Last modification: 25/02/09
 -  civil war - Ethiopia - Islamism
 
Somalia: a failed state
somalia_m.jpg
Somalia's 17-year-old civil war has caused more than 300,000 deaths. It has also exacerbated lawlessness on the high seas, with Somali pirates operating virtually unchecked in international waters.
Somalia has been in a state of political, economic and social turmoil since the collapse of the Siad Barre government in 1991. A number of Islamist groups have sprung up over the course of 17 years, grouping together under the banner of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). The union rivals the fractious interim government of Somalia, itself comprised of former warlords who quarrel constantly. Considered a terror threat by Washington, the Islamists enjoy some support among Somalis. Diplomats warn that extremists, including representatives of Al Qaeda, are active in the country. Fearing an expansion of Islamic fundamentalism in the horn of Africa, the Ethiopian army came to the rescue of the embattled Somali government last year, helping it oust an Islamist militia. In March, 2007, the African Union also sent in troops to help restore peace and order. New president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed wants to form a national unity government to try and finally bring peace to his country, but his arrival in Mogadishu on Feb. 24 provoked further fighting that left dozens dead.

Related links

Related Content
Close