1. Somalia: Conflict and Famine through the eyes of MSF
Payton Bailey, Nina Burges, and Morgan Mumford

2. overview
Where is Somalia?
Pre-conflict
Conflict
Aftermath

4. Somalia before 1991
1949- Somalia is placed under Italian control as a United Nations Territory
Originally a pastoral society (nomadic)1
1960- Somalia gains independence
1. "Peacemaking in Somalia: A Background Brief."

5. Siad Barre
1969- Mohamed Siad Barre shifts the power and creates a one-party system—Revolutionary Socialist Party- desires to transition to a modern socialist state1
Secret Police Force- National Security Service gave Barre his political power
Was backed first by the Soviet Union, then by the United States

6. Territorial Conflicts and Tensions
In 1977, Siad Barre's army invaded the Ogaden in Ethiopia1
The United States sent economic and military aid to Somalia
Ethiopia defeated Somalia in the war from , causing problems for Siad Barre 
Members of the Isaaq clan organized the Somali National Movement (SNM) in 1981 in opposition to Barre's government.
1989, the United Somali Congress (USC), declared war on the government

7. Territorial conflicts and tensions

8. tensions continued
1990- The USC, SPF, and SNM joined forces against Mohammed Siad Barre
Barre lost support from the intellectuals of the Manifesto group
He was asked to step down, but refused
1991-USC forces under the command of Gen Mohammed Farah Aidid entered the city of Mogadishu, forcing Barre to flee to Gedo, leaving Somalia in a state of anarchy 

9. MSF Involvement before 1991
Before the Civil War of , in 1990 all United Nations and humanitarian organizations evacuated Somalia because of the fighting
In 1991, MSF is the only team that responded to the issues in Mogadishu
This made MSF often one of the only sources of media

10. Civil War and Famine

11. Overview 1991-present Three hundred thousand2
Hospitals hit, MSF, ICRC and other workers wounded, killed
1. digfer, benadir hospitals
2 Somalia: Civil War, Intervention, and Withdrawal, Refnet.org

12. Major Players USC-SNA USC-SSA Military wing Led by General Farah Aidid
Lead by President Madhi
Moderate wing
Divided by CLANS
Over who controlled the governments

13. International intervention
Humanitarian assistance
UNOSOM I (1992)3
UNITAF
UNOSOM II (1993)
1. Combined with reports on massive aid diversion, Used to rationalize UN military intervention
2. UNOSOM 1 meant to protect UN aid convoys and humanitarian workers from looters as they travel to distribution centers, also to monitor Mogadishu ceasefire declared between Aideed & Madhi
3. UNITAF coordinates with UNOSOM I, UNITAF for monitoring humanitarian aid centres
4. UNOSOM II
4. International intervention by non African countries makes Somalians resentful and U.S. becomes unpopular because of actions which resulted in the deaths of women and children
3 Resolution 751, un.org

14. St. Valentine's Day massacre The Economist (UK), 1992
Famine
"Many make do with one meal every two days. Over half of the children are malnourished." --
St. Valentine's Day massacre The Economist (UK), 1992

15. Famine Caused by drought affecting entire Horn of Africa3
Famine spreads to Mogadishu because of disruption caused by the war4
Merka Survey--1992
Actual Survey by Serge Manacourt, Bridgette Doppler, Francois Enten
International response
1. Drought caused by lack of rainfall and loss of grazing pasture killed cattle,
2. Initially apprehensive to in depth investigation but believed that it would help in garnering international intervention
3. Preparatory survey by Patrick Vial through eyes of ICRC, displaced people, sheiks and elders, Admin Authorities
a. Women and children suffering
b. people drink water from river, survive with wild fruits, small green bananas
c. Needs: feeding centers
4. Serge Manacourt, Bridgette Doppler, Francois Enten conducted in Merka, Qorioley and Bulo Marer and Golweyn
a. under five mortality rate 86/1000/day and 241/1000/ per day
b. 90% of children under five malnourished, 75% severely
c. residents: 68% and 43%
5. Not much international response, media sluggish, MSF, ICRC launch aid campaign targeting UN, general public
extrapolated by senior UN officials
3 Somalia Drought May 1987 UNDRO Information Reports 1-3 UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs
4 No Mercy in Mogadishu: The Human Cost of Conflict and the Struggle for Relief Africa Watch Physicians for Human Rights

