December 22, 2011
The Independent (UK)

Britain's New Year Resolution: Intervene in Somalia

by Kim Sengupta

David Cameron describes Somalia as "a failed state that directly threatens British interests" and will convene a summit in London in February to bring together the countries currently active in the Horn of Africa state. A number of key decisions are expected to be made there, ranging from humanitarian aid to military missions.

The Prime Minister's decision to tackle the Somalia quagmire is seen by some as being fuelled by the success of the Libyan venture.

Mr Cameron is concerned about tourists and aid workers from the UK being attacked and kidnapped, the rise of piracy and the potential for the East African country to become a place of extremist indoctrination for increasing numbers of young Muslims from the UK. . . .

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"Black Hawk Down: Somalia in 1992-93," International Action Center, December 12, 2001

Salim Lone, "Somalia: 'Most Lawless War of Our Generation'," Democracy Now, April 27, 2007

Enver Masud, "Those Somali Pirates and the Scramble for Africa," The Wisdom Fund, April 11, 2009

"A Long History of U.S. Intervention in Somalia," The Wisdom Fund, July 13, 2010

John Pilger, "The Son of Africa Claims a Continent's Crown Jewels For The U.S.," New Statesman, October 20, 2011

"War on Oil," Somali Youth League, November 22, 2011

Mark Townsend and Tracy McVeigh, "Somalia promises west oil riches as diplomats vow to defeat al-Shabaab," Guardian, February 25, 2012

Karen DeYoung, "U.S. recognizes Somalia, citing success of a campaign against militants," washingtonpost.com, January 17, 2013

[When the British, with due colonial duplicity, arrogantly handed the Ogaden region over to Ethiopia in 1954, the ethnic Somali people found themselves under occupation by, what they regard as a foreign power. The centuries old struggle for self-determination, has since 1984 been taken up by the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), predictably regarded as 'terrorists' by the Ethiopian government.

The region, rich in oil and gas reserves, is potentially the wealthiest area of Ethiopia.--Graham Peebles, "Besieged, Abused, Ignored -- Ethiopian Annihilation of the Ogaden People," counterpunch.org, February 8, 2013]

Thomas C Mountain, "The UN and 250,000 Dead Somalis," counterpunch.org, May 7, 2013

[Somalia's government has signed an oil and gas exploration deal with a newly formed British company, the first such agreement by a central government in Somalia following decades of conflict.--"Somalia Signs Oil Exploration Deal With UK Firm," abcnews.go.com, August 6, 2013]