Situation In Somalia Research Articles

Challenges and Solutions to the Recurrent Measles Outbreak in Somalia

This study aims to address the persistent challenge of recurrent measles outbreaks inSomalia by providing an analysis of underlying issues and proposing evidence-basedsolutions. Measles, a highly contagious viral infection, continues to pose significantthreat to public health worldwide, with Somalia facing unique challenges due to itscomplex geographical and sociopolitical landscape. The country’s history of conflict,fragile healthcare infrastructure, and limited access to basic healthcare services havehindered efforts to control preventable diseases like measles.These recurrent outbreaks do not only have immediate consequences on public healthbut also exacerbate an already precarious situation in Somalia, leading to substantialsocioeconomic impacts as families grapple with the dual burden of disease and strainon livelihoods. The primary objective of this communication is to analyze the challengescontributing to the persistence of measles outbreaks in Somalia and propose evidencebasedsolutions.To achieve this goal, the subsequent sections of this brief delve into the specificchallenges facing Somalia in its battle against recurrent measles outbreaks. Thesechallenges encompass issues such as vaccine access, vaccine hesitancy, coveragedisparities, fragility of healthcare infrastructure, obstacles in community engagement,and limitations in disease surveillance and response.Understanding these intricate factors is crucial for designing targeted interventionsthat not only mitigate the immediate impact of measles outbreaks but also establish afoundation for long-term prevention.

Protracted Refugee Situations and the “Warehousing” Option: The Intractability of Kenya’s Dadaab Refugee Complex

This article examines the phenomenon of Protracted Refugee Situations (PRS) and the so-called warehousing of refugees in the case of Kenya’s Dadaab refugee complex. We analyze the intractability of PRS in this particular case and argue that there are four main features that make it so: (1) a host state that views the refugees primarily as a security threat and takes very little responsibility for their well-being; (2) UNHCR acting as a surrogate state with very little influence over the Kenyan government and little incentive or capacity to remedy the situation; (3) an ongoing political situation in Somalia that prevents the safe return of refugees; and (4) a general failure on the part of wealthier countries to commit to substantial resettlement initiatives.

Reflections on the future role of the state in Somalia from the perspective of aid effectiveness

AbstractMotivationIn fragile states, due to limited domestic revenue collection, the private sector is usually the main provider of services; the state being a provider through extensive aid financing. Therefore, the current situation in Somalia raises questions about what the priorities for donors’ interventions should be.PurposeA key challenge in fragile states is to find the right balance between short‐term imperatives, such as the restoration of services and state authority, and long‐term state‐building objectives in a context of limited revenue generation and with unstable political settlements. What should the path of gradual state reforms in Somalia be?Approach and MethodsBased on lessons of implementing reforms in fragile states in the last decades and from a literature review on fragile states and insights arising from years of reforms in Somalia, this article offers some reflections about the most relevant public sector reforms in the country.FindingsIn relation to the most relevant reforms, defining a new role of the state and intergovernmental fiscal relations are critical to tackle the relatively limited affordability of public interventions.Policy implicationsThe questions of limited resources in Somalia, a fragile state, and a resulting dependence on aid financing, are critical for aid effectiveness and are also relevant for other fragile states.

Malnutrition and morbidity trends in Somalia between 2007 and 2016: results from 291 cross-sectional surveys

BackgroundMore than two decades of conflict and natural disasters in Somalia have resulted in one of the longest running humanitarian crises in the world. Nutrition data have been collected over...

The Faustian Bargain: Power-Sharing, Constitutions, and the Practice of Polycentricity in Governance

We explore how different processes of constitution formation involve tradeoffs between exclusion, stability, and commitment, as institutional arrangements are devised for managing cooperation, competition, and conflicts among independent decision-making centers. We build upon John Searle’s institutional theory and explain how it helps us better understand Vincent Ostrom’s idea of a “Faustian bargain”, in which individuals and small-scale organizations give up some of their autonomy to higher level governments in the hope of capturing various economies of scale benefits, while trying to avoid enabling top-down abuses of power. Searle’s theory also allows us to better model the formal and informal processes of institutional change. We explore these challenges of constitution formation and power sharing among centers of decision making using two examples: New York City watersheds, in which power-sharing occurs at different levels, between the city government, counties, towns and villages, the state of NY; and the post-civil war situation in Somalia, in which leaders of different ethnic groups built agreements and eventually introduced democracy.

