Somalia is listed as one of the poorest and most volatile countries in the world. More than 25 years of civil war, famine and a lack of government has left the country in fiascos. Unless realistic measures to fix the situation and the underlying causes; the situation will get worse, and time is not our side.
In
the past, the international community has assumed that instability in Somalia
is caused by its weak government and that the solution is to strengthen the
government so it can enforce law and order in the country. However, this is
only part of the problem. The real cause of the chaos in Somalia is the fragile
economy and lack of security within the country. Unless these problems are
solved, nothing will change in Somalia and things will continue to get worse
for the country and the people of Somalia.
Somalia
locates in the Horn of Africa and is an East African country with a history
dating back more than 2,000 years. The country is home to numerous ancient
ruins, including the capital city of Mogadishu, which is the oldest
continuously inhabited city in the region. Despite its rich history and
culture, life in Somalia has been difficult ever since independence from
British rule ended in 1960. Since then, the country has suffered from political
instability and economic decline.
Despite
its rich history, Somalia is one of the most violent and unstable countries in
the world. Ongoing conflicts and violence between rival clans, and Islamic
insurgents have resulted in widespread human suffering and enormous economic
losses.
The
prolonged drought, the worst in at least 40 years, has affected about 7.8
million people, nearly half of Somalia’s estimated population. More than 1.1
million people have been displaced since 2021. An estimated 6.7 million Somalis
are expected to face crisis-level food insecurity or worse due to the drought
between October and December 2022. About 1.8 million children under 5 years of
age will likely face acute malnutrition through mid-2023, including over
513,000 children who are expected to be severely malnourished. Even if no
famine emerges, given rising death rates in many areas, the large size of the
affected population and the likely duration of the crisis, the cumulative
levels of excess mortality could be as high as in 2011 when more than 250,000
people lost their lives.
Somalia
has one of the highest numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the
world, estimated at 2.9 million people in 2022. Conflict and insecurity
continue to displace civilians and have compound vulnerabilities, with nearly
770,000 people estimated to be living in areas with extreme access constraints
due to the presence of non-state armed actors as of October 2022. Another 2.1
million people live in areas that are hard-to-reach/have high access
constraints.
The
combined impact of recurring stress factors and shocks has deepened poverty in
the country. At least 71 per cent of Somalis are living below the poverty line.
Preventable diseases such as acute watery diarrhoea and measles are endemic and
cases continue to rise compared to recent years, driven by severe water
shortages and poor sanitation, especially in settlements where displaced people
live, and limitations in the health-care system.[1]
Why
is a Solution Required?
Governments
around the world are concerned by the violence and instability caused by
political conflict, clan warfare and terrorism, and it is generally agreed that
these issues must be resolved for countries to achieve peace and prosperity.
Somalia is in desperate need of a solution to help it overcome its many
problems and achieve lasting peace and order. However, there is no easy
solution to this problem because the root of the problem lies deep inside the
fabric of Somali society and cannot be solved by simply strengthening the
government. This is a long-term problem that requires long-term solutions if it
is to be overcome.
Political
conflict and violent extremism lead to insecurity in a country and are
therefore major problems that need to be dealt with urgently. Failing to deal
with these problems can lead to the collapse of the state and lead to anarchy
and civil war, in which millions of people can be killed or injured, and many
more forced from their homes and left homeless. Therefore, it is essential that
political conflict and violence be addressed as soon as possible before the
situation gets any worse.
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