G11 Area Study: State Actors in the Horn of Africa (PDF)

Unit 2: State Actors in the HoA: Somalia, Somaliland, Sudan & South Sudan Objectives of the Unit: Having learned this unit, students will be able to: ØElaborate the concepts related to a failed or fragile state ØExplain the causes of the decline of national power in Somalia and S...

Unit 2: State Actors in the HoA: Somalia, Somaliland, Sudan & South Sudan Objectives of the Unit: Having learned this unit, students will be able to: ØElaborate the concepts related to a failed or fragile state ØExplain the causes of the decline of national power in Somalia and Somali land ØDiscuss the causes of the decline of national power in Sudan and South Sudan  Introduction ØNational power in International relations is measured by the ability to influence others using its tangible & potential resources. ØPotential resources can be sources of national power. ØHowever, without the control & effective mobilization of resource no national power. ØControl over resource is a key condition of national power.  Cont’d… In the HoA on the condition of national power some states have no control over territories and institutions. They categorized most often as failed states or some times fragile states.  Cont’d… ØDue to d/t reasons, some states in the horn of Africa are either fragile or failed states. ØThere is a debate on the categorization of state as fragile & failed states. ØTo have clear picture of the region & to avoid misunderstandings in the condition of the states it is helpful to apply operational definitions.  1.1. Defining Fragile and Failed state A. Fragile state vThe state that is at risk of failing but has not completely broken down. vThe state that weakened governance and institutions with potential for instability but not yet fully collapsed. vThe state that can no longer reproduce condition for its own existence. vcan no longer perform its basic security and develop functions.  cont’d.. vNo effective control over its territory and borders. vHas capacity limitations regarding their security issues and development works. vHave the failures in running the day to day operations of the government works.  Characters of fragile states Ø weak institutions. Ø Social tensions Ø Limited capacity Ø Vulnurablity to crisis Ø Judicial ineffectiveness Ø Military interference in politics Ø Widespread corruption & criminality E.g. Afhanistan & Haiti  B. Failed state ØThe state that cannot preserve peace and security using its own forces. ØThe state that is typically characterised by complete breakdown of authority and governance. ØThe state that has extreme instability and humanitarian crisis.  Characters of failed states Ø Cannot preserve peace and security. Ø Have UN peacekeeping in last 3 years. Ø Leaves citizens in the range of shocks. Ø Loss of control Ø Widespread of Violence. Ø Humanitarian crisis Ø Lack of legitimacy. E.g. Somalia in 1990s, South Sudan in 2013, Sudan in 2023  Cont’d… In general, Failing state can be defined as when gov’t unable to:- üCollect tax, fill political offices, maintain its infrastructure, control its territory& police. üHence, non state institutions take responsibility for them.  Group discussion. 1. What is the similarities and differences of the fragile state and the failed state. Please make a group of five and discuss. 2. What are the characteristic features of a fragile state? 3. poorly performing states are not failed states? Do you agree or disagree? 2.2. The Decline of national power in Somalia and S o m a l i l a n d ( 1 9 9 0 s ) Map of Somalia& Somaliland  Lesson objectives To Understand the causes of the decline of national power in Somalia and Somali land. Map of Somalia.  2.2. The Decline of national power in Somalia and Somaliland(1990s) ØNo matter how a country is rich in terms of natural and human resources, the utilization of these resources is essential for national power. ØTherefore, government’s control over resources, actors, events and outcomes is essential. ØEspecially, the control over events and outcomes approach emerges as the better approach for the measurement of power in contemporary international politics.  Cont’d... ØThe geopolitical strategic importance of Somalia increased mainly due to bipolar world order during the era of the Cold War. Ø Somalia enjoyed international support from all parties including the Arab World and Middle East countries. ØHence, Somalia became a powerful state in the region. ØSomalia started losing its national power in the Horn of Africa as civil war troubled the country especially in late 1980s.  Cont’d... üHowever, the government led by Major General Mohamed Siad Barre was weakened in the 1980s and Somalia's strategic importance was diminished. üThe armed resistance movements sprang up across the country, eventually leading to the Somali Civil War. üThe non-violent political oppositions also challenged Siad Barre’s regime.  Cont’d... üAs civil war escalated and economic crises deepened in 1990 and 1991, the Barre administration was ousted by a coalition of clan- based opposition groups. Soon after, central government collapsed and Somalia became a failed state. üDue to opposition groups’ failure to control Somalia lost its international position since early 1990s. ü As a failed state, Somalia relied on international peace keeping forces and international aid organizations  Cont’d... vOne of the consequences of civil war in Somalia is the disintegration of the state. vSomaliland formed its administration in the former colony of British Somaliland. v With regard to national power, the greater weakness of Somaliland is obviously absence of international recognition.  Classwork 1. What was the government organization of Somalia in 1990 & 1991? 2. Describe the non violent political opposition Challenging Major General Mohammed Siad Barre’s regime. 3. List three major causes of Somalia Civil War. 4. List the armed resistance movements in Somalia civil war supported by Ethiopia in 1980s.  Classwork 1. What was increased the geopolitics of Somalia strategic importance in the cold war period? 2. What was the reason behind national strength of Somalia in cold war period before 1980s? 3. What are the essential approaches that gov’ts should have control in contemporary international politics for their national power? 4. Why Somalia lost its international position since 1990s?  2.3. The Decline of National Power in Sudan and South Sudan (2010s) Lesson objectives ØTo understand the causes of the decline of national power in Sudan and South Sudan. Map of HoA states South Sudan Sudan  2.3. The Decline of National Power in Sudan and South Sudan (2010s) Ø Its status of national power decreased due to the protracted civil wars which consumed its human resources and economy. Ø The crises date back to independence years (1950s). Ø It experienced probably the longest civil wars in Africa in two phases (First Civil War 1955-72 and Second Civil War 1983-2005). Ø Largely, a continuation of the both phases Civil War was a conflict between the central Sudanese government(SCG) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army(SPLA). Ø Recently in 2023, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led the country into total chaos.  Consequences Ø Death of two million people. ØThe recurrent famines and disease. ØMillions of IDP people ( S/Sudan) and migration. ØThe economic sectors destroyed especially agriculture. ØMillions of domestic animals were killed. ØSchools were closed and children were recruited for the army. ØThe budget is allocated to military and security expenditures.  Cont’d... Lastly, once the largest country in Africa disintegrated into two in 2011 and governments in both countries (Sudan and South Sudan) failed to run state properly. Eventually, their miscarriage undermined the influence of both States in the region and dragged them into failed states.  Cont’d... vFinally, both are relied on the hands of;- Øinternational community peace keeping forces like üUN Mission in Sudan, üUN Mission in South Sudan, üUN Interim Security Force for Abyei, üAU - UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur) and ØInternational aid organizations for security and humanitarian services.  Class work Give short answer 1. What was consumed the resources & decreased the Sudan’s status of national power? 2. When was the two longest civil wars in Sudan? 3. The recent conflict led Sudan in to total chaos was fought between __________& _______. 4. The longest civil war in Sudan was fought between ______ &_________. 5. What are the international peace keeping forces sent to both Sudan since 2010s to restore order