US Provides More Aid to Somalia

By almost any definition, Somalia is a text-book example of a ‘failed state’ and ranks #1 on ‘Foreign Policy’sFailed State Index. Decades of famine, civil-war, anarchy and the lack of anything even resembling something that could be called a ‘government’, have resulted in Somalia’s reputation for being the most dangerous place on earth.

Most Americans are only tangentially familiar with Somalia, based largely on coverage of its past disasters- famine, the 1993 military operation [which started as a peacekeeping mission] in Mogadishu, known almost universally as ‘Black Hawk Down’ or ‘The First Battle of Mogadishu’, where 18 U.S. service members lost their lives. And more recently, Somalia has been on the news as a result of an increase in hijackings and piracy on the high seas. As if that wasn’t enough, Somalia has become a hot-bed of Islamic extremism and many worry it has escalated into a proving-ground of sorts for Al Queda. As if that weren’t enough, Somalia is currently looking down the barrel at another devastating famine resulting from their current long-standing drought and which experts say may rival what Somalis faced in the early part of the 1990’s.

The State Department is continuing its work on behalf of anti-piracy measures and has recently given aid, both monetary and munitions, to the beleaguered nation:

“The Obama administration has begun sending arms aid to the beleaguered government of Somalia, officials said Thursday, in an escalation of its commitment to one of the world’s most troubled states.

State Department officials said the support was intended to help sustain a transitional government that is steadily losing ground to Islamic militants in fighting that has been catastrophic for civilians. The administration also is stepping up humanitarian aid to the country, said officials, who declined to disclose how much would be spent.

[snip]

The new effort will not involve any American troops, officials emphasized. U.S. officials hope that the aid will lead other countries to make their own contributions to support the transitional government.

U.S. officials and their allies worry that a victory by the hard-line Shabab militant group and other insurgents would further destabilize the region, and make Somalia a haven for international terrorist groups.

World powers hoped that the moderate Islamist government that took power in January could neutralize the threat from more extreme elements. But the militants, who want to create an Islamic state, have gained ground since beginning an offensive last month, and now control most of the capital and much of the rest of southern Somalia.

The insurgents have imposed harsh Islamic law that includes executions, floggings and amputations. On Thursday, militants cut off hands and feet of four men convicted of stealing cellphones.

Their declared goal is to drive out African Union troops from Uganda and Burundi who are in Somalia to try to stabilize the country. Somalia also has been the base for pirates who have been preying on shipping. International efforts against the pirates have been hindered by world powers’ reluctance to get involved in Somalia…”

Obviously, the US has a vested interest in helping to stabilize Somalia but as has often been noted, the international community has to band together to prevent a total collapse and takeover by Islamic militants, of the barely functioning current government.

For more information on the State Department’s current efforts towards improving conditions in Somalia, you can go to the State Department’s Somalia information page and also the USAID web page.