Access to HIV Care and Resilience in a Long-Term Conflict Setting: A Qualitative Assessment of the Experiences of Living with Diagnosed HIV in Mogadishu, Somali.

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to take a heavy toll on the lives of many people, with the worst impact on health and wellbeing for the affected individuals in fragile states. The HIV situation in Somalia is not clearly known and experiences of the people living with HIV in this war-torn region are often unexpressed. This pilot qualitative study sought to explore the experiences of people diagnosed with HIV living in Mogadishu, and their resilience in access to care and social support. Methods: Participants were recruited through drug dispensers at the HIV clinic in Banadir Hospital. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted in Somali in May 2013 among patients who were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) from the HIV clinic in Mogadishu. These were tape-recorded, transcribed, and translated for content analysis. Results: Three women and four men who were living with HIV shared the following narratives. Their perception was that they had either got HIV from their spouses or through health care contamination. They were very knowledgeable about the realities of HIV, how the medication works, nutritional requirements, and drug adherence. They were always willing to go an extra mile to secure a good life for themselves. However, the external HIV stigma impacted their access to care. They faced challenges in their homes and at work which compelled them to seek support from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or close family members. This stigma often affected their disclosure to the wider community due to the uncertainty of the repercussions, leading to a life of extreme loneliness and financial difficulties. The participants’ coping mechanisms included living together and starting their own NGO for support with very strong optimism about their prognosis. Conclusions: The people diagnosed with HIV living in Mogadishu are highly knowledgeable about HIV transmission, the realities of living with a diagnosed HIV infection, and the efficacy of HIV treatment. Our small sample suggests adequate access to ART through NGOs. However, widespread HIV stigma limits HIV status disclosure to families and communities, which creates a risk of self-isolation and ill health. Still, affected individuals have developed resilient mechanisms for managing the risks. They strive to remain employed for economic security, adhere to HIV treatment, engage in support groups, and maintain the utmost optimism about their prognosis.

Is the state necessary ?

The state is often considered a necessary condition for the existence of social order and economic development. However, except for the group of developed countries, most states are incapable of providing services which are commonly attributed to them. In this paper an approach, according to which the state is the best possible form of political organisation, is confronted with the case of stateless Somalia. Without government since 1991 this country provides an opportunity to investigate the emergence of institutions and supply of public goods in a stateless society. Using the comparative institutional approach the situation in Somalia is compared with the period before the collapse of the state as well as with the situation in other countries of the Horn of Africa region, showing a relative economic improvement after 1991. Considering economic development as an essential indicator describing the stability of social institutions, this corroborates the argument according to which a hierarchical form of political organisation not only may destabilise social order, but also that anarchy can be more successful than the state in providing stabilisation and economic development.

United Nations - African Union Cooperation In Conflict Prevention, Peacekeeping and Peacebuildin

The article addresses the cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the African Union in the sphere of security and settlement of conflicts. Over the last decade the role of the AU and sub regional organizations has dramatically increased. Through its agencies of ensuring peace and security the African Union is making significant contribution to strengthening stability and promotion of democracy and human rights in Africa. In the beginning of the article authors make a review of the level of security on the African continent and stress the sharpest conflict zones. According to researches one of the most turbulent regions on continent in terms of security is the North-East Africa. Continuing quarter-century war in Somalia, conflict relations between Somalia and Ethiopia, the border crises between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which in the late 20th century turned into the war between the two countries, finally, the number of armed clashes in Sudan attracted the special attention to the region of the entire world community. Authors pay the main attention to the cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in the sphere of settling regional conflicts and holding peacekeeping operations. In the article the main mechanisms and methods that are used by the United Nations and the African Union to hold peacekeeping operations are analyzed in details. The situation in Somalia and efforts of the United Nations and the African Union that are making towards stabilization in this country are also studied. Authors reveal the basic elements and make a review of the mixed multicomponent peacekeeping operation of the United Nations and the African Union in Sudan. In the conclusion authors stress the measures that could strengthen the strategic cooperation between the United Nations and the African union. According to the authors the most important task is to solve problems of financing joint peacekeeping operations quickly and effectively.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2093 on the Situation in Somalia

