Guide Note

Since 2006, an Islamist insurgency in Somalia led by the Islamic Courts Union has kept the country in a state of perpetual fighting and disruption. Despite efforts of the African Union and Ethiopia, Somalia's capital city, Mogadishu, remains a disputed territory and over 60% of its former population has been displaced to refugee camps.

Fast Facts

Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991
The transitional government of Somalia is supported by the United States, Ethiopia, and the African Union
More than 2 million Somalians rely on outside aid for food and supplies
2,400 African Union peacekeepers were deployed to the area in early 2008
The African Union hopes to expand their peacekeeping force to 8,000 troops
On March 3, 2008 the U.S. launched a missile attack on suspected Al Qaeda targets in southern Somalia

Area in Turmoil

A large drought racked Somalia for most of 2005 and 2006, followed by heavy rains in late 2006. The rains caused severe flooding, resulting in the displacement of approximately 450,000 people. An estimated seven million of Somalia's nine million citizens live in extreme poverty and many rely on outside aid for food and supplies. The ongoing conflict has made it difficult to supply the Somalian refugees with aid and deploy peacekeeping forces to the area.

Categories

News | International Relations | Wars and Genocides

View Note History

Turmoil in Somalia

The Mahalo Top 7

Official Site: UN Political Office for Somalia
Wikipedia: War in Somalia (2006–Present)
BBC News: Somalia in Crisis | Q&A: Somali Conflict
Online News Hour (PBS): Somalia's Struggle for Stability
Human Rights Watch: Shell-Shocked: Civilians Under Siege in Mogadishu (August, 2007)
Medialens.org: Somalia - A Trip Down Memory Hole Lane (January 23, 2007)
YouTube Video: Somalia Through Children's Eyes (Time: 6:42)

Turmoil in Somalia Recent News

Google News: Somalia Search
Los Angeles Times: U.S. Missile Strike in Somalia Kills 6 (March 4, 2008)
- "It was the fourth U.S. military strike in Somalia since Ethiopian troops entered the country in the Horn of Africa in December 2006 to help defeat Islamist militants who had seized Mogadishu, the capital, and to restore power to a U.N.-recognized transitional government."
Telegraph: American Attack Targets Al-qa'eda in Somalia (March 4, 2008)
Reuters: World Should Stop Neglecting Somalia (March 4, 2008)
allAfrica: Prime Minister Says Insurgents 'undermining Reconciliation (March 3, 2008)
VOA News: Somalia's Government Denies Closing Down Three Radio Stations (March 3, 2008)
BBC News: Somalia's Leader 'Has Bronchitis' (December 5, 2007)
CNN: Ethiopia Calls for Help in Somalia (December 4, 2007)
The Washington Post: U.S. Stages 2nd Airstrike in Somalia (January 24, 2007)
The New York Times: Pentagon Sees Move in Somalia As Blueprint (January 13, 2007)

Turmoil in Somalia Background

Mahalo's Guide to Somalia
BBC News: Country Profile: Somalia
Wikipedia: Somalia

Terrorist Activity

San Francisco Chronicle: U.s. Navy Strikes Suspected Terrorist Hideout in Somalia (March 4, 2008)
Guardian Unlimited: Africa's Secret: 'Vanished' in the War on Terror (April 23, 2007)
Council on Foreign Relations: Somalia's Terrorist Infestation (June 6, 2006)
Council on Foreign Relations: Terrorism Havens: Somalia (December, 2005)

Islamist Insurgency

Wikipedia: Islamist Insurgency in Somalia (2007–Present)
BBC News: Quick Guide: Somalia's Islamists
VOA News: In Somalia, Presence of Ethiopian Troops Fuels Insurgency... (December 19, 2007)
The Guardian: Islamist Insurgency Grows in Somalia (November 19, 2007)

Turmoil in Somalia Blogs and Commentary

Somalia Blog: 'why Does Somalia Receive Less International Attention Than Darfur?' (December 23, 2007)
The New York Times: In Somalia, Those Who Feed Off Anarchy Fuel It (April 25, 2007)
Information Clearinghouse: U.S.-Made Mess in Somalia (April 10, 2007)
Huliq: Report Says War on Terror Violating Human Rights in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia (April 5, 2007)
Human Rights Watch: People Fleeing Somalia War Secretly Detained (March 30, 2007)
Truthout: Somalia: Tragedy and Opportunity (December 27, 2006)

Central Figures

Transitional Federal Government

Wikipedia: Transitional Federal Government
Council on Foreign Relations: Somalia’s Transitional Government (January 23, 2007)
VOA News: Coalition Formed Against Somalia's Transitional Government (June 8, 2007)
Christian Science Monitor: Somalia's Transitional Government on the Verge of Collapse (August 4, 2006)

Islamic Courts Union

Mahalo's Guide to the Islamic Courts Union
Wikipedia: Islamic Courts Union
BBC News: Profile: Somalia's Islamic Courts
International Crisis Group: Somalia's Islamists (December 12, 2005)

African Union

Mahalo's Guide to the African Union
Wikipedia: African Union Mission to Somalia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Council on Foreign Relations: Backgrounder: The African Union (October 6, 2008)
Christian Science Monitor: Will the African Union Help Somalia? (January 30, 2007)
BBC News: African Union Backs Somalia Plan (January 20, 2007)

Turmoil in Somalia Photos and Videos

BBC NEWS: In Pictures: Somalia Battle Rages
YouTube & Google Video: Somalia
Google Image Search: Somalia Conflict
Yahoo! Image Search: Somalia Conflict

Related Searches

Somalia | Separatist Turmoil in Ethiopia | Somalia Missile Strike | Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed | Islamic Courts Union | Ogaden National Liberation Front | Black Hawk Down | Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan