Amisom

Somalia's post-colonial history has been dominated by conflict and suffering. Wars fought against neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia were followed by the progressive collapse of the country as bitter factional fighting ultimately led, in January 1991, to the violent overthrow of President Mohammed Siad Barre. What has followed has been a continuation of the anarchy as one of Africa's longest-running civil wars brought with it chaos and bloodshed. In December 2006 Ethiopia, with tacit American support, deployed its military forces in to Somalia in an attempt to remove the Islamic clerics who had gained control of Mogadishu earlier that same year. Within a matter of months the African Union had in turn become involved, authorizing the deployment of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to act as a regional peacekeeping force operating under a United Nations mandate. Relying on a significant Ugandan lead role, AMISOM has grown in size and stature and today more than 17,000 troops continue to battle to establish peace and stability across Somalia. This account of events in Somalia begins with an overview of the country's history, highlighting the challenges to security that led to it being considered by many as the prime example of a 'failed state'. It then identifies the key phases of the regional military efforts to bring an end to the violence, initially by Ethiopia and then by the larger AMISOM forces. This includes discussion of the nature of the changing threat as it moved from clan-based factionalism to the now dominant radical Islamic challenge and the insurgent/terrorist group al-Shabaab. In the process it describes AMISOM's formation, the planning that went into the initial battles and the increasingly sophisticated strategy and approach that has evolved to defeat the threat. Drawing on accounts from some of those involved and using maps and photographs to help illustrate the military struggle, it provides a definitive account of the most recent battle for Somalia.