Halima Ismail Ibrahim, a former UN worker who bravely navigated the chaos of Somalia's civil war, shares her harrowing experiences from the front lines. She recounts the horrors of the conflict, juxtaposing childhood memories with the grim realities of life in Mogadishu. Halima discusses her efforts to engage with warlords for safety and the tragic fallout following the UN's withdrawal in 1995. Her insights offer a poignant reflection on the challenges and consequences of international intervention in humanitarian crises.
10:03
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Childhood Memories
Halima Ismail Ibrahim recalls a happy childhood in Mogadishu, where she and other children would line up for bread with halwa.
She contrasts these memories with the city's current destruction, expressing sadness over the changes.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Life Upended by War
Halima's life changed drastically in 1991 when armed guerrillas overthrew the Somali government.
She and her husband even considered buying a gun for protection amidst the escalating violence.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Working for the UN
Halima joined the UN mission to help build a Somali government.
She risked her life working with local district councils, even warning her colleagues about the dangers.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 1991, a horrific civil war erupted between rival warlords in Somalia. A US-led United Nations mission tried to restore order and provide humanitarian aid. But, the mission ended in an embarrassing withdrawal in 1995 after US helicopters were shot down, as depicted in the film Black Hawk Down.
Halima Ismail Ibrahim risked her life to work for the UN mission. She speaks to Ben Henderson.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.
(Photo: UN soldier in Mogadishu. Credit: Thielker/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Witness History 