According to UN estimates 600,000 people became refugees in 2007 and another further 800,000 in 2008. Human rights abuses of the refugees included torture, killings and attacks on schools and hospitals.
In 2009, a coalition government was formed and parliament was expanded to include various factions in Somalia. In the same year, Ethiopia finally withdrew from Somalia. As of June 1, 2011, an ongoing warfare between al-Shabaab and the TFG has precipitated a further humanitarian crisis as 1.46 million people have been internally displaced and 750,000 have become refugees.
By supporting dictators, Ethiopia and the TFG, American actions in Somalia have completely destabilized the country and impeded any kind of economic or social development.
An ostensible mission to protect civilians in Libya, sanctioned by Security Council Resolution 1973, was bastardized into a mission to lend support to the rebels and to overthrow Gadhafi.
The most probable motive for the U.S. participation in the Libyan "humanitarian" campaign pertains to the refusal of Gadhafi to support American plans for the region and his attempts to create an independent Africa free of American influence. He has challenged the institutions of global capital such as the World Bank, IMF and WTO and has refused to join American military alliances, in particular, AFRICOM.
The composition of the forces opposing Gadhafi consists of a wide range of groups each with their own agenda but with a common purpose to oust Gadhafi from power.
One group called the National Transitional Council (NTC) located in Benghazi formed on February 27, 2011, to act as the political face of the rebellion. It has been funded by NATO and the NTC is their choice to replace Gadhafi As the next government primarily because they are NATO-friendly especially regarding oil resources
One group, The National Front for the Salvation of Libya (NFSL) established on October 7, 1981, was trained and supported by the CIA and was involved in an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Gadhafi on May 8, 1984.
Another major organization engaged in overthrowing Gadhafi was the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) who had close ties to al Qaeda and has been designated as a terrorist group by the state Department.
The differences in the groups in the campaign and the mission of Gadhafi loyalists to defeat the rebel forces leaves Libya with a very uncertain future.
Violations of Resolution 1973 relate to the weapons supplied to the rebels, NATO weapons used against Gadhafi forces and loyalists and the supply of military personnel on the ground assisting rebel forces. In addition, NATO forces acted as air cover for the rebel forces destroying any obstacles on their march to Tripoli. The World Health Organization reports that 120,000 refugees have fled to neighboring states.
As well, NATO warplanes bombed the pipe factory in Brega killing six people. These pipes were used to repair the man-made irrigation system that supplies water to 70% of the Libyan people and is critical to repairing and maintaining their water supply.
It is clear that the U.S. and NATO forces had no intention of complying with Resolution 1973 and embarked on their own agenda to support the rebels in their campaign to overthrow Gadhafi. In the process many civilians died and NATO intervened in a purely civil war to serve their own interests without proper authorization.
American imperialism in Africa since World War II has cast a very dark shadow over Africa destabilizing a number of countries, killing an egregious number of civilians and forcing many people to become refugees. When Africa cast off the shackles of colonialism, little did they realize that they would be replaced with the manacles of neocolonialism. Development, progress, human rights and democracy are still a distant dream for many countries in Africa.
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