UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
FACULTY OF ARTS
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY
The ‘Building Blocks’ Approach to the Stabilization Effort in Somalia:
The Case of Jubbaland Regional State of Somalia, 2011-2014
By
John Kisilu Reuben
Registration No: C50/65869/2013
MA RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER DEGREE IN
ARMED CONFLICT AND PEACE STUDIES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY
NOVEMBER 2014
ABSTRACT
Somalia had been without a Government since 1991 civil war despite massive international efforts to
create a strong central Government. The conflict actors in the failed state had engaged in torture and
other ill-treatment, rape, extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detention and attacks on civilians and
civilian infrastructure along causing mass displacements to the populations. The recommended
international conflict resolution template for the world was found not to work for Somalia and
therefore a custom ‗medicine‘ had to be sought. Therefore, after soul searching the international
community discovered that if it intervenes should promote programs and organizations that support
Somalia-led reconciliation. South central Somalia crisis which had exacerbated had been a product of
failed policy which was the obstacle to traditional peacemaking practice and ultimately had produced
Al Shabaab.
The study sought to undertake a holistic study of Somalia‘s theatre of conflict in general, focusing on
the Jubbaland region of South Central Somalia in particular. The research‘s paramount objective was
to bridge the gap in literature on Somalia by examining three cardinal objectives; first, examine the
success story of Jubbaland; secondly, examine the lessons that the entire Somalia can learn from
Jubbaland; and finally, examining the benefits of a stable Somalia to Kenya. To achieve these
stipulated objectives, the study had employed the state-building approach to rebuild a ‗failed state‘
from the hinterland towards the capital area (bottom-up approach) by applying the Rousseau‘s Social
Contract Theory while contrasting with the Force theory which views the establishment of political
authority by conquest and use of force (top-down approach).
The study employed primary and secondary data collection methodologies. Primary data was
collected using standard questionnaires, oral interviews as well as key informant indicators.
Respondents were chosen through a representative sampling technique. On the other hand, secondary
data was collected using table reviews of print and electronic books, journals, newspapers, bulletins
as well as internet sources.
The study established that clannism and religion were undoubtedly important factors which
determined unity or disunity in Somalia. The study found that Somali Federal Government and
Jubbaland administration were cooperating to defeat Al Shabaab in establishment of the Jubbaland
regional administration despite being challenged by clan affiliations. However, Al Shabaab had
managed to conquer clannism by emphasizing on religious ideology. The inclusion of women and
other civilian elements in the formation of Jubbaland were the recipes for success in the formation of
the regional administration.
The study found that power sharing played more important than reconciliation among the Somalia
conflict resolution players. The Somalia conflict resolution efforts were challenged as there were
competing regional and international interests. Ethiopia played as a peace mediator in the case of
Jubbaland contrary to its previous mediations contributions when it had played as a spoiler. Kenya
who had made significant political and military support towards the stabilization efforts in Somalia
stood to benefit as the challenge of hosting the Somali refugees would be addressed. In addition, the
insecurity created by the volatile state in Somalia and consequential under –development in Northern
Kenya would be remedied.
The successful formation of Somaliland ,Puntland and now Jubbaland had barred any other option of
stabilizing Somalia save for the_ building blocks approach .The rest of South Central Somalia had
Jubbaland as an example since they were to be formed when the Somalia State as a major actor was
in existence.