Somalia: Living in the Storm of Conflict
Abstract
Since 1991, the Somali people have existed without a functioning government. Poverty, clan clashes, and western influences have left Somalia lifeless and without direction. In 2006, prominent Somali Muslim men sought to bring order and peace to their people. Their wartime experience in Afghanistan and adoption of a Taliban-style Islam gave them a foundation for bringing order to their fellow Somalis. These men would emerge from the ashes of an Ethiopia encroachment into Somalia, one that would last until December 2008, and form a group calling itself Al-Shabaab or the Mujahidin Youth Movement (MYM). This paper which is based on open source information from reporting out of Somalia attempts to identify the major clans, clan culture, and dynamics of Somali centers of power. More importantly, this paper uses antidotal violence numbers from the National Counter-terrorism center to suggest whether the Somali government is making or not making progress in establishing peace.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA542734
Entities
People
- Eloy E. Cuevas
- Richard Lobban
Organizations
- Naval War College