...Piracy Off the Horn of Africa The horn of Africa had long been a region of significant economic and its waters had facilitated trades between north east Africa, south Arabia and Asia. Today that region of Africa is devastated by lack employment, environmental hardship and insecurity. Many of fishing communities along the coast of Somalia see their means of livelihood stripped and joined the ranks of the pirates out of the need to survive. While the profitability of piracy appears to be a primary motivating factor, one can argue poverty is the primary cause of the crisis. Today the horn of Africa is one of the continent most unsecured regions. There is no way one can truly understand the piracy problem without looking at the causes. Civil war and famine have fueled lawlessness and anarchy in Somalia since the Somali government collapsed in 1991. Somalia lack of government and recurrent civil wars have created a flood of refugees and thousand of somaliens had fled the region with no jobs, and no prospects for the future. In addition to the lack of stable government, the famine and drought, there is also thousand kilometres of coastline unguarded. This has atracted some foreign commercial fishing fleets that have plundered the Horn of Africa for valuable fish and the situation has left the local fisherman depleted with their survival means . According to the united nations “ United Nations estimates $300 million worth of seafood...
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...Joseph Bukowski Core 222 Professor Shaul Somalia-Country Analysis Introduction Somalia, formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic during a Socialst rule, has no central government and is characterized as a failed state. Located in the horn of Africa, Somalia has the largest coastline on the continent and was under British rule until 1960. Mohamed Siad Barre took control of Somalia during this transition and his empire reigned until the Somali Civil War in 1991. Since the civil war, most of Somali has been without a central governing body and has been subject to harsh and violent conditions. There has been attempts to establish a government however the regions of Puntland and self-declared Somaliland have been self-governing. These bodies are unrecognized internationally although Somaliland declares itself to be autonomous. Without a stable government, civic disputes have been settled at the local scene. The Transitional Federal Government has became an interim government and its mandate will expire in 2012 (1). At that time, Somalia hopes to have national elections and work towards developing a central authority. Economy Without a central government, Somalia is forced to maintain a formal economy mainly consisting of livestock, telecommunications, and money transfer companies. This informal economy has remained fairly healthy as domestic agriculture has contributed a major portion of the country's gross domestic product. Almost half of Somalia's exports...
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...are very interested in knowing more about. This essay will give a brief history of Somalia (Fatima’s home country), and then it will go into female genital cutting in Somalia. Somalia is a country in eastern Africa. The countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya surround it. Somalis are thought to have been decedents from Africans and Arab people. The main languages in Somalia are Arabic, Italian and English. Islam is practiced through out the region. The majorities of Somalis are livestock herders and cultivate the land that they have. (www.cia.gov). Somalia became independent and its own country in 1960, when it got independence from England and Italy. Somalia has not had a stable government between 1991 and 2000. However, during 2000 a parliamentary government was formed but later on expired in 2003. In 2004, a new parliament was organized and a president was elected- Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. Since 1991, Somalia has been overwhelmed with chaos and anarchy. Somalia had gone through a difficult time in 1992 when a drought happened in Africa and was combined with a civil war. Somalia went through an intense famine that killed approximately 300,000 people. (www.cia.gov). There were many efforts done by the United Stated and the United Nations to help Somalia get through the drought and civil war. However, there was a negative reaction from some Somalis with “outside intervention”. In 2006, Somalia went through its worst outbreak of violence in 10 years. The fights were between...
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...Somalia Ethel Ragland Strayer University Sociology of Developing Countries 300 Dr. Donna Robinson Sunday, February 01, 2015 Africa: Somalia Somalia has a population of about 1048,043 this evaluation was produced from the official census system taken by the Somalia government calculated in Somalia by the Nomads and refugee’s movements in reaction to famine and world clan warfare. (July 2014 World Fact Book) This region is made up of 85% Somalia, 15% non-Somalia including 30,000 Arabs and Bantu people. Somalia has generally been allocated into three regions – Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia. Resulting in the collapse of the SiadBarre regime (1969-91) the country descended into civil conflict with overwhelming consequences. These results has made gross domestic products and human development between the lowest in the world .Out of 170 countries Somalia is in the middle of the five least developed countries measured by 2012 Human Development Index. The pre-eminence of accustomed Clan- based system obstruct social cohesion and inescapable traditional practices, such as polygamy and forced marriages, exclusion of women from education and employment opportunities. In which will results in some of the worst gender equal opportunity indicators in the world. (World Bank.org 2015) ...
