Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “The abduction of humanitarian aid workers is a result of the extreme fragmentation of Somalian society,” Agenzia Fides was told by Federico Battera, Professor of Political Science at the University of Trieste and expert on the Horn of Africa. “Now, even the internal control mechanisms of the Somali clans have been broken,” says Battera. “Paradoxically, when the ‘war lords’ were the ones arguing over control of the territory and access to the resources and ports, causing the death of hundreds, there was some kind of control. The population was suffering, but at least they found a point of reference in their clan leaders, who for better or for worse managed to place a bit of order, albeit in a ‘mafioso’-like manner. Now all this has broken down. It’s a war of everyone versus everyone else. The government is extremely weak and being supported by Ethiopian troops that is unable to keep order in the capital Mogadishu, let alone the rest of the country, which has been left completely abandoned to its own forces.”
Battera offers a disconcerting description of the country. “There are guerrillas fighting against the Ethiopian troops that blend national and tribal revenge with Islamic fundamentalist ideology. The piracy and bandits enter into a larger picture that completely lacks a central government and a strong thrust towards social fragmentation. The clan leaders are unable to impose their authority on the bands of youth from their own clan. If one of these leaders decides to sign a truce with the government, he cannot do so with the backing of all his people. Whomever is excluded from power, whether it be in the government or by tradition, seeks self-affirmation in vandalism and piracy.”
The prospects are not encouraging. “The situation in Somalia recalls that of Iraq 3-4 years ago, when the guerrilla warfare against Americans was topped off by the conflicts among Iraqis of different religions and extreme forms of vandalism, even the abduction of Westerners and common civilians. In Somalia’s case, at the moment there doesn’t seem to be any power in the area capable of stabilizing the situation. Moreover, I think that on Somali soil there is a war brewing among Ethiopia, Eritrea, and other States, who are interested in seeing Addis Abeba bogged down in Somali chaos. The Ethiopian government is in search of a solution so as to pull out their troops in Somalia, however I think it will be quite difficult for them to find one any time soon.”
The continuous attacks on humanitarian aid organizations could lead to a disaster similar to the 1992-93 era, which led to the United Nations’ intervention. This is what the UN World Food Program is saying, recalling that 90% of the food supply sent to over two million Somalis reaches the country by waterways. However, the pirate attacks and violence against humanitarian aid workers are a serious concern for WFP ops, as well as for those of other NGOs working in Somalia. The WFP estimates that if the situation does not improve, by December, the number of people in need of food rations will be 3.5 million. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 22/7/2008)
