Transcript Starving Strangers Case Study: Somalia

STARVING STRANGERS
CASE STUDY: SOMALIA
Anran Wang
AhRum Choi
Historical Background
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
Since 1969, Somalia was ruled by one
dictator and his extend family
Well armed since it had been a client of
Russia and then a client of the US
The state rapidly degenerated into
anarchy followed by the fall of the
government of Siad Barre in January
1991
Mass starvation occurred and in response
to this, the US-led intervention took place
in December 1992.
Key Tipping Points and Actions
Taken
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In 1992, Somalia was gripped with terrible famine
following the collapse of the Somali state.
The international community failed to respond to
this emergency and only started to respond in the
summer of 1992 – the UN Secretary General with
a more forcible approach and the Bush
Administration’s handling of the Somali crisis
Key Tipping Points and Actions
Taken
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Resolution 794
Passed on 3 December 1992, It granted the further
employment of personnel of the UN Operation in
Somalis.
 Chapter VII was invoked to allow the US to conduct
military enforcement action.
 Passed unanimously. Even China and India went along
with this because of the “uniqueness” of this case: it
does not breach the UN’s non-intervention rule in Article
2(7).
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Key Tipping Points and Actions
Taken
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Resolution 794
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“Recognizing the unique character of the present
situation in Somalia…the magnitude of the human
tragedy…constitutes a threat to international peace and
security”
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Authorizing a Chapter VII intervention expressed in
humanitarian reasons: that severe humanitarian situation
is now considered a “threat”
Key Tipping Points and Actions
Taken

December 1992
Operation Restore Hope was launched and the Unified
Task Force (UNITAF) composed of 30,000 US troops
plus contributions from thirty other states went into
Somali to deliver food aid.
 The scope of action was very limited as it only focused
on ensuring humanitarian aid without disarming the
warring parties.

Key Tipping Points and Actions
Taken
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Jan - Mar 1993 – the Addis Ababa Accords
An attempt to establish a new framework for nation
building in Somalia
 As a result, a formal ceasefire and disarmament
agreement among the fourteen groups were reached.
 However, fighting still broke out and the second
conference was held in March
 The agreement called for disarmament within ninety
days and saw the UN step up its commitment by
supporting the nation building processes.
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Key Tipping Points and Actions
Taken
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Resolution 814
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A new mandate was necessary to replace UNITAF which was
only authorized to use force to assist with the delivery of
humanitarian aid.
Particular commitment from the US and no state spoke
against it stating that it is an “exceptional” case and is
necessary for the int’l community to respond to the situation
in Somalia
Authorized UN forces under Chapter VII to use force to:
To create a secure environment throughout Somalia
 To promote political reconciliation
 To establish the rule of law
 To ensure compliance by all Somali parties
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Key Tipping Points and Actions
Taken
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UNOSOM II forces
Their main task was to assist the rebuilding of basic
institutions and with it, the formal control was
transferred to the UN
 20,000 UN peacekeepers
 The US contributed 8000 logistical troops and a QRF
of 1,200 men as well as providing one third of the total
cost
 On 4th May 1993, UNOSOM II forces replaced UNITAF
but the security situation was rapidly deteriorating in
Mogandishu.
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Key Tipping Points and Actions
Taken
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Resolution 837
Adopted after the killing of 24 Pakistani
peacekeepers on 5 June
 Condemned the ‘unprovoked armed attacks’ and
authorized ‘all necessary measures against all those
responsible’.
 US started hunting for Aidid and conducted air attacks
against the clans and sub-clans allied to the SNA.
Civilian losses occurred (over 100 Somalis)
 Now a military intervention instead of humanitarian
intervention?
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Key Tipping Points and Actions
Taken
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Resolution 837 saw a heavier US military
involvement and with it came more casualties and
stronger political backlash from the Congress.
On 22 August, President Clinton decided to send in
the Delta Force and Army Rangers. Meanwhile, the
Clinton Adm tried to change the policy course with a
renewed emphasis on exploring nonmilitary options.
Key Tipping Points and Actions
Taken
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The October 3 Debacle
The Rangers continued to hunt down Aidid despite what
was going on in the Clinton Adm
 Two Blackhawks were shot down by SNA forces. 500
Somalis were killed and 18 Rangers were killed.
 Domestic pressure grew immensely and President
Clinton announced a withdrawal of all US forces by 31
March 1994

