Armed conflicts are as old as man. This is true for Somalia which shall be discussed in detail in this paper. Understanding the nature and definition of armed conflict, dates to the Conference of the National Red Cross held in 1946, the precursor to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 that specified the essence of armed conflicts. According to one definition of armed conflict based on the Doctrine of International humanitarian law, it is ‘the use of weapons as an instrument to harm persons and /or property in order to overcome the opposing party’. Arising from this doctrine is the understanding is that an armed conflict is one in which there is intervention by armed forces. Arising from this brief definition of an armed conflict, this paper, in the next section, we will examine and evaluate the elements of an armed conflict with a special focus on Somalia- a nation that has been in the throes of armed conflict for about three decades now. In the next section, an assessment of the elements of armed conflict in the Somalia civil war will be attempted.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
ARMED CONFLICT AND THE CASE OF SOMALIA
SOMALIA
THE ELEMENTS OF AN ARMED CONFLICT
Research Objectives & Topics
This paper provides a critical analysis of the definition and core elements of an armed conflict, utilizing the ongoing Somali civil war as a central case study to examine how these elements manifest in a failed state environment.
- Theoretical definitions of international and non-international armed conflicts.
- The historical roots and political evolution of the conflict in Somalia.
- The impact of colonialism and clan-based governance on contemporary state instability.
- Key markers of armed conflict including militia involvement, weaponry, and the human cost.
- The intersection of international humanitarian law and the reality of the Somali crisis.
Excerpt from the Book
SOMALIA
According to Abdulahi Osman, the roots of the Somali conflict can be traced back to the aftermath of the Berlin conference in late nineteenth century in which the Somali people were divided into five colonial units.14 These were, (i) French Somaliland which forms todays republic of Djibouti, (ii) British Somaliland- this region gained independence in 1960 and joined Italian Somaliland, (iii) Italian Somaliland- colonized by Italy until 1960 when she gained independence and merged with British Somaliland to become the Republic of Somalia, (iv) the Northern Frontier District which was part of the Kenya Crown colony and lastly, (v) the Ogaden region-conquered by Ethiopian Emperor Menelik between 1887 and 1895 to later become part of present Ethiopia.15 The Republic of Somalia broke up in late 1960 when British Somaliland became the self- declared independent state of Somaliland16.
The effect of this division of one people into five different and distinct colonial groups had the undesirable effect of creating five sovereign territories. To date, this colonial division affects the Horn of Africa politics in the form of nationalist aspirations by post-independent Somali leaders keen on uniting the Somali people in the region to form a Greater Somalia.17
In 1964, Somalia opposed the the OAU Cairo Declaration on the sanctity of colonial borders18. Somalia attacked Ethipia in 1977 in an irredentist war in which she lost the fight for the Ogaden region.19 This ‘Ogadeen War’ gave rise to new indigenous secessionist rebel movements in Ethiopia such as the WSLF (Western Somali Liberation Front) in which the Ethipian state extensively used armed force to crush uprisings20. Of the Somali living outside the Republic of Somalia, some scholars have argued that:
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: Provides a foundational definition of armed conflict based on international humanitarian law and introduces the focus on the Somali civil war.
ARMED CONFLICT AND THE CASE OF SOMALIA: Distinguishes between international and non-international armed conflicts while illustrating these concepts through the historical involvement of external states like Ethiopia and Kenya.
SOMALIA: Analyzes the colonial legacy and subsequent political struggles that have shaped the current state of unrest and clan dynamics in the country.
THE ELEMENTS OF AN ARMED CONFLICT: Evaluates specific operational and social characteristics of the conflict in Somalia, including the role of militias, child soldiers, resource competition, and the human toll.
Keywords
Armed conflict, Somalia, Civil war, International Humanitarian Law, Colonialism, Clanism, Militias, State collapse, Insurgency, Humanitarian crisis, Warlords, Refugee crisis, Human rights, Greater Somalia, Ethiopia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the nature of armed conflicts by analyzing the specific historical and political elements that have sustained the civil war in Somalia for several decades.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the impact of colonial border partitions, the role of clan-based governance, the evolution of militia movements, and the influence of external state intervention.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to evaluate the elements of an armed conflict through the lens of the Somali case study to understand why the state has struggled to maintain order and legitimacy.
Which academic and legal framework is applied?
The analysis is grounded in international humanitarian law, specifically referencing the Geneva Conventions and the responsibilities of states toward protecting civilians and maintaining human rights.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the transition of the Somali state from colonial rule to independence, the rise and fall of Siad Barre’s regime, and the subsequent fragmentation into warlord-led factional warfare.
How would you characterize the work with key terms?
The work is characterized by terms such as state collapse, clannism, armed militia, regional instability, and humanitarian catastrophe.
How did colonial borders specifically contribute to the Somali conflict?
Colonial borders divided the Somali population into five distinct regions, creating long-term nationalist aspirations for a "Greater Somalia" and continuous territorial tensions with neighboring states.
Why is the "clan" structure considered a central factor in the conflict?
The clan structure became the primary vehicle for political competition and resource acquisition after the failure of the central government, leading to systemic inequality and exclusionary politics.
What impact did the Cold War have on Somalia's military capacity?
During the Cold War, significant military aid from the Soviet Union bolstered the regime of Siad Barre, establishing a heavy-handed military that, after the war's end, disintegrated into competing factional militias.
What is identified as the "missing piece" for peace in Somalia?
The author concludes that peace efforts cannot succeed without first prioritizing the understanding and reconciliation of warring clans before attempting to form a functioning central government.
- Citar trabajo
- Mbogo Wa Wambui (Autor), 2020, A Case Study of Somalia. A Critical Analysis of the Elements Considered in a Conflict, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1130307
