Situation Report: Short Commentary on Somalia: Plus ca change...? Richard Cornwell

As the year 2005 began, the collapsed state of Somalia at last showed faint signs of recovery, fourteen years after slipping into its deep coma and after thirteen failed attempts at revival. Not surprisingly, this development drew considerable media attention, prompted too by the evident relief of those who had toiled so hard to achieve this breakthrough.

The question now is when the resurrected government of Somalia can reduce its dependence on its external life-support systems and assume a measure of responsibility for what happens in Somalia itself. It is evident that these are early days, and that even partial recovery will have to be followed by a prolonged and carefully monitored convalescence. Therefore, the willingness of the international community to expend the necessary care and attention on this frail patient is also at issue.