PAD4038 EXAM 2
president obamas response
"And if the outbreak is not stopped now, we could be looking at hundreds of thousands of people infected, with profound political and economic and security implications for all of us. So this is an epidemic that is not just a threat to regional security -- it's a potential threat to global security" - Barack Obama - Sept. 2014
childhood-UNICEF
"Childhood is the time for children to be in school and at play, to grow strong and confident with the love and encouragement of their family and an extended community of caring adults. It is a precious time in which children should live free from fear, safe from violence and protected from abuse and exploitation. As such, childhood means much more than just the space between birth and the attainment of adulthood. It refers to the state and condition of a child's life, to the quality of those years." - UNICEF Is this an idealized version of childhood? One that may not fall in line with other cultures/countries?
AFRICOM failures
"I saw white men ... many times and I heard them talking in English. I think they were Americans ... I saw them running from the back window of my cell ... as well as standing in front of our cell." - Torture victim Cameroon's elite unit of armed forces: the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) Have worked with U.S. forces to counter Boko Haram BIR has been accused of human rights violations Lehay Law(s) (Lehay Amendment): legislation to prevent the State and Defense Departments from using taxpayer money to provide training and equipment to foreign security forces that commit gross violations of human rights (GHRVs). The U.S. government includes torture, extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance, and rape under color of law as GVHRs when implementing the Leahy law. Lehay contains two provisions: one restricts funds and an exception allows for the resumption of funds if a foreign government is taking measures to bring violators to justice "In their training, conduct, and leadership, the BIR exhibited all of the values we expect in our own armed forces—professionalism, protection of the civilian population, and respect for human rights." - Michael Hoza, U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon
what should the role of the us be?
"You're going to see more actions in Africa, not less; you're going to see more aggression by the United States toward our enemies, not less; you're going to have decisions being made not in the White House but out in the field," Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) General "Africa is an enduring interest for the United States. Small, but wise investments in the capability, legitimacy, and accountability of African defense institutions offer disproportionate benefits to Africa, our allies, and the United States, and importantly, enable African solutions to African problems." - General Thomas D. Waldhauser, commander of U.S. Africa Command So, what the heck should we do?!
why did it spread so quickly?
#1 West Africa was not prepared for an Ebola outbreak. They had never even dealt with Ebola before. Clinics and doctors weren't prepared (because the health care systems were in pretty bad shape) but also because it caught them by surprise. When a person first contracts Ebola and they start showing symptoms, it looks a lot like Malaria. So, a lot of people were misdiagnosed. #2 Burial practices. Many local customs lead to more infections. In many of these communities where the virus hit, the day you die is the most important day for your family. And the burial process has (historically) been very hands on. Kissing the body, washing the body, clipping the finger nails, dressing the body...you get the point. Essentially, there's a lot of contact with the infected body. And, to not do this, would be considered bad luck. If a person doesn't receive a proper burial, it's believed that they could come back to haunt the family. #3Reports of new Ebola infections dropped in late April of 2014. This was a statistical plateau that is commonly associated with Ebola outbreaks. And to public health officials, this made it seem like this Ebola outbreak was going to burn out (like they often do in the DRC). And they began to relax a little bit. #4 The West African outbreak spread so quickly in part because of how it impacted urban areas. Previous outbreaks in Central Africa had been concentrated in rural locations. This helped to isolate the spread of the virus. Whereas, in all three countries in West Africa, it hit urban slums. #5During the outbreak, numerous conspiracy theories flourished. In all three countries, there was a deep lack of trust of government officials Many different conspiracy theories circulated. Some people suggested Ebola was created by the west to kill West Africans. Others thought maybe it was their own governments targeting them. In Sierra Leone, a popular theory insinuated that the government was trying to depopulate their part of the country, the power-base of the opposition. And still others believed Ebola might be caused by witchcraft. And none of this was helped by the fact that almost everyone who went into a clinic died. And COLONIALISM!!!!!! AHHHHHH!!! side note: it was a huge mistake to relax. relaxing helped the virus to surge like it never had before
sudan and "arabistation"
1983- Sharia Islamic Law introduced Hassan al-Turabi was helped to bring Omar Al Bashir into power in 1989. The Sudanese government made the official language Arabic and established Islamic law. Turabi helped to push for the implementation of these policies. In 1991 Sudan established a penal code that instituted stoning and amputations as punishments. Tubari championed radical Islam in the 1990s. Al-Turabi was also friends with Bin Laden and invited him to come to Sudan. He also helped make Sudan a safe haven for other terrorists. He once called the United States the "incarnation of the devil." This hurt both those in Southern Sudan and the predominantly Muslim population of the north. Many of the policies were harsh and unpopular with everyone.
us embassy bombings
1998 - Tanzania and Kenya U.S. Embassy bombings, Killed 224 people. Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden held responsible. The Kenyan bombing was by far the more deadly blast. More than 200 people were killed in the Kenyan Embassy bombings. In Tanzania 11 people died. These attacks were planned years in advance. The attack was a watershed moment for the U.S. "A turning point in Al Qaeda's history and in the history of terrorism," writes the Brookings Institution's Daniel Byman. These attacks really put Al Qaeda on the "world's stage."
us retaliation
1998 - U.S. Cruise missiles the Al Shifa pharmaceutical plant in Khartoum, Sudan. US intelligence alleged that Al Shifa was manufacturing chemical weapons, possibly for Osama Bin Laden. The Sudanese government denied these claims. "There will be no sanctuary for terrorists," -President Bill Clinton But over the years the U.S. government acknowledged that the evidence to bomb this factory was...not very solid. There was no real proof that Osama Bin Laden was linked to the factory. In fact, when Clinton ordered the strikes, Mary O. McCarthy, a senior intelligence officer, warned him that the plan relied on inconclusive intelligence. And in the end, the evidence just wasn't that strong. The strike was mainly based off of a single soil sample that indicated the presence of a chemical used to make VX gas. "Never before has a single soil sample prompted an act of war against a sovereign state." - Former CIA Official Milt Bearden
UN
2005: Responsibility to Protect In 2005 all member states endorsed this language. "The responsibility to protect embodies a political commitment to end the worst forms of violence and persecution. It seeks to narrow the gap between Member States' pre-existing obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and the reality faced by populations at risk of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity." - UN
ending the outbreak
A lot of this had to do with change at the local level. People changed their behaviors (especially when it came to burial rituals) and this really helped to halt the spread of Ebola: Including songs like this that helped to raise awareness. Once a level of trust was established, the rate of infections went down. By Jan. 2016, the WHO declared Liberia (the last of the three countries) to be Ebola free.
AFRICOM-successes!
AFRICOM engaged in perhaps its most purely humanitarian effort in Liberia in 2014 in an effort to halt the Ebola epidemic They helped (and failed ) to search for Joseph Kony They bolster the intelligence capabilities of forces in the region Operation Flintlock: Flintlock is an annual regional exercise among African, allied and U.S. counterterrorism forces, and has taken place since 2005.* **Past participants include Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Canada, Tunisia, Italy, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States.
