Africa is a rich continent with an abundance of resources, diverse cultures, exotic peoples and exciting traditions, yet it seems perpetually faced with armed conflict (Lukunka, 2012). Among the conflicts Africa is currently facing, Somalia is the center of some of the largest conflicts. Somalia's history has been affected by conflict after conflict, not only between rival clans but also with other countries, more recently not only between regional powers but also between the United States and Al-Qaeda. The current conflict in Somalia differs from others due to the number and type of actors involved; the large number of foreign actors involved in local affairs and the role that radical Islam is playing in the conflict. The fact that the majority of Somalia's population is Sunni Muslim has played a major role in the current war on terrorism currently being fought by local, regional and global parties, and will remain so due to their religious beliefs and strategic location and how this will it happen? influence US interest in that region? Over the past decade, U.S. security policy has been driven largely by counterterrorism efforts, which past and present administrations have identified as a top national security priority. The 2002 National Security Strategy for Africa reflected the need for a more focused strategic approach to the continent: “In Africa, promise and opportunity go hand in hand with disease, war and desperate poverty. This threatens both a core US value – preserving human dignity – and our strategic priority – combating global terrorism.” (Ploch 2011) The 2006 National Security Strategy expanded the initial strategy and identified Africa as “a high priority” and “…… middle of paper…… War changes lives, graphic, accessed March 18 2012 from, http://www2.mssu.edu/international/mccaleb/Ethiopia/border.htmLyons, Terrence, Avoiding Conflict in the Horn of Africa: US Policy toward Ethiopia and Eritrea, The Center for Preventive Action, page 1-51Mohamed, Mohamed A., US Strategic Interest in Somalia: From Cold War Era to War on Terror, June 1, 2009, Retrieved March 19, 2012, from, http://horseedmedia.net/wp- content/uploads /2010/10/US_STRATEGIC_INTEREST_IN_SOMALIA .pdfNational Security Strategy, May 2010, page 1-60Ploch, Lauren, Africa Command: US Strategic Interests and the Role of the US Military in Africa, Congressional Research Service, July 2011, page 1 - 43Somalia at War – Between Radical Islam and Tribal Politics, 1-72, Retrieved March 18, 2012 from, http://www.tau.ac.il/humanities/abraham/publications/somalia.pdf,