Somalia is an African nation that borders Ethiopia and Kenya on the west and the Indian Ocean on the East. It was created in 1960 when two territories, one a former British protectorate, one an Italian colony, merged. Since then it has been filled with strife, years of civil war, warlords taking power, the death of at least 1 million individuals, and without a central government since 1991.

Somalia was part of the Cold War between the West and the Soviet Union when, in 1970, it was proclaimed a socialist state. In 1977, with the help of Soviet military aid, it attempted to expand into Ethiopia, but was unsuccessful. In 1991, Socialist President Barre was overthrown by clans, and the country was left with a disastrous war between tribal warlords. The last time there was U.S. focus on Somalia was in 1993, in what became known as the “Black Hawk Down” incident, yet, things are even worse – displaced populations, starving children, and a fractured economy.

Late in 2006, Ethiopia invaded Somalia, complicating the situation even more. It appears that there was at least tacit support from the Bush administration regarding the invasion. Analysts now think that the State Department’s approval of this invasion, thinking it would stabilize Somalia, was a misreading of Somalia’s political culture. The U.S. is concerned that Somalia is now controlled by an al Quaeda faction, and it looked to them like Somalia would turn into another Taliban governed country. On January 8th, Somalia attacked an American gunship, which reinforced the view that the Ethiopian invasion was a joint US/Ethiopian operation.

The West’s view that Somali is a terrorist state continues to contribute to the national, economic, and cultural disaster in the country. Somali must be recognized as a country of its own, allowing them the independence and sovereignty necessary to become part of the world community. Simply because the West might disagree with the Somali view does not illegitimatize its ability to be its own country. The al-Quada connection, coupled with the historical view of Somalia as a Soviet client state has caused a lack of attention to the area, foreign aid that is available to other African countries, etc. At the same time, it is in the U.S.’s best interest now that Somalia become a separate nation, its strategic position near the Indian Ocean is important for naval operations, etc.

Many scholars believe that it is in the current Obama Administration’s best interest to help heal the relations with Somalia – both from a strategic and a human rights standpoint. For globalism to truly work, past differences must be put aside and future issues uncovered.

REFERENCES

“On The Issues: Somalia.” (January 9, 2007). United States Institute of Peace. Cited in:

< http://www.usip.org/on_the_issues/somalia.html#why >


“Policy Failures in Somalia Conflict.” (May 15, 2008). The Guardian. Cited in:

< http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/15/somalia.terrorism >

“Relations with the United States.” (n.d.) Cited in:

< http://countrystudies.us/somalia/80.htm>

“Somalia.” CIA World Factbook. (2009). Cited in:

< https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/geos/so.html#People >

“Somalia: Country Profile,” (May 15, 2009). BBC News. Cited in:

< http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1072592.stm >