FEATURED EXHIBITS

BUILDING UP TO CONFLICT

After the UN peacekeeping forces took over Mogadishu, the famine had largely been negated due to the food that was being delivered into the country. The UN charter now shifted from humanitarian efforts, what Operation Restore Hope was, to “Nation-building.” US and UN forces now attempted to disarm and diffuse the tension growing in the capital. However these actions led to an ambush by local militiamen, killing 24 Pakistani troops.

At first the US and UN troops were welcomed into the city with open arms, however after the forces began to try to restore order to the country, local militias resisted. US forces began a manhunt for the leader of the Habar Gedir clan, Mohamed Farrah Aidid, the mastermind who set up the ambush. Soon after, US helicopters acting on intelligence reports, fired 16 TOW missiles into a single building where they thought a clan meeting was being held. But, the US intelligence was wrong on the purpose of the meeting. They had thought that the meeting was to discuss tactics to attack the US/UN troops stationed in Mogadishu; however the purpose was actually to discuss diplomacy options with the US. This act destroyed whatever positive image the US had in Somalia, overnight every Somali wanted American blood spilled. Immediately afterwards, four foreign journalists were murdered by angry Somali mobs, the first violent reaction of many to come.