Misplaced Loyalties Military Culture and the Breakdown of Discipline in Two Peace Operations

Abstract

In December 1992, Canadian Forces personnel, as part of a coalition of forces led by the United States, were deployed for service to Somalia. Many of the Canadian personnel involved in the deployment belonged to the Canadian Airborne Regiment Battle Group, itself made up largely of soldiers from the Canadian Airborne Regiment (a paratroop battalion). On the night of March 16-17,1993, near the city of Belet Huen, Somalia, soldiers from Two Commando of the Canadian Airborne Regiment beat and tortured a bound 16-year-old Somali youth, Shidane Arone, resulting in his death.¹ The consequences of this incident have been far-reaching, not only for the Battle Group that was deployed to Somalia, but also for the Canadian Forces as a whole. The investigations that followed, the media coverage, and the ensuing public inquiry shook the Canadian military establishment to its core.

In the infantry, they take care of their own. That's the way it's done.

Canadian Soldier

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¹ It is important to note that Canadians were not the only ones involved in senous human rights abuses in Somalia Belgian and Italian paratroopers were also scrutinized by inquiries in their own lands (see Omaar & de Waal, 1993).