Security, Clans and Tribes : Unstable Governance in Somaliland, Yemen and the Gulf of Aden

Offering an introduction to clanism and tribalism in the Gulf of Aden area, Dr Lewis uses these concepts to analyse security in Yemen, Somalia, Somaliland and the broader region. This historical overview of conflict in each country, and the resulting threats of piracy and terrorism, will benefit both the casual reader and student of development. Cover 1 Half-Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 7 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgements 11 List of Abbreviations 13 1 Introduction 15 1.1 The fragility of fragile and failed states in the Gulf of Aden area 20 1.2 Yemen 22 1.3 Somalia, Somaliland and Puntland 23 1.4 Regional transnational security 25 1.5 Overview 28 2 Clans, Tribes and Social Hierarchies in the Broader Gulf of Aden Region 29 2.1 Introduction 30 2.2 Working with fluid social constructions 31 2.3 Tribalism in the Middle East and Yemen 33 2.4 Clanism in the Horn of Africa and Somalia 39 2.5 The role of the state in tribal and clan-based identity formation 45 2.6 Tribes and clans as Gulf of Aden community defence systems 47 2.7 Conclusion 50 3 Somali Boundaries and the Question of Statehood: The Case of Somaliland in Somalia 53 3.1 Introduction 54 3.2 Siad Barre and the rise and fall of Somalia 54 3.3 Zonal fragmentation and conflict spill-over 59 3.3.1 The breakdown of security in the South Central Zone 59 3.3.2 The gradual political realignment of Puntland 65 3.4 Peace, conflict, clanism and the birth of Somaliland 68 3.5 Local variations in security within Somaliland 70 3.6 Regional impacts and interventions 73 3.6.1 Djibouti 73 3.6.2 Ethiopia, Kenya and AMISOM 74 3.7 Conclusion 76 4 Divide and Rule: Understanding Insecurity in Yemen 79 4.1 Introduction 80 4.2 Unification and separatism: the birth of modern-day Yemen 81 4.3 Conflict, insecurity and terrorism 86 4.4 National unity and regime change: the 2011 Arab Spring 93 4.5 Regional impacts and insecurity spill-over 98 4.6 A return to the local: federalism as peace-building 101 4.7 Conclusion 104 5 Transnational Security: Piracy, Terrorism and the Fragility Contagion 106 5.1 Introduction 107 5.2 Spill-over insurgencies and the fragility contagion: the case of Al Shabaab (and the Houthis) 108 5.3 Al Qaeda, piracy and maritime terrorism 111 5.4 Displacement, migration and organised crime 116 5.5 Conclusion 121 6 Conclusion 123 6.1 Introduction 124 6.2 The Gulf of Aden security conflagration 125 6.3 Further research 134 Appendix: Getting to Grips with the Gulf of Aden: Levels of Analysis 137 A.1 Introduction 137 A.2 The local 138 A.3 The nation and the state 140 A.4 The regional and the international 144 A.5 Conclusion 147 Bibliography 148 Index 165 Both economically and strategically, the Gulf of Aden is globally one of the most important waterways. However, it is hemmed in on either side by two of the most unstable and dangerous territories in the world -- Yemen and Somalia -- which have become overrun by insurgencies, terrorist groups and pirates. As fragile and failed states, much is made of weak governance in these two countries. Yet this approach has been limiting. Closer investigation of the broader Gulf of Aden region reveals that many security challenges are not nationally confined but are interconnected. Others, due to large internal variation caused by the diverse manifestation of tribes and clans, are local. In both cases, a new framework of analysis is needed, one that looks at the whole of their territories and the Gulf of Aden at once. This book does just that, offering a new take on the Yemen/Somalia security conflagration Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction....Pages 1-14 Clans, Tribes and Social Hierarchies in the Broader Gulf of Aden Region....Pages 15-38 Somali Boundaries and the Question of Statehood: The Case of Somaliland in Somalia....Pages 39-64 Divide and Rule: Understanding Insecurity in Yemen....Pages 65-91 Transnational Security: Piracy, Terrorism and the Fragility Contagion....Pages 92-108 Conclusion....Pages 109-122 Back Matter....Pages 123-152