The rise of Islamic movements and state collapse in Somalia

It is exactly two decades since the government of dictator SiadBarre was dethroned in Somalia which left a governance vacuum leading to eventual collapse of the state of Somalia and the rise of Islamic insurgency. Since then, Somalia once a very optimistic nation has been lawless embroiled in an unending clan feuds and rivalry that has seen emergence of clan politics. While the international community has been involved in myriad of humanitarian interventions, the situation remains the worst on the continent. The extremist Islamic elements control with lethal violence and intimidation occasioned by inefficiency and disorganization of the internationally backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia. The protracted warfare has left millions dead, millions others injured and others driven from their homes as well as livelihoods shattered. The central problem this study seeks to address is the critical and indispensable role of religion across the spectrums of the Somali society. Islamic groups have found solace in religion as a unifying factor to get support of the masses. This is certainly so because whereas clan is divisive Islam is cohesive and can therefore provide a platform for the Islamists to establish a theocratic state and sanctuary for religious extremism in Somalia. This research seeks to gives a better understanding of the co relation of Islam and politics in Somalia. It also critically examines the rise of Islamic political movements in context of state collapse in Somalia and its transformation over the years since the state collapse of Somalia.