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...Somalia has been without an effective central government since President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991. Years of fighting between rival warlords and an inability to deal with famine and disease have led to the deaths of up to one million people. Comprised of a former British protectorate and an Italian colony, Somalia was created in 1960 when the two territories merged. Since then its development has been slow. Relations with neighbours have been soured by its territorial claims on Somali-inhabited areas of Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti. In 1970 Mr Barre proclaimed a socialist state, paving the way for close relations with the USSR. In 1977, with the help of Soviet arms, Somalia attempted to seize the Ogaden region of Ethiopia, but was defeated thanks to Soviet and Cuban backing for Ethiopia, which had turned Marxist. In 1991 President Barre was overthrown by opposing clans. But they failed to agree on a replacement and plunged the country into lawlessness and clan warfare. Continue reading the main story At a glance * Scene of Africa's worst humanitarian crisis: aid agencies warn that millions face starvation * No effective government since 1991 * Islamist militia and UN-backed transitional government compete for control of country * The self-proclaimed state of Somaliland and the region of Puntland run their own affairs Country profiles compiled by BBC Monitoring In 2000 clan elders and other senior figures appointed Abdulkassim Salat Hassan...
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...The Somali Conflict: Finding a Solution for Lasting Peace in the Horn of Africa The Civil War in Somalia History of the Somali Conflict The colonial territories of Somalia and Somaliland joined to for m the Somali Republic under the East African nation’s first constitution in 1960, marking the first time that the territories enjoyed independence from foreign colonial rule since the 1880’s. Unfortunately, political strife and tension was present even at the time of the country’s formation. Prior to colonial rule, the two territories were governed by a highly decentralized form of pastoral rule, consisting of large clans of nomadic and agricultural familial units (Ahmed 1999, 114). It has been argued that the incompatibility of such a decentralized form of governance with a highly centralized Western-style governmental structure is the fundamental driving force behind the ongoing political conflicts, formations of factions, and civil war in Somalia (Ahmed 1999, 115). Indeed, centralized government was not successful in the fledgling African country. By 1969, less than a decade after its inception, the Somali government was taken over in a swift and virtually bloodless military coup led by the commander of the Somali Army, Major General Mohamed Siad Barre (Linke 2011, 47). Upon seizing power, Barre quickly dissolved the country’s parliament and court system, suspended the constitution, and constructed a military dictatorship based largely on Marxist principles (Linke...
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...The Effects of War and Peace on Foreign Aid in Somalia Rachel Gardner Professor Marco Mena Sociology of Developing Countries Strayer University 5/4/2014 The Effects of War and Peace on Foreign Aid Foreign aid plays a major role in the sustainability of economic and social activities of developing nations. Whether in the form of development or humanitarian aid, the foreign aid is key to ensuring better living conditions and economic development for these states. These forms of aid are influential in pushing for progress in among the developing nations, but the presence of war greatly affects progress. War has a bearing impact on the distribution of foreign aid in the developing nations due to the resulting impediments that hinder effective movements of the aid to the intended population. One such country is Somalia that has for decades faced civil war due to the lack of a stable government. The effect of the war is eminent; starving population, poor infrastructure, disease outbreaks and mass displacements of the country’s citizens into refugee camps. However, the country has also received large amounts of foreign aid to assist it in addressing its current troubles, but due the continued prevalence of war in the country no substantial gain has been witnessed. Judging from countries facing similar conditions, it becomes apparent that key is vital for the effectiveness of foreign aid failure to which no significant development can occur. Peace is a key factor in effective...
