Per Joint Publication 3-24, the operational environment is the composite of the conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect how the joint force commander uses available capabilities and makes decisions. It requires a holistic view of insurgent, neutral, and friendly political, military, economic, social, information, and infrastructure systems. Culture can be defined as a collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another. This essay will focus on the rich culture of Somalia and how the country has evolved from its humble beginnings. Moreover, the culture and history presented in Somalia, as well as the geography and military history, and understanding how the people of Somalia operate. First …show more content…
The countries primary religion is Muslim, with slightly less than ninety percent of its population, so as you can imagine there is an abundance of mosques throughout the country. These mosques are key cultural structures for individuals of Muslim faith, and provide a common meeting place for many people. Other than the mosques, the country has very little in the way of major structures due to the civil war. The quality of life within Somalia is very low since the capabilities of healthcare, running water and emergency services are near non-existent. Equipment used in health care is limited and outdated, it is also very costly to the people of Somalia to receive treatments of any kind. Somalia’s emergency services are extremely under funded and often the police forces are filled with corruption and do not care for the general public’s safety. The education system of Somalia was often regarded as being greater than that of the United States before the civil war; afterwards only a few private schools remained and higher education was only available to those who could afford, when before it was free to all.
Somalia has been torn by conflict for most of its 48 years of independence. The collapse of the state itself came in 1991 when President Mohammed Siad Barre was overthrown. “Following the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in 1991, various groupings of Somali factions sought to control the national territory and fought small wars with each other.” (Business World Complete p.5) My analysis is that without any formal, structured government, the Somalia people went to what they value, clans and kinship. Unfortunately, they were all vying to be the clan in control. The inter-clan fighting prevented people from planting and harvesting crops and caused the death of several hundred thousand Somali. Ultimately this constant fighting led to a total breakdown of public services. Remember that Somalia culture is based on traditions and their ideology of kinship. Coalitions among clan warlords led the central government to crumble and it’s these same clan rivalries that prohibit
With the absence of Mohamed Siad Barre, the country had no proper government to run it. Faction groups started forming in Somalia to take control. In 1992, there was killing and starvation in the south of Somalia (Global Security 1). The U.N. sends peacekeeping operations into Somalia. In addition, the United States started sending troops into Somalia. In 1994, there was too much casualties in Somalia, so the U.S. soldiers withdrew from Somalia with the problems still unsolved (Phil Stewart 1). Fishermen started taking advantage of the bad condition Somalia is in and started raiding different fishing ports. The Somalians started to fight back. The Somalians began to raid and became pirates. Some observers say that the Somalians pirates are usually poor folks trying to get their fortune back (Ishaan Tharoor
In order for countries and states to run efficiently and effectively, they need a system to make sure that chaos is not created. Some countries and states use a political system called "democracy" in order to run things smoothly. What is a democracy? Karl and Schmitter (1991, 76) say that "Modern political democracy is a system of governance in which rulers are held accountable for their actions in the public realm by citizens, acting indirectly through the competition and cooperation of their elected representatives". Basically to be considered democratic, citizens of the country vote and elect an official who represents his/hers people's expectation and needs publically (Schmitter and Karl 1991). They compete with other officials for positions
By early summer (1992), at least 300,000 civilians had already died and in July (2009) the International Committee of the Red Cross re-iterated its six-month old estimates that 95 percent of the population of Somalia was malnourished and 70 percent in imminent danger of death by starvation, (Jon Western, 1999). Between 1992 and 1995 a UN Peacekeeping force and a small American lead coalition attempted to stabilize the country. After limited success, both eventually pulled out. In the decade that followed fighting between warlords, political groups, and neighboring countries have contributed to numerous failed attempts to establish a functioning government. The country is considered a failed state.
Somalia is located on the Horn of Africa, a peninsula on the eastern coast of Africa that separates the Gulf of Aden to the north and the Indian Ocean to the east and south. The country also shares borders with Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.
