Living In a Failed State[footnoteRef:1] [1: 2004 – Adapted from the BBC News Article: “Living in Somalia’s Anarchy” at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4017147.stm]

Track your understanding of the article using the following focused reading symbols on the left hand-side of the article: ✔= Got it. I know or understand this. ! = This is really important or interesting. ? = I don’t understand this or this does not make sense.

Somalia is the only country in the world where there is no government. BBC News website’s Joseph Winter reports from Mogadishu (the capital) on life with no government.

Seventeenth century philosopher Thomas Hobbes wrote that without government authority, “life is (lonely), poor, nasty, brutish and short”. Few Somalis have probably heard of Hobbes but most would agree with his description – except for “lonely”, as family ties remain extremely strong.

The last government, led by President Siad Barre, was toppled in 1991. Since then, Somalia has been a divided country with most areas controlled by rival warlord, who occasionally clash for territory. So what is life like after more than a decade without a government?

Driving 50km (30 miles) from one of the airstrips near the capital, Mogadishu, to the city, you pass seven checkpoints, each run by a different warlord. At each of these “border crossings” all passenger vehicles and trucks must pay an ‘entry fee’, ranging from $3-$300, depending on the value of the goods being carried – and what the militiamen think they can get away with.

None of this money goes towards public services, such as health care, education or roads. Much of if is spent by the warlords on Khat, an addictive drug, whose green leaves they can chew for hours on end. Those who can afford it, travel with several armed guards – allowing them to pass the road-blocks untouched.

While (former President) Siad Barre is commonly referred to as a dictator, some now remember with fondness that schools and hospitals were free. It is now estimated that only about 15% of children of primary-school age actually go to school, compared with at least 75% even in other poor African countries. In Mogadishu, many schools, colleges, universities and even government buildings, have become camps for the people who fled to the capital, running from warlords elsewhere.

Makeshift shelters made from branches, orange plastic sheets and old pieces of metal cover what were once manicured lawns outside schools and offices. And since some of the warlords started to kidnap aid workers, demanding huge ransom fees, many of the aid agencies have pulled out, leaving many of those in the camps without any assistance whatsoever. “Some of my children shell nuts in the street to earn some money. We can’t afford to send them to school,” says Mrs. Ladan.

She lives in what was once a school in Mogadishu. There are no toilets in what is now a refugee camp, and in the rainy season, diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and diarrhea spread quickly. Some schools, universities and hospitals continue to operate but they are mostly privately run and charge fees for services. The many thousands of people like Mrs. Ladan are unable to pay the $3 it costs to see a doctor and so people die of diseases which could be easily prevented or cured.

Although most Somalis are able to survive, everyone I spoke to in Mogadishu is desperate for a return to some semblance of law and order. “I just want a government, any government will do,” one man told me. We all (in countries with governments) seem to enjoy criticizing our governments but life in Somalia shows the alternative is far worse, as Hobbes wrote 350 years ago.

Somalia – Inside a Failed State

✪Checking Your Understanding

1.

With no government, who controls Somalia?

2.

Describe what life is like in Somalia for the average person.

3.

Identify at least 3 things the lack of which has made life in Somalia especially difficult (things that we here in Canada, often take for granted).

Group 1

Terrorism

The Background

Al-Shabab, a militant Islamist group in Somalia, has recently announced that it has joined Al-Qaeda, and there are increased reports of foreigners (including some from the United States and Great Britain) attending terrorist training camps in parts of Somalia under Islamist control.

The Problem

The concern is that these American and British nationals could return to their countries to carry out terror attacks after receiving their terrorist training. People also worry that the lack of law and order in Somalia may also lead to the development of different and new terrorist organizations.

Your Task

In your group, you are responsible for addressing the following issues. Fill out the chart below and be prepared to share your thoughts with the class.

In your own words, summarize the issue:

Why is Somalia sometimes called the terrorist’s paradise?

How might this issue affect the average Somali living in the country?

How might this affect us, all the way here in Canada?

Do we have any reason to do anything about this?

What could we do about this?

