Understanding the Conflict in Somalia
In December, after more than 15 years of civil strife in Somalia, fighting between Somali Islamists and interim government forces allied with the Ethiopian army escalated into a state of war. Islamists retreated, with the result that the interim government was able to take back the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which had not had a viable government since 1991.
The Somali interim government now faces multiple challenges: from the Islamists, from rival clan militias; and from criminal gangs who are taking advantage of the insecure situation to reap their own benefits.
For America's part, since the 1993 "Black Hawk Down" incident in which Somali warlords killed 18 U.S. Army Rangers and special forces, the U.S. had not been involved militarily in Somalia--until January 2007, when American forces dropped bombs on the fleeing Islamists. American officials said the Islamists were sheltering Al Qaeda terrorists who had been involved in the 1998 East African embassy bombings.
Minnesota is home to this country's largest population of Somali residents, most of whom are refugees fleeing this civil strife.
What are the causes and consequences of the Somali conflict, and how will it affect us here in Minnesota?
Professor Abdi Samatar spoke to a packed Headliners crowd in this February 2007 presentation; you can hear his analysis by downloading the audio. (mp3 file)