English 12

How have Tribal Disputes contributed to several Key Conflicts in Africa?

Sam Knox

Total Word Count: 2157



























Plan of Investigation
How have tribal disputes affected modern-day Africa? Over the last several decades, many have witnessed the conflicts that have plagued Africa. Many factors have caused such violence, but two major themes havebeen most detrimental to Mother Africa’s downfall; the effects of European Colonization and the tribal disputes that have been engrained in society perpetually. Since these clashes have been less recognizable in modern society, political leaders have manipulated this influence to their people for their own political gain. This analysis will investigate the conflicts that have arose due to tribaldifferences. I centralized this report to only Somalia, which lies on the coast of the Horn of Africa, in the effort to show the shear complexity of one such tribal affair. I will be able to analyze this country by its demographics, the history, the major internal conflicts, and the economic unstableness of the country for a better understanding of the current state of Africa.

Word Count: 157Summary of Evidence
Demographics
Mainly homogeneous linguistically and religiously (Somali/Muslim) (“World Bank”)
Clans of Somalia (5 main Somali families) (“Asylumlaw.org”)
Darod
Ogadeni
Harti
Majeerten
Marehan
Isaaq
Hawiye
Habar Gidir
Abagaal
Rahawayn
Dir
Gadabursi
Issa
Four Regions: Somaliland, Puntland, Jubaland, and South-central Somalia
Factions of pre-CivilWar (“asylum.org”)
Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF)
Founded: 1978
Tribe: Majerteen
Known for: First Resistance group of Somalia; Responsible for the autonomy of the Puntland
Somali National Movement (SNM)
Founded: 1981
Tribe: Issaq
Held several attacks on the regime throughout the 80’s; Targeted and oppressed group by Barre Regime; Declared the Republic of Somaliland independentSomali Patriot Movement (SPM)
Founded: 1989
Tribe: Ogaden/Harti
Split into SNA and SPM Harti; Autonomous state of Jubaland
United Somali Congress (USC)
Founded: February 1, 1989
Tribe: Hawiye
Split into SNA (Habar Gidir) and SSA (Abgaal); overthrew Barre Regime
Somali Democratic Movement (SDM)
Founded: 1989
Tribe: Rahanwayn/Digil
Split into SNA and SSA
Factions of post-Civil WarSomali Democratic Alliance (SDA)
Loyalists of Siad Barre; against secession of Somaliland; Gadabursi clan
United Somali Front (USF)
against SNM and secession of Somaliland; Issa clan
Somali National Alliance (SNA)
Founded: June 1992
Tribe: Habar Gidir
Formation of split USC and SPM factions; Supporters of Aidid; later named SRRC
Somali National Front (SNF)
Founded: March 1991
Tribe: MarehanPurpose: Loyalists to Siad Barre; autonomous Jubaland
Juba Valley Alliance (JVA)
Founded: June 2001
Tribe: Marehen, Ogaden, Habar Gedir
Formation of SNF and other groups; opposed SPM, SRRC, and ICU; Supported the TFG
Somali Salvation Alliance (SSA)
anti-Aidid faction alliance of 1993 between 12 groups including USC, USF, SDA, SDM, SSDF, SNF
Modern Factions (“UN Security Council”)Transitional National Government (TNG)
Created after peace conference in Dijbouti in 2000 (4 years); opposed by the SRRC
Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC)
Formed by son of Aidid and the SNA; opposed the TNG and the JVA
Islamic Courts Union
Sharia Islamic Courts become main judicial system in Somalia after 1991
Slowly gained much power - united in armed militia in 1999
known foralliance with Al-Qaeda group Al-Shabaab, Second Battle of Mogadishu
Oppose the TFG
Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
Current internationally recognized government (since 2004)
Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS)
September 2007, campaign for diplomatic solution to Somali conflict
Create Djibouti peace agreement in June 2008


History (“BBC News”)
June 26, 1960: British...