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CANADIAN VOICES in SOMALIA Introduction PEACE RADIO: CANADIAN VOICES IN SOMALIA Introduction Imagine living in a country that has no U.S. soldier through the streets of Focus government. Who would maintain and Mogadishu, in effect putting a public Somalia has been enforce the rule of law? Would there be face to the chaos of Somalia. This was a without a govern- ment for over a law? Who would build the streets? Who tragic consequence of the Battle of decade. The coun- would ensure that the water is safe to Mogadishu, an operation that resulted try is run by war- drink or that proper sanitation services in the deaths of 18 U.S. Delta Force lords. The average are in place? What about electricity, Rangers and over 100 Somalis. Prior to person needs to telecommunications, health care, and the battle with U.S. forces, Aidid also find a way to education? Who would be responsible led an attack that resulted in the deaths survive in a climate of lawlessness. It is for all of these things? of 24 Pakistani peacekeepers. This a country in name once-peaceful nation fell into chaos as only. Despite this Descent into Chaos international forces withdrew, leaving atmosphere of It is difficult for us to envision a nation the warlords to rule their fiefdoms amid despair, three without a government, but that is ex- the anarchy. Operation Restore Hope Canadians made their way back to actly the reality that the people of had failed. their homelands Somalia have been facing since the and founded a removal of Mohammed Siad Barre in Canada in Somalia radio, television, 1991. Barre ruled with an iron fist from Canada did not leave unscathed from and Internet outlet 1969 to 1991. His brand of socialism Somalia. The Canadian Forces sent called Horn Afrik. While political eventually proved untenable, and the their elite commando unit, the Canadian efforts stumble clans of Somalia united to oust him in a Airborne Regiment, into the Somali along, the re- coup d’état. This brief alliance fell apart theatre. However, two incidents shat- building of the after the coup as clans led by warlords tered Canada’s reputation as a noble social consciousness began laying claim to different parts of peacekeeper. In one incident, Canadian of Somalia is taking the country. What followed was a brutal soldiers shot two Somalis who were place on the airwaves of Horn civil war. The warlords’ hunger for trying to steal supplies from their camp. Afrik. power was soon overshadowed by One of the victims died from an “execu- famine befalling the innocent popula- tion-style” wound to the head. In an- tion. While over 300 000 people died in other incident, two soldiers tortured and YV Sections the famine, the warlords disrupted murdered a 16-year-old boy after he marked with this humanitarian aid and thrust Somalia was taken into custody. In a revolting symbol indicate content suitable for into misery. Finally, the United Na- twist, the men took pictures of the boy’s younger viewers. tions, along with countries like Canada torture. Eventually a royal commission and the United States, stepped in to help ruled that the Airborne Regiment was the populace. Then-U.S. president Bill unfit for duty in Somalia, and the Clinton called the effort Operation government disbanded the unit. Restore Hope. But the warlords ruled The fall of Somalia shocked many the day and effectively thwarted hu- observers of the African political scene. manitarian efforts to help those in need. Many felt that Somalia represented the One warlord in particular, most homogeneous country on the Muhammad Farrah Aidid, ended all continent. Ethnic Somalis constituted hope of international aid when his 97 per cent of the population in the henchmen paraded the body of a dead early 1990s. The vast majority of CBC News in Review • May 2004 • Page 46 people shared a common language. region and is effectively an economy Definition Well over 90 per cent of the population without a state” (BBC News, “Life Warlord refers to a was Sunni Muslim. However, beneath Amid Mogadishu’s Ruins,” April 16, military com- mander who has the surface lurked a system of clans and 2004). independent sub-clans that valued retaliation if one control of an area clan infringed on another’s territory. Horn Afrik: Voice of the People and/or military These clan rivalries fanned the flames One area of the economy that is really group. In Somalia of the civil war in the 1990s, a brush starting to take off is the media sector. warlords are con- fire that destroyed the political fabric of stantly fighting A number of FM radio stations and each other and the country and made Somalia a nation several local newsletters have emerged making unity and in name only. Eventually, two regions, in