October 2, 2025

Toward a Somali Covenant: From Contention to a Consensual Political Order. Reimagining Federalism, Identity, and Legitimacy in Post-Conflict Somalia

Key Points

Political apathy and extremism in Somalia arise from youth exclusion and elite power-sharing, undermining governance.
Over 75% of Somalia's population is youth, whose exclusion from political processes deepens vulnerabilities and migration.
International interventions often focus on short-term security, leading to dependency and impacting Somali sovereignty.
The study proposes a new framework emphasizing public legitimacy, generational agency, and culturally sensitive reforms.

Abstract

This study critically examines Somalia’s post-conflict governance crisis through the intersecting lenses of elite-driven reconciliation, youth exclusion, and externally imposed state-building frameworks. It argues that reconciliation efforts since the collapse of the Somali state have been dominated by elite power-sharing arrangements, lacking public participation and symbolic legitimacy. The exclusion of youth—who constitute over 75% of the population—has deepened political apathy, irregular migration, and vulnerability to extremist recruitment. International interventions, particularly those shaped by neotrusteeship and regional containment strategies, have prioritized short-term security over Somali-led recovery, often reinforcing dependency and undermining sovereignty. Drawing comparative insights from Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sierra Leone, the paper highlights the limitations of elite-centric models and the importance of civic education, emotional reintegration, and negotiated sovereignty—defined as externally supported governance under Somali-defined conditions. The study proposes a transitional framework grounded in public legitimacy, generational agency, and culturally rooted reform, emphasizing that Somalia’s future depends not on imposed solutions, but on inclusive, participatory transformation. Author Bio Abdullahi Mohamed Hersi, PhD, is a peace and conflict scholar with a deep commitment to democratic governance, justice, and community empowerment. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the nonprofit organization Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD) in the USA and the Horn of Africa, and as an adjunct lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Youngstown State University, Ohio. Dr. Hersi earned his doctorate in Peace and Conflict Studies from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology and brings over 25 years of hands-on experience in governance reform, civic engagement, and humanitarian policy across the Horn of Africa and the United States. His work is grounded in the belief that inclusive institutions, civic trust, and ethical leadership are central to building peaceful and resilient societies.

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