16. IsaaQ Genocide 1988: Barre crushes insurgency in Hargeisia, Burao5
Indeterminate data on casualties6
2014 Investigation
ISAAQ from Somaliland, Arabic descent
Purportedly carried out by members of Ogadeni clan because of refugees from Ethio-Somali war
2. Forces men, women and children to the outskirts of town and shot
3. Since being independent- economically prosperous, democratic. Not internationally recognized
3. Investigation U.S. Center for Justice and Accountability lasting for 3 years to examine skeletons
5 Somalia: Combat Genocide Association
6Investigating Genocide in Somaliland, James Reinl

17. MSF--Armed Guards
Osman Ato, businessman linked to Habr Gedir clan of General Aidid
Stephen Smith, French Journalist for Liberation, French Daily newspaper
MSF View
1. Otto provide MSF with housing, find work.. Protect nutritional aid programmes (MSF Belgium)
     a. Mogadishu (France), Kismayo (Belgians)
2. Causing trouble because guards provided by him were refusing wounded from the wrong side. MSF paid $5000/two months to Ato
3. Criticized by international press for using armed guards
4. Necessary to keep MSF in the region and help others
5. Team looted by armed guards, because pay had been reduced

18. Current somalia Population: 1991= 14.3 mil 2017= 10.8 mil
14 attempts of new government
President –Mohamed Abduhalli Mohamed
Farmajo 
Former Prime Minister (2012)
Recently elected by MPS
Radio is dominant medium

19. What About now? MSF and ICRC are currently present in Somalia
MSF has recently re-entered this area in 2017
Reasoning?
Armed Conflict
Endemic/Epidemics
Health Care Exclusion

20. Problems for Civilians
Famine – ICRC 
1 million people are internally displaced
Refugees are fleeing to Kenya
Dadaab – 277,000 people 
Refugees are being forced back to Somalia

21. Why are civilians Fleeing?
Al- Shabaab
Mogadishu bomb explosion -- 10/14/17
US intervention in the area 
Somalian government and
    AU planning militant attack 

22. Citations
Ingiriis, Mohamed Haji "How Somalia Works: Mimicry and the Making of Mohamed Siad Barre’s Regime in Mogadishu." Africa Today 63, no. 1: Political Science Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed October 30, 2017).
Girardet, E., and P. Menzel "A forgotten face of war." U.S. News & World Report 112, no. 17: 38. Military & Government Collection, EBSCOhost (accessed October 30, 2017).
Antal, John F. and Robert L. Dunaway "Peacemaking in Somalia: A Background Brief." Marine Corps Gazette (Pre-1994) 77 (2): (accessed October 30, 2017).
"Somalia." Human Rights Watch. January 12, Accessed November 06, 2017.
"Mogadishu attack emergency response." International Committee of the Red Cross. October 27, Accessed November 06,
"Somalia." MSF USA. October 17, Accessed November 06,
Mohamed, Hamza. "Why is Mogadishu still a frequent target for attacks?" News | Al Jazeera. October 22, Accessed November 06,

23. Citations
Laurence Binet. Somalia : Civil War, Famine Alert and UN “Military-Humanitarian” Intervention France: Medicines Sans Frontieres, September 2013.
Prunier, Gérard. Somalia: Civil War, Intervention, and Withdrawal UNHCR, July Accessed November
United Nations Security Council Resolutions, Resolution 751, Establishment of a UN Intervention in Somalia. In UN Information System on Peacekeeping Missions. Available at (last accessed November 6,
United Nations Disaster Relief Organization. Somalia Drought May 1987 UNDRO Information Reports 1-3. UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs, May 5, Accessed November 6,
Physicians for Human Rights. No Mercy in Mogadishu: The Human Cost of the Conflict & the Struggle for Relief. New York: Africa Watch, March 26, 1992.
Reinl, James. “Investigating Genocide in Somaliland,” Feature: US and Canada, Al-Jazeera, last modified February Accessed November 6, html
“Somalia: ” Genocides—The Last 50 years, Combat Genocide Association. Accessed November 6,

24. Images Courtesy of
“Somalis waiting for wheat”, newworldencyclopedia.com
“General Aideed”, aideed.com
“President Ali Madhi Muhamad”, alchetron.com
“Map of Somalia” MSF Speaking Out
“Map of Somalia-Ogaden Line” songs-an-effective-weapon-in-the-1977-ethio-somali-ogaden-war/
“MSF in Somalia” region/somalia. 
“2017 Terrorist attacks in Somalia.” attacks html.