Somalia may share a common language, but south Somalia and north Somalia were historically different nations in completely different kingdoms.
South Somalia had a great succession of kingdoms based in Mogadishu, kingdoms that were great rich kingdoms of poetry and high culture.
North Somalia had a whole different succession of kingdoms based in great ports such as Berbera in north Somalia- also great rich kingdoms of poetry and high culture.
They are different nations. With different histories.
Somalia is not at war with itself because Somalis are quarrelsome!
Somalia is at war with itself because it inherited the usual problems from the European imperialists- and because they stuck two completely different nations together in one state!
It is like if France and Italy were stuck together in a single state. They're both Latin- based Catholic countries, both speak Romance languages, both follow the Catholic rather than the Protestant church, both cherish the classical Greek and Roman legacy... but if they were forced to share a country, wouldn't you expect them to fight for independence?
Especially after they lost the dream of uniting all the Somali-speaking lands in one state (including lands still in Ethiopia)- something that never happened historically.
North Somalia and South Somalia have a thousand years of history as separate kingdoms- sometimes more than one in the north as well as one in the south. A thousand years of history as thriving, richly cultured, quite separate kingdoms. In the north, the crossroads of the world, where ships from India, China and Persia come on their way to Egypt and the Mediterranean, the way into Ethiopia and the land route to Egypt down the Nile, with sandy beaches and dry semi-desert where the cities live on fish and goat ranching. In the south, the way into central Africa, beautiful port cities, a little off to the side from the great crossroads of the world but still a crossroads, with beautiful lush savannahs, small rivers, grain fields and not a semi-desert in sight.
North Somalia and south Somalia have a thousand years of history as separate nations. That is why they are fighting. That, and the usual problems left behind by the European colonialists.
Here's hoping for a better future in that beautiful part of the world!
God loves you!
Sincerely,
David S. Annderson