The Effect of Piracy on Somalia as a Failed State
Abstract
General Situation: There are approximately 3,000 Shabaab fighters in Somalia. In part, young Somali men join Shabaab to find work. Shabaab established a shadow government of administrations to govern the provinces they control. A land-based approach will provide economic stability and security for Somalia needed to eradicate piracy. If the U.S. were involved in another operation in Somalia to eradicate pirate bases, the international community must provide security and economic stability via a land-based approach. Problem: If the U.S. were involved in another operation in Somalia to eradicate pirate bases, Somalia's geography, transportation, and political conditions present challenges. The country suffered from drought in the 1990's, which made peacekeeping forces depend 'on organic supplies. The aid supplies and re-supplies needed to travel 24 hours by air or several weeks by sea. Since 1993, widespread civil unrest made norm~1 road or runway maintenance impossible, which made mobility problematic for peacekeeping operations. In addition, there was no .functional telephone system in 1992, rendering communication a consistent problem. The political situation was plagued with civil war that was centered on 14 clans who fought for control of their own territory. If the US sent the Marines and Department of State teams to aid Somalia's recovery, they need to rebuild Somalia's government, infrastructure such as roads and communications in a society wrought with civil unrest and harsh climatology. These types of CMOs are conducted by the US Marines in Afghanistan. If the United States were asked by the Somali government to conduct CMO in Somalia, the U.S. must understand the Significant challenges of Somalia's geography, transportation, and political conditions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA600773
Entities
People
- Angela C. Lechowick
Organizations
- Marine Corps University