Government Instability Case Study

​Government Instability in Africa: Case Study

By Emily Thomas

Open Ended

Imagine your country's government collapses overnight. Who would make the rules? How would schools, hospitals, and grocery stores work? Write down 3 things that would change in your life immediately.

Somalia is located in the eastern part of Africa, along the coast of the Indian Ocean. For many years, the country has struggled with government instability, meaning that there has not been a strong and organized government to create laws, protect citizens, and manage resources. The civil war that began in 1991 caused the central government to collapse. Since then, rival groups have fought for power, making it difficult to form a stable government.

Education:
When the government fell, schools were closed for years. Many families could not afford private education, and public schools could not reopen because there was no system to run them. As a result, millions of Somali children never attended school or dropped out early. Today, Somalia has one of the lowest literacy rates in Africa. For many families, survival became more important than education.

Medicine and Healthcare:
Government instability also affected hospitals and access to healthcare. With no stable leadership, many hospitals closed, and doctors fled the country. Diseases like cholera and measles spread quickly because there were no vaccines or clean water. International aid organizations tried to help, but violence and poor roads made it hard to reach many people. Many Somalis died from illnesses that could have been prevented with basic medicine and clean water.

Food and Famine:
Somalia also faced repeated famines. Farmers could not grow enough crops because war destroyed land and irrigation systems. Food shipments from other countries were often blocked by fighting or stolen by armed groups. Millions of people went hungry, and many children suffered from malnutrition. Today, food insecurity is still a major problem in Somalia because the country has not had a strong government to provide stability.

Why does this matter?
When a country has no stable government, the effects go beyond politics. People lose access to education, medicine, and food—basic things needed for survival. Somalia’s story shows how government instability can create a cycle of poverty, sickness, and hunger that is very hard to break.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the MAIN cause of government instability in Somalia?

• Civil War

• Strong central government authority
• High levels of foreign investment
• Economic growth and stability

Open Ended

Education:
When the government fell, schools were closed for years. Many families could not afford private education, and public schools could not reopen because there was no system to run them. As a result, millions of Somali children never attended school or dropped out early. Today, Somalia has one of the lowest literacy rates in Africa. For many families, survival became more important than education.

In the box below, describe the effects of government instability on education:

Open Ended

Medicine and Healthcare:
Government instability also affected hospitals and access to healthcare. With no stable leadership, many hospitals closed, and doctors fled the country. Diseases like cholera and measles spread quickly because there were no vaccines or clean water. International aid organizations tried to help, but violence and poor roads made it hard to reach many people. Many Somalis died from illnesses that could have been prevented with basic medicine and clean water.

In the box below, describe the effects of government instability on medicine and healthcare:

Open Ended

Food and Famine:
Somalia also faced repeated famines. Farmers could not grow enough crops because war destroyed land and irrigation systems. Food shipments from other countries were often blocked by fighting or stolen by armed groups. Millions of people went hungry, and many children suffered from malnutrition. Today, food insecurity is still a major problem in Somalia because the country has not had a strong government to provide stability.

In the box below, describe the effects of government instability on food and famine:

Open Ended

If you were a citizen living in Somalia, what would be your biggest challenge? Why?

Open Ended

Scenario Challenge: You have 20 minutes to work with your group to come up with a plan to save Somalia. WORK TOGETHER. One person can type in the group's action plan on their computer, but make sure ALL GROUP NAMES are included. Here is your scenario:

You are part of a United Nations crisis team. You have $10 million to help Somalia. Make a plan:

1. How will you spend it to improve education, medicine, and food access?

2. Rank these areas from most urgent to least urgent. Explain your reasoning.