The Untold Story of the Heroes of Civic Leadership in Somalia: The Case Study of Kham-Kham Village

Abstract

Abstract In many countries of Africa, political leaders are in continual negotiation or competition with a broader range of civic leaders who provide leadership in areas which state institutions do not reach. However, scholarship on African leadership continues to focus on political leadership rather than paying equal attention to the dual role of civic and political leadership in the continent. In this article, the author argues that the analysis of African civic leaders has the potential to enhance the relevance and richness of discourse on African leadership if properly explored. To advance this argument and to demonstrate that it is not all negative in the arena of postcolonial Somali leadership, this article provides a comprehensive picture of civic leadership in the village of Kham-Kham, Somalia. Using both in-depth interviews and a review of the relevant literature, the article highlights how village leaders in Kham-Kham managed to create a safe haven for those fleeing ethnic cleansing, natural disasters, and other forms of insecurity. It also highlights how leaders tried to establish law and order for the village residents while Somali political leaders struggled to save the Somali state from complete collapse or struggled to agree on how to revive it.