| Somalia Before The War |
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The country, which lies along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean had no working government between January 1991 and August 2000, has been engulfed in anarchy since 1991 and one of the worst drought cases to sweep through the African continent have graced the land. Years of peace negotiations between the various factions have harvested little, if no fruit, and warlords and militias continue to wage war. But it’s not like the nation has always been on the periphery. At the time of independence in 1960, Somalia was touted in the West as the model of a rural democracy in Africa. Somalia was an enviously huge vacation and tourist destination and was known for its striking beaches, stunning people, and its tranquil and sober nature. The streets of Mogadishu, currently dusty, sleepy and dotted with potholes, grotesque and ramshackle buildings was lined with trees filled with the fragrance of flowers and eucalyptus, fine architecture, splendid weather and revitalizing atmosphere. It was simply put; one of the most beautiful cities in Africa. However, the gaining of Independence in 1960 ushered in endless years of civil war that have spilled to even today as the nation continues to walk towards an uncertain future that has even been darkened further by the rise of Islamists like the Al-Shabab group and al-Qaeda who have taken control of some parts of Mogadishu and once again pushed the country into mayhem. 1991 in particular saw great changes in Somalia. President Barre was ousted by combined northern and southern clan-based forces. Clan allegiances and competition for resources between warring clans was soon the order of the day, disrupting agriculture and stalling economic development. Somalia was never to be the same again. Many other countries worldwide have been left to nothing due to war in the past and have rebuilt. So, may be there’s hope that Somalia will someday regurgitate life into itself, get its act together and come back to life.  |
