User:CalUser777/The Politics and Economics of Somalian Warlords

Actions of Somalian Warlords and Responses by the Global Community
With a lack of a strong, unified central government, Somalian warlords have been able to consolidate power in the form of regional militias. These warlords have been the source of much misery in Somalia. The victims of such misery are overwhelmingly innocent civilians caught in the political and economic turmoil of their country. In response to such devastation, the world has responded in various forms. For example, the United Nations sent its peacekeeping troops to stabilize the deteriorating situation in Somalia; however, such forces were unable to stem the growing poverty and starvation. As a result, the United States provided its own response in 1992 when President George H.W. Bush deployed an American contingent to aid the starving Somali population and apprehend the villainous warlords and bring justice to the innocent Somali civilian populations.

In an event popularly known as “Black Hawk Down,” Task Force Ranger conducted an operation to capture Mohammed Farrah Aidid’s, the most powerful warlord in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu, lieutenants and officers. Though successful in their mission, Task Force Ranger experienced an extremely large and hostile resistance force, who outnumbered them by the thousands, by Aidid’s forces and local populations. As a result, Task Force Ranger sustained unexpected casualties, both in materiel resources and the lives of soldiers. The world watched in horror as the lifeless, naked bodies of American troops were dragged through the streets of Mogadishu. What was a humanitarian mission to save Somalian civilians and apprehend the criminal warlords behind such havoc soon became a horrific tragedy for the United States Military. To this day, Somalian warlords remain infamous for their culpability in the mass starvation of their people and the “Black Hawk Down” incident.

Political Effects
Warlords emerged in Somalia following the removal of President Siad Barre and the civil war that occured after.

In 1991, Somali President Siad Barre fled the country after rival groups took control of Mogadishu. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Barre had ruled as a dictator since 1969 following a military coup he had staged against the elected government. The UN reported that a civil war emerged following Barre’s removal from office, between “the faction supporting Interim President Ali Mahdi Mohamed and that supporting General Mohamed Farah Aidid.” According to The Atlantic, Ali Mahdi Mohamed eventually declared victory in the struggle, but by 1992 “an estimated 350,000 Somalis die of disease, starvation, or civil war.” This conflict, triggered by the flight of President Siad Barre, laid the foundation for warlords to emerge in a region lacking strong formal government.

Economic Effects
The Somali warlords have been at the helm of Somali politics since they acquired power. According to the Somali Peace Rally, “Since the collapse of the Somali state, Somali warlords have wilfully caused mass killings, serious suffering and inhuman treatment to unarmed civilian populations, destruction of social and physical fabric in Somalia, and the use of the Somali public and private properties for their personal interests.” Somali warlords have used their economic leverage in their respective territories to control the population and expand their financial coffers.

In addition, the Somali warlords have used their economic resources to battle the Somali government. Fearing the loss of their economic dominance in Somalia, warlords have used their economic leverage to hold the Somali government at bay. As seen in the previous example, these warlords have often used violence to subjugate the Somali people and use their economic power to combat the government’s attempts at legitimization. The Somali warlords continue to dominate Somali politics, especially in the capital city of Mogadishu, as they still hold much economic power over both the citizens and government of Somalia.