In a bid to re-establish normal relations with the Government of Somalia, the United States has reopened its diplomatic mission with the Eastern Africa nation, which continues to battle Islamic extremist rebels. Due to the tenuous security situation in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, the U.S. mission for Somalia will be based in the American Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. It will be led by a Chargé d’affaires until President Barack Obama appoints, and the Senate confirms, an ambassador. This is a major and historic step towards restoring diplomatic ties since the United States’ withdrawal from Somalia in the early 1990’s. This new mission, therefore, reflects a continuation of U.S. efforts to normalize the U.S.-Somalia bilateral relationship.
Many have received this new development with hope and enthusiasm. Rekindling US-Somalia ties will be an added advantage as the US already plays a great role in restoring peace and security in Somalia. With the strong leadership of the United States the international community has made great strides in countering piracy off the Horn of Africa. Also, pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia are at the lowest levels since 2006.
The U.S. has been committed to supporting Somalia, providing over $1.5 billion in assistance since 2009 and over $300 million in 2013 alone. In addition, since 1998, the United States has invested nearly $19 million in conventional weapons destruction programs in Somalia, including nearly $4 million in 2013 from the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. This humanitarian de-mining support has drastically reduced the amount of contamination in the Somaliland region of Somalia, as well as the number of mine-related accidents. Somalialand is on track to be free from the impact of landmines by 2017.
The US-Somalia relationship dates back to the post-colonial era. The United States established diplomatic relations with Somalia in 1960, following its constituent parts’ independence from British and Italian administration, respectively. A 1969 coup replaced Somalia’s elected government with military rule that reflected both ideological and economic dependence on the Soviet Union. Following war with Ethiopia in the 1970’s, Somalia began turning toward the West, including the United States, for international support, military equipment, and economic aid. Civil war in the 1980’s led to the collapse of Somalia’s central government headed by Siad Barre in 1991.This also preceded the evacuation of the US mission in Somalia. Though the Barre government collapsed and the country was being ravaged by a Civil War, the United States never formally severed diplomatic ties with Somalia even after her embassy in Mogadishu was evacuated and closed down.
Somalia is still a long way from finding a semblance of peace and security. The way forward to ensure the consolidation of peace should not be geared towards military intervention. A lesson should be learned from the Iraq war, where the military solution, was a failed solution. The military solution will only perpetuate bloodshed and chaos by discrediting, if not altogether alienating, the moderate elements, while radicalizing insurgents. The only way toward a win-win solution is through diplomacy and the adoption of an alternative, constructive policy toward Somalia. America should champion the dialogue and diplomacy, hereby further entrenching its reinvigorated relationship with Somalia.
