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From Pre-Colonial Past to the Post-Colonial Present: The Contemporary Clan-Based Configurations of Statebuilding in Somalia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 June 2018

Abstract:

This article is driven by an empirical paradox over where Somalia came from (pre-colonial clan-states) and where it ended up (return to pre-colonial clano-territorial conflicts). Existing academic studies on contemporary Somalia, which were supposed to provide critical analysis, continue to applaud the creation of clan-states within the failed state of Somalia. Based on a variety of unique primary sources, this article offers a new perspective on the current state formation processes occurring in the purview of the Somali State. Somali clans are determined to come to terms with the state collapse by averting the return to political power of the detested military regime, which was led by one clan-based leadership that tended to terrorize other rival clans and denied any equal power- and resource-sharing framework. Conceptualizing the contemporary Somali state as similar to pre-colonial clan-sultanates, this article argues that contemporary Somalis are reverting to a pre-colonial realm where each clan had its clan sultan seeking for a clan-state of its own right. Where else do clan-states compete against each other in entering into “treaties” with external entities intent on exploiting war-torn Somalia as tabula rasa? It is towards the objective of answering this question and of providing a better understanding of the Somali conflict that this article is offered to add a comparative empirical understanding of the different trajectories of state formations in Somalia.

Résumé:

Le paradoxe empirique de la provenance de la Somalie (États-clans précoloniaux) et de sa trajectoire finale (retour aux conflits de clans-territoriaux précoloniaux) est le guide conducteur de cet article. Les études académiques actuelles sur la Somalie contemporaine, qui étaient censées fournir une analyse critique, continuent d’applaudir la création d’États-clans dans le cadre de l’État de Somalie défaillant. Cet article qui s’appuie sur une variété de sources primaires uniques, offre une nouvelle perspective sur les processus actuels de construction d’état se produisant dans le cadre de l’État somalien. Les clans somaliens sont déterminés à parvenir à accepter l’effondrement de l’État en évitant le retour au pouvoir politique du régime militaire détesté, qui a été contrôlé par la direction d’un clan monopolisateur avec une tendance à terroriser les autres clans rivaux et a nié tout schéma d’égalité du pouvoir et de partage des ressources. En conceptualisant l’État somalien contemporain comme semblable au clan-sultanats précoloniaux, cet article fait valoir que les Somaliens contemporains reviennent à un schéma précolonial où le Sultan de chaque clan était forcé d’être à la recherche d’un État-clan de plein droit. Existe-t-il ailleurs des États-clans qui rivalisent entre eux en concluant des « traités » avec des puissances extérieures qui ont la pleine intention d’exploiter la Somalie déchirée par la guerre en tant que tabula rasa ? Ayant pour objectif de répondre à cette question ainsi que d’apporter une meilleure compréhension du conflit somalien cet article se propose d’apporter une compréhension empirique comparative des différentes trajectoires de la construction des états en Somalie.

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Article
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2018 

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