Casemate Publishing continues to release and distribute Helion’s ongoing series on wars in the twentieth century. This particular volume is part of their collection dealing with conflicts in the continent of Africa and covers the United Nation and United States intervention in Somalia from 1992 to 1994. As with other works in this series, they provide text, contemporary photographs that are mostly black and white with a smattering of color photographs. The center of the book has some color profiles of ground equipment and aircraft. Apparently the difference between the first edition and second edition of the book is not the content, but a new cover and color profiles.

The book takes a chronological look at the rise and fall of Somalia. Somalia, located in the horn of Africa, was colonized by various European powers until it gained its independence after the Second World War. With tensions related to the Cold War, the strategically located country was courted by the Soviets and the western powers. Dominated by authoritarian rulers, as happens frequently, with the fall of the regime, things descended into chaos. The roots of US intervention came with a burgeoning disaster - famine. When a multinational force came to Somalia to assist with the famine, it was caught up in the tribal politics of the area and the era. With growing violence against multinational forces, the United States stepped into to prevent a humanitarian disaster, but the author recognizes the tensions had evolved into a counter insurgency. The attempt to arrest the leaders that dominated the fighting triggered the events of the battle of Mogadishu. Overconfidence and a spirited defense made the mission through the heart of Mogadishu the hellish experience that it became. While the Rangers fought bravely, the United States lost the will to remain in Somalia.

The story of what happened in Mogadishu is well known thanks to Mark Bowden’s book and the subsequent film based on it, Black Hawk Down. The book and the movie focus on the disastrous attack of United States Army Rangers in 1993. This work takes a wider look at that conflict, beginning with colonization and continuing through the aftermath of the UN/US intervention. As a practicing historian, you cannot understand the importance of an event without its standing in a wider timeline of events. The book is brief and offers a definite point of view. Many of the issues come back, in the author’s opinion, to the dysfunction of the United Nations which not everyone may agree with. If you enjoy Black Hawk Down, read this in conjunction with Bowden’s work. This work gives you a broad introduction to the events of that tragic day. My thanks to IPMS and Casemate Publishing for giving me the opportunity to review this book.