AMISOM success
AMISOM has had a number of successes. By 2010 they had pushed Al Shabaab out of Mogadishu and other major cities. It has also helped to provide support for the government of Somalia. AMISOM has cultivated an environment where the local economy has been able to rebound a bit. *It doesn't look too impressive on the maps but you can see that from 2012 the African Union controlled territory has expanded considerably.
child soldiers prevention act (CSPA)
Adopted in 2008. Under this act, the U.S. government is prohibited from providing money, weapons, etc. to governments that use child soldiers. Also requires the Secretary of State to identify governments that use child soldiers.
chinas strategic interests in africa
Africa is viewed as an economic opportunity (particularly oil and gas) and as a place that could bring more opportunities to fuel China's domestic growth. The International Energy Agency's World Energy Outlook 2014 projects that China will become the world's largest consumer of oil by the early 2030s, thus ensuring continued interest in the continent. But there's something else here besides money. There's an ideological reason behind China's interest in Africa. It sees the opportunity to promote the "China model"* in non-democratic African countries. This offers indirect support for China's own political ideology. And (to China at least) it shows that Western democratic ideals are not universal. China also seeks approval from African countries for their "One China" policy. The" One China" Policy holds that there is but one China and that Taiwan is part of China. *The China Model is also known as the Beijing Consensus. It basically refers to the economic policies of China. And it provides an alternative to a "western" perspective.
AMISOM in somalia
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM): Began in 2007 (is still currently active). This is a regional peacekeeping operation. Created by the African Union and approved by the United Nations. Intended to rid the country of Al Shabaab. Another main goal is to defend the Somali government. 22,000 strong force. Uganda was the first nation to send forces into Somalia in 2007. Other AMISOM troops come from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, and Sierra Leone.
so, who is running this country?
After the U.S. pulled out and Somalia descended further into chaos, the situation was basically in free-fall. And what popped up to fill the void was troubling to many people. The Islamic Courts Union (or Union of the Islamic Courts) ICU, was a loose system of Islamic judicial systems. When these courts were first implemented they mainly focused on petty crimes. By the mid 1990s they had turned to prosecuting more serious offenses. And as they got bigger, they began to bring stability to the country. Now, let's be honest here. This isn't all sunshine and roses. The ICU inflicted some pretty severe punishments (amputations, whippings, etc,). But, many Somalis were ok with this. They saw that the ICU brought stability to their lives. The ICU wanted to focus on Islam as a unifying factor for Somalis. This helped take away from the focus on clan loyalty.
al qaeda
Al Qaeda = The Base An international terrorist organization founded by Osama Bin Laden Formed around 1988 Al Qaeda wants to eliminate "profane influence of the west" and replace them with fundamentalist Islamic regimes. Bin Laden and Al Qaeda also hate(d) the U.S. support for Israel and American troops in Saudi Arabia The group responsible for the Sept. 11th attacks
western recruits
Al Shabaab has been very proud of their ability to recruit westerners. There were Somali youth living in the west (Europe and the U.S.) who saw the invasion of Ethiopia as a Christian invasion of their homeland. Many had never even been to Somalia but the invasion radicalized them. This is an actual recruitment video from Al Shabaab. It's for educational purposes and you don't have to watch it. However, if you do watch it, please notice how Al Shabaab attempts to make life in the group look adventurous and exciting (the giraffe is part of that). It certainly is NOT any of those things.
al shabaab recruitment...in kenya
Al-Shabab is recruiting heavily in north-eastern Kenya There are many cases of men who go missing from the north-eastern town of Isiolo. Some parents have received phone calls from their sons once they have traveled to Somalia, telling them that they have joined the terrorist group. Only half of those cases have been reported to the police for fear of stigmatization and reprisals. There are similar concerns in other parts of the country. Marginalization, anger, and extrajudicial killings are among the reasons given for why al-Shabab is finding some traction in parts of the Muslim community in Kenya.
lasting impacts of the outbreak
Altogether the outbreak killed over 11,000 people and infected around 28,000. "To date, 16,600 children have been registered as having lost one or both parents or primary caregivers," UNICEF's Timothy James Irwin writes in an email. "We would define all these children as 'orphans.' " - This was as of March 2015 The quarantines the countries imposed upon themselves (and those that were forced upon them, from Senegal, The Ivory Coast, etc.) really impacted trade. Both internal and regional trade were hurt. Not to mention tourism. Over 881 health care workers fell ill with Ebola. 512 of them died. This was a huge blow to all three countries who already suffered from inadequate healthcare. Many survivors are still forced to fight back against the lingering stigma of having been diagnosed with Ebola. There are around 17,000 Ebola survivors in West Africa. It's estimated that around 20% of them have a severe inflammation of the eye
garissa university attack
April 2015: Al Shabaab gunmen stormed Garissa University. A total of 148 people were killed. The deadliest terror attack in Kenya since the 1998 Embassy bombings. The terrorists separated Christians from Muslims. Kenyan security forces were severely criticized for their slow response. According to local media, it took them at least seven hours to reach the university. And once again, Al Shabaab claimed the attack was payback for Kenya invading Somalia and keeping troops there. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of Kenyan troops from Somalia.
dadaab refugee camp
At one time, Dadaab was the largest refugee camp in the world. That title has recently been stripped of them because of the growing number of refugees who have fled from South Sudan into Uganda. Bidi Bidi is now the largest refugee camp in the world If Dadaab were an actual city it would be the third largest city in Kenya (after Nairobi and Mombasa) Built in 1991 to house 90,000 refugees. It consists of five camps inside of the main camp. Home to half a million people, most being from Somalia. *Refugees aren't allowed to pour concrete and must live in "temporary" structures. They can go to school but are not allowed to work in Kenya because they are not Kenyan.
international emergency
Aug. 2014: The WHO finally declared an international emergency around 5 months into the epidemic. Over 900 people had been killed In November of 2015 a panel of independent global health experts concluded that the WHO response was indeed to slow. That a slow response was responsible for, "needless suffering and death."
goodbye siad barre
Barre was removed from power in 1991. By the time he was ousted, he had lost control of much of the countryside to warring clans. This threw the country into chaos and after the power vacuum was created the country experienced civil war. And this lead to a major humanitarian crisis. In 1992 the U.S. military intervened in Somalia (Operation Restoring Hope) but it was largely unsuccessful. Or, in other words, it was a disaster. This began as a humanitarian effort but evolved into a mission to help restore the Somali government Somali rebels shot down two U.S. helicopters. This incident is more commonly known as Black Hawk Down.
al shabaab attacks on kenya
Because of their direct intervention in Somalia, Kenya has suffered from some truly devastating terror attacks. We'll just highlight a few of the bigger attacks. Westgate Mall Attack, September 2013 - At least 67 people were killed in this attack. The attackers fired indiscriminately on people in the mall. They also used hand grenades. The attack lasted around 80 hours in total.
jahba east africa (east african front) aka ISIS in somalia
Because you didn't think it could get any worse... The East African Front is a new terrorist group in Somalia that has pledged its allegiance to ISIS. They have no love for Al Shabaab. "Al Shabab has now become a psychological and physical prison," the East African Front said. "On behalf all the East Africans in al-Shabaab and those that seek to open new up fronts in East Africa. We in Jahba East Africa are advising all East Africans to leave al-Shabaab." This new group is believed to be made up primarily of Al Shabaab defectors. ISIS wants to establish a new branch in Somalia, which they call "the little emirate." It's a great location for a new ISIS branch. Lots of chaos and room to grow. So far, ISIS hasn't sent any resources or fighters into Somalia. And, for the time being, it still seems like Al Shabaab is the top dog in Somalia. Though, this new ISIS branch is definitely something to keep an eye on.
before he was kicked out of sudan
Bin Laden was kicked out of Saudi Arabia and ended up in Sudan around 1991. According to the Sudanese government, Bin Laden was just a businessman. And remember, Bin Laden was rich (at least for a time) and so he was welcome in Sudan who desperately needed his investments. He began several businesses, some of the biggest being his construction company, al-Hajira. But it's widely believed these businesses were just fronts for Al Qaeda funding. By 1996 the U.S. was demanding that Sudan expel all of the terrorists residing in their country, especially Bin Laden.
