Somalia must not be let to relapse into anarchy

The removal of Siad Barre, the military strongman who ruled Somalia with an iron fist in 1991 precipitated a situation that led to anarchy which has persisted for more than two decades. Repeated attempts by regional governments to set up a stable administration in Mogadishu have failed.

The power vacuum left by Siad Barre enabled tribal chieftains in Somalia to carve out territories for themselves, and decades of inter-clan fighting between rival warlords meant that the country could not deal with natural disasters such as drought or enjoy the functions and services offered by organised governments. Somalia has been a jungle of lawlessness.