Weapons’ trafficking in Somalia is a complex issue with global implications. Extremist organizations, such as Al-Shabaab, appear to be the primary beneficiary to the unrestricted flow of weapons and use them to achieve their objectives. Furthermore, the availability of weapons, particularly that of small arms, compromises regional stability and undermines United States strategy. The purpose of this paper is to address the significance of the arms trafficking network in Somalia by examining the culture in which it thrives, the motivation of Al-Shabaab to obtain them, the sources of illegal arms, and the United States point of view.
II. The Culture
Based on indicators and risk analysis, Somalia is listed number one on the failed states index since 2008 (FFP, 2013). There are several factors that contribute to Somalia’s instability. First of these factors is the government. Since 1991, Somalia has lacked an effective central government and there is no known national system for law or conflict resolution. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is the seventeenth attempt to establish a formal state in Somalia since the fall of the Siad Barre regime in 1991 (TCC, 2011). The second factor is unique geography that creates gaps in border security. Somalia is 246,200 square miles and borders three countries, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Somalia also has a large coastline that spans approximately 1,900 miles (TCC, 2011). The third factor is food and water security. Somalia has been a humanitarian crisis for several decades. Famine in Somalia is on a national scale and droughts strain the country’s water reserve. Estimates in 2010 indicate that all of the country was at least of moderate food concern, and over half was of...
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... Security Council) (2008). Report of the Monitoring Group on Somalia pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and1811 (2008) concerning Somalia and Eritrea. S/2008/769 of 10 December 2008.
UNSC (United Nations Security Council) (2011). Report of the Monitoring Group on Somalia pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea. S/2011/433 of 18 July 2011.
UNSC (United Nations Security Council) (2013). Report of the Monitoring Group on Somalia Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea. S/2013/413 of 12 July 2013.
United States Department of State (USDoS, 2014) The U.S. department of state continues to warn U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to somalia. (2014, Feb 7). Retrieved March 29, 2014, from http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/somalia-travel-warning.html
The purpose of this document is to discuss the horrible acts one may recognize as the genocide in Somalia. One may deliberate regularly on the reasons or circumstances that lead to the mistreatment and killings of a whole country; how could this happen? Why are no other countries willing to step in and give aid to the Somali people whom are suffering on a daily basis? In reality, many concerns have been addressed, whether by discussions or actions. There may be different philosophies or viewpoints as to why the genocide was conducted and not stopped. Genocide is a cruel and inhumane event and is a world problem.
...2009): 8-9. United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. .
The United Nations. Resolution 36/103 of the UN General Assembly (1981). N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
The relationship between Eritrea and Ethiopia has been strained at best, since the end of the Eritrean-Ethiopian Border War. Recent border skirmishes between the two countries have raised concerns with the United Nations (U.N.) that another war could breakout. The United States (U.S.) has had a strong interest in the area for over a century, and more importantly, has close ties with Ethiopia. The recent hostilities have been provoked by Ethiopia and, with Eritrea asking the U.N. for help in the matter, the U.S. needs to step back and assess both sides of the matter in order to aid in the peaceful resolution of the conflict between the two countries.
"SOMALIA CONFERENCE - Facts, Figures and Major Problems of Somalia." Facts, Figures and Major Problems of Somalia. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014.
Like most African countries, Somalia is a developing country, and the statistics of the country and its demographics really show it. Somalia’s population is roughly ten million, and the median age is seventeen years and their life expectancy is around fifty five. Approximately one third of the population lives in urban areas, with a 3.8% rate of change. Only 29% of the Somali population have water that is safe to drink. The country is mostly Islamic and 85% of the population are Somali. They sit on the East coast of Africa on the Indian Ocean, which gives them easy access to the passing cargo ships (muni).
For centuries, Somalia culture was different from other countries in Africa for the fact that it was not made up of a collection of tribes, but of homogeneous people. To survive, in an ever changing culture Somalis have come to rely on the supporting bond of clanship (CBC Archives, n.d). Separate federations of clans struggling for power and control are the main ingredient for instability and conflict within Somalia. The Somali clans continued fighting has dragged their country already struggling from famine and disease, to undue bloodshed. Clans that were created to offer a sense of social security and belonging for its millions of members are killing their own country. Since 1991, over 400,000 people have died from the civil war in Somalia. Another 600,000 people have died from diseases and starvation. Not everyone feel that Somalia clans are all negative, as such is viewed from the international world. According to Raquia Omar, a prominent Somali, and former head of the Human Rights Group, Africa Watch, “We are wrong to see clans as only negative.” Clans provide a strong band of people that have the same interest and history. They speak the same language and practice th...
The idea of ‘state collapse’ within Somalia, as well as the need for intervention, relies upon the idea that Somalia itself was at some point a functioning ‘state’. Somalia was a country that had experienced excessive amounts of political v...
Cold War influence in the country of Somalia is perhaps one of the most noted examples in this book; it is an example of how the legacy of the Cold War has left “only suffering and disorder,” according to Parenti (80). As Somalia experienced a military coup in 1969, Mohammad Said Barre came into power. Said Barre coveted the region of Ogaden and when Ethiopia was struck with the Saheliam drought he saw this as his chance to seize Ogaden. At the same time, Cold War tensions over the Horn of Africa were intensifying. The Soviet Union, seeking to create pro-soviet alliances in Africa gave assistance to Ethiopia and Somalia. Said Barre, infuriated by Soviet Union’s aid, called for the assistance of the United States; with U.S. aid Somalia was able to purchase weapons from other areas of the
...s. United Nations Department of Public Information, 21 Mar. 2007. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. .
...lance of trade and consistent revenue. The UN can help these countries build their economies if they can improve their trade. The UN can do all of this by implementing a single policy. The policy that will have to be passed is a distribution policy. If this policy is passed, the money generated from trade could be used in projects for the future and help these countries develop as a whole. This distribution policy will take time to pass due to other actors, but these actors are not a big issue. This distribution policy benefits the economies of developing countries such as Somalia. It helps the countries develop a balance of trade and generate revenue. Food will become more available to the Somalia people, and less people will be affected. Everyone in Somalia will have the opportunity to provide food for themselves and others. The hunger in Somalia will cease.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced, “Somalia's drought and refugee crisis is the most severe humanitarian emergency in the world, (UNHCR, 2011). Although estimates vary, about 800,000 people have left Somalia seeking asylum. Most now reside in refugee camps in bordering Kenya and Ethiopia. Many trek for days with little or food to seek safety and assistance in refugee camps only to find conditions that are no better. Host nations and humanitarian organizations cannot support the vast number of refugees that have already crossed the border and thousands more arrive every day. Maintenance of the current course of action is not the answer. Besides conjuring more international assistance and humanitarian aid, it is vital that more permanent solutions are pursued.
Somalia coastline was one of the best strategic gifts in the world. In the past there was 14 attempts to reconstruct the state’s authority. The country constantly was hit by plague clan based groups, terrorist pledging allegiance, regional proxy wars, Islamic extremists, kidnappings, famine, and pirates. Somalia was torn apart by too much conflict for much of its 48 independent years. Somalia would of been a good power inside their region but in reality is was took over by lootings, famine, bomb attacks, wars, and piracy. The land of Somalia people was that of inhospitable and arid and has been for thousands of years. Warlords came in and destroyed the government and cut off large sections of the capital.
UN. Department of Public Information (1995). United Nations peace-keeping: Information notes. Update, December 1994. Retrieved from UN website: http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unikom/background.html