IMPACT OF CIVIL-MILITARY COOPERATION ON THE CONFLICT OF SOMALIA 2012-2016

Abstract

This study had the aim of making an assessment of the impact of civil-military cooperation on the conflict of Somalia 2012-2016. There were three specific objectives that guided the study and they included an attempt at identifying accrued achievements of the civil-military actors in conflict resolution in Somalia, to examine the role of the civil-military relations in Somalia and to assess the challenges faced by civil-military cooperation actors in Somalia. Two theories formed the foundation of this study; Huntington Civil-Military Relations Theory and Feaver’s principal-agent model. The focus of the study was on reaching those respondents that have knowhow on civil-military cooperation especially on the Somalia conflict. The study focused on civil-military actors like the military, police, humanitarian workers and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Ex-post factor research design anchored the methodology of the study and the design was quite useful since the phenomenon of civil-military relations was to be reported and described as it has occurred in the field of conflicts and disasters like in Somalia. The target population comprised of the views of experts and stakeholders involved in fostering for peace in Somalia. These views were collected from journal and articles about Somalia. The study was a desktop review of journals and articles on civil-military cooperation in Somalia. The study concluded that the three null hypotheses were rejected. The focus of chapter two was basically on the aspect of civil-military cooperation and success involved in civil-military cooperation. The study established that the success of civil-military relations in Somalia is notable from growing tendencies of civilian and military actors who have complement the efforts of each other in the attempt at stabilizing the country. Chapter three highlighted the role of the civil-military arrangement of working together in Somalia. The role of actors such as the Government of Kenya and Ethiopia which have repeatedly sent military forces into Somalia to counter terrorist groups was established. Additionally, the study captured the role of the United Nations Security Council, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and East Africa Community attempts at scaling down the threat of Al-Shabaab and support to the Somalia government. Chapter four attempted to establish the challenges faced by civil-military actors in Somalia. The null hypothesis was that there are no significant challenges faced by civil-military cooperation actors in Somalia. The findings of the study were the civilian groups as well as the military forces from various countries have often faced the risks posed by Al-Shabaab terror group which has threatened the achievement of the set objectives by these entities. The study recommends that that the success of civil-military actors in conflict resolution in Somalia should be scaled up to fully coordinate and utilize the capability of the actors currently in place. The study recommended that civil-military relations in Somalia are very essential for the overall political resolution in Somalia. The study recommended that efforts should be undertaken by the various actors in the Somalia conflict to overcome the challenges facing civil-military actors.