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Somalia. War and Geopolitics Farid Omar Group for Research & Initiative for the Liberation of Africa (GRILA) www.grila.org Email: faridoma@gmail.com. Somalia in Geopolitical Context.
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Somalia War and Geopolitics Farid Omar Group for Research & Initiative for the Liberation of Africa (GRILA) www.grila.org Email: 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 East Resource 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: 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 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 OgadenNational 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) • 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
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
Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of AfricaCamp Lemonier, Djibouti
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
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)
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