BACKGROUND INFORMATION

 
“The state of Somalia was born in 1960, when British Somaliland and what had formerly been Italian Somaliland united and declared independence.” (Al Jazeera, 9 September 2012)[i]
 
“In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule characterized by the persecution, jailing, and torture of political opponents and dissidents.” (CIA, 22 March 2016)[ii]
 
“Armed opposition groups overthrew Barre’s regime in 1991, and Somalia descended into civil war and anarchy.” (Al Jazeera, 9 September 2012)
 
“The ousting of Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 sparks a decades-long civil war between rival clan warlords and the disintegration of central authority. Former British Somaliland declares unilateral independence.” (BBC, 4 February 2016)[iii]
 
“Somalia lacks a unified central government. Somaliland, in the north, declared independence from Somalia shortly after the civil war broke out in 1991, although it has not been recognised by any foreign governments. Puntland, in Somalia’s northeast, declared itself an autonomous state in 1998. Unlike Somaliland, Puntland does not seek independence.” (Al Jazeera, 9 September 2012)
 
“In 2000, the Somalia National Peace Conference (SNPC) held in Djibouti resulted in the formation of an interim government, known as the Transitional National Government (TNG). When the TNG failed to establish adequate security or governing institutions, the Government of Kenya, under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), led a subsequent peace process that concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as President of a second interim government, known as the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of the Somali Republic. The TFG included a 275-member parliamentary body, known as the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP).” (CIA, 22 March 2016)
 
“In 2004, [the TNG] was replaced by the Transitional Federal Government, which initially ruled from Kenya until it moved to Baidoa in 2007. In July 2006, the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), a group of Sharia courts, defeated the US-backed and secular Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism. The ICU took control of Mogadishu and large parts of the southern region.” (Peace Direct, January 2014)[iv]
 
“In 2006, the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) took control of much of central and southern Somalia, imposing a strict interpretation of sharia law over the areas it ruled. […] Ethiopian troops intervened later that year to fight ICU forces. […] A radical offshoot of the ICU called al-Shabab, now affiliated with al-Qaeda, controls much of southern Somalia, although African Union troops have recently seen major victories against al-Shabaab.” (Al Jazeera, 9 September 2012)
 
“The seizure of the capital Mogadishu and much of the country's south by a coalition of Islamist shariah courts in 2006 prompted an intervention by Ethiopian, and later, African Union, forces. […] 2007-11 - An African Union peacekeeping force, Amisom, begins to deploy and Ethiopian troops withdraw in 2009. Al-Shabab - a jihadist breakaway from the Islamic Courts - advance into southern and central Somalia, prompting an armed intervention by Kenya.” (BBC, 4 February 2016)
 
“In 2009, the TFP amended the TFC to extend TFG's mandate until 2011 and in 2011 Somali principals agreed to institute political transition by August 2012. The transition process ended in September 2012 when clan elders replaced the TFP by appointing 275 members to a new parliament who subsequently elected a new president.” (CIA, 22 March 2016)
 
“A relatively new figure in Somali politics, academic and civic activist Hassan Sheikh Mohamud beat the incumbent Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in a run-off presidential vote in September 2012. This was the first presidential election held on Somali soil since 1967, and held among members of parliament elected by clan elders. In 2015, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud shelved plans to hold the next presidential election the following as a direct popular vote, citing a lack of security and infrastructure.” (BBC, 4 February 2016)
 
“The president of Somalia has told VOA that his government will not hold popular elections next year, due to continuing insecurity in the country.” (VOA, 29 July 2015)[v]
 
  

Overview on conflict-related incidents

 
The following map contains information on conflict-related incidents according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) at the University of Sussex (covering January to March 2016):
 

 
For further information on ACLED and the recorded incidents please see:

• ACCORD - Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation: Somalia, 1. Quartal 2016: Kurzübersicht über Vorfälle aus dem Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), 3 May 2016 (available on ecoi.net) http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/90_1462277150_2016q1somalia-en.pdf

 

Security Situation in South and Central Somalia in 2015

 
“In central and southern Somalia, the security situation remained volatile, with Al-Shabaab continuing to launch attacks on African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali national army positions and civilian targets.” (UN Security Council, 8 January 2016, p.3)[vi]
 
“Civilians continued to be indiscriminately killed and wounded in crossfire during armed clashes, whether by suicide attacks, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or grenade attacks.” (AI, 24 February 2016)[vii].
 
“The security situation remained volatile in government-controlled towns. Government forces failed to protect civilians, including journalists, clan elders, clerics and lawmakers and other officials from targeted killings by Al-Shabab as well as by unknown gunmen, primarily in Mogadishu, Baidoa, the capital of the Bay region, and Beletweyn, the capital of Hiraan.” (HRW, 27 January 2016)[viii].
 
Conflicts between clans
 
“Conflict between Biimaal and Habar Gedir militias in the Lower Shabelle Region continued, although reports of abductions and killings decreased.” (USDOS, 13 April 2016, Section 1g)[ix].
 
“Inter-clan fighting, reportedly involving government forces, in Hiraan also resulted in civilians deaths.” (HRW, 27 January 2016)
 
“Clashes throughout the south and central regions resulted in deaths and displacement. For example, on January 22, clashes between Dir and Hawadle clan militias over land in the towns of Burdhinle and Hada-Ogle in the Hiraan Region resulted in at least 23 deaths and numerous injuries.” (USDOS, 13 April 2016, Section 1g).
 
