Since the fall of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, the Somali population has been subjected to decades of brutal inter-clan and warlord violence combined with frequent droughts and economic crises. For the past 18 years, Somalia has mostly remained in a state of anarchy, without a functioning central government. With an enormous percentage of its population dependent on international aid, Somalia today is considered a failed state by the international community.

• In 1991, dictator Mohamed Siad Barre is ousted by clan warlords after 22 years in power.
• Soon after Barre’s fall, the northern province of Somaliland breaks off from Somalia and declares its independence.
• In 1992, the U.S. leads a UN effort to restore peace. However, the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) fails to avert impending famine and infighting among warlords.
• In 1998, the northern province of Puntland follows Somaliland’s example and declares its independence from Somalia.
• In 2004, following two years of reconciliation talks in Kenya between the various warlords and representatives of the failed Somali state, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is established.
• Political transition towards stability is undermined by fighting amongst clans that make up the TFG, as well as by the rise of Council of Islamic Courts (CIC), whose armed militia is now known as al-Shabaab.
• In 2006, the CIC challenges the TFG and secular warlord militias for control of the country.
• In 2007, the US-backed Ethiopian invasion restores TFG control of the country. The CIC officially surrenders Mogadishu to Ethiopian-backed Somali troops.
• Soon afterwards, a new civil war begins in Somalia between Ethiopian occupants and their supporters from the Somali Northern tribes on one side, and Islamic militants, led by al-Shabaab and Southern tribes, on the other.
• That same year, the African Union deploys a peacekeeping mission of 3.500 troops (AMISOM). At present there are some 5000 AMISOM troops in Somalia, based in Banadir/Mogadishu.
• In 2009, Ethiopian troops withdraw completely from Mogadishu. Since then, they continue to have a strong presence along the Ethiopia-Somalia border.
• Over the past two years, fighting between pro-government forces and Islamic insurgent groups has resulted in massive displacement of the population, both internally and outside Somali borders, as well as thousands of killings and other war-related human rights abuses against civilians. The number of internally displaced further increased as a result of prolonged drought.
• Recently the TFG, which controls most of Mogadishu, has established an alliance with a moderate Islamic group in opposition to the more extremist militias that control most of the southern and central provinces. Much of the country is in the hands of armed warlords.