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...Famine Case Study 2011 Shohei Morita 3 November 2011 Examine causes and consequences of a recent famine. Since July 2011, Somalia has been hit with East Africa’s worst drought in 60 years, with over 12 million people in east African region needing food aid, according to the UN. They have also warned that this drought and famine could cause death of over 750 000 people in Somalia. As it can be seen on Map 1, other countries around Somalia such as Djibouti, Kenya, and Ethiopia have been affected as well. The key on the map shows that the areas marked with dark red are areas affected the most. The UN officially declared famine on 20 July 2011 in southern Somalia. Since then, 4 more regions including the entire Bay region in Somalia were declared famine. Somalia has been affected by constant drought for the past 30 years, while having civil war causing destruction to its rural and urban economies. Somalia has been categorized as a “failed state”. So what has caused them to become a failed state? Causes of this recent famine can be categorized into social, economic, and environmental. Somalia is also known as a failed state, a country without government. Besides the civil war they have had for the past 20 years, corrupted governments and lack of infrastructures. Firstly, Somalia has a corrupted government and lack of infrastructure. This prevents any form of aid group or government from transporting food and any other aid items. Also, the Somalia ordered 700 tons of...
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...1. INTRODUCTION The horrors of Somalia, Angola and the Congo (present day Democratic Republic of Congo) made the new challenges that the present day United Nations faces easier to confront, as they highlighted the glaring weaknesses that riddled the early days of peacekeeping. The UN was portrayed as a vulnerable institution without a spine which could not enact strong and effective policies to deal with interventions, and it was this view which led me to look at the three most decisive UN interventions conducted on the African continent since its inception. The interventions in Angola , Somalia and Congo , were all conducted at different stages of the UN’s reign , and as such they help paint a clearer image on how far the organisation has come from post-World War II , through the Cold War to the present day. A major tool of the UN in its unprecedented efforts has been its UN Charter , within which it manifests its principles and goals clearly and concisely, and it is through this framework that it has conducted itself in every UN peacekeeping mission. The Charter is the working document of the UN as it follows its guidelines in a diligent and stringent manner. However, this stance has led to it being exploited by more cunning leaders, or even finding itself in the complex situation of being tempted to disobey the Charter, due to its limiting and constraining nature. In this essay, I will focus primarily on a combination of all the approaches used in writing essays .As such...
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...The U.S. intervention in Somalia marked the first time that the United States placed its military operations under the flag of the United Nations (UN). Africa's first post-cold war conflict, the corrupt regime of Muhammed Siad Barre prompted the necessity for intervention in Somalia. In power from 1969 to 1991, Barre created a patron-client relationship with the nation's clan-based society. That system required continuous outside assistance, and by 1987, some 57% of Somalia's gross national product was generated by international aid. Although he lacked legitimacy outside his clan, Somali general Mohamed Farah Aidid overthrew Barre, which led to the collapse of the state, continuous clan-based civil war, and famine. That situation provoked the deployment of the first UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM I) in April 1992. Yet the force proved insufficient to control the "technicals" (a euphemism for mercenaries who remained loyal to their clans) hired by in-country humanitarian organizations. Under those circumstances, between November 1991 and March 1992, some 30,000–50,000 Somalis died of starvation. The U.S.-led Unified Task Force (UNITAF) broke that cycle in December 1992, when the UN Security Council authorized a deployment to Somalia of U.S. troops, which had been offered by the outgoing president George Bush. UNOSOM would work with a unified command (37,000 troops from more than 20 nations, including, at its peak, 29,000 U.S. troops) and continue with its original mandate...
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...Current Event Somalia Historically known for having one of the most popular trading ports in Africa. Somalia lies on the East African coast of the Indian Ocean bordering Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya. Over 80% of the country’s population is ethnic Somalis of Afro-Asiatic descent. Somalia has a rich history of poetry and is believed to be the first region Camels were domesticated. It is also one of the first areas of Africa were Islam was adopted. A sea full of fish and land full of natural resources one would assume this coastal country would be one of the thriving African nation states in the 21st century; those assumptions were valid a few decades ago. With the push of democracy and the pressure of Western Powers to eliminate authoritarian leader Siad Barre, eventually caused a civil war beginning in the early 90’s. Mogadishu was named the most dangerous city in the world year after year. Many Somalis fled to neighboring Kenya or to North America and Europe. The other numerous millions were abandoned by the world having to deal with civil war, droughts, and famine. Numerous failed attempts of legitimate political leaders gaining power lead to a radical Islamic Militant group rise. Al-Shabaab has been reigning terror in Somalia and neighboring East African for near a decade. With the recent push for democracy in Somalia, a western backed election resulted in a victory for Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in 2012. President Mohamud became president...
