Politics and economics of Somalian warlords

In recent history, Somalia has lacked a strong central government, and as a result, Somalian warlords have been able to consolidate power in the form of regional militia. These warlords and their militias have affected the lives of Somali civilians in their country. In response to such turmoil in the country, the world has responded in various forms. For example, the United Nations sent its peacekeeping troops to stabilize the deteriorating situation in Somalia; however, such forces were unable to stem the growing poverty and starvation. As a result, the United States provided its own response in 1992 when President George H.W. Bush deployed an American contingent to aid the Somali population and apprehend the warlords.

During this battle, the world was exposed to the "ferocity and power of these Somali warlords." In the "Black Hawk Down" incident, Task Force Ranger conducted an operation to capture lieutenants and officers of Mohamed Farrah Aidid, the most powerful warlord in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu. Though successful in their mission, Task Force Ranger experienced an extremely large and hostile resistance force, who outnumbered them by the thousands, by Aidid's forces and local populations. As a result, Task Force Ranger sustained unexpected casualties, both in material resources and the lives of soldiers. The world watched lifeless, naked bodies of American troops were dragged through the streets of Mogadishu.

Background

Warlords came to power in Somalia following the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991. Barre, who was widely viewed as a dictator, was forced to flee the country in January 1991 after members of the United Somali Congress opposition group led an uprising against him. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Barre had held power since 1969 following a military coup he staged against the incumbent elected government. Barre's removal from office created a power vacuum, opening the door for "clan-based factional militias led by warlords" to compete for control of Somalia.

The competition for power following the Siad regime gave way to civil war, with one faction supporting Ali Mahdi Muhammad, the interim president appointed by the United Somali Congress, and the other faction supporting General Mohamed Farah Aidid, a rival member of the movement. According to The Atlantic, Ali Mahdi Mohamed eventually declared victory in the struggle, but by 1992 "an estimated 350,000 Somalis die of disease, starvation, or civil war" and Somalia was left fragmented by warlords. Thus, this conflict, triggered by the flight of President Siad Barre, laid the foundation for warlords to emerge in a region lacking a strong formal government.

Political effects

President Siad Barre's regime and the subsequent rise of warlords increased clan conflict in Somalia. There are six main clans in Somalia — the Darod, Dir, Hawiye, Isaaq, and Rahanweyn — each divided into subclans, subgroups, and so on and so forth. In the past, clan interactions were marked by "tendencies to compromise and accommodate conflicts." Moreover, violence was historically limited to factions within the six major clans, but never between them. When Barre rose to power in 1969 through a coup, he set the precedent for violent transfers of leadership. Following Barre’s flight from office in 1991, the major clans violently clashed over who should serve as his replacement. Thus, the rise of warlords and clashes of clans reflects a fundamental shift in Somalian politics.

Economic effects

These warlords have used their economic leverage in their respective territories to control and exploit the Somali people while expanding their financial coffers. A report from the Journal of Peace Research finds that, "Violence, perpetrated by these warlords, is used to manipulate economic activity in favour of rent-extraction by those with military power and to secure and expand their land-holdings." Therefore, Somali warlords affect the country’s economy by controlling significant shares of land and territory and using such land for their personal economic gain.

In addition, the Somali warlords have used their economic resources to battle the Somali government. The Somali warlords have been at the helm of Somali politics since they acquired power. They have divided the country based on different clan affiliations and regional associations. According to the Somali Peace Rally, "Since the collapse of the Somali state, Somali warlords have wilfully caused mass killings, serious suffering and inhuman treatment to unarmed civilian populations, destruction of social and physical fabric in Somalia, and the use of the Somali public and private properties for their personal interests." Leveraging their economic dominance in Somalia, warlords have used their economic leverage to manipulate the Somali government. For example, in April 2021, violence erupted in the Somali capital of Mogadishu as warlords sent their militias to the capital to violently protest President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed’s extension in his presidential term. These warlords have often used their economic power, via their armed militias, to combat the government. With their significant economic power, the Somali warlords continue to have a strong influence in Somali politics.

References

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