by Donna Hicks

Created on: April 19, 2010

Increased resistance to the repressive regime of the Somalian Leader Siad Barre led to his being ousted from office in January 1991. A counter-revolution took place in an attempt to have him reinstated. After extensive violence and chaos, a humanitarian crisis developed and in 1992, the United States became involved in the conflict in Somalia, initially on a humanitarian basis.

Leading Up to U.S. Involvement

It was in 1969, that Barre seized control of Somalia, via a military coup. He declared Somalia a socialist country and ruled with corruption and repression. Uprisings against Barre's rule became common, and finally led to his being overthrown in 1991.

Since then, amidst the conflicts and civil war in Somalia, Somalia has had no effective centralized government. It was through the efforts of humanitarian aid to Somalia that the United States became involved in the Somali Conflict, in 1992.

UN Security Resolutions

UN Security Council Resolutions 733 and 746 were adopted to restore order and bring aid to the Somalians. In December, 1992, UN Security Council Resolution 794 was unanimously adopted by the United Nations Security Council.

This led the way for a coalition of peacekeepers to set out on a two year mission, to be led by the United States, to restore peace and bring a secure environment to humanitarian aid efforts in Somalia.

Then President George Bush created “Operation Restore Hope,” through which the U.S. assumed command in accordance to those rules set forth in 794.

While protecting food which was meant for the starving Somali people via the humanitarian aid programs from being looted by warring factions, the U.S. attempted to oust a major warlord, named Mohammed Farah Aidid. He retaliated by shooting down two U.S. military helicopters.

Eighteen American Servicemen were killed and over 1,000 Somalis were killed in the battle which followed. His troops shot at UNOSOM (United Nations Operations In Somalia) forces, and Ali Mohamed  Mahdi’s forces shelled UNOSOM ships at the Mogadishu port that were carrying food for the Somali people. In 1993, the United States pulled out of Somalia and the UN pulled out in 1995.

Transitions and Suspicions

After several failed attempts at peace talks, there was a successful transition in 2004, with the development of the Transitional Federal Government, (TFG) which was led by President Abdullah Yusef Ahmed.

It never became the government of national unity as intended, and protected the very

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