Somalia

Somalia has the scene of persistent conflict and instability since the central government collapsed in 1991. Beginning in 2007, the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has fought a number of insurgent groups, including the Al-Shabaab and Hisbul Islam, for control over the country.

During the last two years of fighting, Somali civilians remain the targets of atrocities committed by insurgent militias, Somali government forces and criminal gangs. Fighting in the cities of Mogadishu and Kismayo often catches civilians in the crossfire and features the indiscriminate shelling of residential areas. Al-Shabaab militiamen have summarily executed civilians for perceived collaboration with the government.

Somali government forces have repeatedly looted civilian property and assaulted members of the population during counter-insurgent opportunities. They have also indiscriminately shelled civilian areas of Mogadishu, as well as assaults on civilians across the country. 

A small African Union peacekeeping force, known as AMISOM, has been deployed to support the Somali government, but they have not been able to protect civilians outside of a small area of Mogadishu.

It is estimated that 1.55 million people are internally displaced within Somalia, a number that continues to grow due to daily fighting between armed militant groups and the transitional government. At least 675,000 Somalis are refugees in neighboring countries. As the conflict continues, those displaced by violence are increasingly dependent on humanitarian aid, the delivery of which is affected by continued targeting of aid workers.