Battle of Mogadishu

Background to the Battle

In January 1991, the leader of Somalia, Mohammed Siad Barre, was overthrown by a coalition of opposing clans, called the United Somalia Congress. After this revolution, the coalition divided into two groups. One was led by Ali Mahdi, who became president; and the other, by Mohammed Farah Aidid. In total, there were four opposing groups: the United Somali Congress (USC), Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM), and Somali Democratic Movement (SDM), which continued to fight over the domination of Somalia. In June, 1991, a ceasefire was agreed, which these groups however, failed to hold. A fifth group, the Somali National Movement (SNM), had already in June, seceded in the northwest portion of Somalia, re-naming it the Somaliland Republic, with the leader of the SNM, Abdel-Rahman Ahmed Ali as president.

Related Topics:
1991 - Somalia - Mohammed Siad Barre - Mohammed Farah Aidid - Somaliland

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In September, 1991, severe fighting broke out in Mogadishu, which continued in the following months and spread throughout the country, with over 20,000 people killed or injured by the end of the year.These wars led to the destruction of the agriculture of Somalia, which in turn led to starvation in large parts of Somalia. The international community began to send food supplies to halt the starvation, but vast amounts of food were hijacked and brought to local clan leaders, who routinely exchanged it with other countries for weapons. An estimated 80% of the food was stolen. These factors led to even more starvation, from which an estimated 300,000 people died, and another 1.5 million people suffered, between 1991 and 1992.In July, 1992, after a ceasefire between the opposing clan factions, the United Nations (UN) sent 50 military observers to watch the distribution of the food.

Related Topics:
Mogadishu - Agriculture of Somalia - International community - Food - Starvation - Clan - 1992 - United Nations

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Operation Provide Relief began in August, 1992, when the White House announced that U.S. military transports would support the multinational UN relief effort in Somalia. Ten C-130's and 400 people deployed to Mombasa, Kenya, during Operation Provide Relief, airlifting aid to remote areas in Somalia, to reduce reliance on truck convoys. One member of the 86th Supply Squadron deployed with the ground support contingent, USAFE's only contribution to the operation. The Air Force C-130's delivered 48,000 tons of food and medical supplies in six months, to international humanitarian organizations, trying to help the over three million starving people in the country. When this proved inadequate to stop the massive death and displacement of Somali people (500,000 dead; 1.5 million refugees or displaced), the U.S. in December, 1992, launched a major coalition operation, Operation Restore Hope, to assist and protect humanitarian activities, under which the United States would assume the unified command of the new operation, in accordance with resolution 794(1992).

Related Topics:
Operation Provide Relief - White House - C-130 - Mombasa - Kenya - USAFE - Operation Restore Hope

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A criticitism of the battle was the soldiers using new green tip rounds (tungsten carbide penetrator at tip) able to punch holes in metal,so the power of the bullet would go directly through their targets and took several shots to injure or kill.

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