Conflict in Somalia
The African continent’s most impoverished country, Somalia has existed for less than half a century, but has spent much of that time at war or struggling to retain stability. Split between warlords and Islamic militants, the East African nation faces an uncertain future, with little sign that change is on the way.
Expand All Guide SectionsOrigins of the Conflict in Somalia
Although the country has struggled with stability for decades, it has been without a stable government since the overthrow of Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991.
Top Sites for the Origins of the Somali Conflict
The New York Times
looks at the death of Mohammed Siad Barre in 1995, four years after his 20-year dictatorship came to an end. The 1995 obituary looks back at the two decades of controversy, from 1969 until 1991.
The BBC’s Somalia Country Profile
provides the fragile history of the east African state since its formation in 1960, and the struggle between regional warlords and Islamic rebels who have taken over much of the country’s south region since Barre’s ousting.
The CIA World Factbook
has collected all relevant geographical, demographic and political information about Somalia, including its history and challenges now facing the government. It is updated on a regular basis.
The Somali Conflict Today
Thanks to a spike in piracy off the coast of Somalia in 2008, a renewed international fascination with the country’s overall well-being has taken shape, with no shortage of news resources tracking daily political, military and humanitarian events.
Top Sites for the Somali Conflict Today
AllAfrica
’s country page offers an aggregator of Somali-based headlines, including up-to-date reports about the stability of the country’s 14th government since the departure of Mohammed Siad Barre, and a future without an Ethiopian presence.
The PBS News Hour’s Somalia’s Struggle for Stability
is a comprehensive collection of reports covering the challenges that ultimately forced President Abdullahi Yusuf from office in December 2008. It also looks at the history of the current instability and its broader implications in the region.
The Guardian’s Somalia page
gathers the British newspaper’s coverage on the country, including reports analyzing how instability has allowed for a surge in piracy in the Gulf of Aden.
The Impact of the Conflict in Somalia
After decades of strife, the impact of Somalia’s instability has been far and wide, creating an enormous humanitarian, developmental and judicial challenge for the region to overcome.
Top Sites for the Impact of the Conflict in Somalia
Human Rights Watch
has reported on the obstacles facing Somalia in an effort to assure human rights, including calls to action and information about advocacy campaigns.
The Norwegian Council for Africa
provides a collection of aid and development organizations currently working toward providing stability and economic growth in Somalia.
The International Red Cross in Somalia
is a compilation of reports and articles about what the aid organization has called the continent’s worst humanitarian challenge, with more than 3 million of its citizens reliant on aid agencies to provide food and supplies.
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