Ethnicity as a Tool to Pacify Religious Extremism: A Case Study of Intrastate Conflict in Somalia

The clan system and religion in Somalia are the two most salient identities that define the fundamental social structure of the Somali nation. This structure has been the main unifying factor of the Somali people. Unfortunately, the same system is perceived to be a stumbling block to the resolution of the Somali intrastate conflict. Observably, the clan stands out as the central pillar of social structure in Somalia. It is the entry point into the livelihood of the Somali people. This paper explores the possibility of transforming the dominance of clan kinship into an opportunity for neutralizing the negative effect of religious extremism. The paper adopts the conflict transformation theory propounded by John Paul Lederach. The philosophical outlook of the article is positive peace as advanced by Galtung. Primary data were collected through questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGDs), and semi-structured interview schedules involving 223 respondents with knowledge about conflict issues in Somalia. Secondary data were collected through a literature review of books and journals. The study identified the clan as the potent outfit in Somalia which can engage the religious extremist group, Al Shabaab, in negotiation for peace. It is impossible to conquer the Al Shabaab as it operates within the population and has high adaptability by employing asymmetrical warfare tactics. Additionally, the government of Somalia is perceived by Al Shabaab as man-made and, therefore, an illegitimate, unworthy partner to negotiate with. Furthermore, engaging the group in negotiation is a dilemma; democracies do not negotiate with terror groups lest they legitimize them as the voice of the population. Therefore, the clan becomes the legible unit to handle the responsibility of negotiation between the government and the religious extremist group, Al Shabaab. The clan can also play a key role in reaching out to the youths who are targets of radicalization campaigns from extremist groups. The study recommends that the clan system in Somalia, as an important institution in the country, should be partnered with to provide a middle ground in the conflict and serve as a bridge between the state and the religious extremist group, Al Shabaab. The clan system is likely to bring homegrown solutions to the conflict.