AMISOM failures
But AMISOM has also suffered from numerous setbacks. Including the inability to stop the violence in the country. There have also been investigations by Human Rights Watch into alleged abuses by AMISOM troops. Some women and girls have been forced into transactional relationships, trading sex for food. AMISOM has denied these accusations and claimed the reports are "unbalanced and unfair". And none of this helps to win the trust of ordinary Somalis. Especially the sexual abuse allegations. In order to be successful, AMISOM needs to be trusted by Somalis so that they can work together.
"national interest waivers"
But....there's a catch. The U.S. is able to bypass the CSPA if they have a National Interest Waiver. Even though the UN estimated that the Somali government was using around 200 child soldiers (that number is most likely higher), the U.S. is giving them financial assistance because of the waiver. The U.S. asserts that they must continue to fund the Somali government in order to ensure that there is a chance at stability. The U.S. gave Somalia around $330 million in 2016. Most of that went to security.
culteral diplomacy
China has also created Chinese cultural centers, called Confucius Institutes. These are designed to teach foreigners throughout the world a language with a forbidding reputation for difficulty. Intended to boost China's "soft power", the centers take the name of the peace-espousing sage. And there's a demand (in Africa too) for ways to learn Chinese and become better versed on the culture. But these Confucius Centers also rub some people the wrong way. Cough, cough, neocolonialism? Or not? It is an example of "soft power"― the possibility of communicating through culture and ideas to achieve national interests. Around 40 Confucius Institutes in Africa so far. So, there aren't that many. Don't think of this as an invasion of Confucius Centers.
china and sudan
China became the biggest investor in Sudan, importing 70% of Sudan's total oil exports in 2010. China continues to rely on Sudan because though the majority of the oil is in South Sudan, the oil must go through Sudan. There was even evidence that China was selling Sudan weapons at this time. Chinese policy in Sudan historically has been based on four principles: non-interference, state sovereignty, mutual benefit, and equality China came under enormous scrutiny for their continued cooperation with Sudan. International pressure helped to compel China to press Sudan on Darfur. They were instrumental in getting Sudan to accept peacekeepers into their country. It was a step outside of the norm for China. In a nutshell? China's economic need forced them to play a part in the domestic politics of another country. *In 2008, using its ties with Sudan, China quietly pressed Darfur to accept UN peacekeeping forces.
china and terrorism in africa
China has encountered terrorism in the continent. The evacuation of 37,000 Chinese nationals from Libya during the civil war. 2015 Bamako Hotel Attack (AQIM): 3 Chinese executives were killed In 2012, militants seized 29 Chinese working on a road project in Sudan. *Some Chinese analysts have blamed the West as the source of African terrorism due to their colonization, exploitation of African resources, and "meddling" in African affairs.
china and africa
China surpassed the United States as Africa's largest trading partner in 2009. Exchanging about $160 billion worth of goods a year. Over 2,000 Chinese companies and over a million Chinese immigrants have migrated to African countries. 2015 - China's President Xi Jinping pledged $60 billion to African states. This isn't just humanitarian aid. Most of the announced $60 billion will come in loans and export credits. Only $5 billion is to arrive as grants and interest-free loans. In 2015 China pledge $100 million in military aid to the African Union And a lot of African leaders just like China better than the U.S. And that's because it's seen as a relationship of equals rather than the U.S. looking down or judging their policies. China has been willing to sell weapons to countries with human rights abuses. They argue that refusing to engage in trade with a recognized government constitutes unacceptable interference in that country's internal affairs. But, as we know, the U.S. will not engage with certain countries based on these very same issues. This makes the U.S. look like a judgmental partner. Or not a partner at all! More like a hall monitor. *France also maintains a base in Djibouti China has a long history of selling weapons to Sudan (and now South Sudan as well). China is the largest consumer of Sudanese oil. Some weapons have been sold to ISIS fighters in the north. China continued to purchase oil, helping to fuel the genocide which occurred in Sudan.
kenya
Christians comprise around 80% of the country. Muslims around 11% Major languages: Swahili and English Unlike Somalia, Kenya has a great deal of ethnic diversity. There are around 2.3 million ethnic Somalis living in Kenya.
clans in somalia
Clans are a very important part of society in Somalia. "When everything else fails or falls apart, [Somalis] turn back to the clan. They perceive their self-interest as that of their kinsmen." - Lee Cassanelli, University of Pennsylvania. There are around 500 clans and sub-clans (and even sub-sub-clans) in the country. You cannot join a clan. You have to be born into one. So, clans are kind of similar to family networks. And they are based on ancient genealogies. And this is unfortunate because, in other terms, Somalia is a largely homogenous country, made up of ethnic Somalis (around 85%) who practice Sunni Islam. And you can see how unfortunate it is that Siad Barre played clans off of each other, thus bolstering allegiances to clans and hurting any chance of forming a national identity.
climate change and global warming
Climate change A pattern of change affecting global or regional climate, as measured by yardsticks such as average temperature and rainfall, or an alteration in frequency of extreme weather conditions. This variation may be caused by both natural processes and human activity. Global warming is one aspect of climate change. Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal. - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Anthropogenic climate change Man-made climate change - climate change caused by human activity as opposed to natural processes. The planet's surface temp has risen about 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 degrees Celsius) "Global warming refers to the long-term warming of the planet." - NASA 97% of scientists agree that humans are causing global warming and climate change.
nigeria-middle belt
Conflict in Nigeria's "Middle Belt" that divides the country and is home to the capital For centuries nomadic herders have travelled across parts of North Africa in search of grazing land for their cattle. However, a combination of desertification and the conflict from Boko Haram have served to drive herdsmen further south, culminating in clashes for resources between the herdsmen and farmers Herders tend to be Muslim of the Fulani ethnic group. Farmers are more likely to be Christian. Some states in the Middle Belt are passing anti-grazing laws which are serving to actually make the conflict worse Between Jan. 2018 and March 2018 over 1,000 people were killed in conflicts in the Middle Belt
CDC Africa
Created in 2015 following the Ebola Outbreak. Located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Africa CDC is a joint venture by the African Union and the CDC. Field epidemiologists "will be responsible for disease surveillance, investigations, analysis and reporting trends and anomalies," the CDC said. In case there is another health emergency the office will act as a central command post, organizing and deploying teams of medical workers.
living conditions in dadaab
Dadaab is under the overall control of the Kenyan government and the UNHCR. But, in reality, day to day life is run by people inside the five camps. Even though the camp has existed for over 20 years, permanent structures are banned by the Kenyan government. Still, people find ways to bypass this rule and set up shops, schools, and homes. It is an economic hub, with refugees running many successful businesses A report commissioned by the governments of Norway, Denmark and Kenya in 2010 found that the camps' businesses generated an annual turnover of $25 million. The host community earned $1.8m from the sale of livestock alone to refugees.
china in djibouti
Djibouti is actually a very important country when we're talking about security on the continent, especially in the horn of Africa. The country is relatively stable and in a very important strategic position. Djibouti is also very receptive to the west and other foreign powers setting up bases. Mostly because they get paid a lot of money for this. Some countries that have bases in Djibouti include: Japan, the U.S., Britain, etc. China recently constructed their first overseas base in Djibouti. The U.S. wasn't particularly happy with this move. We established Camp Lemonnier after 9/11 and it's very important and secretive since it's involved in highly covert missions. It's a bit unnerving to have China right next door where intelligence could easily be gathered. China has attempted to downplay this base, but there's no getting around it. This is a big deal. It does signal that China might be expanding its influence abroad. It also speaks to how China has been compelled to protect their interests in Africa. *China says this base is simply a, "support" function.
an ease on anti-terrorism rules
During the famine, the Obama Administration decided to relax the rules on anti-terrorism restrictions in Somalia. Humanitarian organizations insisted that they had to work with Al Shabaab in order to provide aid to people suffering from starvation in Somalia. Somalia is currently on the brink of famine
ebola outbreak-where does it all begin?
