Use unhappy youth for peacekeeping force

The recent bombings in Kampala, Uganda, followed by explosions in Nairobi, Kenya, are apparently caused by Somali anger over the posting of African Union peacekeeping troops in their territory. The Somali warlords have decided to take the war back to the home countries of the peacekeepers. While their tactic is clearly one of intimidation, their actions lead one to wonder if civilians in surrounding countries should be put at risk for the sake of keeping the peace in Somalia.

Here in the United States there have been several incidents of young Somali refugees secretly leaving their families and traveling to Somalia to fight in the conflict. Furthermore, recently a young Somali refugee agreed to participate in a terrorist plot to set off a bomb in Oregon. The young refugee was willing to go as far as personally detonating the bomb. Fortunately the plot was set up by the authorities and no one was hurt. It is regrettable that the young refugee would turn on the community that took him and his family in during their time of need.

Americans have been extremely generous to Somali and other East African refugees, giving them a home and the ability to start their lives over after the tragedy of drought and conflict in their home countries. Might these young men eager to go to war provide a solution to the East African bombings?

I propose that the African Union recruit a volunteer peacekeeping force from young Somalis refugees living in the United States. The young Somalis would be trained by the African Union in a suitable third country and then deployed in Somalia. Two birds will be killed by one stone. The young Somalis would have their aggression redirected to a useful cause. They would also be removed from the reach of extremists and the misguided temptation to turn against the country that has done so much for them and their families. The AU would have troops to keep the peace in Somalia and the Ugandan and other soldiers currently serving could be withdrawn and returned to their home countries. This would return peace to East Africa and prevent the Somali crisis from spreading to the neighbouring countries.

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