Somalia: Key Operational Considerations and Implications in an Era of Peace-Enforcement and Forced Humanitarian Assistance Ventures

This paper examines key operational considerations and their implications for operational art in military planning for peace-enforcement and forced humanitarian assistance operations at the lower end of the military operational continuum between peacetime and wartime operations. It is based upon United Nations (U.N.) and United States (U.S.) operations in Somalia including U.N. Operations in Somalia (UNOSOM - also known as UNOSOM I), Unified Task Force (UNITAF)/Operation Restore Hope, and U.N. Operations in Somalia II (UNOSOM II). Historical background in conjunction with the concept of operations and operational plans for these missions is explored. Then, selected key Principles of War and concepts of operational design with unique characteristics which apply to operational planning and application of operational art in this region of the operational continuum are examined. These include objective, rules of engagement (ROE), unity of command, operational sustainment, and transition between major operations. The paper concludes it is more difficult to determine, understand and apply these Principles of War and concepts of operational design to peace-enforcement and forced humanitarian assistance operations at the lower end on the military operational continuum than in other regions.