Role of Organizations in Promoting Peace and Stability in Somalia, a Study of the United Nations and African Union

Abstract

The Somalia conflict has been termed one of the longest human conflicts in Africa and has lasted for almost twenty years. The study’s purpose was to analyze the role of United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) in promotion of peace and stability in Somalia. The study analyzed the measures undertaken by the UN and AU in their role to promote stability and peace in Somalia, examined the efficacy of United Nations and African Union in promoting peace and stability in Somalia and examine the impact of UN and AU in promoting peace and stability in Somalia. The study was anchored on the liberalism and constructivism theories. Besides critical analysis of literature, the study also gathered primary data from a target population that included officers from the AU Mission in Somalia, Kenya defence forces officers in Somalia, scholars, general public and officers form the United Nations. The study findings determined that the UN has employed humanitarian measures and a mix of military force to control the situation in Somalia and create a conducive environment for aid operations. However, the study established that the UN efforts have been marred with various challenges, such as the reluctance of the conflicting factions to cease fire and reconcile. The presence of several warring factions and the lack of a central government in Somalia was a challenge to the UN’s achieving its objectives. On the other hand, AU through AU mission in Somalia have offered protection to key infrastructure of Somalia such as seaports, Aden Ade International Airport, Villa Somalia, military academy, and the old university. This has enhanced the ability of the Somali Government to operate and function frictionless towards the stabilization process. The study noted that the UN mission in Somalia is considered a failure despite its successes due to the large number of lives lost in the mission. However, the African Union Mission in Somalia has made significant and positive impact. It has played a crucial role in the liberation of large areas of the country including the major cities of Mogadishu, Kismayo, Baidoa, Beledweyn, Jowhar and many other important towns from Al Shabaab. However, the mission has stagnated and no significant achievement has been made since 2014. The study found that peace operations under the auspice of UN such as United Task Force and UN Operations have failed to restore peace and stability in Somalia. The civil war witnessed after the collapse of central government in 1991 is still present. The study recommends that there is need of international organizations to take a proactive role in promoting peace and stability in the world. The study also recommends that there is need for international organizations like AU and UN to develop an effective framework of addressing conflict within the continent.