Rise from Chaos: An Approach to Stability in Somalia
Abstract
In the event of an intervention, how could U.S. conventional forces operating in Somalia best support the Transitional Federal Government in stabilizing the country? Somalia stands as the greatest example of state failure and collapse in the world today. Since the overthrow of Siyad Barres dictatorship in 1991, the country has witnessed civil war and several humanitarian crises, including drought and famine. The international community responded with several unsuccessful interventions to attempt to alleviate the human suffering and restore order. In 2004, the Transitional Federal Government assumed the role of governing Somalia. Today's worsening humanitarian situation, along with al-Shabaab's insurgency against the Transitional Federal Government, could lead to the intervention of U.S. conventional forces to supplement the African Union Mission in Somalia. U.S. conventional forces could support the Somali Transitional Federal Government as part of a comprehensive approach that connects Somali citizens with the Transitional Federal Government, fosters economic development, reforms the security sector, and implements a program to deradicalize al-Shabaab extremists to restore stability to Somalia. Current state-building theories identify three interdependent sectors where the sovereign state serves its citizens: governance, development, and security. In the case of Somalia, traditional demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration programs have been ineffective because they did not address the problem of extremism. In Somaliland, specific conditions addressed the problem of radicalization, which has led to greater stability than in Somalia. A focused examination of two case studies will show how a traditional model of state building failed in Somalia, whereas a refined model, including deradicalization, succeeded in Somaliland. The case studies demonstrate that an approach to state building similar to that in Somaliland may lead to success in stabilizing Somalia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 17, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA566625
Entities
People
- Williams J. Shavce
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College