The Solomons

Since July, 2003, Australian forces have been engaged in a peacekeeping mission (RAMSI) in the Solomon Islands, and more specifically, Guadalcanal. So far so good, but two servicemen have been killed since the mission began: one gunned down while on patrol, the other died falling into a cave while looking for the weapons used in that attack. The political and ethnic unrest on Guadalcanal dates back to WWII, when the U.S. shipped in laborers from neighboring islands to construct airbases, etc. To the resentment of the indigenous people, those laborers never left and became quite established. The situation boiled over in the mid-1990s. Here's the scoop from the U.S. State Department, although I'm not sure the situation is as benign as suggested here - there appear to be a lot of scores to settle in this thing. In any case, it's an interesting study of unintended consequences.

"The national election of August 6, 1997 resulted in Bartholomew Ulufa'alu’s election as Prime Minister, heading a coalition government, which christened itself the Solomon Islands Alliance for Change.

However, governance was slipping as the performance of the police and other government agencies deteriorated due to ethnic rivalries. The capital of Honiara on Guadalcanal was increasingly populated by migrants from the island of Malaita [imported by the U.S. during WWII]. In June 2002, an insurrection mounted by militants from the island of Malaita resulted in the brief detention of Ulufa’alu and his subsequent forced resignation. Manasseh Sogavare, leader of the People's Progressive Party, was chosen Prime Minister by a loose coalition of parties. Guadalcanal militants retaliated and sought to drive Malaitan settlers from Guadalcanal, resulting in the closure of a large oil-palm estate and gold mine which were vital to exports but whose workforce was largely Malaitan.

New elections in December 2001 brought Sir Allan Kemakeza into the Prime Minister’s chair with the support of a coalition of parties.

Kemakeza attempted to address the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, but the prevailing atmosphere of lawlessness, widespread extortion, and ineffective police, prompted a formal request by the Solomon Islands Government for outside help. With the country bankrupt and the capital in chaos, the request was unanimously supported in Parliament. In July 2003, Australian and Pacific Island police and troops arrived in the Solomon Islands under the auspices of the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

RAMSI is largely a policing effort with an important development component. It has restored order to virtually all parts of the nation and is now embarked on rebuilding government institutions, particularly the police, and reviving the economy, which fell by at least a third during the troubles. The effort promises to take many years and Solomon Islands will continue to require substantial donor support. Moreover, as militants, former police, and political leaders are brought to trial for their crimes during the unrest, some local resentment is likely to cut somewhat into the now-universal support for the intervention."