Collaborating for Peace : An Analysis of Networks of Cooperation in Somalia

Abstract

In recent years, Somalia has witnessed an increasing range of activities involved in state-building and peace-building. The success of these efforts requires cooperation among and between national and international actors. This chapter assesses the forms, patterns, and levels of cooperation. The results suggest that networks remain sparsely connected and that a decentralized core of international organizations is surrounded by less connected national counterparts. African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) emerges as important to coordination among international actors; whereas the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Federal Member States (FMS) emerge as central to networks of cooperation between international and national actors. Overall, the findings suggest that there is considerable scope and potential for greater cooperation among and between international and national actors. Increased collaboration could enhance the prospects for peace and reconciliation in Somalia, given that denser networks contribute to the flow of information, trust-building, and more effective problem-solving.