Historical Analysis Of The Persistent Trend Of Civilian Devastation In Somalia, 1991-2011

Abstract

Somalia has been exceptionally prone to disputes over representation, making it difficult to identify representatives at the negotiating table who are both legitimate and authoritative. Somalia's susceptibility to political dynamics, exacerbated by the fractured nature of clanism, has made it especially difficult to maintain coalitions. Somalia is indeed constitutionally a federal state. However, a lack of clear understanding of how to apply and manage the conflict to work in Somalia's context is pitting different political factions against one another. A major source of political factionalism is the absence of consensus on the division of power and responsibilities between the federal central authority and regional entities as well as lack of coherent guidelines for implementing the principles of the provisional federal constitution. Both issues are contributing to a stalemate in not achieving a speedy recovery, and the “rebirth of sound public institutions in Somalia. The main objective of this research was to examine persistent trend of civilian devastation in Somalia. This is key in enriching the relevant field of policy analysis and academia on these complex issues. Greater understanding of the current debate and the options for an effective federal system in Somalia could support the current attempts for reconciliation and transformation of the conflict situation. The research therefore explored federalism as the most appropriate governance model, while also discussing the other three governance models. The research also examined the challenges: political, constitutional, security and social challenges that challenge the effective functioning of the federal model of governance. In a bid to study these aspects, the study reviews existing data in academia, policy making and other relevant fields to explain and answer the research questions and objectives to the study. The emerging issues were also highlighted and recommendations made that will assist future policy making and research in relevant studies. In order to explore these key concepts, the study's objectives examined the background and causes of the structural conflict as a solution to the reconstruction of the state of Somalia; analyze the challenges. To achieve these objectives the study employed both analyze the theories Structural Theory of International Relations to understand, explain and predict the persistent trend of Civilian devastation in Somalia. Secondary and primary data was used to analyze past present and predictably future situations as emerging issues of the role of international and regional actors in the full realization of Somali's potential.