Somalia Civil War

Definition

The Somalia Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. It began in 1991 when a coalition of clan-based armed opposition groups ousted the nation's long-standing military government.

Analogy

Think about playing a game of king-of-the-hill on an enormous scale, with different teams trying to take control over time but no one ever maintaining control for long. That’s similar to what’s happening during the Somalia Civil War.

Related terms

Failed State: A state whose political or economic system has become so weak that the government is no longer in control.

Warlordism: A condition where power is divided among military cliques or local strongmen rather than centralized government.

Clan-Based Politics: Political organization and activity inspired by clan affiliation.