A Note on Somalia ECON 3510 June 12, 2014

Some History: A Timeline 9000 BC: earliest recorded habitation (cave paintings) 3000 BC: domestication of the camel 800 BC- 400 AD: trade role with Phoenicia, Ancient Egypt, Crete, Greece, Roman Empire 700 AD Muslim conquest of region; – Mogadishu becomes the major Muslim capital in the region – Trade role continued – Tolerance with Ethiopia maintained Series of Empires in the region

1885 Berlin Conference: – Italy awarded the region; – begin attempts at control and colonization – Somalis resist fiercely 1925, Italians invade; bitter conflict, 1927 victory – British take “Somaliland” in north, after conflict; – French awarded Djibouti 1940: Italians conquer British Somaliland 1941: British defeat Italians – British “martial law” to 1945; : 10 year Trusteeship to Italy – Prosperity in the 1950s 1960 Independence

Problem Issues: – North-South divide; – Ogaden issue with Ethiopia – Somali territory in Kenya – Language difficulties (English. Italian. Somali dialects plus numerous scripts for Somali language) Cold War Complications: – Links with Russia and China

1968: Coup d’Etat; Siad Barre takes presidency – ”Supreme Revolutionary Council” – “Scientific Socialism” combining Marx and Islam; – Personality cult – Language reform

1977: Ogaden War with Ethiopia Somalia over-ran Ogaden desert USSR switched sides; Soviet, Cuban & N. Korean Assistance support Ethiopian re- capture of Ogaden; USA supported Somalia 1970 to 1990: serious economic problems Due to war and policy stupidities Barre lost any support;

1980s: civil conflict 1991:Barre overthrown; Somaliland declared Independence; 1993: UN Peacekeeping force established To support provision of humanitarian aid 1995“Black Hawk Down”, Battle of Mogadishu US and UN leave Somalia

1998: Puntland declared independence 2002: Southwestern Somaliland declared “autonomy” : Collapse of Centralized Governmental Authority : “Islamic Courts Union” or ICU takes control “Sharia law”…..

2008-June 2009: “Transitional Federal Parliament” TFP control: limited area shrinking to Mogadishu by Jan 2009: Ethiopian Army invades to support TFP African Union send peacekeepers (Ghana and Burundi) June 2009: TFP appears to be in desperation, with only weeks left to survive Shabab poised to take power? : Somalia essentially without a government

Insurgents Side: Islamic Courts Union Islamic Courts Union Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia al-ShabaabAlliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia al-Shabaab (meaning :Youth”) Ras Kamboni Brigades Jabhatul Islamiya Muaskar Anole Ras Kamboni Brigades Jabhatul Islamiya Muaskar Anole Alleged: Al-Qaeda and other foreign mujahideen Ogaden National Liberation Front Al-Qaedaforeign mujahideen Eritrea Transitional Federal Government Ethiopia Ethiopia African Union Puntland Galmudug Puntland Galmudug pro-Ethiopian warlords African Union Mission to Somalia UN United States Uganda Burundi KeUnited States Uganda Burundi Kenya

Basic Information on Somalia Note: Most information is not available for Somalia. Here is some of what is available. Population: 9.1 million (2012) Population Growth Rate:2.8 % per annum (Doubling every 25 years) Fertility Rate (2007)6.8 children per woman Maternal Mortality:1,400 per 100,000 live births African average: 900 Life Expectancy: 48 years (2007) Official Development Assistance (2005): $US million ODA per capita:$US 28.7 No. 1 on the “Failed States Index” for five years running

Economy during the Civil Chaos OK in the north (Somaliland) Continuing disruption in the south Continues clicking over; Informal economy completely; Current Dependence on Food Aid to prevent death from famine; Major cash infusions from ransoms and remittances

: famine in Somalia plus NE areas of Kenya and Ogaden region of Ethiopia – 3.5 million at risk; – El Shabab prohibited UN and other and providers to enter the stricken areas – Early warning signs for famine again present

Nutritional Situation February 2014,