Air Medical Evacuations from a Developing World Conflict Zone

Somalia has been without effective government for close to two decades, with more than 1 million people internally displaced. The political unrest persists, with United Nations-backed African Union peacekeeping forces supporting the Transitional National government of Sharif Ahmed, struggling to maintain control of central Mogadishu from Islamist extremist groups, such as the reportedly Al-Qaeda-backed Al-Shabab. The African Union force of 5,000 troops is predominantly of Ugandan and Burundian origin, making up the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) effort. However, its mandate is limited to operations only in Mogadishu, and it is unauthorized to actively pursue insurgents. As with other ongoing high-profile conflicts, African Union troops face an enemy that blends into the civilian populace, fighting with a lethal mixture of improvised explosive devices and suicide bombers.