Examining the Effectiveness of Imposed Federalism as a Tool of Conflict Resolution for the Post-Conflict Society: The Case of Somalia

Federalism as a tool for conflict resolution has been a focal point in scholarly debates, often employed to manage conflicts. Somalia adopted federalism to address its persistent clan conflicts. This study examines the effectiveness of federalism in resolving conflicts in Somalia’s post-conflict society. The main issues in Somalia include reemerging clan conflicts and deteriorating relationships between the Federal Member States (FMS) and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), which threaten the country’s nascent government. The study investigates the impact of Somalia’s governance system on political stability, clan-based power sharing, resource allocation, boundary disputes between FMSs, and the constitutional framework. This study sought to understand why Somalia’s federal arrangement has failed. Federalism is the process by which a number of separate political organizations enter into voluntary agreements to work out solutions, adopt joint policies, and make decisions on joint problems. The legitimacy of the Somali governance model is questionable. The study addresses these perceived limitations using a hybrid methodological approach, including surveys and in-depth interviews, with a total population of 136 participants. Key questions explored include whether Somalia’s federal system effectively addresses prolonged conflict and political instability and the external and internal factors influencing its implementation. Qualitative data were systematically analyzed, while quantitative data were processed using SPSS 20.0. The results indicated a lack of favourable public opinion regarding the system’s suitability in Somalia. The study concludes that the current system is inefficient in state rebuilding, promoting inclusivity, ending clan conflicts, and preventing secession. The study recommends that Somali people renegotiate a suitable governance system without foreign intervention and suggests a decentralized unitary system as a more appropriate solution for Somalia. This approach could better preserve Somali unity and address the root causes of conflict.