Somalia's Current Conflict
Beginning in 1988, Somalia endured widespread internal conflict between warring factions. There is no national government in Somalia. While parts of the north are relatively peaceful, including much of the self-declared "Republic of Somaliland," inter-clan and inter-factional fighting flares up daily with little warning, and kidnapping, murder and other threats to foreigners can occur unpredictably in many regions. The Somali Republic gained independence on July 1, 1960. Somalia was formed by the union of British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland, while French Somaliland became Djibouti. A socialist state was established following a coup led by Major General Muhammad Siad Barre. Rebel forces ousted the Barre regime in 1991, but turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy ensued.
Somalia has not had a stable central government ever since the tyrant Mohamed Siad Barre fled in 1991. Continuous conflict ensued between factions through out the country, resulting in the hunger, slaughter, and displacement of thousands of Somalis. These dire circumstances forced the United Nations to put forth a military presence in 1992. In the same year, the United States joined with other nations in attempting to establish peacekeeping efforts throughout the country in order to soothe the aggressive and savage environment. Unfortunately, the peacekeeping efforts were only successful in ending the mass starvation throughout the country. The fragility and instability of the country’s security situation remained at its brink.
The warlords and factional groups continued to pursue the internal conflict in the 1990’s in an effort to take over the country. As in the past few years, no national government was established. With the lack of a stable government, the UN failed to continue its peacekeeping efforts, and the country’s dire circumstances continued to dwindle. Transition governments formed in 2000, and then later in 2005, only to soon lose power again. Somaliland and Puntland, two regions of the north, formed semi-autonomous governments in 2005. These governments are not internally recognized.
Somalia's Use of Child Soldiers
The use of child soldiers in Somalia is widespread. In the ongoing conflict, children are used for a wide variety of reasons. It is estimated that over 200,000 Somali children have carried a gun or have been involved in a factional conflict at some point in their lives. It is not rare to see boys as young as 14 in a militia attack or accompanying older soldiers.
The UN has continuously noted the presence of teenagers carrying weapons riding with other armed men in aircraft or other vehicles. It is estimated that five percent of all of Somalia’s children have participated in marauding gangs, militia attacks, or other military conflicts. In the bodies of power that reside in Somalia, there are no limitations on army recruitment age. Child soldiers are also routinely used as suicide bombers and mine detectors, as the country’s land is laced with dozens of unknown bombs waiting to explode and take the lives of innocent civilians away.