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...Mohamed Jama CMST 1012 01 Professor Sarff 2/2 Identity Paper Having experience of two cultural societies, of opposite hemispheres, helps me understand certain principle element such as cultural structures and perspectives. Coming from a third world country, or a “Failed State”, culture is the only thing left to keep the people together. Living in America where many groups considered the great melting pot, helps me realizing many similarities and differences. Somalia is a nation off the east coast of Africa. Unlike many African and western nations, Somalia is a single, homogeneous ethnic group. We share a uniform language, religion, cultural and trace our heritage as common ancestor. My Somali name has three parts; first given name...
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...Soc 355: Minority Group Relations Somalia Presentation Paper When I walked into the presentation tonight I had no idea what to expect. I thought for a second it might be another presentation that just simply bores the audience with listing statistics of bullies in schools or dealing with discrimination that I would never come across or face. It was not though; the presentation was a real experience. In a sense, it could have been too real. Somalia is a country that is located on the far east of Africa. This country is in a region known as the “Horn of Africa”. Somalia is in the center of what is said to be the worst drought in Africa in over 60 years. With most of the country side being couple empty and home to absolutely nothing, the region has been officially declared as one of the few famines areas in world history. There are currently over 10 million men, women and children that are desperate need of food and water. Over 600,000 children are in despair as their country fights poverty, drought, and civil war. There is no more grass in the fields. Farms are no longer filled with animals. There is no longer food for parents to provide to their children. There is no more water in wells. The countryside people are forced to abandon their homes, their cities, and their farms to make the treacherous voyage towards a refugee camp. They leave because they have absolutely nothing left. They leave on a path on foot that is faced with dangerous obstacles of facing wild dangerous...
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...Security Stability in Somalia Since their indirect elections on September 12, 2012, and despite the fragile regional security situation of the Horn of Africa, Somalia has continued to experience significant and sustained progress towards security stability in their country. In order for Somalia to succeed as viable and trusted state, the United States (US) as well as the International Community should not allow another security stability failure in Somalia. The US and the International Community must focus on helping to sustain Somalia’s efforts against the fight of the Al-Shabaab terrorist organization, help to counter piracy, and to help build capacity and capability in the Somali government and its institutions. While at the same time provide the support to attend Somali basic humanitarian aid needs and financial assistance. First, one of the reasons why the general security conditions in Somalia keep on improving is principally thanks to the sustained operations carried out against the Jihadist organization Al-Shabaab by the Somali national security forces in conjunction with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and with other associates and allied militias of the government. These operations are currently successful in managing to achieve the retreat of the Islamist radicals from some of the main cities of the south and center of the country. The sustainment of these operations will deteriorate Al-Shabaab operations capacity as a military force, promote the desertion...
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...From A Passage to Africa George Alagiah writes about his experiences as a television reporter during the war in Somalia, Africa in the 1990s. He won a special award for his report on the incidents described in this passage. I saw a thousand hungry, lean, scared and betrayed faces as I criss-crossed Somalia between the end of 1991 and December 1992, but there is one I will never forget. I was in a little hamlet just outside Gufgaduud, a village in the back of beyond, a place the aid agencies had yet to reach. In my notebook I had jotted down instructions on how to get there. ‘Take the Badale Road for a few kilometres till the end of the tarmac, turn right on to a dirt track, stay on it for about forty-five minutes — Gufgaduud. Go another fifteen minutes approx. — like a ghost village.’ … In the ghoulish manner of journalists on the hunt for the most striking pictures, my cameraman … and I tramped from one hut to another. What might have appalled us when we'd started our trip just a few days before no longer impressed us much. The search for the shocking is like the craving for a drug: you require heavier and more frequent doses the longer you're at it. Pictures that stun the editors one day are written off as the same old stuff the next. This sounds callous, but it is just a fact of life. It's how we collect and compile the images that so move people in the comfort of their sitting rooms back home. There was Amina Abdirahman, who had gone out that morning in search of wild, edible...
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