THE POSSIBILITY OF AN AL-SHABAAB : FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA NEGOTIATION AS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO PEACE RESOLUTION IN SOMALIA

• Main Author: Jimale, Farhan
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Uppsala universitet, Teologiska institutionen 2020
• Subjects: Social Sciences; Samhällsvetenskap
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-430353

                                                                         Abstract  For nearly thirty years now, Somalia has been in the heat of political and religious crisis that have made the state nearly dysfunctional because of power struggles between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Al-Shabaab militant group. While various peace –inclined strategies have been sought to free up the Somali people, including negotiations and the use of military, neither has proved to be useful in resolving the crisis. Therefore, this study examines the potentiality of holding the negotiations, which seems inevitable as the only lasting solution. Five experts are interviewed to give their perceptions of Somalia's political climate and the potentiality of arriving at a lasting solution. This study finds that negotiations between the two parties cannot happen unless each of their demands has been adhered to in entirety. Secondly, the external bodies and the wider international community have a more significant role in initiating political settlement to create lasting peace for Somalia. However, for the mediators to succeed, the pre-conditions set before the negotiation process needs to be implemented. Therefore, this study argues that a collaborative approach is needed among dispute resolution mechanisms since there seems to be no amicable strategy for an everlasting solution.   === <p><strong>Acknowledgment </strong></p><p>This academic work would not have been possible without the valuable inputs of several people. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor Angelika Drigo, who guided me throughout this project, and I sincerely want to thank her for her time, support and guidance. I would also like to extend my gratitude to all the lecturers – particularly, Prof. Brain Palmer whose knowledge and insights, were the most valuable resources of this programme.  Above all, this thesis would not have been possible without the love and kind support of my family and friends who all kept me going. However, I hope that this academic work will contribute to some knowledge gaps existing in the field of religion in peace and conflict.</p>