Somalia

War and Geopolitics

Farid OmarGroup for Research & Initiative

for the Liberation of Africa (GRILA) www.grila.orgEmail: 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 EastResource 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: Somalia

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 Somalia

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 Ogaden National 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)

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

AFRICOM

AFRICOM

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

Camp Lemonier in DjiboutiUS Military Base

Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of AfricaCamp Lemonier, Djibouti

Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa

Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa

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

Emergence of Al-Shabab – Product of US “War on Terror”

2009 – Present (AMISOM) US-Led, Proxy War

2009 – Present (AMISOM) US-Led, Proxy War

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)

US war in Somalia: Escalation by Obama

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

US “War on Terror” East Africa Front (Somalia)Drone Attacks