Somalia ConflictSomalia Conflict

The Battle of The Battle of MogadishuMogadishu

Background Information:Background Information:In January 1991, the dictator of In January 1991, the dictator of

Somalia, Mohammed Siad Barre, Somalia, Mohammed Siad Barre, was overthrown by a coalition of was overthrown by a coalition of opposing clans, called the United opposing clans, called the United Somalia Congress. Somalia Congress.

After this revolution, the After this revolution, the coalition divided into two groups. coalition divided into two groups.

One was led by Ali Mahdi One was led by Ali Mahdi Muhammad, who became Muhammad, who became president; and the other, by president; and the other, by Mohammed Farah Aidid. Mohammed Farah Aidid.

FOUR OPPOSING GROUPS:FOUR OPPOSING GROUPS: The United Somali Congress, The United Somali Congress, Somali Salvation Democratic Somali Salvation Democratic Front Somali Patriotic Movement Front Somali Patriotic Movement and Somali Democratic and Somali Democratic Movement-Movement- All fought for All fought for controlcontrol

In June 1991, a ceasefire was In June 1991, a ceasefire was agreed to, but failed to hold.agreed to, but failed to hold.

A fifth group, the Somali A fifth group, the Somali National Movement, had National Movement, had already seceded from the already seceded from the northwest portion of Somalia northwest portion of Somalia in June. in June.

The SNM renamed it the The SNM renamed it the Somaliland RepublicSomaliland Republic, with its , with its leader Abdel-Rahman Ahmed leader Abdel-Rahman Ahmed Ali as president.Ali as president.

In September 1991, fighting In September 1991, fighting broke out in Mogadishu, broke out in Mogadishu, continued for months and continued for months and spread throughout the spread throughout the countrycountry

1 year- 20,000 killed/injured1 year- 20,000 killed/injuredFighting led to the destruction Fighting led to the destruction

of the agriculture of Somalia, of the agriculture of Somalia, which in turn led to starvation which in turn led to starvation in large parts of Somalia. in large parts of Somalia.

The international community The international community began to send food supplies began to send food supplies to halt the starvation, but to halt the starvation, but vast amounts of food were vast amounts of food were hijacked and brought to local hijacked and brought to local clan leaders, who routinely clan leaders, who routinely exchanged it with other exchanged it with other countries for weapons. countries for weapons.

CORRUPTION!CORRUPTION!

An estimated 80 percent of An estimated 80 percent of the food was stolen. the food was stolen.

These factors led to even These factors led to even more starvation:more starvation:Approx. 300,000 people Approx. 300,000 people died, and another 1.5 million died, and another 1.5 million people suffered, between people suffered, between 1991 and 1992. 1991 and 1992.

In July 1992, after a ceasefire In July 1992, after a ceasefire between the opposing clan between the opposing clan factions, the United Nations (UN) factions, the United Nations (UN) sent 50 military observers to sent 50 military observers to watch the distribution of the food.watch the distribution of the food.

President Bush initiated President Bush initiated humanitarian airlifts and such to humanitarian airlifts and such to help the rural areas of the help the rural areas of the countrycountry

Operation Gothic SerpentOperation Gothic Serpent October 3 1993, Task Force October 3 1993, Task Force

Ranger, a U.S. Special Ranger, a U.S. Special Operations Forces composed Operations Forces composed mainly of Rangers, Delta Force mainly of Rangers, Delta Force operators, and aviation support operators, and aviation support from the 160th Special from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (the Night Stalkers)(Airborne) (the Night Stalkers)……

attempted to capture attempted to capture Aidid's foreign minister, Aidid's foreign minister, Omar Salad Elmi and his Omar Salad Elmi and his top political advisor, top political advisor, Mohamed Hassan Awale. Mohamed Hassan Awale.

