Somalia at the Crossroads: Challenges and Perspectives inReconstituting a Failed StateSince the fall of the Siad Bare regime in Somalia in 1991 and the fratricidal war that it unleashed in its wake, Somalia has been without an effective central government. Instead, warlords and their armed bandits have been controlling different parts of the country, with the former British colony of northern Somaliland unilaterally proclaiming its independence. Developments in the country since the recent transitional government was set up in 2004 have, however, presented both opportunities and challenges for the country. While much has been reported about the prevailing situation in the country, there has been a paucity of research articulating the various perspectives and challenges in the efforts to reconstitute Somalia's failed state. This book hopes to contribute in filling this gap. Contributors to the volume examine the various issues that lie behind the current situation in Somalia, seeking answers to a number of crucial questions: Why did the Somali state fail? What role did external actors and the internal configurations of the Somalis' socio-political structure play in the state collapse? Did the various peace and reconciliation conferences really achieve anything? Should Somalia be reconstituted as one state or should more than one state be allowed to emerge from the ashes of the collapsed state? What is the way forward out of the current imbroglio in Somalia? |
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Abdullahi administration African Union Ahmed argues armed Baidoa Barre regime chapter CINC civil clan Cold War collapse colonial continued Council country’s created crisis culture Darood Djibouti economic decline elites Eritrea established Ethiopia ethnic factions factors failed forces foreign Greater Somalia groups Hawiye human development IGAD independence institutions international community International Crisis Group intervention Isaaq Islamic Courts issue Kenya lack leaders leadership migrants military militia Mogadishu Mohamed Mudug Mudug and Majertinia national capability nomadic Osman peace peacekeeping President Puntland Reconciliation Conference refugees region remittances rule Samatar scholars scores Siad Barre Siad Barre’s situation social inequality Somali community Somali conflict Somali National Somali politics Somali society Somalian Diaspora Somaliland Souaré South Southern Somalia state’s Sub Saharan Africa sub-clan Sudan territory Transitional Federal Government transitional government tribal Uganda Union of Islamic UNITAF United Nations UNOSOM UNOSOM II victims warlords