Francesca M. Religion Post

While Somalia is a country in a chaotic state today, it is not only a result from economic and political matters, for religion plays a huge role in Somalia. Almost all of Somalia’s population are followers of the Islamic religion, particularly the Sunni sect. Religion played a huge role in uniting the people of Somalia, but when Barre became President in 1969, everything changed. In modern times, religion only causes more chaos throughout the country.

Mohamed Siad Barre began discriminating members of the Mijertyn and Isaak clans by denying them access to political positions in government. Barre’s actions caused many revolts from civilians throughout Somalia, to which the government reacted back by attacking and torturing thousands of people who were claimed to be associated with the rebels. While the citizens of Somalia saw this discrimination from a political standpoint, many also believed that Barre was attacking them for their religious customs and beliefs. Somalis did not believe that the regulations of scientific socialism went along with the Islamic religion, which is why there is still disunity among the people of Somalia today. After the Barre regime fell in 1991, different corrupt Muslim warlords took over areas in Somalia. The Shabab extremist Muslim group in particular is one that controls the southern part of the country, and uses the jihad as a means to attack and kill others in the name of Allah. In the Qur’an, it clearly defines that anyone who is to kill another is the same as killing all of humanity. These extremist Muslims inside of Somalia have forgotten what it truly means to be a part of the Islamic faith.

Religion in Somalia can help unite the people. Since many citizens in Somalia are part of the extremist sect of Islam, they have forgotten what it truly means to be a Muslim and have been using the religion merely to gain political power. This has been a problem found with in many Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq and Iran. However, if Somalis realized how wrong it is to kill one another just for power and wealth, the people could see how they can unite the country and bring themselves out of a chaotic, war-like state.

Overall, Somalia will not be able to change from a corrupt country in one day alone. However, if the people of Somalia can clearly see how killing and war is not the way to live a true Muslim life, the country will have a chance of starting over and becoming a united whole.

Christina R. Religion Post

While religion can be used as a unifying force, in Somalia this is not the case. The majority of the population follows Islam, which does not have to be a violent religion, but opposing factions have led it to be one. Islam is the reason for the ongoing civil war in Somalia. The puritanical Al-Shabab faction is violent and dangerous. This faction is associated with Al-Qaida which in recent years has led countries like the United States to keep a vigilant watch on Somalia as a potential terrorist threat. (fpif.org) Al-Shabab is against all religions except Islam. Their violence towards Christians was displayed when in January of 2012,”Islamic extremists from the rebel Al-Shabab militia in Somalia beheaded a Christian on the outskirts of Mogadishu” (compassdirect.org). The other faction is the Sufis. The Sufis believe in the importance of having a close relationship with god through personal discipline. They were originally nonviolent but have become a violent faction in reaction to tensions with the Al-Shabab Muslims regarding their efforts to inflict a strict version of sharia law.

The only way religion would be able to unite Somalia would be if the religion of the population was a nonviolent one. Since Somalia is currently dominated with violent puritanical Muslims there is no way Islam could be a uniting force and the current war has proven it not to be. The tension between opposing views fosters a violent environment. If the favored religion was nonviolent moderate Islam then the country might be more peaceful, however converting everyone to moderate Islam would be impossible because of the stubborn nature of the puritans. They would never accept moderate Islam because they believe it to be corrupted by western ideals. Tolerance toward all religions might also be an effective peace solution but the problem is that puritanical Muslims do not believe in religious tolerance and therefore would not accept it nor enforce it.

Additional Sources

Shank, Michael. "Foreign Policy In Focus." FPIF. 5 Jan. 2007. Web. 17 May 2012. <http://www.fpif.org/articles/the_future_of_political_islam_in_somalia>.

Islamic Extremists Behead Another Convert in Somalia." Islamic Extremists Behead Another Convert in Somalia. Web. 17 May 2012. http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/somalia/article_1390864.html.

