Anthem Studies in Peace, Conflict and Development Complex Solutions to Local Problems

This book questions the dominant narrative used in stereotyping Africa and the status of Al-Shabaab in Somalia’s quest for peace. It trumps up local alternatives to solving conflicts on the continent and avers that it is possible to revert to these local mechanisms of governance and conflict resolution as has been done in Somaliland with positive results. This book examines Indigenous alternative solutions to the conflict in Somalia that were available prior to the African Union’s (AU) peacekeeping operation – AMISOM. Bearing the long-standing stalemate with Al-Shabaab, this book contends that the AU should retrace its steps and utilise these Indigenous approaches else it would lose out in a protracted war. AMISOM was a product of the extremely biased mainstream/Western narrative that has done great harm on the continent. So it is high time Africans tell their story of what the issues really are and encourage its IGOs to do the same in addressing issues on the continent, Somalia inclusive. The Single Story Thesis was the method of analysis adopted for this book.