Somalia, embroiled in civil war since the early 1990s, has been variously qualified as a failed state, a rogue state, or a collapsed state. Several peacekeeping operations by the United Nations (UN) have attempted to bring peace to the chaotic region. The latest UN Security Council Resolution pertaining to Somalia, Resolution 2093 (2013), partially lifts the twenty-one-year-old arms embargo imposed on Somalia, in an acknowledgement of the progress made by the current government towards stability.

Other information relevant to the law of the sea

Recalling its previous resolutions concerning the situation in Somalia, especially resolutions 1814 (2008), 1816 (2008), 1838 (2008), 1844 (2008), 1846 (2008), 1851 (2008), 1897 (2009), 1918 (2010), 1950 (2010), 1976 (2011), and 2015 (2011), as well as the Statement of its President (S/PRST/2010/16) of 25 August 2010,

Other information relevant to the law of the sea

Abstract Recalling its previous resolutions concerning the situation in Somalia, especially resolutions 1918 (2010) and 1976 (2011),

Somalia conflict: An African indigenous approach towards a peaceful resolution

Generally, Africa has been characterized by chronic conflicts which are largely attributed to colonial legacies, repressive regimes, disastrous economic and political policies, systematic disregard of human liberties, institutionalized corruption and on-going civil wars. The causes of the lingering crises in Somalia are not far-fetched from those enumerated above. The complete breakdown of law and order in Somalia stem largely from economic and political problems inherent in most sub-Saharan African states. The resultant consequence of the anarchy in Somalia is largely manifested in the increasing rates of criminality, flagrant disregard for human rights, increased death tolls, dire humanitarian conditions, refugee crises and security tensions in the horn of Africa and Eastern Africa. The paper suggested among others that African indigenous initiatives should be used with a view to addressing the situation in Somalia. Africa should be allowed to chart its own course for its destiny. It may be an uphill task, but presents the best option towards ensuring its freedom. Key words: Conflicts, religious war, Suicide Bombings, conflict resolution.

When Things Fall Apart—Conflict Dynamics and an Order Beside the State in Postcollapse Somalia

ABSTRACT Twenty years after the state in Somalia collapsed, Somalia is still being referred to as a failed state. By using the term of state failure to describe the situation in Somalia since the breakdown of the central order and the ouster of Siad Barre in 1991, we do not only fail to adequately describe the order that has emerged from the breakdown of the state. We also use a term to describe the current situation that actually describes the period that led up to the breakdown of state structures. Against this background, it is argued in this articale that by using the concept of an order beside the state the situation in Somalia can be captured more accurately. In trying to expand this model, it is further argued that the Somali conflict needs to be understood as a multi-level conflict stystem that extends from a local to a regional and global level.

Reflections on the EU Foreign Policy Objectives behind the ‘Integrated Approach’ in the Response to Piracy off Somalia

The upsurge in pirate attacks on European vessels in the Gulf of Aden during 2008 brought the forgotten confl ict of Somalia back onto the international political agenda. It soon became clear that no initiative off the Somali coast could be effective unless it was accompanied by efforts to relieve the root causes of piracy. This article examines fi rst the essential features of the situation in Somalia, providing the necessary background to fully grasp not only the root causes of piracy, but also the risk to Western security posed by recent developments in this failed State. As regards the European Union, piracy- related incidents in the Gulf of Aden entail multi-faceted threats against European interests. A key question which arises is the extent to which the European response to Somali pirates truly follows a comprehensive, integrated approach. Following an empirical analysis of development co-operation tools implemented in Somalia over recent years, as well as a thorough assessment of the legal mandate and several shortcomings faced by the fi rst EU naval military operation, EU NAVFOR-Atalanta, we conclude that the EU response to piracy is stretched and inadequate both on land and off-shore. Therefore, the reality contradicts to a great extent political statements at the EU level. A possible explanation for this somewhat frustrating outcome is provided by a theoretical examination of the objectives (besides having an impact on the ground in Somalia) behind EU Foreign Policy. Objectives linked to the visibility of the EU as a global actor, as well as the Europeanisation of foreign and internal policies of Member States will be particularly emphasised.