Somalia's continuous civil wars are directly correlated with conflicting Islamic ideologies. Al-Shabab, a 'puritanical' Islamic terrorist group, and clans of more moderate Sufi clerics are fighting for control of Somali areas. These Sufi's were once peace loving men that respected the members of Al-Shabab for driving out the Ethiopians. However, as Al-Shabab came to turn against these Sufi's, they decided to strike back. "Many Somalis say that the Sufi version of Islam, which stresses tolerance, mysticism and a personal relationship with God, is more congruent with their traditions than the Wahhabi Islam espoused by the Shabab, which calls for strict separation of the sexes and harsh punishments like amputations and stonings." (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/world/africa/24somalia.html?pagewanted=all) The Shabab have started to attack Sufi shrines and villages and have killed several Sufi elders. The Sufi's have reacted violently and have created their own group called Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama, which means followers of the Prophet Muhammad. These two rival groups are recruiting from all clans throughout Ethiopia and their two causes are the main proponents of war in Somalia today. 

99.9 percent of all Somalis are Muslims, so the issue of unifying the Somalis through one religion has already been done. However, it is the conflicting ideologies within different Islamic groups that are the causes for violence. The moderate, once peaceful Sufi's are fighting against the puritanical Al-Shabab group. The violence by the Sufi's has been a reaction to the oppression and public displays of violence by Al-Shabab. However, in the case of Somalia, two wrongs do not make a right. The results have been devastating and there is seemingly no end in sight. I do not believe that religion can necessarily become a unifying force in Somalia because the main motives behind all the violence is in fact religion. Even though Westerners believe that a victorious Sufi uprising in Somalia could bring stability and authority to the region, "It's a long shot that a moderate government can take control. If it does, however, it will need more than moral support. It will need development assistance. The last thing the Somalis need is more bloodshed and the last thing the world needs is a prolonged religious war in the Horn of Africa." (http://www.larryhollon.com/blog/2009/05/26/faith-and-religious-war-in-somalia/)

-DANDAMAN

How has religion been the major contributing force in the lives of the Somali people(the cause of disunity) and in the history of its people?  How can it become a unifying force?

Francesca M. History Post

The Horne of Africa has been known as a home to Somalia for many years. Originally, European countries, such as France and Britain, colonized Somalia and established ports along the coast in order to trade with India and travelers along the Indian Ocean. The region eventually gained independence on June 26, 1960 when Britain and Italy decided to merge their colonies to form the Somali Republic, or just simply known as modern day Somalia. However, the country has been in a state of chaos since. Over time, piracy, famine, and corrupt warlords have been destroying the country’s population, economy, and central government system.

            Piracy has been a known problem for Somalia for over fifteen years, but has recently been increasing in the last five. “In 2008, there were over 120 acts of piracy in the Gulf of Aden, compared to only 37 during of 2007.” (PiratesofSomalia) The rise of the piracy industry is a result of the extreme famine and lack of jobs within the country. When the central government fell in 1991, the coast was left unguarded. “The result has been overfishing and the dumping of hazardous waste in unregulated waterways.” (SeaBandits) Somalia's economy is based on the export of livestock and crops. Severe droughts have been drying out the country's soil, and Somalia's food supply and economy as well. Many citizens are jobless and hungry, and have been turning to fishing and trade with other countries for survival. The open seas, mainly around the Gulf of Aden, now filled with fishing boats provide a profitable and worthwhile occupation for the jobless citizens of Somalia- piracy. The lack of a central authority has allowed for piracy to continue to grow and create more chaos for the country.

            The fall of Dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 has left Somalia without a central government or leader. Instead, a raging civil war between corrupt warlords has been occurring in Somalia ever since. This civil war is a result of opposition to Barre's regime. When Barre first became dictator, he organized the government to promote scientific socialism. Since Islam is the dominant religion in the country, many Muslims argued that this type of government was inconsistent with their beliefs. Barre turned to the Soviet Union for support, but their alliance did not last. When Somalia invaded Ogden, an area in southeastern Ethiopia, they gained the support of the Soviet Union and with the help of Cuban troops, were able to push back the Somalis in 1978, and called for the end of the alliance between the two countries. Almost a decade later, rebel fighting broke out in the North of Somalia when Barre was accused of excluding members of the Mijertyn and Isaak clans from government positions. Many did not agree with Barre's scientific socialism as well. Many newspapers and witnesses spoke out against Barre, claiming that “he killed thousands of citizens, and tortured innocent civilians suspected of collaborating with the rebels.” (James) As a result, the fighting continues still today, leaving Somalia without a central power.

