| dc.description.abstract | Military intervention in failed states remains a contentious issue in Africa just like elsewhere. Chronic insecurity in Somalia caused by inter-clan conflicts diverts the attention of international and regional bodies from nation building to conflict management has been the main headache. The main issue of concern therefore is whether it was appropriate and needful for the Kenyan government to take such an action against Somalia, so as to protect those at risk within and in other surrounding sovereign states. In this regard, this study focused on the impact of military intervention in failed states focusing on Somalia. The study sought to achieve the objectives like: to analyze the causes, examine the consequences and identify the challenges faced in the military intervention in Somalia. Secondary data was collected from various books on humanitarian intervention, treaties, declarations besides different instruments on policy, journals, past papers of research, newspapers besides different articles on military intervention. The collection and analysis of this data was done under the guidelines of the objectives of the study. Information that was collected was first verified and then subjected to the theoretical analysis. The military intervention in Somalia by Kenya can be attributed to political causes, economic causes and social causes. Specifically, the causes identified include security threat, the need to safeguard territorial integrity, interests in oil exploration and the need to secure oil blocks (the oil question) of deep-sea offshore between Kenya and Somalia, internal and domestic political dynamics as well as the economic interest of realization and securing the LAPSSET project. In regard to the consequences, findings indicated that there has been material and human damage in its very nature with civilian casualties of the intervention both in Somalia and in Kenya. The intervention has heightened Al Shabaab’s attacks in Kenya in form of retaliatory attacks in addition to strengthening of AMISOM. It has also had negative implication on Kenya’s financial stability and has furthered militancy in Kenya. However, Al Shabaab has lost major strongholds as a result of the intervention. Pertaining to the challenges, the success of AMISOM is partially dependent on whether centralized structures of government can demonstrate legitimacy among the Somali citizenly. The contingents in the military force are also yearly rotated and this has had implications on performance. There is also shortage of skilled and specialized police trainers in AMISOM and reckless police action in Kenya as far as the fight is concerned. In a nutshell, the study concluded that causes, consequences and challenges in the military intervention in failed states are complex and have long termed ramifications. Nonetheless, the impact will definitely cut across the political, social and economic aspects in any context. The study recommends that the Kenyan government should establish all-inclusive national development policies and consider greater inclusion of the Somali government as well as regional and international stakeholders in efforts to stabilize Somalia. It should also develop effective security policies to secure border region. In addition, both Kenya and Somalia should deal with the oil interest within the international law legal framework. | |