Ebola is a fairly new virus (at least to our knowledge). In 1976, a young Belgian scientist, Peter Piot, received a blue thermos. It had been flown from Zaire to Belgium (to the Institute of Tropical Medicine). When he opened the thermos he noticed that there were two vials filled with blood.
so what is ebola?
Ebola is a zoonotic disease. This means that it occurs naturally in animals and can be transmitted to humans. Ebola is a Viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF): These fevers are infectious diseases and they stop the body's ability to clot blood. VHFs can also damage the vascular system. And the body becomes unable to regulate itself. And, yes, there is bleeding associated with VHFs. However, the bleeding is usually not what kills you.
AFRICOM
Established in Oct. of 2007 Became fully operational in 2008 Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany "One of six of the U.S. Defense Department's geographic combatant commands and is responsible to the Secretary of Defense for military relations with African nations, the African Union, and African regional security organizations." All exercises, U.S. Department of Defense operations, and security cooperation on the African continent is the responsibility of AFRICOM "U.S. Africa Command, with partners, disrupts and neutralizes transnational threats, protects U.S. personnel and facilities, prevents and mitigates conflict, and builds African partner defense capability and capacity in order to promote regional security, stability and prosperity." There are around 6,000 U.S. troops on the continent Around 4,000 in Djibouti The percent of special forces deployed to Africa rose from 3 percent to 17 percent between 2010 and 2016.
ogaden conflict
Ethiopia and Somalia have been enemies for a long time. Some of that goes back to the conflict over the Ogaden Desert, a disputed region. This area is populated by ethnic Somalis. Somalia invaded in 1977 the Ogaden region. But, this is important to know about because it shows the long history of animosity between Ethiopia and Somalia Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF): A separatist group that wants autonomy (some say their own state). Considered to be a terrorist organization by Ethiopia http://onlf.org/
2006-invasion of somalia
Ethiopia invaded Somalia in 2006. They were able to eliminate the ICU very easily. It's important to know that Ethiopia invaded Somalia with the ok of the "official" Somali government, the transitional government. The transitional government (which had formed in 2004) knew they had to rid Somalia of the ICU if they ever wanted to hold true power.
G5 sahel force
G5 Sahel: Niger. Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania The G5 Sahel have pledged to carry out a cross-border counterterrorism force Authorized by the African Union Peace and Security Council in 2017 UNSCR 2359: "Welcomes the deployment of Joint Force to Combat Terrorism Threat, Transnational Crime in Sahel The Force also enjoys enormous support from the French The G5 Sahel headquarters (in Mali) were attacked in 2018 The U.S. has pledged $60 million The Force is still in need of funds
the 3 major countries of the outbreak
Guinea: Guinea has a lot of mineral wealth but it still remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Sierra Leone: This country is still recovering from a devastating civil war that ended in 2002. This is also a mineral rich country (are you really surprised?), mainly in diamonds and other minerals. And yet most people live in poverty. Liberia: Liberia has also suffered through civil wars. Around 64% of Liberians live below the poverty line. All 3 countries have low literacy rates. All 3 countries had poor existing healthcare systems. side note: the virus spreads very quickly
dead bodies
I know. This is a depressing subject. But also important! When a person dies from Ebola, that body is covered in Ebola. And the decaying body emits fluids that contain Ebola. So, a dead body has a very high viral load. It's believed that Ebola can be found inside of a dead body for around a week.
wait isnt reston in virginia?
In 1989, a shipment of lab monkeys suddenly began to die. None of these monkeys came into contact with each other. Showing that this strain of Ebola was airborne. But it did not hurt humans. Though, humans who came into contact with it did form anti-bodies from Ebola.
omar al bashir
In 2002 the ICC (International Criminal Court) was created. Bashir was indicted on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, etc. by the ICC. But he has consistently evaded arrest. He even traveled to South Africa (which at the time was a signatory to the ICC) and the South African authorities didn't turn him in. But while the United States can pressure other nations to act, it faces a major credibility problem of its own. Unlike dozens of African nations, some of the world's most powerful countries, including the United States, Russia and China, have not even joined the International Criminal Court, officially refusing to submit to its authority. *The ICC has actually been accused of bias against African nations.
sudans efforts to counter terrorism
In 2003, Sudan ratified the African Union's Convention on the Prevention and Combatting Terrorism, and by the end of the year, the Sudanese government had signed additional counterterrorism agreements with Algeria, Yemen, and Ethiopia. Like previously stated, Sudan has cut ties with Iran (another state sponsor of terrorism) and allied themselves with Saudi Arabia (our ally). In 2007, the U.S. State Department called Sudan a "strong partner in the War on Terror," and praised Sudan for aggressively pursuing terrorist operations that threatened U.S. interests. The U.S. said Sudan could be removed from that list if it accepted a vote for independence by the south of the country. Yea, we lied about this. We did not remove them from the list.
china and south sudan
In 2015, China sent an infantry battalion to South Sudan, in an effort to bolster existing UN peace keepers. Kind of ironic, since China has supplied rockets and ammunition to the government of South Sudan. But still, the peace keepers are important. And they show that China is taking on a broader strategic role on the continent. It certainly signals China's growing interest in security issues.
chemical weapons
In 2016 Amnesty International found evidence of chemical weapons attacks in Darfur. They discovered over 30 suspected chemical weapons attacks in Darfur, all in the year 2016. The Sudanese government has denied the use of chemical weapons (of course). This is all still just alleged, though the evidence suggests a chemical attack did happen. It illustrates that the violence in Darfur continues to this day.
sudan sanctions lifted
In 2017, towards the very end of his last term in office, the Obama administration decided to lift trade sanctions off of Sudan. For the first time in 20 years Sudan will be able to get goods from the United States. Other sanctions on military weapons are still applied to Sudan. And Sudan continues to remain on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. But the U.S. believes that it's time to open a door to Sudan because of their increased cooperation on counterterrorism issues. This choice to lift some sanctions has been heavily criticized by some human rights activists.
goodbye bashir!
In April of 2019, Bashir was toppled by his own people. However, this has created a lot of tension between the military that stepped in and the civilians who are longing for a representative democracy A power-sharing deal was announced in July of 2019, but the situation remains fragile There have been outbursts of violence. Additionally, details of the deal (including the powers of a transitional ruling council and cabinet) haven't been decided on yet
women in dadaab
In Somalia, about 95% of women/girls undergo female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM is the partial or total removal of female genitalia or other injury to female genital organs. In Somalia it is primarily performed on girls aged 4-11 years old. Around half of the refugees of Dadaab are women. In Dadaab FGM is illegal (Illegal in Kenya, since 2001). International organizations offer free tutoring to girls (and boys) that would most likely be unavailable to them in Somalia.
