Rise from Chaos

In the event of an intervention, how could U.S. conventional forces operating in Somalia best support the Transitional Federal Government in stabilizing the country? Somalia stands as the greatest example of state failure and collapse in the world today. Since the overthrow of Siyad Barre's dictatorship in 1991, the country has witnessed civil war and several humanitarian crises, including drought and famine. The international community responded with several unsuccessful interventions to attempt to alleviate the human suffering and to restore order. In 2004, the Transitional Federal Government assumed the role of governing Somalia. Today's worsening humanitarian situation, along with al-Shabaab's insurgency against the Transitional Federal Government, could lead to the intervention of U.S. conventional forces to supplement the African Union Mission in Somalia. U.S. conventional forces could support the Somali Transitional Federal Government as part of a comprehensive approach that connects Somali citizens with the Transitional Federal Government, fosters economic development, reforms the security sector, and implements a program to deradicalize al-Shabaab extremists to restore stability to Somalia. Current state building theories identify three interdependent sectors where the sovereign state serves its citizens: governance, development, and security. Earlier approaches focused on delivering international aid within each of these sectors, with little appreciation of the interdependencies between them. Programs to improve governance are likely to enhance the perceived legitimacy of the central government, while maintaining accountability of the state to both its citizens and the international community. Development programs could help the state provide the essential services its citizens require, while creating the conditions for sustainable economic progress. Security sector reform may include the demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration of combatants, while