AN INHERITED WAR: RETHINKING SOMALI’S PEACE-BUILDING STRATEGIES

2019 marks 28 years since the central government in Somalia collapsed. Subsequent generations of those who experience the collapse continue to suffer its consequences. The prolonged crisis in Somalia continues to be a source of internal suffering and external threat. Against this backdrop this article will attempt to contribute to the existing peace efforts by calling for a two-dimensional approach characterized by: first, an inclusive -Somali people driven national dialogue framed within the traditional xeer practices that will culminate into a horizontal and vertical social contract and, second, robust counter-terrorism and anti-organized crime initiatives. In contrast, previous peace efforts prioritized state-building and establishing a central government without examining either the political and social culture of Somalis or the transformed nature of the conflict. Given the complexity of the Somali conflict today, we argue that an effective peace initiative needs to address pre and post 1991 grievances that led to the initial civil war and state collapse and also the continued radical militancy.