CIA- "polio" campaign
In a very controversial move, the CIA utilized a vaccine program in Pakistan in order to gather intelligence on Osama Bin Laden. Around 2010-2011 The effort resulted in vaccination teams being banned (and even assassinated) from many areas in Pakistan. Why are we talking about this? Great question. We are talking about this because it's a clear example of putting "traditional" security before "global health security." And it raises all sorts of concerns about how seriously public health is taken by members of the intelligence community (if it's taken seriously at all). The CIA has stated that they will no longer engage in this sort of tactic. *"CIA Director John Brennan made the decision himself because he 'took seriously the concerns raised by the public health community,' CIA spokesman Todd Ebitz said. " 'By publicizing this policy, our objective is to dispel one canard that militant groups have used as justification for cowardly attacks against vaccination providers,' Ebitz said by email."
quarantining monorovia
In many cases, there were so few clinics that infected people were forced to sleep on the streets in major cities. This caused some countries to impose quarantines. One such quarantine was carried out in Monrovia in April of 2014. This did very little to stop the spread of the virus and instead helped to fuel more distrust of the government.
sudan- state sponsor of terrorism
In the past, Sudan has provided sanctuary and assistance to Radical Islamic Terrorist groups. Osama bin Laden and other terrorist leaders resided in Khartoum. Bin Laden's years in Sudan were crucial for the development of his terrorist network (in Sudan from 1991-1996). 1993 - Sudan designated a state sponsor of terrorism (by U.S.) 1996 - Sudan expels Osama under intense pressure from the United States. Osama returns to Afghanistan.
state sponsored internal vs external
Internal: Directed at people or a specific population inside the country Often done covertly by a secret state group or branch of secret police Gives leadership public deniability Allows for the eradication of an "undesirable" population Example: North Korea sending complainers to work camps - which are in essence a death sentence Example: Mugabe killing citizens in Zimbabwe who voted for his opponent External: Directed at a target group outside of the country Often includes government support of a terrorist group Allows for government support of a political agenda that would not be acceptable to the world stage Example: Pakistan's support (specifically training and weapons) to Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LET) members attack on Mumbai in 2008 Example: The PLO targeting Israel or killing Jews
international health regulations
International Health Regulations (IHRs) are supposed to improve the detection and reporting of public health emergencies. The IHRs are legally binding (a treaty). All countries are supposed to report public health threats. Countries are required to meet a set of standards, known as "minimum core capacity requirements."
ebola outbreak in sudan
It began with workers at a cotton factory and started to spread through a hospital. This outbreak had around 284 cases. 151 people died. This outbreak actually occurred before the one in Zaire but it was not recognized as Ebola until after the fact.
what is ebola
It looked like the Marburg Virus (another hemorrhagic fever) but it was different. Piot quickly realized they were dealing with something entirely different. That's when they hopped onto a plane to Zaire. They flew to Yambuku, a small village in Zaire. This is where the vial was sent from. And it was the epicenter of this outbreak. When this outbreak first began, many doctors and nurses believed these patients were suffering from malaria. Yambuku was home to an old Catholic mission that also had a hospital. The hospital had been hit hard by the outbreak and it turned out to be the center of everything.
child informants
It was discovered in 2016 that the Somali government had been utilizing children (some as young as 10 years old) to carry out covert intelligence gathering missions. "They took me sometimes in a car and sometimes on foot and said, 'Tell us who is al-Shabab.' It's scary because you know everyone can see you working with them." - 15 year old boy describing his work with the Somali government "Here we consider the body, not the age," - An official from the Somali government. That raises an important point. When does childhood begin and end? Many of these children were "rescued" from Al Shabaab recruitment, only to be used by the Somali government. The U.S. has provided significant funding and training for the Somali intelligence agency.* Children have also been used as soldiers by the Somali government. *This is through the CIA And, of course, Al Shabaab does this too. But, we aren't working with Al Shabaab and providing them with funding.
a new virus is discovered
It was quickly discovered that more women than men were falling ill. This was because many women who had been to the hospital were given multivitamin injections. They closed the hospital and put those who were sick into quarantine. This helped to contain the virus. Around 300 people died during this first outbreak.
somalia- its complicated cause of colonialism
It's ALWAYS colonialism!! Somalia was at one time known as Somaliland. It was colonized by the British and the Italians. The British had colonized the north (Somaliland) while the Italians took the south) Somalia In1960 The Republic of Somalia was formed after the country gained independence from the Europeans.
so, what is patient zero?
It's believed that the first person to contact Ebola in West Africa was a two year old child. He lived in the rural village of Meliandou, located in Guinea. He contracted Ebola in December of 2013. Meliandou is in the outbreak's "hot zone": a tri-border region (between Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia) that is heavily forested. Families can cross easily, either by river or on foot. And from this tri-border region it spread quickly across all three countries. side note: bats are a factor
how al shabaab chooses to attack kenya
It's important because you'll often read about Al Shabaab taking pains to separate Christians from Muslims while they are carrying out attacks. Often asking victims to identify their religion. There's are some important reasons for this. -One: Al Shabaab has been trying to improve their image among Muslims. They've gotten a lot of pushback for their attacks that have killed innocent Muslims. -Two: It's a tactic to damage Kenya even more by attempting to divide Muslims and Christians in Kenya. The more this division is strengthened, the stronger Al Shabaab becomes. It alienates young Muslims and may push some towards radicalization. And it angers Christians and can bring about more discrimination against Kenyan Muslims.
enough with the ISIS already...
It's suspected that the attack was carried out by ISIS in the Islamic Sahel (Islamic State in the Greater Sahara) French security officials say the ISIS branch has 40 to 60 core members U.S. troops are helping with the construction of a drone base in Agadez, Niger. $100 million temporary base for ISR collection (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance)
al shabaab-international attacks
July 2010 Kampala Attacks These were coordinated suicide bombings in Kampala, Uganda. Al Shabaab targeted a popular Ethiopian restaurant. This was Al Shabaab's first terrorist attack outside of Somalia. "We are sending a message to every country who is willing to send troops to Somalia that they will face attacks on their territory," - Al Shabaab spokesman The mastermind of this attack and the co-conspirators were finally found guilty of terrorism in 2016. Al Shabaab chose Uganda because it was the first nation to contribute troops to AMISOM. And, of course, the Ethiopian restaurant was good symbolism for them too. *The suspects were tracked down based on information in a mobile phone that was found next to a device that failed to detonate.
where the trouble of Al shabaab begins
Kenya felt that they had to invade Somalia because Al Shabaab had been consistently crossing the border (which is mostly porous) and kidnapping tourists for ransom. Additionally, they were also nervous about the growing presence of Al Shabaab in Somalia. Kenya was also tired of dealing with the constant flood of refugees arriving from Somalia. They hoped that by taking out Al Shabaab they could stabilize the country. Kenya's military invasion of Somalia which began in October of 2011. Known as Operation Linda Nchi "Protect the Country" Kenya stated quite clearly that they hoped to "inflict trauma and damage" on Al Shabab. But, by doing this, they put themselves directly in the crosshairs of Al Shabaab.
"shut it down!"- kenya
Kenya has been wanting to close Dadaab for a while. They feel that their generosity has been worn thin. And with the growing number of terror attacks, it was easy for the Kenyan government to turn to Al Shabaab as a scapegoat. But according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 60 %of the population are age 17 years and younger; most of them were born in Dadaab and are fearful of going to a country (and a failed country at that) that they know nothing about. Kenya wanted to close the camp by 2017 but the Kenyan High Court ruled that the move was illegal. For now Dadaab remains open. But the future for these refugees is uncertain.
kenyas border fence
Kenya is in the process of building a massive fence along their border with Somalia. Right now, it is mostly porous and easy to cross from either side. The goal is to keep Al Shabaab militants out of Kenya. But the problem with this fence is that many say it won't stop Al Shabaab attacks inside of Kenya. Because Al Shabaab has already begun to radicalize people inside of Kenya.
global rapid response (GRRT)
Launched in 2015 as a direct response to the Ebola epidemic Responds to emergencies when and where they occur to stop health threats before they reach our shores Provides long-term staffing for international emergency responses in the field and at CDC headquarters Deploys field-based logistics, communications, and management and operations experts to support emergency response Helps partner countries achieve core global health security capabilities linked to the Global Health Security Agenda and International Health Regulations
initial response: MSF
MSF: (Doctors Without Borders) MSF tried to raise awareness of the epidemic as early as the summer of 2014. Many in MSF requested WHO (The World Health Organization) to declare an international emergency. MSF mobilized aid workers to the three nations at the center of the outbreak. But MSF is an NGO and they quickly reached the limits of their powers.
ICU and Al Qaeda?
Many involved with the ICU asserted that the only objective of the courts was to bring order to Somalia. But there were many that claimed that the ICU had ties to Al Qaeda. And not only that, there were also claims that the ICU was providing training grounds for terrorists. This was denied by the ICU. Additionally, there was Al-Ittihad al-Islamiya, a militant component of the ICU. It's believed that this group had a hand in carrying out the Black Hawk Down attack. And this worried the U.S., especially as the courts grew more influential during the 2000s (by 2006 they had gained control of Mogadishu and some other cities). We worried it would become similar to a Taliban style regime. But it also made somebody else nervous.
sanctions?
Oct. 2017 - The Trump Administration announces that they will formally lift all sanctions from Sudan This was based on the claim that the Sudanese government was improving on their human rights record and remained a vital counterterrorism partner "The government of Sudan's actions during the last nine months show that it is serious about cooperating with the United States and has taken significant steps to stop conflict and improve humanitarian access within Sudan, and to promote regional stability,"-Heather Nauert, State Department Spokesperson
how do you get ebola? (its actually pretty difficult)
People get Ebola through direct contact (such as broken skin or mucous membranes like the eyes, nose, or mouth) with blood or body fluids. This includes urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen of someone who has Ebola. It's also possible to spread Ebola from semen from a man who has recovered from Ebola. Objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with body fluids from a person who is sick with Ebola or the body of a person who has died from Ebola.
sudan and "race"
Predominately "Arab" north. "African" south. Muslim North. Christian/Animist South. If only it were that simple. Let's break this down. In Sudan, Arab is a cultural and ethnic term. It's usually used to describe people whose mother tongue is Arabic. So, being "Arab" doesn't necessarily mean you are a Muslim. Many Muslims in Sudan (and some in South Sudan) are black and not considered to be Arabs. This "racial" division has been a great source of tension between the north and the south. Prior to the split between Sudan and South Sudan, the country's demographics were close to: 52% Black Africans 39% Arabs But, really, this is just a case of weak leadership fueling existing ethnic tensions to their own benefit. *Khartoum has, since independence maintained their myth of Arab Supremacy, a supremacy that has culturally, economically, and politically privileged Sudan's Arabs or "Arabs" for generations, especially those from the center. Slavery. Ethnic slurs used by both sides in recent atrocities have riven communities that once lived together and intermarried.
UN security council
Resolution 2177: This resolution declared that Ebola was, "a threat to international peace and security." It was cosigned by 130 nations. It was the most strongly supported resolutions in the history of the UN. With this declaration, a public health epidemic was officially labeled a global security issue. The United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response, or UNMEER, was also launched. The first UN health mission
the great green wall
Senegal was the first country to begin work on the wall. The first seed was planted in 2008 The initial goal was to plant a wall of trees from Senegal to Djibouti in an effort to combat desertification and climate change The UN and AU now refer to the Great Green Wall as "Africa's flagship initiative to combat land degradation, desertification and drought." Over 21 countries are participating and many donors have funded the effort (including The World Bank) Niger has been one of the most successful countries, namely because they incorporate a grassroots approach, allowing local farmers to practice natural regeneration of the land, using innovative practices such as reviving the roots of plants and trees, and digging "half-moon" pits to store water. Trees destroyed during droughts are allowed to recover over years, and then carefully maintained. A mosaic! Not a wall
operation united assistance
September 2014: President Obama announced that the U.S. Military would be deployed to West Africa to help stop the epidemic. This was the largest U.S. response to a global health crisis. The operation was organized into four phases, 1) Initial Entry, 2) Integration, 3) Support to USAID, and 4) Transition/Redeployment Around 3,000 U.S. troops were deployed to Liberia. Their primary goal was to build new ETUs (Ebola Treatment Units) By this time there had been over 4,000 deaths. *France and Britain took the lead in Guinea and Sierra Leone.
mohamed siad barre
Siad Barre took over Somalia in 1969. As the leader of Somalia he pushed what he called, "Scientific Socialism." He also tried to cozy up to the Soviet Union. They later dumped him for Ethiopia (sad). After the break up with the Soviet Union, he turned to the U.S. for assistance. He used clan rivalries to strengthen his hold on power.
famine in somalia
Somalia often suffers from severe famines. From 2010 - 2012 famine swept across Somalia. And, sadly, it mostly occurred in the regions that were controlled by Al Shabaab. More than 260,000 people died. Half of them were children under the age of five. The worst famine to occur in Somalia in over 25 years.
somaliland-good luck with that!
Somaliland formally declares "independence" from Somalia after Siad Barre was ousted from power (in 1991) Somaliland is not internationally recognized as an independent nation It continues to be much more stable than Somalia. Even enters into legal contracts for oil with some western countries
sudan-brief background
Sudan had a long history of colonial rule. The country was jointly ruled by the British and the Egyptians. 1956: Sudan gains independence 1978 - Oil discovered Oil is primarily located in the southern part of Sudan (what is now South Sudan). Sudan has had a long history of conflict (mostly between the north and the south). The British didn't help. They kept their "modernization" efforts to the north and looked to the southern part of Sudan for manual (umm, one could say forced) labor. In 1989 Omar Al Bashir took power and became the head of state in Sudan. He remains in power in Sudan to this day. *Since it's independence in 1956, civil wars between the north and the south have killed millions of people. We won't talk much about the civil wars. We'll try to focus on terrorist events in this country. And also look at possible state sponsored terrorism conducted by the government against their own people.
how do african union peace keepers work?
The African Union has its own Peace and Security Council (PSC). It has fifteen members (no permanent members). All fifteen members are elected by the AU Executive Council. Five members hold seats for three-year terms and 10 members are elected for two-year terms. The PSC is part of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). The PSC can send AU Peacekeepers into countries against the wishes of that country's government. Though they usually do not do this unless they are dealing with genocide or other crimes against humanity.
sudan and iran
Sudan has had a long history with Iran, going back to the late 80s. Sudan was Iran's greatest friend in the Sunni world. And they both hated the U.S. Plenty to bond over. Iran became a valuable source of military aid for Sudan. It's been alleged that Iran used Sudan to ship weapons, through Egypt and into the Gaza Strip. Hamas: A militant fundamentalist Islamic organization operating in the West Bank and Gaza. The goal of Hamas is an Islamic fundamentalist Palestinian state. Its manifesto advocates the destruction of the state of Israel. But, it is also the legitimately elected government of the Gaza Strip. Sudan's relationship with Iran got it into trouble on multiple occasions, including when Israel bombed munitions factories, purported to supply Hamas with arms. Recently Sudan has broken ties and instead attached itself to Saudi Arabia. Kind of a painful breakup. At the very least it was mostly awkward. *remember that iran is a shia country
climate change and conflict
Syria Syria had its first major drought in 2006 (the last it had suffered was 900 years ago). Over 1.5 million rural citizens were forced to flee to cities. Water and food became scarce resources. This may have helped lay the groundwork for the brutal civil war. Climate change could also cause "instability in other countries by impairing access to food and water, damaging infrastructure, spreading disease, uprooting and displacing large numbers of people, compelling mass migration, interrupting commercial activity, or restricting electricity availability." - Statement from The Pentagon Multiple reports from the DOD, The Pentagon, etc. on climate change and national security Climate change is a threat multiplier
state sponsored terrorism
Terrorism "from above" committed by government against perceived enemies. Particularly from officials and agencies trying to use force or intimidation to discourage political opposition Ex. Pres. Mugabe in Zimbabwe who kills all his political opponents and their supporters State sponsored terrorism refers to hostile actions outside of the context of a declared war, which target civilians or shows a disregard for civilian life in attacking targets — either people or facilities
kenya anti-terrorism police unit (ATPU)
The ATPU was created in 2003 in response to the attacks on the 1998 Embassy bombings. There is strong evidence that Kenya's ATPU has been carrying out extrajudicial killings and disappearances. In some cases, members of the anti-riot forces known as the General Service Unit (GSU), military intelligence, and National Intelligence Service (NIS) were also implicated in abuses by the counterterrorism unit. An anonymous member of the unit told the BBC: "The justice system in Kenya is not favorable to the work of the police. So we opt to eliminate them [suspects]. We identify you, we gun you down in front of your family, and we begin with the leaders."
african union headquarters
The AU Conference Center and Office Complex (AUCC) Opened in 2012 Cost: $200 million USD. Project was funded by China as a gift to the AU. Many African leaders were skeptical of this gift. West African political commentator Chika Ezeanya considers it an "insult to the AU and to every African that in 2012 a building as symbolic as the AU headquarters is designed, built and maintained by a foreign country." -
AUMF
The Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons. Passed the House 420-1-10, and the Senate 98-0-2, on September 14 2001
its always about colonialism
The British "split" the country in 1922, not allowing people from Northern Sudan to travel south (over the 10th parallel) or southerners to travel north (over the 8th parallel). This ensured that Muslims were stopped from spreading their faith south. The British supported and encouraged the massive influx of Christian missionaries to the South of Sudan. This created much of the division that exists today.
UNAMID
The Joint United Nations and African Union Peacekeeping Forces. Initially, The African Union deployed peacekeepers to Darfur in 2006* and the UN decided to deploy peacekeepers to Darfur in 2008 which created this hybrid operation between the AU and the UN. The peacekeepers are charged with protecting civilians but have experienced numerous failures throughout the years. Additionally, there have been two Darfur Peace Agreements (2006 and 2011). And yet, there is still no real peace in Darfur. **more on how AU peacekeepers work in later slides. The UN generally follows three principles for deploying peacekeepers: Main parties to the conflict must consent; Peacekeepers should remain impartial but not neutral; and Peacekeepers cannot use force except in self-defense and defense of the mandate. Despite this, UN Peacekeeprs have been deployed to regions where the parties have not given their consent.
still... difficult to catch
The R0 (commonly called the R nought) is a mathematical term that tells you how contagious an infectious disease is. Basically, it tells you around how many people catch the disease from one sick person. Now, don't worry. You won't have to calculate the R0 on the test. This is just to demonstrate how difficult it is to actually contract Ebola. Especially compared to an illness such as the measles!
trump administration
The Trump Administration has relaxed the rules designed to prevent civilian causalities in Somalia. This was accomplished by declaring parts of Somalia an "area of active hostilities." That allows war-zone "targeting" rules to be applied for up to 180 days. Before this, if a drone strike was to be carried out on Somalia, the Presidential Policy Guidance had to be followed. The PPG was begun under Obama and it required high-level, interagency vetting of proposed strikes. Under the new guidelines, commanders are permitted to strike individuals thought to be Shabaab fighters based only on that status, without any reason to think that the individual target poses a particular and specific threat to Americans. The new guidelines also allow for some civilian deaths if it is deemed "necessary and proportionate."
child soldiers
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) defines child soldiers as "any child—boy or girl—under eighteen years of age, who is part of any kind of regular or irregular armed force or armed group in any capacity." International humanitarian law, or the laws of war, prohibits the recruitment or use of children under 15 by parties to a conflict. "Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of fifteen years into armed forces or groups or using them to participate actively in hostilities" is a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict ("the Optional Protocol states that non-state armed groups may not, under any circumstances, recruit persons under 18 or use them in hostilities.
WHO response?
The WHO (World Health Organization) is an arm of the United Nations. It is charged with coordinating international action in a crisis. During the Ebola Outbreak the WHO was suffering from severe budget cuts. About 16% of their staff had been cut. And 35% were cut from the departments that handle outbreak response. To give you a greater idea of this cut, the WHO had one logistician in Sierra Leone. One for the entire country. WHO director-general Margaret Chan told The New York Times: "We are not the first responder ... the government has first priority to take care of their people and provide health care. WHO is a technical agency." The WHO believed that this outbreak would burn out on its own and not turn into an epidemic.
what is global health security?
The concept that infectious disease epidemics pose an international health security threat. And with the interconnectedness of the modern world, global health security is becoming an increasingly important topic. In recent years the CDC has argued that global health security is one of the most important components of national security "In less than 36 hours, an outbreak that begins in a remote village can reach major cities on any continent and become a global crisis," - Jordan W. Tappero, M.D., M.P.H., senior advisor to CDC's Center for Global Health This is NOT an issue that is specific to the continent of Africa. The West African Ebola Outbreak just provides a great case study for why global health security is crucial *presidential decision directive soft power
a nation at war
The first civil war in Sudan erupts in 1962 1972 - Peace Agreement signed. 10 years of peace in Sudan. YES!!! 1983 - Another civil war= Peace accord wasn't signed until 2005 1990s - Omar Al Bashir takes over Sudan in a coup It's not critical that you are an expert in these conflicts. We will be focusing on terrorism. However, it is important to note that Sudan has experienced instability and war for much of their history.
what does al shabaab want?
The interesting (and complicated) thing about Al Shabaab is that members have to deal with competing clan loyalties. Some leaders are more motivated to simply put their clans in charge while others are inspired by ideological motivations. Still, they have regional motivations. They aren't ISIS. They don't want any kind of global caliphate. They mainly want all foreign troops out of Somalia so they can govern the country the way they desire. Overall though, Al Shabaab wants Somalia to be under Islamic rule. Any area that is under their control bans smoking, shaving beards, music... Al Shabaab makes money off of smuggling (mostly charcoal and sugar) Despite the territory they were able to grab, Al Shabaab was (and remains) deeply unpopular among ordinary Somalis. Al Shabaab created a taxing system in order to fill their pockets. All while the population starves and suffers.
al shabaab is born
The invasion of Somalia radicalized many young people who had been part of the ICU. Al Shabaab (meaning "The Youth") formed as a reaction of this invasion. And Al Shabaab became a full-fledged terrorist organization. There's really no denying it. Ethiopia's invasion helped to create the Al Shabaab that we know today. 2008 - Al Shabaab is designated as an FTO by the U.S. *Al Shabaab is also known as Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen. It's less catchy, but definitely more impressive.
