TIMELINE: SOMALIA

Aan wada hadalno waa aan heshiino

Let us talk; peace can only be reached through a dialogue.

- Somali proverb

A chronology of key events leading to the interim government (1990 – 2005)

Somalia has had no central government since 1991, when opposition leaders ousted dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. They then turned on each other, dividing the nation of 7 million into a patchwork of clan-based fiefdoms. A new government, formed after two years of complex talks between warlords, clan leaders and civil society representatives, is currently based in Kenya because it considers Somalia too unsafe. The interim administration is expected to govern the country until democratic elections can be held in five-years time. Despite growing fatigue by the international community there is hope in the Somali Diaspora that this time round, the international community will be able to save Somalia from itself. However, without an effective and voluntary disarmament of the various militias, a government picked in Nairobi would find it impossible to restore law and order.

Fighting and Displacement

Although the peace talks dominated the news reports on Somalia in 2004, sporadic outbreaks of violence were also reported in various parts of the country.

Initial optimism prompted by the Eldoret Declaration on cessation of hostilities, signed in October 2002 during the first weeks of the reconciliation conference, proved unfounded by mid-2004.

Related Documents and Videos:

Signing of the anti-landmine agreement, Eldoret, Kenya-Quicktime video

Signing of the anti-landmine agreement-2, Eldoret, Kenya-Quicktime video

Somali woman singing for peace, Eldoret, Kenya -Somali - Quicktime video

Song for Peace in Somalia, Eldoret, Kenya-Quicktime video

Glimmer of Hope-Peace in Gedo - pdf
A Glimmer of Hope on the Horizon for Gedo Residents

Peace Radio: Canadian Voices in Somalia - pdf
Radio and the peace process in Somalia -- the Somali Canadian influence.

Women - The missing and resourceful agents, by Shukria Dini - pdf
Women and the Peace Process -- Special Presentation at the Ottawa Somali-Canadian Awareness Evening, December, 2004.

Reflections on the Concepts of "Nation State" and "Civil Society" - pdf
Presentation by Fowsia Abdulkadr at the Somali-Canadian Awareness Evening, December, 2004, Ottawa, Ontario

2005

January 13th Parliament approves the new cabinet

2005

January 7th Gedi announces a larger cabinet

2004

November/December Violence between two local sub-clans in the central region of Galgadud, resulted in the displacement of thousands of families. Over 200 people died and close to 300 were injured as a result of the fighting.

2004

October tension between Somaliland and Puntland over the disputed regions of Sool and Sanaag turned violent, with hundreds killed and untold numbers injured on both sides.

2004

September Fighting raged around the port city of Kismayo leading to serious displacement and loss of life and property.

2004

May/June More than 100 killed in upsurge of fighting. Deadly clashes between ethnic militias in southern town of Bulla-hawa displaced over 10,000 people. Fightings between some local militias also rocked Mogadishu – the capital city during these months

2000

May Djibouti opens up a dialogue between the Somali people bringing together more than 2000 Somali delegates representing all walks of life.

1997

November The Egyptian government calls in all warlords to resolve their differences by talks holding a conference in Cairo, but the meeting collapses when the faction leaders fail to come up with an acceptable power-sharing mechanism.

1996

November Ethiopia holds peace talk in Sodare bringing together all the warlords. This attempt never materialized.

1996

August Gen. Aidid dies of gunshot wounds sustained during an outbreak of fighting in Mogadishu. His son – Hussein Aidid (a former American marine) takes over his position.

1995

May/June Final UN forces withdraws from Somalia.

1994

March US forces withdraw from Somalia.

1993

November The hunt for Aidid is abandoned, and US representatives are sent to resume negotiations with the warlord.

1993

October 4th Task Force Ranger's assault on the Olympic Hotel in Mogadishu, in search of Aidid, results in a seventeen-hour bloody battle in which 18 US soldiers are killed and 84 are wounded.

1993

August US special forces (Rangers) arrive in Somalia.

1993

June 24 Pakistani soldiers are ambushed and massacred.

1993

June The UN Security Council issues an emergency resolution calling for the apprehension of "those responsible" for the massacre”. A call to apprehend Gen. Aidid (USC commander) comes into effect. US and UN troops begin attacking various targets in Mogadishu associated with Aidid, including a radio station and ammunition depots. The peacekeepers are now at war with Aidid.

1993

May UNOSOM II comes into effect, UNITAF hands over to UNOSOM II (A UN operation with expanded enforcement power, whose mandate stressed "the crucial importance of disarmament" of the Somali people). The expanded operation's new mission goes beyond simply providing humanitarian relief, calling for the UN to facilitate "nation building," to get Somalia back on its feet by restoring law and order, shoring up the infrastructure, and helping to set up processes for establishing a representative government. By the end of March, 28 different nations send contingents to Somalia in support of the new militarized operation.

1993

March A UN sponsored peace conference brings together all Somali factions in Nairobi, Kenya, resulting in the Nairobi declaration

1992

December The US-led Unified Task Force [UNITAF] lands in Mogadishu.