As chaos erupted in Somalia in the early 1990s, the United Nations came to the conclusion that intervention was the only method of preventing the nation from total loss. Drought and disease combined with oligarchic rule resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians across the country. The U.N. took immediate action, mobilizing a relief effort to provide food aid and humanitarian assistance to Somalia. However, once in country, members of the U.N. Security Council realized the magnitude of the situation they had become involved in. The recent death of Dictator Muhammad Siad Barre had left the country in ruins as local warlords fought violently for power over the region. The result, civilians were caught in the crossfire of
The proliferation of secessionist provinces and “states” is the most serious problem to the states and international bodies today. Somali is at present recognized as an independent and sovereign state in spite of over twenty years of collapse and repeated military and political involvements by other states and international bodies. However, “a slim slice of Somali-inhabited territory on the southern shore of the Gulf of Aden, declare its independence in 1991 and ticks almost all the boxes of statehood ( )”. It has a significant amount of population, territory and its own police force, currency and regulations. But In terms of the
Somalia is located in Eastern Africa,bordering the gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia. The country bordering countries are Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya.The Gulf of Aden , lies to the North of Somalia separating the country from Yemen.The eastern coast faces directly the Indian Ocean . The country lies Between latitudes two degrees South and twelve degrees North, and longitudes forty one and fifty two East. The country has a total area of 627,337 square kilometers of land and about 10,320 square kilometers of water .Somalia’s climate is tropical with little seasonal change in the temperature, approximately from 75 to 88 Fahrenheit in the low areas, it has two rain seasons with an average annual rainfall estimate of 28 cm . Overall the weather conditions of Somalia through the year remains hot and dry and droughts are very frequent.Somalia’s landscapes are mainly desertic, and the terrain is mostly flat with some plateaus , plains and highlands in the north. The land vegetation is mainly composed by scrublands , also called heathland or chaparral.About 25 percent of the country is desert, usually consisting of gravel mixed with some vegetation and sand and which extend along most of Somalia northern central coast into the interior of the country.
To comprehend how culture influences war, Somalia is a perfect example. The culture of Somalia created the perfect environment for the tactics of an irregular war to be utilized. Geography, clan lineage, social contract, and Islam define this culture. Most inhabitants in Somalia are ethnic Somalis, who belong to a specific lineage or ancestral group of bloodline descendants. These inhabitants do not only belong to a lineage, but also a clan, which is a group of closely connected families. I.M. Lewis, an anthropologist who studied Somali culture, commented, “The (Somalis), indeed, regard fighting… as essentially the proper pursuit of men.” The culture of Somalia, passed down from their ancestors, is to fight. The state has no official army or battleground. The people simply fight because it is a way of life. This tradition of a culture of violence has been passed down from generation to generation. They do not know anything else, and resort to it to settle disputes between cultures in the
Long-term drought, conflict, a succession of poor harvests and rising food and fuel prices, have all come together to spark a flood of refugees from Somalia into neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia. These things cause it to be really difficult for people to live there, which caused them to leave.
Somalia also known as Federal Republic of Somalia, it’s located on the northwestern part of Africa, it’s capital is mogadishu and is also is the most populated city.
Somalia is on the eastern part of Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia. It is almost five times the size of Alabama and it is slightly smaller than Texas. Before being Somalia the country was divided into three parts: British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland and French Somaliland. The Italian part and the French part joined together and made Somalia. The French part became an independent country called Yibuti. From the unification in 1960 until 1969 the president was Abdirashid Ali Shermarke. He was assassinated. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed Siad Barre ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule characterized by the persecution, jailing, and torture of political opponents and dissidents. After the
Somalia, also known as the Democratic Republic of Somalia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Somalia history can be traced back as far as the Paleolithic period. (Funk & Wagnalls, 1900) Ancient structures, ruined cities, and stone walls found in Somalia, is evidence of a country that once thrived with a sophisticated civilization (p. 132). Somalia is a country that was once known for its rich geographical location located near oil wells in the Persian Gulf and a mainstream for international imports and exports along the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Somali population is filled with large groups of nomads and refugees seeking security away from the clans and famine. Due to all the movement it is difficult to estimate the population accurately. "The last know official count was gathered by the Somali Government in 1975. Today, the best estimate that takes the 1975 data in account illustrates the population at approximately 10 million people." (CIA, 2012). The average life expectancy for males is 48 years and women are only slight greater at 52 years. Compared to the United States average life expectancy of 78, it is fair to say the Somali have a difficult and short life. While living, it is impossible to find work. Jobs are scarce and tend to rely on livestock or farming. However, even farming has been increasingly impossible since global trade has imported foreign agriculture that under cuts domestic farmers. This import presents a burden for the Somali people because they
This situation of refugee here in Somalia is due to the problem of Somalia security and political issues which needs a huge improvement. Military operation in Somalia has led to great many to be internally displaced due to the armed insurgency mainly in the south central