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This policy brief examines the opportunities and challenges associated with Somalia's admission to the East African Community (EAC) in March 2024. It analyzes the strategic, economic, and security implications for both Somalia and the bloc, highlighting the tension between the political will for integration and the institutional, legal, and security fragilities within Somalia.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the territorial dispute between the self-declared state of Somaliland and the autonomous Puntland State of Somalia over the Sool and Sanaag regions. It analyzes the intersection of colonial legacies, clan dynamics, and national political tensions that drive conflict and hinder resolution.

This policy brief argues that the 2021 deadline for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to transfer primary security responsibilities to the Somali National Security Forces (SNSF) is unrealistic. The author contends that the transition is currently driven more by donor funding preferences than by actual security improvements on the ground. To ensure a successful transition, the brief recommends enhancing AMISOM's operational capabilities and resolving the political deadlock between the Federal Government of Somalia and its federal member states.

This November 2018 report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes recent activities of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC), focusing on institutional reforms led by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, political instability in Somalia, the 2018 elections in Madagascar, and the fragile peace process in South Sudan.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the political stability and challenges facing Somaliland, a self-declared republic that operates with de facto independence from Somalia. While praised as a rare success story of democracy and stability in the Horn of Africa, the report argues that this progress is fragile due to delayed elections, a lack of international recognition, the rise of Salafism, and border disputes with Puntland and the Somali Federal Government.

This research paper argues that while military interventions and shipping industry protections reduced Somali piracy, they failed to address root causes such as political instability, youth unemployment, and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The author advocates for a shift from traditional naval deterrence toward supporting Somalia's maritime governance, specifically through the implementation of the Somalia Maritime Resource and Security Strategy (SMRSS) and the development of the national coast guard and navy to combat IUU fishing.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the conclusion of Somalia's third transitional arrangement in August 2012. It examines the milestones achieved, the challenges that threatened the process, the factors contributing to its success, and the lessons learned for future peace initiatives in Africa.

This research paper evaluates the state of Somalia's transition toward democracy as the August 20 deadline approaches, arguing that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has failed to establish functional statehood due to corruption, factionalism, and a lack of political will.

This research paper examines the role of Uganda in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), highlighting the tension between peacekeeping efforts and allegations of ulterior motives related to oil and mineral resources. It specifically discusses the controversy surrounding Saracen Security, a company owned by the brother of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and the potential for these activities to undermine the legitimacy of AMISOM and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

This document is an executive summary of the international conference "Unpacking the Somali Conflict," held in Pretoria on January 21, 2009. Organized by the African Security Analysis Programme, the event brought together analysts and practitioners to discuss the complexities of the crisis in Somalia, the role of the Transitional Federal Government and the African Union, and alternative paradigms for peace and conflict resolution.

This research paper examines the root causes, obstacles, and potential peace-building strategies for the Somali conflict. The authors argue that the civil war, which began after the ousting of General Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, is driven by competition for power and resources, state repression, and a colonial legacy, further exacerbated by politicized clan identities and the availability of weapons. The paper identifies Ethiopia's hostile foreign policy and the interests of local warlords as primary obstacles to peace and proposes a comprehensive strategy involving security, clan-based power-sharing, economic redevelopment, and Islam-informed peace education.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines how competing local and regional interests regarding the formation of the Jubaland state in Somalia may undermine the fight against Al-Shabaab. It details the tensions between the Somalia Federal Government (SFG) and regional actors, specifically Kenya and Ethiopia, over the legitimacy and representivity of the process in Kismayo and surrounding regions.

This briefing discusses a decline in piracy in the Gulf of Aden during early 2012, attributing the drop to maritime security practices and international naval tactics, while warning that corruption within the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the diversion of pirate skills into other crimes threaten long-term stability in Somalia.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies argues that combating piracy off the coast of Somalia requires a simultaneous, coordinated effort on land and sea. It highlights the economic dilemma where piracy remains lucrative while alternative livelihoods are limited, and emphasizes that the establishment of a functional Somali state, secure infrastructure, and the development of coastal fisheries are essential for long-term stability.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the fragile state of Somalia in early 2005 following the election of President Abdullahi Yusuf. It details the complex geopolitical maneuvering between the Transitional National Government (TNG) and the Ethiopian-backed Somali Reconciliation and Reconstruction Council (SRRC), the role of IGAD states in the peace process, and the significant challenges the new transitional government faces in establishing authority, including dependence on external support and internal factionalism.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies provides a scoping study on peace and security in East Africa, focusing on the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes regions. It analyzes conflict dynamics, state fragility, and the effectiveness of regional and national interventions, concluding that the region remains fragile despite some governance gains.

A summary of deliberations from a June 2009 workshop in Mombasa, Kenya, focused on developing regional strategies for law enforcement agents to combat piracy in Eastern Africa. The meeting, organized by EAPCCO, HSF, and ISS, emphasized a multi-sectoral approach combining security, diplomacy, and the addressing of root causes in Somalia.

This report summarizes a conference titled 'Unpacking the Somali Conflict' held on 21 January 2009 in Pretoria, South Africa. The event brought together experts to discuss the complexities of the crisis in Somalia, the role of international and regional actors, and the challenges facing the Transitional Federal Government and peacekeeping missions like AMISOM.