Mogadishu. Three Canadians— order very difficult. Somaliland and Puntland, declared their Ahmed Abdisalam Aden, Mohamed independence. To this day, the interna- Elmi, and Ali Imam Sharmarke—gave tional community refuses to recognize up security and stability in Canada and Did you know . either as sovereign nations. have returned to Somalia to start a The story of the media outlet called Horn Afrik Battle of Mogadishu was Reconciliation, Politics and the (www.hornafrik.com), a radio, televi- made famous in Economy sion, and Internet media service that the Mark Bowden Despite the appearance of anguish and reaches out to the people of Somalia. In book Black Hawk despair that has characterized Somalia’s addition to locally developed programs, Down: A Story of recent history, hope has risen from the Horn Afrik also broadcasts Somali- Modern War? Ridley Scott later ashes. Political efforts have been slow language programming through partner- made a film called to unfold but now show signs of prom- ships with the BBC and Voice of Black Hawk Down ise. In 2000, some of the warlords put America. The most effective tool of based on the book. aside their differences and formed a Horn Afrik to date has been call-in Transitional National Assembly (TNA). programs that allow locals to voice their The formation of the TNA included the concerns and announcers to produce CBC Archives introduction of reconciliation talks to and moderate dialogue concerning the To see video of the bring all of the clans into the new future of Somalia. According to Aden, Canadian mission to Somalia visit the national framework. Talks have pro- the call-in shows are helping Horn CBC Digital Ar- ceeded, but clan rivalries run deep, and Afrik move toward its goal of becoming chives at reconciliation has yet to be fully real- the best media outlet in the Horn of www.cbc.ca/archives ized. Africa. However, the anarchy of Soma- and view the file Despite the struggles on the political lia means that Horn Afrik has to main- entitled “The Somalia Affair.” front, Somalia is starting to build a tain a balance between revealing the respectable free-market economy. truth and keeping peace with the war- Unhindered by the red tape of govern- lords. One way of doing this is to invite ment bureaucracies and the burden of the warlords onto some of Horn Afrik’s taxation, Somali business people are issues-based shows. To date, all of the capitalizing on the rebuilding of the warlords have made at least one appear- economy. Business people have been ance on Horn Afrik programs. Aden developing sectors of the economy that says, “Ours is a daily struggle to main- include telecommunications, cattle tain independence in a very difficult farming, and water and electricity situation” (BBC News, April 16, 2004). supplies. According to one commenta- It appears that Horn Afrik’s efforts tor, Somalia has “one of the most have been noticed. The radio division of dynamic economies in the East African the media outlet is one of the most CBC News in Review • May 2004 • Page 47 popular in Mogadishu. From a social stage, Horn Afrik was recognized for its Did you know . standpoint, Horn Afrik is proving to be desire to pioneer social change for CJFE declares May 3 a unifying voice and a technological Somalia when it was awarded the 2002 World Press Free- dom Day? CJFE way to overcome the power of the Press Freedom Award from the Cana- reported that in warlords. Nonetheless, daily excursions dian Journalists for Free Expression 2003, 92 journalists into the streets of Mogadishu are dan- (CJFE). The CJFE recognizes journal- and media staff gerous business for Horn Afrik staff, ists who overcome the odds and pro- were killed trying who report under the watchful eye of duce programs that show a commitment to report the news. armed security guards. Despite the to free expression. Despite the dangers This was an in- crease of 22 from security presence, one of the station’s involved in speaking the truth, Ahmed 2002. drivers was killed on a trip to North Abdisalam Aden, Mohamed Elmi, and Mogadishu, and two reporters were Ali Imam Sharmarke continue to build detained and later released by warlords. their media service in the hopes of Clearly, the entrepreneurs who started bringing the nation of Somalia back to Horn Afrik have given a voice to the life—a life of liberty and security for a people even at the expense of their own people who have suffered for far too personal safety. On the international long. Questions 1. Make a point-form list of the events that saw Somalia descend into chaos. 2. What controversies emerged from Canada’s presence in Somalia in the 1990s? 3. Why were some people surprised to see Somalia fall into deep divisions and civil war? 4.
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