Somalia

Somalia is a troubled Muslim nation on the Horn of Africa on the coasts of the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, east of Ethiopia and Kenya, threatened by quarreling Islamist movements. The overthrow of Somalia's President Siad Barre in 1991 following power struggles among clans resulted in the disintegration of central authority, and Somalia ceased to be a political national entity. Following the ousting of Barre, the region plunged into civil war with various clans jostling for power. This state of war has been exacerbated by the conflict between traditional religious groups and the more recent politicized movements for control over the future destiny of Somalia. In the ensuing mayhem, the Republic of Somaliland, Puntland, and Jubaland set themselves up as autonomous governments.

The transitional ...