COIN Vignettes - Somalia: Understanding your Environment

This vignette looks at US operations in Somalia in 1993. it is meant to be used as a lesson learned tool in design planning.

The Somalia experience in 1993 is important for it consisted of distinct operations that show that although the intensity of the mission increased, some elements changed more than others. Additionally, it is a severe lesson for those that would not understand the operating environment (ASCOPE-PMESII Crosswalk). Although drought was a contributing factor, Somalia had been wracked by 14years of civil war that was centered around 14 different clans. At the time of the intervention it was estimated that a half million Somalians’ had died and another million more were threatened, all the key elements of an insurgency were present. Additionally, some tactical actions such as low helicopter over flights were perceived by the population as threatening and this grievance was exploited.

Three elements stand out as crucial in these lessons learned in this “Peace Keeping Mission” (read “Stability Operation)