Trump’s big bill, Gaza talks Somalia’s unfinished war

BRIEF HISTORY Somalia’s modern conflict began in 1991, when President Siad Barre was deposed, collapsing the central government and plunging the country into civil war. Clan-based militias seized territory, fighting for dominance amid famine and chaos. In 1992, a U.S.-led UN mission aimed to deliver humanitarian aid, but this escalated into combat. The 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, in which 18 American soldiers were killed, symbolized the mission’s failure. Western troops withdrew, and Somalia remained stateless.

The early 2000s saw a brief return of stability under the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), but its rise triggered a 2006 Ethiopian invasion backed by the U.S. The resulting power vacuum gave rise to Al-Shabaab, an extremist group that now controls much of southern Somalian countryside. Though AU forces pushed the group from cities, Al-Shabaab continues lethal attacks and maintains a parallel governance system, often more effective than Somalia’s own institutions.

Over the last five years, conflict has sharpened. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched a large-scale offensive in 2022, combining federal troops and clan militias against Al-Shabaab. While some rural territory was reclaimed, insurgents remain deeply embedded. In response, Al-Shabaab intensified attacks on civilians, aid workers, and infrastructure using IEDs, assassinations, and suicide bombings. More than 1.5 million people were displaced in 2023, and over 4 million now face acute food insecurity. INTERNAL ISSUES

Inter-clan violence is also worsening. A 2023 ACAPS report shows that Somalia’s conflict is increasingly fragmented along clan lines. Fighting in Las Anod between Somaliland forces and the Dhulbahante clan displaced over 200,000 people and left hundreds dead. Elsewhere, clan disputes over land and power-sharing arrangements in Galmudug, Hiraan, and Lower Shabelle have led to mass displacements, disrupted aid access, and hampered anti-Al-Shabaab efforts.

Despite international support, Somalia’s state-building remains fragile. ATMIS began drawing down troops in 2023, and was replaced by the new AU mission, AUSSOM. However, AUSSOM has also faced its fair share of criticism due to corruption and abuse of power allegations. The Somali government, though gaining legitimacy, remains under-resourced, fragmented, and often reliant on external partners. Furthermore, the Somalian government and AUSSOM lack a comprehensive anti-terrorism strategy that goes beyond battlefield operations. The judiciary is weak, and military courts continue to handle civilian cases. Journalists face harassment, women and girls suffer from high rates of gender-based violence, and laws protecting human rights remain stalled. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis deepens. Drought, floods, and blocked supply routes have created extreme conditions. Al-Shabaab’s siege tactics limit food access in government-held areas. In July 2023, Médecins Sans Frontières withdrew from Las Anod due to attacks on clinics and staff. Mental health services are nearly absent, and the trauma of prolonged war is untreated. ITS COMPLICATED