Somalia has not had an effective government for 18 years, since warlords overthrew longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. The warlords then turned on each other, plunging the Horn of Africa nation into chaos and anarchy. Many fear the country could become a haven for terrorists.
A powerful insurgent group with links to al-Qaida is fighting to overthrow the fragile U.N.-backed government. The extremist group controls much of southern Somalia. Somalia's lawlessness has also allowed piracy to flourish off its coast, making the waterway one of the most dangerous in the world.
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