The Somali Conflict: Root causes, obstacles, and peace-building strategies

Afyare Abdi Elmi
Abdullahi Barise

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

African Security Review

Publication Date

1-1-2006

Abstract

Unlike many African populations, the overwhelming majority of the Somalis are part of a single, homogeneous ethnic group. All Somalis are Muslim and share the same language and culture. Nevertheless, one of the most terrible civil wars in Africa has been waged in this country for more than two decades. Somalia has been without a functioning central government since the late dictator General Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991. This essay examines the root causes of the Somali conflict and analyses some of the obstacles that have plagued peace efforts for the last fourteen years. Finally, it identifies peace-building strategies that could help establish durable peace in Somalia. We argue that competition for resources and power, repression by the military regime and the colonial legacy are the background causes of the conflict. Politicised clan identity, the availability of weapons and the presence of a large number of unemployed youth have exacerbated the problem. With regard to the obstacles to peace, ...

ISSN

1024-6029

Publisher

Informa UK Limited

Volume

15

First Page

32

Last Page

54

Disciplines

Business | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Indexed in Scopus

no

Open Access

no

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS