The Politics of Clan Hegemonic States in Somalia: A Contestation without Reconciliation

Abstract

This article presents the theoretical framework of the federal system of governance in the modern world. It attempts to provide highlights on the factors that contributed the unification of south and west parts of the country and the grievance of westerners in the new republic that degenerated into full-blown armed conflict. It discusses federal states and clan dominance in Somalia where exclusionary system is being created causing discontent from ‘marginalized' clans. It also analysis challenges facing all the states in Somalia where different clan compete access to power and resources. This article explains the necessity of social reconciliation model for management of protracted conflict. It argues that the conflict in Somalia requires a new social reconciliation model that is aimed at restoring the broken relationship among different clans while reaching consensus on the future governance of the country. Using values of Somali customary laws, it propose Jilib-Aro restorative model for intractable clan conflict in Somalia.