Somalia

The United States in Somalia “Operation Restore Hope” August – October 1992

Where is Somalia?

Brief History of Somalia • Post-World War II – Was a protectorate of Great Britain

• 1960 – Achieved independence

• 1970s – Military dictatorship • Under Mohamed Siad Barre

• 1980s – Somalia's strategic importance was diminished due to end of the Cold War – Government became even more totalitarian

Somali Civil War – 1991 • Results of the Somali Civil War – Barre is ousted from leadership – Disrupted agriculture, food & water distribution – Based on clan allegiances and competition for resources

Somali Civil War – 1991 • More Results – Famine – approx. 300,000 dead – UN Security Council authorized the limited peacekeeping operation • Completely disregarded by the warring factions

Warlords • The country was ruled by a number of warlords – A person with power who has military and civil control over a an area – Armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central government

• Alliance of warlords was formed in 1992 – Operated under the authority of Mohamed Farrah Aidid – Declared himself President of Somalia

United States Response • In December of 1992, President Bush ordered Operation Restore Hope – Primary mission of restoring order in Somalia

• President Bill Clinton took office in January 1993 and continued the Operation

The Home-Front • Many Somalis resented the international forces – Many took up arms and actively resisted the UN and US

• On June 5, 1993, one of the deadliest attacks on UN forces in Somalia occurred – 24 UN soldiers were killed in Mogadishu (controlled by Aidid)

The UN Responds • The next day, the UN issued Resolution 837 calling for the arrest and trial of those responsible for the ambush – US and UN began an attack on Aidid’s control – Aidid remained defiant, and the violence between Somalis and UN troops escalated

The Battle of Mogadishu • Fought on October 3 and 4, 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia • Operation was to capture top officials to Aidid

The Battle of Mogadishu • During the operation, two US Black Hawk helicopters were shot down – Some soldiers were trapped at the crash sites – A combined task force was sent to rescue the trapped soldiers

• Results – US Forces • 19 Killed • 84 Wounded

– Somali Forces • Est. 700+ Killed • Est. 1,500 Wounded

Fallout from Mogadishu

Fallout from Mogadishu • American Foreign Policy • Became a cautionary influence on US policy – When US considers sending soldiers into foreign crisis zones – “remember Somalia”

• Americans were repulsed at the images of soldiers' corpses being dragged through the streets

The End of International Involvement • Withdrawal – President Clinton called for a full withdrawal by March 1994. • Marines were completely removed from the area by 1995 – The UN also withdrew forces • Ended the UN effort to help a country in anarchy and civil war

The End of International Involvement • Results – Secretary of Defense Les Aspin resigned • Blamed for denying the US Army permission to use tanks – US politicians didn’t want tanks in Somalia • Thought it would look bad for “peacekeeping”

THE END