II. PIRACY OFF SOMALIA: UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1816 AND IMO REGIONAL COUNTER-PIRACY EFFORTS

Concerns raised in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) have now led to two legal instruments which may play a significant role in regional counter-piracy. UN Security Council Resolution 1816 uses Chapter VII powers to authorize foreign military and law-enforcement action in the Somalian territorial sea to repress piracy and armed robbery at sea over an initial six month period. In parallel, an IMO-organized African regional conference has produced a draft Memorandum of Understanding on piracy which, despite its non-binding form, could create practical and effective structures to combat piracy in the region. Understanding both instruments requires a brief discussion of the situation in Somalia and the international law of piracy.

The Future of Somalia's Legal System and its Contribution to Peace and Development

This article argues that the distressing situation in Somalia offers an opportunity to introduce new legal institutions with less colonial path-dependence and greater sensitivity to the security and development needs of Somalians. Peace and stability could be enhanced by allowing customary law and Islamic courts to operate within the framework of the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC). A civil law system with the judicial discretion and selection of a common law system would help to enhance economic development by attracting foreign direct investment. A single court system which unifies ordinary and Sharia courts would create a more enabling legal environment for law and order and economic development than the dual court system. Moreover, as international human rights law is mainly in the form of conventions and treaties in the style of civil law, promotion and protection of human rights may be better served predominantly through a civil law system in which a judge applies particular provisions of specific conventions and treaties. Such a system would also help to harmonise a legal system which is cobbled together from five different sources of law.

The EU in Somalia: Furthering Peacemaking and Reconciliation

Since the Transitional Federal Institutions were established after the 2002 Nairobi Conference, the situation in Somalia has seen two drastic about-turns – in opposite directions. In June 2006, starting out from Mogadishu, the Islamic Courts rapidly extended their control over most of south-central Somalia. Now, after the Ethiopean military intervention, the Transitional Government is trying to establish itself in the capital and to effectively exercise its formal authority for the first time. But the military defeat of the Courts has not solved the problems that initially made their success possible. Only reconciliation can create real stability and the European Union can contribute to achieving this. A peaceful and stable Horn of Africa is in the EU's interest, given the risks of it becoming a breeding ground for Al Qaeda-like organisations and a source of immigration. Somalia could also become a test case for solving the problems of a failed state by peaceful means, and an example of the EU's willingness and ability to have an effective dialogue with the Islamic world. Success in Somalia would strengthen the EU as a regional player with Arab and Muslim countries.

Somalia's instability

The increasingly tense situation in Somalia raises several disturbing possibilities. It could trigger a renewed war between Eritrea and Ethiopia, fertilise a new ‘field of jihad’ attracting foreign fighters to already insecure and unruly territory, or lead to the establishment of a new jihadist base in Somalia. In turn, any or all of these eventualities could prompt UN involvement or intervention by major powers.

Matching Food Security Analysis to Context: the Experience of the Somalia Food Security Assessment Unit

This case study reviews the experience of the Somalia Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) of operating a food security information system in the context of a complex emergency. In particular, it explores the linkages between selected features of the protracted crisis environment in Somalia and conceptual and operational aspects of food security information work. The paper specifically examines the implications of context characteristics for the establishment and operations of the FSAU field monitoring component and for the interface with information users and their diverse information needs. It also analyses the scope for linking food security and nutrition analysis and looks at the role of conflict and gender analysis in food security assessment work. Background data on the food security situation in Somalia and an overview of some key features of the FSAU set the scene for the case study. The paper is targeted at those involved in designing, operating and funding food security information activities.

United Nations (U.N.) Security Council: Resolution 1425 (On the Situation in Somalia)

United Nations (U.N.) Security Council: Resolution 1425 (On the Situation in Somalia)