somalia
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Somalia
War and Geopolitics
Farid OmarGroup for Research & Initiative
for the Liberation of Africa (GRILA) www.grila.orgEmail: faridoma@gmail.com
Somalia in Geopolitical Context
Strategic location (Located at the confluence of Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden/ Passage of Oil Tankers)Proximity to Sudan and Oil-Rich Middle EastResource Rich (Oil, Natural Gas, Uranium etc)A pawn in the New Scramble for Africa (US vs. China)Target for Militarization (AFRICOM)
Map: Horn of AfricaResource-rich Horn of Africa is a strategic region located near oil-rich Middle East
Map: Somalia
Map: Middle East & North AfricaSomalia’s proximity to oil-rich Sudan and equally oil-rich Middle East and North Africa
makes it a strategic nation targeted by US geopolitical interests
Oil in Somalia
Oil in Ethiopia (Ogaden/Western Somalia)The Ogaden is a Somali Territory annexed to Ethiopia by the British in 1948
New Scramble for Africa In April 2007, Rebel forces
from the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) operating in Ethiopia’s Ogaden Somali region attacked a Chinese oil installation killing 74 oil workers including 9 Chinese expatriates. Both China and the US are eying the oil reserves in the Ogaden region.
New Scramble for AfricaChina’s state-owned Sinopec Oil Corporation is spreading its wings in Africa
New Scramble for AfricaOil-rich Sudan is the focal point of the New Scramble for Africa (US vs. China)
US Africa Command (AFRICOM)
US Africa Command (AFRICOM)
One of US Defence Department’s Six Regional Commands Established in 2007 as a Sub-Unified Command Became a Unified Command in October 2008 Headquartered at the Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany GOALS:
Militarization of the African Continent Secure Access to Vital Resources (Oil, Gas, Mineral Deposits) Enhanced “Counterterrorism” Counter China’s Strategy in Africa
AFRICOM
AFRICOM
Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa
• Based in Camp Lemonier in Djibouti• Established on October 19, 2002• Counter Terrorism Mission (“War on Terror”) • Part of U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) to protect U.S.
and Coalition interests• Comprised of service members from each military branch of
the U.S. Armed Forces (Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen)• The Combined Joint Operating Area (CJOA) consists of
Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Seychelles
Camp Lemonier in DjiboutiUS Military Base
Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of AfricaCamp Lemonier, Djibouti
Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa
Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa
Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of AfricaContinued Presence of US Navy in Somali Territorial Waters in the Indian Ocean constitutes a direct aggression against Somalia and a flagrant violation of its national sovereignty and territorial integrity
Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of AfricaUS Air Squadrons in the Horn of Africa
CJTFHOA – “Patrols in the Indian Ocean”(Act of Aggression Against Somalia)
US “War on Terror” East African Front (Somalia)
• US-led Ethiopian Invasion of Somalia, December 2006
that Overthrew the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC)• 2007 – 2009 Proxy War/US-backed Ethiopian occupation• 30,000 Civilians killed. Millions displaced• Emergence of Al-Shabab – Product of US “War on Terror”• 2009 – Present African Union Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM), US-backed, proxy war• Direct US aggression: Air Strikes, Cruise missile attacks,
drone attacks, special forces on the ground
US “War on Terror” East African Front (Somalia)US-Led Ethiopian Invasion/Occupation of Somalia
US “War on Terror” East Africa Front (Somalia)US-Led Ethiopian Invasion/Occupation of Somalia
Emergence of Al-Shabab – Product of US “War on Terror”
2009 – Present (AMISOM) US-Led, Proxy War
2009 – Present (AMISOM) US-Led, Proxy War
US “War on Terror” East African Front (Somalia)US Air Strikes Over Somalia
US “War on Terror” East African Front (Somalia)Cruise Missile Attacks from the Indian Ocean targeting Somalia
US “War on Terror” East African Front (Somalia)Drone Attacks in Southern Somalia
(New escalation by the Obama Administration)
US war in Somalia: Escalation by Obama
Former US Undersecretary of State for Africa, Jendayi Fraser (Bush era)
Impact on Somalia
• Genocide• Escalation of Conflict• Mass Displacement• Refugee Crisis• Famine
Way Forward
• End to Proxy Wars• Political Settlement: (There can be NO
Military solution in Somalia)• Inter-Somali Dialogue: (Somali-Controlled
Peace Process free from external meddling)
GRILA
Group for Research and Initiative for the Liberation of Africa (GRILA)
www.grila.org
US “War on Terror” East Africa Front (Somalia)Cruise Missile Attacks
US “War on Terror” East Africa Front (Somalia)Drone Attacks
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