Failures of International
Society (1)
The UN Secretary General and Security Council shoul
d have stopped the military operation when it caused
large-scale civilian deaths.
Failed to do this, the “humanitarian” operation steppe
d out of line and lost the support from local public.
Failures of International
Society (2)
Developed Western Countries showed little interest i
n contributing to the rebuild of the state of Somalia.
After getting involved in the confrontation for a cert
ain period of time, the international society withdre
w its forces with problems unsolved. Their transitory
involvement may make the situation deteriorate.
Failures of International Society (3)
Security Council and US Ar
my’s ignored local cultural t
radition.
The UN should have gathered information regarding Aidi
d’s guilt in order to persuade elders and clan leaders to c
ooperate with it.
Helicopters of US Army displayed the boots of its soldiers
they were flying their low-level search.
Puzzles Surrounding the
Failures of International Society (1)
How to ensure the power and flexibility needed by th
e UN forces to effectively achieve the goals of their o
peration, while at the same time maintain the effectiv
e control by the UN on its forces?
If the UN forces are not given enough power and reso
urces, then no positive outcome may result. On the oth
er hand, failure to regulate the action of the forces m
ay result in outcomes that go against humanitarian pur
poses.
Puzzles Surrounding the
Failures of International Society (2)
In the case where violence toward human rights is not
resulted from any deliberate action by the governmen
t but rooted in the disorder of the whole society, is ar
med intervention by outside forces still able to solve th
e problem?
Viewing from the case of Somalia, it is highly doubtful
whether armed intervention works in such situation. Iro
nically, it is exactly because the anarchic status in Som
alia that China and India acceded to the resolution in
SC.
Puzzles Surrounding the
Failures of International Society (3)
In the case where no one is willing to bolster the rees
tablishment of social order and rule of the law, is it s
till sagacious to carry out short-term operation aimin
g at stopping the slaughter which is happening or ab
out to happen?
Intervention without efforts in long-term rebuild may
possibly in fact worsen the situation. However, intern
ational society cannot remain ignorant on large-scale
violations of human rights.
Evaluation of Legitimacy (1)
Supreme Humanitarian Emergency
Yes.
Last resort
Yes.
Proportionality
Under controversy but seems Yes.
Positive Humanitarian Outcome
Under controversy but seems no.
Evaluation of Legitimacy (2)
Humanitarian Motives
Yes. More than one motives exist but humanitarian consid
eration seems to be the overwhelming one.
Humanitarian Justification
Yes.
Legality
Yes. Approved by the Security Council.
Selectivity
Seems no.
Evaluation of Legitimacy (3)
Threshold/ Criteria
Minimum th Supreme humanitarian emergency
reshold
Last resort
Proportionality
Positive humanitarian outcome
Additional Humanitarian motives
criteria
Humanitarian justification
Legality
Selectivity
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Aftermath and Current
Situation
3 March 1995, UN withdrew its operation, with the rule of g
overnment still not restored.
August 1996, Aidid was killed in Mogadishu.
August 2000, Peace Conference held in Djibouti where parli
ament and president were elected but boycotted by warlor
ds.
December 2004, Transitional Federal Government(TFG) foun
ded in Kenya.
June 2005, TFG moved to the city of Baidoa in Southern So
malia.
December 2006, TFG defeated sectarian forces and moved
to Mogadishu.
Somaliland 1
991-present
Maakhir 20
07-2008
Puntland 199
8-present
Galmudug 2006-present
Jubaland 2
001-2006
Transitional Federal
Government
2004-present
Southwestern Somali Islamic Courts Union
a 2002-2006
2006-2007