When Barre left Mogadishu in 1991, there was chaos in Somalia. The Hawiyee split into two. By 1992, there were 13 factions in Somalia. They fought one another. The end result was factional fighting which continues to this day. Unfortunately, the violence is not restricted to Somalia. The problems related to terrorism which faced Kenya and Ethiopia had their origins in Somalia. 1 The Somalia Calling Security Concerns Caused by Somalia Life and property are not guaranteed in Somalia. The Islamic courts and the militia have been trying to maintain law and order. This has some effect in spite of the fact that Somalis are not known for their adherence to extreme brands of Islam. Some form of government is necessary to do away with the anarchy. The alternative is continued chaos. The Transitional National Government (TNG) faces many challenges. There is still opposition to it from the factional leaders. The underlying challenge is the threat of international terrorism. 2 When it comes to security, Somalia is alleged to be a hub or potential hub of international terrorists. It is said to have served as a strategic base and a launching pad for international terrorism in the Horn and much of East Africa. Given the above, Somalia is said to have provided safe haven for terrorists. Terrorists thrive in a condition of statelessness. One reason for the choice of Somalia is that it is located at a transit point from the Gulf, the Middle East, Afghanistan, etc. |
