results US Forces 19 Killed 84 Wounded
Somali Forces Est. 700+ Killed Est. 1,500 Wounded
The End of International Involvement Withdrawal Pres. Clinton called
for full withdrawal by March 1994. UN also withdrew
forces Ended UN effort to
assist a nation in anarchy/civil war
2000 Clan leaders and senior figures meeting elect Abdulkassim Salat Hassan
president of Somalia. 2000 October – Hassan arrives in Mogadishu to heroes' welcome.
Hassan announces his government, the first in the country since 1991. 2004 In 14th attempt since 1991 to restore central government, a new
parliament is installed. In October the body elects Abdullahi Yusuf as president.
2011 Pirate attacks on ships worldwide hit seven-year high in 2010, with
Somali pirates accounting for 49 of 52 ships seized 2012 Somalia's first formal parliament in more than 20 years is sworn in
Today
January 2013: USA recognizes Somali government for first time since 1990s
On the Left: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
On the Right: Donald Steinber, Deputy Administrator of USAID
Fallout from Mogadishu
Fallout from Mogadishu Became a cautionary influence on US policy When US considers sending soldiers into foreign crisis zones – “remember
Somalia”
Americans repulsed at the images of soldiers' corpses being dragged through the streets