oct. 4, 2017- ambush
The soldiers were on a routine reconnaissance mission. Around 11:40 a.m. on Oct. 4, the team was ambushed outside the village by more than 50 militants American troops in Niger are not supposed to go on combat missions in the country, but they can "advise and assist" on missions with local forces where the chance of enemy contact is low. 4 U.S. soldiers were killed. 5 Nigerian soldiers were also killed The U.N. estimates that armed groups committed around 46 attacks in the region where the U.S. troops were killed, since early last year.* The Pentagon is conducting an investigation into the attack in Niger. The U.S. troops are mainly there to provide intelligence, refueling and surveillance support for the French **the village of Tongo Tongo Had been on 29 previous patrols before this one. No drones providing surveillance. *GOLDEN HOUR* does not exist
state sponsored terrorism
The state can be either open or closed about their sponsorship Open: Acknowledge their governments role in activities Ex. Mugabe who says his political opponents are "enemies of the state" Closed: Deny countries role in supporting terrorist activities - this gives the state plausible deniability Ex. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) - international terrorists "supported" by Arafat The US Dept. of State designates specific countries as "State Sponsors of Terrorism" To be added to the list, according to the U.S. State Department, the secretary of state "must determine that the government of such country has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism." Right now there are 4 countries: Iran, Sudan, Syria, North Korea Until recently other countries included: Cuba (removed 2015) Iraq (removed 2003 post invasion) Libya (removed 2006) North Korea (removed 2008, considered re-adding in 2011, now observed) S Yemen (removed after merging w N. Yemen in 1990)
5 camps of dadaab
The three older Dadaab camps, which opened in 1991-1992 (Hagadera, Ifo and Dagahaley), are more like cities and less like a typical refugee camp. In the newer camps in Dadaab (Ifo 2 and Kambioos) people are more dependent on humanitarian aid. And these two camps are what you picture when you think of refugee camps. Most of the people living in the three older camps were actually born in Dadaab and have never even been to Somalia. Remember, they were opened in 1991. There's been an entire generation born inside of Dadaab. They don't feel like they are Somali but they are also not allowed to leave the camp and become Kenyan citizens
types of ebola
There are five Ebola virus species (that we know of), four of which are known to cause sickness in humans: Ebola virus (Zaire ebolavirus) - The first strain to be identified and the most deadly. Sudan virus (Sudan ebolavirus) Taï Forest virus (Taï Forest ebolavirus, formerlyCôte d'Ivoire ebolavirus) Bundibugyo virus (Bundibugyo ebolavirus) The fifth, Reston virus (Reston ebolavirus), has caused disease in nonhuman primates, but not in humans.
sudan and saudi arabia
This break with Iran seems to single Sudan's willingness to break away from state sponsored terrorism. Though, at the heart of it, this newfound alliance is likely more about finances than anything else. Although, other motivations include a need to branch out in the Arab World. Sudan also hopes that Saudi Arabia lobbies to the Americans so as to lift existing sanctions.
rapid support forces (rsf)
This is a Sudanese government force. The RSF was created in 2013 to militarily defeat rebel-armed groups throughout Sudan. The RSF led two counterinsurgency campaigns in Darfur in 2014 and 2015. These were brutal campaigns where forces repeatedly attacked villages, burned and looted homes, beat, raped and killed villagers. The RSF received support in the air and on the ground from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and other government-backed militia groups, including a variety of proxy militias. *So, the violence in Darfur continues. The Janjaweed just turned into the RSF.
darfur
This is considered to be a genocide and not state sponsored terrorism. But, it's important to understanding the history of this country. In 2003 the western region of Darfur rebelled against the government in Khartoum. The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) began attacking government targets. They accused the government of favoring Arabs and discriminating against Black Africans. *The situation is a LOT more complicated than this. But for the sake of time and sanity I'm simplifying here. The government backed the Arab Janjaweed militia - who are accused of trying to drive out black Africans from large swathes of territory. The Sudanese government admits mobilizing "self-defense militias" following rebel attacks. But refugees say air raids by government aircraft would be followed by attacks from the Janjaweed, who would ride into villages on horses and camels, slaughtering men, raping women and stealing whatever they could find. The state backed Janjaweed militias and the Sudanese military began a genocide in Darfur, killing over 300,000 people and displacing over 2 million. Today the violence in Darfur continues
ebola and terrorism? nah...
This was floating around a bit during the outbreak. And it's mostly ridiculous. Let's say there was this potential "bio-martyr" that wanted to infect the U.S. with Ebola. This person would probably be the most useless terrorist in the world. This virus doesn't spread quickly or easily. A terrorist would literally have to vomit all over you in order to infect you. I'm pretty sure someone would call the police at some point... Plus, if they are infectious (remember, the only time they are contagious is when symptoms are showing), they're going to get really sick, really quickly. But, what about a weapon?! Eh, very unlikely. A terrorist organization is just gonna pick something easier. Trust me on this. *If you want to learn more about bioterrorism you should take Introduction to Terrorism. We cover it a lot more in this class. Sorry to disappoint but Ebola bioterrorism just isn't a thing.
aid organization
Throughout the famine, Al Shabaab banned many western aid organizations. This included most UN agencies. At many times they even denied that there was a famine. Al-Shabab permitted some aid agencies to distribute aid but demanded "registration fees" of up to $10,000. Al-Shabab created a sophisticated system of monitoring and even set up a "Humanitarian Co-ordination Office". This was a problem for aid organizations. Give aid or money to Al Shabaab? And possibly have them use that money to fund terror attacks? Or, face prosecution for supporting terrorists.
us airstrikes and raids
Under the Obama Administration, drones strikes on Somalia intensified. And as of 2016, the U.S. has about 100 troops in Somalia, the largest number since before the Black Hawk Down battle. The strikes are controversial and have at times been very successful (for instance, killing 150 Al Shabaab fighters). At other times, they have had devastating consequences (recently a U.S. airstrike killed over a dozen Somali soldiers after we were given bad intel). In addition to drone strikes, around 200 - 300 U.S. Special Ops troops work with soldiers from Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda to carry out raids. They conduct around half a dozen raids a month.
why was ebola a potential security threat?
Was Ebola ever really a threat to the U.S.? Not quite. We did have a few isolated cases but Ebola was never truly at risk of spreading inside the United States. Though, in the media, the reaction was a bit overwhelming: Well, then, what was the risk? The real risk was that three West African countries could have collapsed. Economically, socially, etc. Causing an entire region to collapse in on itself. That would have had long lasting repercussions.
the african union (AU)
Was established in 2001 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The vision of the African Union is that of: "An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in global arena." The African Union works on almost everything: health, education, peace, democracy, human rights, and economic success. 55 members representing every nation Chairperson of the African Union: Largely ceremonial position, the Head of the African Union. One year term. Current chairperson:
AMISOM troops leaving?
Well, 1,000 of them at least. African Union peacekeeping troops will start withdrawing from Somalia in Dec. of 2017. Members of the AU mission, known as AMISOM, have warned for over a year they may pull their troops from Somalia.
ethiopia
Yes, Ethiopia was very nervous about their next door neighbor. There are a few reasons for that. First, it's important to know that Ethiopia is Africa's oldest independent country. The population is 60% Christian (mostly Orthodox) and 34% Muslim. Ethiopia was nervous about a possible Fundamentalist Islamic state and safe haven for terrorists residing next door. *ethiopia and somalia have never gotten along
nuba mountains conflict
Yes, another conflict. Fighting between Sudanese government forces and the armed opposition, the Sudan People's Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N), began in June 2011 following disputed elections in Southern Kordofan, and quickly spread to Blue Nile State. Sudan has been bombing and starving out their own citizens in the Nuba Mountains. There is also evidence that the government is using cluster bombs on civilians.
videos
fighting the 2014 ebola: -entire city is covered with bodies, makes people angry -ebola ambulance -more than 4000 ebola cases have been resported in liberia -more than 2300 have died -15 mil people, only 15 ambulances erison and the ebola soccer survivors: -he lost 38 members of his family, hes alone -across west africa, more than 11000 people have died in the largest ebola outbreak in history -nearly 16000 of the infected survived -many communities refuse to accept ebola survivors beause they are scared of them -erison created a soccer club for survivors, 137 survivors joined kill me if you will, i will die: -dr. momma howa saved people -she has 90000 refugees -looters, invaders, rapest tried to come at her and take everything she has. took her at gunpoint, held her hostage. she was not going to give up her children so she said ti them "kill me if you will, i will die with dignity" -she demanded a written apology and she got it nigeria cracks down on: -fulani relies on cows -cows are criminals sudans 'nubian queen": -alaa salah -protests againsts sudans government to have the president step down -online name kendaka (means strong, reveloutionary woman or queen in nubian culture) -sudan protests because of economic turmoil
