ABSTRACT
Soon after Somalia collapsed in 1991 various warlords mushroomed. Since then reconstruction of the country has not been possible and the population has been suffering indescribably. Somalia, as worst-performing state, leads the Failed States Index table of 2008. It is followed by Sudan, Zimbabwe and Chad. Only interrupted by Iraq, another African country continues the list of the failed states: DR Congo. Since its creation in 2004 the transitional federal government of Somalia could not control even the capital, Mogadishu. The government of Somalia has not enjoyed any popularity. In 2006 the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) controlled most of the country but later lost the controlled areas to Ethiopian troops, who were supporting the TFG (transitional federal government). About 700,000 people fled Mogadishu in 2007. In October 2007 Prime Minister Ghedi of the TFG resigned; President Yusuf resigned in December 2008. Islamic radicalism increased dramatically in 2008 and regained control of most of Somalia. Ethiopian troops left the country towards the end of 2008 and early 2009. A new ‘moderate’ Islamist president, Sheik Sherif Ahmed, was elected in early 2009 and introduced Sharia law to appease the radical Islamists. But the radicals are still fighting the government.
