mahnmut (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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talkpolitics2025-06-03 01:35 pm
mahnmut) wrote in talkpolitics2025-06-03 01:35 pm
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Somalia: A case study in state fragility
Somalia's trajectory offers a stark illustration of state failure. The US has once again reduced its military and financial support, including cuts to the elite Danab special forces and the African Union peacekeeping mission. This withdrawal has emboldened al-Shabab, the al-Qaida-linked militant group, which is now advancing toward Mogadishu.
The pattern is familiar: international engagement followed by neglect, leading to power vacuums that extremist groups exploit. Given Somalia's strategic location near global shipping lanes and conflict zones like Yemen, its stability is crucial. Yet, history shows that disengagement often precedes unrest and terrorist expansion.
This situation underscores the complexities of state-building and the consequences of inconsistent foreign involvement. Somalia's challenges highlight the need for sustained international commitment to prevent the resurgence of extremist threats.
But hey, why learn from decades of failed interventions when you can just rinse, repeat, and act shocked when warlords fill the void? Apparently, long-term strategy is just too much to ask, especially when there's always another crisis to half-fix before moving on.
The pattern is familiar: international engagement followed by neglect, leading to power vacuums that extremist groups exploit. Given Somalia's strategic location near global shipping lanes and conflict zones like Yemen, its stability is crucial. Yet, history shows that disengagement often precedes unrest and terrorist expansion.
This situation underscores the complexities of state-building and the consequences of inconsistent foreign involvement. Somalia's challenges highlight the need for sustained international commitment to prevent the resurgence of extremist threats.
But hey, why learn from decades of failed interventions when you can just rinse, repeat, and act shocked when warlords fill the void? Apparently, long-term strategy is just too much to ask, especially when there's always another crisis to half-fix before moving on.