June 30, 2009

During a hearing held last week in the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Somalia's on-going political and humanitarian crisis was described by witnesses as being the result of the country's decades-long socio-economic dilemma as well as the recent surge of piracy taking place off its coastline.

The fluctuating nature of the Somali government, along with its crippling economy, has induced a sense of desperation and contempt amongst its people towards the government and the international community.

The current upheaval in Somalia is a result of the violent efforts of two groups, Al-Shabaab and Hizb Al-Islam, whose stated purpose is to undermine the Transitional Federal Government and the peacekeeping forces of the African Union.

Ted Dagne, a specialist on African Affairs at the Congressional Research Service, testified that one captured member of Al Shabaab was asked if he would renounce terrorism, and his response was "the American definition of terrorism is anti-Islam." The prisoner went on to state that he does not seek to be removed from the terrorist watch list because doing so would be going against "his religion."

The dominant issue amongst the panelists was that of piracy, which they argued is the underlying antagonist of the conflict, and one that must be tackled by addressing the economic, political, and humanitarian crisis.  Differing approaches were suggested by the panel as how to accomplish this, with solutions ranging from abandoning sanctions to imposing an international military presence.  

Unequivocally, the accord was that international intervention at an unobtrusive level is necessary (if not mandatory) to stabilize the government, and cease the ever-growing influence of extremist factions such as Al Shabaab.

See Also: "Analysis: Somalia Aid Tied to Shaky Government" (Associated Press)

-- Fatma Hocaoglu (fatma@mpac.org)
MPAC Capitol Hill Administrative Assistant