Article June 1, 2009 Issue

A 'new birth' for Somalia

ROSALIE E. DUNBAR,

MOVIES LIKE Pirates of the Caribbean have glamorized the pirate life, but there isn't anything glamorous about the pirates preying on ships that travel the Gulf of Aden off Somalia. Many are teenagers or not much older, and their country offers them few legitimate opportunities. Somalia, which is often described as a "failed state," has been without a functioning central government since 1991.

Ironically, fractured Somalia looks deceptively homogenous: Nearly all of its people share the same language, ethnicity, and religion (Sunni Muslim). But clan relationships and loyalties exercise power that can easily derail centralized government. Layers of relationships and antagonisms have thwarted attempts to bring these leaders together in a lasting way. Although President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a moderate Islamic leader, was elected in January, his path is not an easy one.

Other currents running through Somalia include reports that Al-Qaeda is planning to set up shop or is already there. Abdi Samatar, a researcher in Somali affairs and a professor at the University of Minnesota, has his doubts. He told The Somaliland Times, "The will of the people is to say no to war; this attitude represents a major obstacle for Bin Laden" ("Somalia: Al-Qaeda's Next Battleground," Issue 374, March 23, 2009).

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
TEST-TIME
June 1, 2009
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit