The Role of External Actors in an Internal Conflict: Case of Somalia 2006-2011

Abstract

This study seeks to explain the nexus between the role of foreign actors, state and nonstate actors, and the continued existence of Somalia conflict. The study adopted a descriptive research design which involves certain predictions and narration of facts and characteristics. The study relies mostly on secondary data from written and recorded material that include both secondary documents and primary documents. The secondary documents used are textbooks, journals, newspapers, internet searches, articles and policy papers. Primary documents used include official government documents, communiques and speeches of relevant personalities and selected official documents such as treaties. This study is based on the theoretical tool of liberalism which assumes that anarchy and war can be policed by institutional reforms that empower international organizations and states to engage in humanitarian intervention. Liberalists hold among others the following assumptions: that we are in a plural society where state and non-state actors play various roles in international relations; individuals share many interests and constantly engage in collaborative and cooperative social action, both domestically and internationally; that conflict is not inevitable and when people employ their reason, they can achieve mutually beneficial co-operation not only within states but also across international boundaries. External actors are justified to intervene and playa role in the internal happenings of another state. This is because security of one is security for all members. The conclusion reached in this study is that foreign actors have a great role of not only resolving the conflict in Somalia and therefore reduce the humanitarian crisis; but have equally made the crisis worse. This study avails and suggests several premises for policy considerations.jstakeholder action and future research. New developments like globalizatjon, internationalization of conflicts, escalation of intra-state conflicts, interdependency anff j:>fOSS cutting environmental issues have diminished sovereignty and made it necessary for foreign actors to play diverse roles in other states. Of particular significance here is the link between the character and dimension of internal conflicts and external involvement in 'domestic affairs' of Somali state. Such foreign intervention takes many forms such as humanitarian aid, supporting or taking sides in a conflict by directly funding and arming a party in the internal conflict. The literature contains several examples of foreign interventions that have unintentionally dr intentionally contributed to fuelling tension or exacerbating conflicts because the local environments were not well understood or taken into account. The drive of the foreign actors has always been heavily premised on individual state interest rather than a desire to bring Somali back to normalcy.