Armed conflict in the world today: a country by country review
Statement: The situation in Somalia is a civil war. Background
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SOMALIAStatement: The situation in Somalia is a civil war. Background: The conflict is as much a product of the cold war as of colonialism. Due to its strategic location near the oil fields of the Middle East, both the US and Russia (then the USSR) formed military alliances with governments in the Horn of Africa, and poured weapons into the region. Rebels overthrew Somalia’s dictator, Mohamed Siad Barre, in January of 1991 and quickly began fighting among themselves. Subsequently, factions began vying for control of the country, causing political and economic chaos that left the people at the mercy of armed gangs and famine. The imminent danger of starvation of about one-and-a-half-million people led the US Marines and UN peacekeepers to attempt to restore order and facilitate food distribution in December 1992. The Marines left in 1993 after about 24 soldiers were killed in battles with the forces of Mohammad Farah Aidid. The UN forces were withdrawn in March 1995 despite continuing fighting between rival militias. Current Situation: Somalia remains with no national government and no constitution, and fighting rages between rival clans despite 16 peace initiatives. No group has sufficient power to maintain a government. In December 1997, an agreement was signed by several of the rival factions, including Mohammed Farah Aidid’s United Somali Congress/Somali National Alliance and Ali Mahdi Mohammed’s Somali National Salvation Council. Called the Cairo Declaration, the agreement would establish a cease-fire and an interim government for a three-year transition period that could be extended an additional two years with the approval of the 189-member Constituent Assembly. The government would be led by a thirteen-member Presidential Executive Council, including a president, a prime minister and a speaker of parliament. Subsequently, national elections would be held. Provisions for a cessation of military operations and the reopening of Mogadishu’s airport and sea port were to have immediate effect. In January 1998, it was announced that a national reconciliation conference would be held in Baidoa on February 15, 1998. However, the conference was postponed several times and was rescheduled for 1999. In July 1998, Hussein Aideed, Ali Mahdi and Osman Hassan Ali (“Atto”) signed a peace agreement to form a joint administration of Mogadishu to start in August. Atto immediately boycotted it. In December 1999, five of the main factions reached a five-point agreement under which an administration is to be set up for southern Somalia. However, Muse Sidi Yalahow, who controls territory in the area, has refused to participate. On February 23, 1999, the Rahanwein Resistance Army, yet another faction, announced that Aidid’s faction had killed 60 civilians in Baidoa and Daynunay that week. Also in February 2000, Djibouti indicated that it was leading a new peace initiative to be led by politicians, intellectuals, elders and women’s groups. The International Committee of the Red Cross left Somalia in 1998 after eight employees and two pilots were kidnapped. In late 1998, two UN planes were hit by militia forces. In September 1999, after the murder of one of its staff by bandits, the UN suspended operations in the south. Due to the continued fighting, Kenya has closed its border with Somalia. Mohammed Ibrahim Egal, president of Somaliland (an area in the north-west that declared independence in 1991) remains opposed to reintegrating into Somalia. In December 1999, the Oromo Liberation Front, an Ethiopian rebel group, began to withdraw after an October agreement between Hussein Aidid and the Ethiopian government. In exchange, Ethiopian troops will also be withdrawn. The agreement also calls for joint cooperation in fighting Al Itihad, previously called the Western Somali Liberation Front (WSLF), which wants to unite the Ogaden region in Ethiopia with Somalia. UN Action: UNITAF; UNOSOM I (4/92-3/93); UNOSOM II (3/93-3/95). SC Res 954 (11/4/94). SC Res 953 (11/1/94). SC Res 946 (9/30/94). SC Res 923 (5/31/94). SC Res 897 (2/4/94). SC Res 886 (11/18/94). SC Res 885 (11/16/93). SC Res 878 (10/29/93). SC Res 865 (9/22/93). SC Res 837 (6/6/93). SC Res 814 (3/26/93). SC Res 794 (12/3/92). SC Res 775 (8/28/92). SC Res 767 (7/27/92). SC Res 751 (4/24/92). SC Res 746 (3/17/92). SC Res 733 (1/23/92).
GA Res 53/1 M (12/8/98). GA Res 52/169L (12/16/97). GA Res 48/201 (12/21/93). GA Res 48/146 (12/20/93). GA Res 47/167 (12/18/92). GA Res 47/160 (12/18/92). GA Res 47/107 (12/16/92). GA Res 46/176 (12/19/91). GA Res 45/229 (12/21/90). GA Res 44/178 (12/19/89). GA Res 43/206 (12/20/88).
Comm Res 1998/59. Comm Res 1997/47. Comm Res 1996/57. Comm Res 1995/56. Comm Res 1994/60. Comm Res 1993/86. Sub-Comm Res 1992/11. Sub-Comm Res 1991/29. Rpt S-G (S/1997/715). Rpt S-G (S/1997/135). Rpt S-G (S/1994/1166). Rpt S-G (S/1994/977). Further Rpt S-G (S/1994/839). Further Rpt S-G (S/1994/614). Further Rpt S-G (S/1994/12). Further Rpt S-G (S/26738). Rpt S-G (S/26351). Further Rpt S-G (S/26317). Rpt S-G (S/26022). Further Rpt S-G (S/25354 & Add.1,2). Rpt S-G (A/47/553). Rpt S-G (S/23829, Add.1&2). Rpt S-G (S/24343). Rpt S-G (S/24480). Rpt S-G (S/23445). Rpt S-G (S/23693). Rpt S-G (A/46/457). Reports by the Independent Experts: J. Kozonguizi: E/CN.4/1994/77 & Add.1 Mohamed Charif: E/CN.4/1996/14 & Add.1. Mona Rishmawi: E/CN.4/1997/88; E/CN.4/1998/96; E/CN.4/1999/103 & Add.1; E/CN.4/2000/110 & Corr.1. Reports by the Special Rapporteur on Torture: P. Kooijmans: E/CN.4/1990/17; E/CN.4/1991/17. Reports of the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Execution: S. Amos Wako: E/CN.4/1990/22; E/CN.4/1991/36. Bacre Waly N’diaye: E/CN.4/1993/46; E/CN.4/1994/7; E/CN.4/1995/61; E/CN.4/1997/60 & Add.1.
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