The plan was to fast rope from The plan was to fast rope from hovering MH-60 Black Hawk hovering MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, capture the targets, helicopters, capture the targets, and load them onto a ground and load them onto a ground convoy for transport back to the convoy for transport back to the U.S. compound. Four Ranger U.S. compound. Four Ranger chalks, also inserted by chalks, also inserted by helicopter, were to provide a helicopter, were to provide a secure square perimeter on the secure square perimeter on the four corners of the operation's four corners of the operation's target building.target building.

The ground extraction convoy The ground extraction convoy was supposed to reach the was supposed to reach the captive targets a few minutes captive targets a few minutes after the beginning of the after the beginning of the operation. However, it ran into operation. However, it ran into delays. delays.

Somali citizens and local Somali citizens and local militia formed barricades militia formed barricades along the streets of along the streets of Mogadishu with rocks and Mogadishu with rocks and burning tires, blocking the burning tires, blocking the convoy from reaching the convoy from reaching the Rangers and their captives. A Rangers and their captives. A five-ton truck, part of the five-ton truck, part of the convoy, was struck by a convoy, was struck by a rocket-propelled grenaderocket-propelled grenade

An Army Ranger was injuredAn Army Ranger was injuredAnother fell too fast from the Another fell too fast from the

Blackhawk helicopterBlackhawk helicopterBlack Hawk was shot down by a Black Hawk was shot down by a

rocket propelled grenade.rocket propelled grenade.Later in the mission another Later in the mission another

Black Hawk was shot down Black Hawk was shot down waiting for instructionwaiting for instruction

About 90 Rangers found About 90 Rangers found themselves trapped for the night themselves trapped for the night in the middle of the streets.in the middle of the streets.

WHAT DOES ALL OF WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN?THIS MEAN?

The ‘Battle of Mogadishu'- a The ‘Battle of Mogadishu'- a mission that turned into a mission that turned into a deadly 17 hours - is generally deadly 17 hours - is generally forgotten by most Americans. forgotten by most Americans. But it continues to cast a long But it continues to cast a long shadow on US military shadow on US military thinking and decision making thinking and decision making about about humanitarian/peacekeeping humanitarian/peacekeeping operations. operations.

Its legacy, say many Its legacy, say many experts, was a continuing experts, was a continuing U.S. reluctance to be drawn U.S. reluctance to be drawn into other trouble spots into other trouble spots such as Bosnia, Rwanda and such as Bosnia, Rwanda and Haiti during the 1990s. Haiti during the 1990s.

Rwandan Genocide Rwandan Genocide

The The Rwandan GenocideRwandan Genocide was was the 1994 mass extermination of the 1994 mass extermination of hundreds of thousands of ethnic hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda. Rwanda.

This genocide was mostly This genocide was mostly carried out by two extremist carried out by two extremist Hutu militia groups, the Hutu militia groups, the Interahamwe and the Interahamwe and the Impuzamugambi, during a Impuzamugambi, during a period of about 100 days from period of about 100 days from April 6 through mid-July 1994. April 6 through mid-July 1994.

Over 500,000 Tutsis and Over 500,000 Tutsis and thousands of moderate thousands of moderate Hutus died in the genocide, Hutus died in the genocide, with some reports with some reports estimating the number of estimating the number of victims to be between victims to be between 800,000 and 1,000,000.800,000 and 1,000,000.

In 1959, violence between the Tutsi and Hutu erupted. Hutus overthrew Tutsi rule

declared an independent republic and elected the first Hutu president, Greg wa Kayabanda. Mass killings of Tutsis occurred during the transition to Hutu rule, hinting at things to come.

Inciting the Genocide:Inciting the Genocide:Rwandan President Habyarimana Rwandan President Habyarimana

& Burundian President are killed & Burundian President are killed when Habyarimana's plane is when Habyarimana's plane is shot down near Kigali Airport. shot down near Kigali Airport.

Hutu extremists, suspecting that Hutu extremists, suspecting that the Rwandan president is finally the Rwandan president is finally about to implement the Arusha about to implement the Arusha Peace Accords, are believed to be Peace Accords, are believed to be behind the attack. behind the attack.