            To this day, Somalia is suffering due to piracy, warlords and extreme famine. Due to an arid climate, Somalia is known for its agriculture and livestock. Severe droughts have been affecting the land, preventing farmers and pastors from raising their animals and planting crops. Many jobless citizens are now turning to seas looking to provide for their families and themselves, especially the piracy industry. Since Somalia’s government fell due to Mohamed Siad Barre’s regime, piracy rates have been increasing over the years while the population and economy have been decreasing. Some consider Somalia no longer a state, but rather a region of anarchy. 

James, George. "Somalia's Overthrown Dictator, Mohammed Siad Barre, Is

Dead." The New York Times 3 Jan. 1995. Web. 09 May 2012.

<http://www.netnomad.com/barreobits.html>.

"Pirates of Somalia." The Boston Globe. 16 Mar. 2009. Web.

<http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/pirates_of_somalia.html>.

"Sea Bandits: Poverty, Business and the Rise of Somali Piracy." Sea Bandits:

Poverty, Business and the Rise of Somali Piracy. Web. 08 May 2012.

<http://noreaster.neanarchist.net/issue4/article4.html>.

Daniel Ioselevich

Somalia, a heavily Muslim African country located in the 'Horn of Africa,' has been a country teetering on the brink of chaos and complete anarchy for the last 50 years. On July 1, 1960, Somalia offically became an independent nation with a transitional government after an extensive period under European colonialism, when the British ruled Somaliland Protectorate and Italian Somaliland were granted independence and then unified. However, instead of remaining a stable and unified country, Somalia has been divided and destroyed by powerful warlords, pirates along the coast, and severe famines and food shortages.

One of Somalia's main problems that has reoccurred several times is its claim to the Somali-populated regions of neighboring countries. This has been the crucial and main point of contention between Somalia's rulers and that of the neighboring regions. "Pan-Somali nationalism, with the goal of uniting the Somali-populated regions of French Somaliland (Djibouti), Kenya, and Ethiopia into a Greater Somalia remained the driving political ideology in the initial post-independence period." (state.gov) Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, the prime minister from 1967 to 1969, improved realtionships with neighboring regions but angered the Somali people and perhaps more importantly the military, which caused for his coup and allowing for Maj. Gen. Mohamed Siad Barre to assume control over Somalia. With Barre as the head of the Somali government, Somalia attacked the Ogaden region in Ethiopia, a region heavily populated by Somalis. Eventually a full-scale invasion of Ethiopia by the Somalis was undertaken, but it was ultimately defeated. This violent philiospohy in foreign affairs showed the ruthlessness of the Barre regime, and this ruthlessness soon shifted its attention to domestic affairs.

At the beginning of the 1980's, the Barre regime violently suppressed opposition movements and certain ethnic groups within Somalia. The internal struggle between the military and opposition groups had intensified into a full-scale civil war. President Barre eventually took the fighting to civilians as well. In one instance, aircraft from the Somali National Air Force bombed the city of Hargeisha, killing 10,000 people. The Barre regime was also looting the national treasury during this time, furthering the economic crisis caused by war. However, Barre's military might was starting to wane during the ladder part of the 1980's. In January 1991, Barre was driven into exile and the central government experienced a complete collapse. The years following the collapse of the Barre regime have been filled with warring Somali factions competing to gain extensive control. Because of the lack of a central authority within Somalia for the past 20 years, a power vacuum has been left and rival groups are waging war against each other. Countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, among others, have attempted to bring Somali factions together, but to little or no avail. Some notoriously extremist groups, such as Al-Shabaab, have been able to garner increasing power and influence with their effective fighting of the hated Ethiopians, intimidation, and implementation of shari'a law. However, Al-Shabaab is one of numerous competing factions in Somalia.

Somalia has also been known for its pirates that often capture Western ships and ask for ransoms. "Somali pirates seized a record 1,181 hostages in 2010, and were paid millions of dollars in ransom. "The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) considers the Somali coast to be the most dangerous stretch of water in the world." (A Guide to Somalia's Modern Day Pirates) These pirates hijack crews and vessels for ransom around the coastline surrounding Somalia. These Somali pirates use guns, RPG's, and small but quick motorboats to overwhelm other ships. Piracy is such a major part of the coastline in Somalia that some towns' economies are sustained by the feeding and housing the hostages. The instability and lack of governance in the region has certainly contributed to the growth of the piracy in the region. Due to some of the pirate policies, the region is even more dangerous to outsiders, especially Westerners.

