The Role of African Union Mission in Federal Republic of Somalia: A Case Study of Kenya Defence Forces (2011- 2014)

Sometime in October 16, 201 1, The Kenyan Defence Forces were deployed in Somalia in conjunction with 3500 trained 3500 Somali Mili tia Army to pacify the southern city of Kismayu-Somalia. The deployment was justified on three levels. Firstly, Kenya entered Somalia on the basis that its tenitorial integrity was threatened by Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaeda linked militia based in Somalia. Secondly, Kenya claimed that its national security was harmed due to the frequent kidnappings of tourists and humanitarian workers in Kenya. This research will investigate the role of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The study will also provide an understanding of the developments behind the Kenya's Intervention (KDF) and will examine critically the mission's mandate, objectives, activities, achievements and challenges. The study examines the changing concept of state sovereignty and regional arrangements in the context of the African Union Constitutive Act (Article 4 (h)) and the United Nations Charter (Article 51). Thirdly, it analyses whether Kenya's intervention in Somalia provides a mandate for other AU member states to intervene in such situations. This study is guided by the Realist theory in International Relations system, which explains that the survival of the State as the most important factor in anarchical international system.