Group 2

Piracy

The Background

The lack of law and order has allowed a growing number of countries to take advantage of Somalia’s once abundant supply of fish. As a result, many people who had previously made their living off of fishery have lost their jobs. Unfortunately, this has meant that one of the few ways of earning a good living in Somalia is to become a pirate. Pirates seize ships and their crew and hold them hostage in pirate bases until the owner pays a ransom – often several million dollars in cash.

The Problem

The majority of the ships seized by the pirates are huge oil tankers making their way to western countries like Canada. Pirate attacks are estimated to have cost companies billions of dollars in ransoms, higher insurance premiums and other additional shipping costs. Of course, these extra costs are passed to us (the consumers) resulting in higher prices for not only oil and shipping but also many traded goods.

Your Task

In your group, you are responsible for addressing the following issues. Fill out the chart below and be prepared to share your thoughts with the class.

In your own words, summarize the issue:

Why is Somalia sometimes called a pirate’s paradise?

How might this issue affect the average Somali living in the country?

How might this affect us, all the way here in Canada?

Do we have any reason to do anything about this?

What could we do about this?

Group 3

Humanitarian

The Background

Put simply, there is no healthcare system in Somalia. The little medical attention that a small number of Somalis do receive comes from non-governmental and aid organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). Unfortunately, much of the country is controlled by Al-Shabab (a militant Islamist group linked to Al-Qaeda) which has banned most international aid agencies, accusing them of exaggerating the scale of suffering for their own interests.

The Problem

Somalis are in crisis. The United Nation’s latest report on the country indicates that almost one third (1 in 3 people!) are unable to feed themselves. Many Somalis do not have access to basic nutrition, clean water, and medicines. Countless people, including children and teenagers like yourselves, are needlessly suffering from hunger and easily curable diseases.

Your Task

In your group, you are responsible for addressing the following issues. Fill out the chart below and be prepared to share your thoughts with the class.

In your own words, summarize the issue:

Why are so many Somalis living in crisis?

How might this issue affect the average Somali living in the country?

How might this affect us, all the way here in Canada?

Do we have any reason to do anything about this?

What could we do about this?

Group 4

Drugs and Arms

The Background

The lack of law and order in Somalia has allowed for a number of different groups to use the area for widespread illegal transactions, including illicit drugs and weapon trafficking. The absence of well paying jobs has helped attract more and more Somalis to the very profitable business of purchasing, transporting and selling of drugs and weapons. With no state police and a criminal justice system, there is very little to discourage people from engaging in these types of activities.

The Problem

Many are concerned that the relative ease with which drugs and arms pass through Somalia’s well placed ports could help spread instability to its neighbours (like Yemen, Kenya and Ethiopia). The UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) has reported that some of the drugs and arms that pass through countries like Somalia make their way to Western countries like Canada.

Your Task

In your group, you are responsible for addressing the following issues. Fill out the chart below and be prepared to share your thoughts with the class.

In your own words, summarize the issue:

Why is trafficking drugs and weapons so attractive to so many Somalis?

How might this issue affect the average Somali living in the country?

How might this affect us, all the way here in Canada?

Do we have any reason to do anything about this?

What could we do about this?

Group 5

Diaspora

The Background

Besides family, there are very few reasons for Somalis to stay in their country. There is no healthcare, education system, police, firefighters or a criminal justice system. With no well paying jobs that are not in piracy or drugs and weapons trafficking, many Somalis are looking to move elsewhere to provide a better, more stable future for their children.

The Problem

Although many Somalis have flooded into their neighbouring countries of Ethiopia and Kenya, most have their eyes set on countries further away, like Canada. Canada has one of the largest Somali populations in the western world, with unofficial estimates suggesting that close to 150,000 Somalis (most living in Toronto and Ottawa) call Canada home. Since immigration to most western countries is a long and difficult process, many Somalis have been forced to come over as ‘refugees’ – with little to no formal acknowledgement of their previous education and training. This has resulted in many Somalis facing barriers to employment and well paying jobs in countries like Canada.

Your Task

In your group, you are responsible for addressing the following issues. Fill out the chart below and be prepared to share your thoughts with the class.

In your own words, summarize the issue:

Why are so many Somalis choosing to leave their country?

What could it mean for Somalia if all of their educated and skilled workers leave?

How might this affect us, all the way here in Canada?

Do we have any reason to do anything about this?

What could we do about this?