“ASWJ militias and federal forces skirmished throughout the year, causing internal displacement of persons. For example, on February 10, the ASWJ attacked SNA forces in Guri’el, Galguduud Region. According to local sources, fighting killed at least three civilians and injured many more.” (USDOS, 13 April 2016, Section 1g)
 
“In February, as a result of ongoing tensions regarding establishing an interim regional administration in central Somalia, fighting in Guri’el between government forces and the Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a, a Sufi militia, resulted in civilian deaths and massive displacement. According to the United Nations, about 90 percent of the estimated population of over 65,000 temporarily fled.” (HRW, 27 January 2016)
 
Attacks by al-Shabaab
 
“In central and southern Somalia, the security situation remained volatile, with Al-Shabaab continuing to launch attacks on African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali national army positions and civilian targets.” (UN Security Council, 8 January 2016, p.3)
 
“Al-Shabaab retained the ability to stage lethal attacks in the most heavily guarded parts of Mogadishu and other towns, killing or injuring hundreds of civilians. High-profile targets remained vulnerable to such attacks.” (AI, 24 February 2016)
 
“Al-Shabaab continued to kill civilians. This included politically motivated killings that targeted civilians affiliated with the government and attacks on humanitarian NGO employees, UN staff, and diplomatic missions. Al-Shabaab often used suicide attacks, mortar attacks, and improvised explosive devices. It also killed prominent peace activists, community leaders, clan elders, and their family members for their roles in peace building, and it beheaded persons accused of spying for and collaborating with Somali national forces and affiliated militias. There were numerous reported al-Shabaab attacks, including the February 20 vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack on the Central Hotel in Mogadishu that killed approximately 25 persons, including government officials.” (USDOS, 13 April 2016, Section 1g)
 
“On November 1, Al-Shabaab attacked the popular Sahafi Hotel in Mogadishu, killing at least 15 people, including a journalist covering the attack, other civilians and officials.“ (HRW, 27 January 2016)
 
“On 1 November, a complex attack on the Sahafi Hotel resulted in at least 15 fatalities. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for both attacks.“ (UN Security Council, 8 January 2016, p.3)
 
“In September, a car explosion at the gate of the presidential palace killed at least six people. In February, al-Shabaab carried out a mortar attack on the presidential palace. In July, a suicide attack at the Jazeera Hotel, which houses several embassies, killed at least 10 people. The number of civilians killed in various attacks was difficult to establish due to the absence of a reliable civilian casualty tracking system.” (AI, 24 February 2016)
 
“On 1 September, the anniversary of the death of former Al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, more than 100 Al-Shabaab fighters stormed an AMISOM base in Janale, Shabelle Hoose. More than 20 AMISOM soldiers were killed and 23 wounded, while others remain missing. Shortly afterwards, AMISOM began to realign its forces by vacating previously recovered areas in Shabelle Hoose, including Kurtunwarey, Ceel Saliini, Cambarey, Golweyne and Busley, on 4, 5 and 9 September. In the Hiraan region, AMISOM vacated Buq-Aqabla and Xarar-Lugoole on 6 and 26 September, respectively. On 13 November, AMISOM withdrew from Fidow, on the border between the Hiraan and Shabelle Dhexe regions. All the locations were immediately seized by Al-Shabaab. (UN Security Council, 8 January 2016, p.3)
 
Killings by AMISOM troops and other foreign troops
 
“Reports increased of indiscriminate killings of civilians by AMISOM and other foreign forces, particularly at checkpoints, following attacks on AMISOM convoys and in airstrikes.” (HRW, 27 January 2016)
 
“Civilians remained at risk of being directly targeted in attacks. In July, reports indicated that AMISOM had directly targeted civilians and killed at least 10 people in Marka. In August, AMISOM revised the figure to seven people, issued an apology and announced that three soldiers had been charged with the killings.” (AI, 24 February 2016)
 
“Fighting between al-Shabaab and AMISOM and Somali forces resulted in civilian deaths. There were numerous reports that, on July 21, AMISOM Ugandan army troops killed at least 11 civilians, including a woman, two teenagers, and two elderly men, in separate incidents in the Jujuuma, Balle, and Rusiya neighborhoods of Merca, Lower Shabelle Region. Human Rights Watch also reported the alleged killing of six men on July 31 by AMISOM Ugandan army troops at a wedding in Merca.” (USDOS, 13 April 2016, Section 1g)
 
 
SOURCES: (all links accessed at 10 May 2016)    
 

• ACCORD - Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation: Somalia, 1. Quartal 2016: Kurzübersicht über Vorfälle aus dem Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), 3 May 2016 (available on ecoi.net)
  http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/90_1462277150_2016q1somalia-en.pdf
• AI - Amnesty International: Amnesty International Report 2015/16 - The State of the World's Human Rights - Somalia, 24 February 2016 (available on ecoi.net)
  http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/319738/445108_en.html
• Al Jazeera: Country profile: Somalia, 9 September 2012
  http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/08/201281985222499991.html
• BBC News: Somalia country profile, 4 February 2016
  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14094503
• CIA World Factbook: Africa; Somalia; Introduction, letzte Aktualisierung 22 March 2016
  https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/so.html
• HRW - Human Rights Watch: World Report 2016 - Somalia, 27 January 2016 (available on ecoi.net)
  http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/318350/443530_en.html
• Peace Direct: Somalia / Somaliland: Conflict Profile, January 2014
  http://www.insightonconflict.org/conflicts/somalia/conflict-profile/
• UN Security Council: Report of the Secretary-General on Somalia [S/2016/27], 8 January 2016 (available on ecoi.net)
  http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1226_1453284910_n1600065.pdf
• USDOS - US Department of State: Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2015 - Somalia, 13 April 2016 (available on ecoi.net)
  http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/322448/461925_de.html
• VOA: Somalia: No Popular Elections in 2016, 29 July 2015
  http://www.voanews.com/content/somalia-says-no-popular-elections-in-2016/2883749.html