The killings begin The killings begin that night… that night…

In the wake of the Rwandan In the wake of the Rwandan Genocide, the United Nations Genocide, the United Nations and the international and the international community in general drew community in general drew severe criticism for its inaction. severe criticism for its inaction.

Despite international news Despite international news media coverage of the violence media coverage of the violence as it unfolded, most countries, as it unfolded, most countries, including France, Belgium, and including France, Belgium, and the United States, declined to the United States, declined to intervene or speak out against intervene or speak out against the massacres.the massacres.

Canada continued to lead the Canada continued to lead the UN peacekeeping force in UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda, United Nations Rwanda, United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR). However, the UN (UNAMIR). However, the UN did not authorize UNAMIR to did not authorize UNAMIR to intervene or use force to intervene or use force to prevent or halt the killing.prevent or halt the killing.

Classification?Classification?

Ethnic classification on ID Ethnic classification on ID Cards in Rwanda instituted by Cards in Rwanda instituted by the Belgian colonial the Belgian colonial government and retained after government and retained after independence, was central in independence, was central in shaping, defining and shaping, defining and perpetuating ethnic identity. perpetuating ethnic identity.

Once the 1994 genocide in Once the 1994 genocide in Rwanda began, an ID card with Rwanda began, an ID card with the designation "Tutsi" spelled a the designation "Tutsi" spelled a death sentence at any roadblock.death sentence at any roadblock.

No other factor was more No other factor was more significant in facilitating the significant in facilitating the speed and magnitude of the 100 speed and magnitude of the 100 days of mass killing in Rwanda. days of mass killing in Rwanda.

In order to strengthen their control, the Belgians colonists divided Rwanda’s unified

population into three distinct groups: Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa.

In order to do this, the colonists created a strict system of racial classification.

Both the Belgians and the Germans, influenced by racist ideas, thought that the Tutsi

were a superior group because they were more “white” looking.

The description is that Tutsis The description is that Tutsis tend to be taller, with relatively tend to be taller, with relatively thin or "lanky" frames, and have thin or "lanky" frames, and have pointed noses and more pointed noses and more "European" facial features and "European" facial features and sometimes lighter skin; sometimes lighter skin;

Hutus are more average in Hutus are more average in height and stocky in body frame. height and stocky in body frame.

Another difference is supposed Another difference is supposed to be that Tutsis have dark oral to be that Tutsis have dark oral mucosa (gums) while Hutu have mucosa (gums) while Hutu have lighter colored oral mucosa.lighter colored oral mucosa.

While many do fit the While many do fit the description, there are Hutu description, there are Hutu who slightly look like Tutsi, who slightly look like Tutsi, Tutsi who look like Hutu, Tutsi who look like Hutu, but this could be due to but this could be due to intermarriages and there intermarriages and there are many Rwandans and are many Rwandans and Burundians don't really fit Burundians don't really fit either descriptioneither description

The Hutus, who make up about 85% of Rwanda’s population, were denied:

higher educationland ownership positions in government. By the 1950s, their resentment had grown.

The genocide ended when a The genocide ended when a Tutsi-dominated expatriate Tutsi-dominated expatriate rebel movement known as rebel movement known as the Rwandan Patriotic Front, the Rwandan Patriotic Front, led by Paul Kagame, led by Paul Kagame, overthrew the Hutu overthrew the Hutu government and seized government and seized power.power.

Fearing reprisals, hundreds of Fearing reprisals, hundreds of thousands of Hutu and other thousands of Hutu and other refugees fled into eastern refugees fled into eastern Zaire (now the Democratic Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Ethnic Republic of the Congo). Ethnic hatreds that fueled the hatreds that fueled the Rwandan Genocide quickly Rwandan Genocide quickly spilled over into Congo, spilled over into Congo, fueling the First and Second fueling the First and Second Congo Wars. Congo Wars.

Rivalry between Hutu and Rivalry between Hutu and Tutsi tribal factions is also Tutsi tribal factions is also a major factor in the a major factor in the Burundi Civil War.Burundi Civil War.