Because of structural adjustment and a planned economy during the years of Barre's reign, Somalia became more and more dependent on foreign imported grain. "Combined with increased commercial imports, this influx of cheap surplus wheat and rice sold in the domestic market led to the displacement of local producers, as well as to a major shift in food consumption patterns to the detriment of traditional crops (maize and sorghum)." (Somalia: the Real Cause of Famine) Another important contributor to Somali famine was the devaluation of the Somali currency by the IMF. This led to price hikes in everything from drugs for cattle to the price of food itself. After the devaluation of the Somali currency, a private market for vetenary drugs was promoted. Remote pastoral areas suffered because of the lack vetenarians services that were supported by private sectors. Combine the privatization of animal health care and severe droughts, and the Somali cattles were decimated.

Somalia is an area where chaos can be bred. There is no central governing authority, a severe shortage of food and cattle, pirates capturing tourists and foreign people on the coast, and violent competing factions warring over control. The 50 years following Somali independence have made Somalia the decimated region it is today. Somalia is a country desperate for social, economic, and legislative stability, but it must find the answers to very complicated situation it faces today.

Christina Rodriguez

Somalia is currently in a state of disunity and chaos. Recently the country made headlines because of a piracy issue, but Somalia has been in a state of disarray for the past 50 years. The current state of Somalia can be attributed to an ongoing power struggle that has been occurring since Somalia was granted its independence in 1961 in addition to the countries climate and agricultural based economic system.

Somalia is in a current state of chaos because of the power struggle or lack of central government. Prior to being granted its independence Somalia had been controlled on and off by British and Italian government. After adopting its first national constitution in June 1961 Somalia experienced a brief period of stability marked by a democracy and parliamentary form of government and one person political parties. (cia.gov) However, as the government grew to be centered in Southern Somalia and government positions tended to be given to people from Southern Somalia, resentment and opposition toward the government grew. Under Mohamed Ibrahim’s governance the country renounced its claims to Somali populated regions in Ethiopia in the hopes of reconciling with the country. While this was a positive step, many Somali’s disliked the prime ministers efforts to reconcile with Ethiopia, who many, including the Somali army, considered an enemy. This disagreement ended the democratic two party government in Somalia as it led to the installation of Mohamed Barre as president. This also  gave rise to the current governmental instability of the country because it destroyed the democracy and took away peoples freedoms. Barre created a 20 member council which held executive and legislative power. The council favored scientific socialism, limited freedoms, and used military force to subjugate the population. (cia.gov) In 1977 Barre waged war against Ethiopia and invaded the country but was defeated. After the war with Ethiopia Somalia left its socialist ideologies and in 1978 turned to the United States for aid. Following the end of the war with Ethiopia opposition groups continued to develop because they disagreed with the governments decisions. These groups caused the all-out civil war which broke out in 1980. This civil war is ongoing and is the major reason for the chaos of the country. The Piracy issue can be linked directly to the country’s lack of a central government. Since the country is in an ongoing civil war there is no one to prevent the piracy from occurring.  

Despite Somalia’s dry and hot climate, the country’s economy is agriculturally and pastorally based. Since the country receives little rainfall farming is limited to coastal areas where irrigation is what provides the water for crops. Livestock is the main source of income however in recent years; livestock export has continued to decrease as those who purchased the animals believe them to be unhealthy. In the spring of 2011 the country experienced a major drought which also hurt the economy in addition to causing a major starvation problem. Farmers were unable to grow crops and food prices grew exorbitantly. (cia.gov) Lack of food only added to the chaos in Somalia occurring between rival factions. People were forced to go to already overcrowded refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya in addition to internally displaced persons camps in Mogadishu.

The end of the democratic government and installation of the 20 member council is what ended the central government and sparked the ongoing civil war. A democratic government is better at maintaining order than the council because there would be one member to make the executive decisions and the people would vote on what they want. The drought led to a famine which while it added to the chaos was not the initial cause of the nation’s problems. Piracy was able to rise because of the disorder the country was already in and the lack of any government at all.