Alex Dick-Godfrey finds that al Shabaab might have a valid point about occupying forces in Somalia.
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We are fed a barrage of negative media about Somalia: piracy, militant insurrection, terrorist activities, and in particular al Shabaab (the Islamist militant faction of Somalia.) Somalia has faced political instability for decades now. Al Shabaab emerged out of the ashes of civil unrest which engulfed the country 1991. Since then, Somalia has faced steady political, social, and economic decline. While the militant Islamist al Shabaab has continued to use terrorist labeled tactics to force their political agenda. The tactics of al Shabaab are debatable at best. Yet, the motivation behind these actions often show a deep concern for Somali independence in sorting its own issues out. This is a sentiment that is true for any society. No one wants an outsider coming into their home and tell them how to run their lives.
Somalia has faced colonialism from the British and Italians, tribal infighting, American military “assistance”, and various other outside agencies who attempt to assist with little understanding of Somali history and culture. Now, a similar situation is in effect with occupying Ethiopian and Kenyan troops. However, the problems of Somalia will not be solved until all groups within Somalia are able to address their concerns about the governance of their country. “Their country” is the important term. Somalia has been plagued with colonialism and occupation for far too long. Please give Al Shabaab, AMISOM, and the United States a read. No one can create stability for Somalia except the Somali people.
“Thus, instead of celebrating the foreign troops’ efforts to stem al Shabaab, Somalis are worried about the outsized influence being wielded by foreign powers in their country. Although troubled by these developments, the United States and its partners have other goals in the region that will prevent any intrusion into Kenyan or Ethiopian plans.”
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Photo: by ssoosay/Flickr
Somalia is a country in name only. American troops should never have been sent there in the first place. Especially to be cops and social workers for the UN.