When clan violence in 1992 threatened international
relief efforts in Somalia, a U.S.-led coalition was sent in to provide relief
for the thousands of Somalis who were caught in the crossfire of a deadly
civil war.
The problems leading to U.S. intervention began in the 1980s when an insurgent
group in North Somalia rebelled and proclaimed itself the Somaliland Republic.
Tensions intensified as different rival factions proclaimed both Mohammed
Ali Mahda and Mohammed Farah Aidid as the president. The resulting civil
war, coupled with the worst African drought of the century, resulted in
the loss of 300,000 lives.
The UN stepped in and brokered a truce while humanitarian
aid could be provided, but the fighting continued and President George Bush
sent in American troops to protect relief workers in an operation called
Restored Hope. The coalition consisted of 30,000 American military personnel
and 10,000 personnel from allied nations.
The operation succeeded in ameliorating the mass starvation of the Somali
people as well as constructing and improving 2,000 kilometers of roads.
Civic action projects also helped to open schools, hospitals, and orphanages.
Unfortunately, the fighting continued and several peacekeepers were killed,
including 18 Americans during an ambush in the city of Mogadishu. The raid
is chronicled in the book and movie Blackhawk
Down.
While the U.S. failed in its efforts to capture Aidid and reestablish a
central government by the time the military withdrew in 1994, UN organizations
have been able to continue their humanitarian efforts as the region maintains
a stable existence.
