David Blair,a diplomatic editor of the Telegraph, published in November 2008 the "Analysis of a failed state". The article can be referred to under
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/somalia/3479010/Somalia-analysis-of-a-failed-state
In 1991, after President Mohammed Siad Barre was overthrown, Somalia's government collapsed and has not restored since then. Its long coastline of over 3000km is a major trade route between the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. With conflicts being out of control even off the countries coast today, it should be asked if Somalis is not only a failed state but a world-wide endangerment.
As stated in the article:' The fundamental cause of the conflict lies in Somalia's bitter clan rivalries.' Even if Somalis are mostly from the same tribe, sharing the same language and religion, they are divided in clans, sub-clans, and sub-sub clans, with a war lord for each of these, fighting for resources in the dried up country. After the US' army failed to restore order in 1992, and after Ethiopia captured Mogadishu in 2006 and created an international administration without any influence, makes other nations hesitate to send their own groups to regain peace.
In addition, radical Islamists have expanded to Somalia which are now controlling most of Somalia's south. Even if nations are waking up and trying to go against the birth of a radical Islamic state in East Africa, it became very difficult for the outside to intervene. In a country with no national police, army or effective government, an estimated 70% of died livestock, two million people in need of food aid, and a further 500,000 wandering the country searching for help, even external aid groups are not able to reach the country’s core, which makes it simply impossible to help Somalia- at least right now.
Beyond these problems, piracy is increasing as a result from the enduring war and to the benefits of the conflicting clans. Through the non-existing government, fisherman from abroad took advantage and overfished the Somalia coast which had a severe impacted on domestic fishers who had to utilize piracy. Certainly some of that money, which is the major income resource with $ 150 m last year alone, is used to fund the warlord’s future operations with more powerful weapons, bigger boats and more sophisticated equipment.
To conclude, reviewing these few examples of arising problems regarding Somalia, it is eligible to talk about a danger to the world not only about it being a failed state, which now also found a stable income resource if the trade route will not be avoided. The only way to stop the violence is to regain a proper national government which might seem to most of the world as an abortive attempt.
