The Global War on Terrorism in the Horn of Africa
Pollock, Toivo (2008-03)
Pollock, Toivo
Strategian laitos
Strategia
Sotatieteiden maisteriopiskelijan pro gradu
Kadettikurssi 91
Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu
03 / 2008
Julkinen
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe201309306368
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe201309306368
Tiivistelmä
Ever since Siad Barre’s regime was toppled in the beginning of the 1990’s Somalia has been
without an effective central government. As a result Somalia has remained in an anarchic
condition of state collapse for nearly two decades. This anarchy has often been put forward
as a potential breeding ground for terrorism. As a response to this threat the United States has
undertaken several policies, initiatives, and operations in the Horn of Africa generally and in
Somalia specifically.
In this descriptive study a twofold analysis has been undertaken. First, conditions in present
day Somalia as well as Somali history have been analyzed to evaluate the potential Somalia
holds as a terrorist base of operations or a recruiting- or staging area. Second, US strategies
and actions have been analyzed to evaluate the adequacy of the US response to the threat
Somalia poses in terms of terrorism.
Material for the analyses have been derived from anthropological, political, and security
studies dealing with Somalia. This material has been augmented by a wide range of news
coverage, western and non-western. Certain different US policy documents from different
levels have been chosen to represent US strategies for the Global War on Terrorism.
Because Somali social institutions, such as the clan system, hold great weight in Somali
society, Somalia is a difficult area of operations for terrorist networks. In addition the
changing nature of Somali alliances and the tangled webs of conflict that characterize present
day Somalia aggravate the difficulties that foreign terrorist networks would encounter in
Somalia, would they choose to try to utilize it in any great extent.
The US has taken potential terrorism threats in Africa and specifically Somalia very
seriously. US actions in Somalia have mainly focused on apprehending or neutralizing terror
suspects. Such policies, coupled with backing the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia may have
actually turned out increasing Somalia’s terror potential.
without an effective central government. As a result Somalia has remained in an anarchic
condition of state collapse for nearly two decades. This anarchy has often been put forward
as a potential breeding ground for terrorism. As a response to this threat the United States has
undertaken several policies, initiatives, and operations in the Horn of Africa generally and in
Somalia specifically.
In this descriptive study a twofold analysis has been undertaken. First, conditions in present
day Somalia as well as Somali history have been analyzed to evaluate the potential Somalia
holds as a terrorist base of operations or a recruiting- or staging area. Second, US strategies
and actions have been analyzed to evaluate the adequacy of the US response to the threat
Somalia poses in terms of terrorism.
Material for the analyses have been derived from anthropological, political, and security
studies dealing with Somalia. This material has been augmented by a wide range of news
coverage, western and non-western. Certain different US policy documents from different
levels have been chosen to represent US strategies for the Global War on Terrorism.
Because Somali social institutions, such as the clan system, hold great weight in Somali
society, Somalia is a difficult area of operations for terrorist networks. In addition the
changing nature of Somali alliances and the tangled webs of conflict that characterize present
day Somalia aggravate the difficulties that foreign terrorist networks would encounter in
Somalia, would they choose to try to utilize it in any great extent.
The US has taken potential terrorism threats in Africa and specifically Somalia very
seriously. US actions in Somalia have mainly focused on apprehending or neutralizing terror
suspects. Such policies, coupled with backing the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia may have
actually turned out increasing Somalia’s terror potential.
Kokoelmat
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