Frontline states join Amisom to protect interests in Somalia

The decision by Kenya to join African Union Mission in Somalia is an opportunity for the frontline states to harmonise their disparate interests in Somalia.

Since the collapse of the Siad Barre government in 1991, the three frontline states, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti, have tried to offer solutions on Somalia individually depending on their national interests without much success. 

Now that the African Union (AU) is playing a leading role in Somalia, the question is whether Amisom can harmonise these divergent interests and restore peace.  
According to Kenya’s Defence Minister, Yusuf Haji, there is an ongoing effort to harmonise these interests with a common objective of a peaceful Somalia and a secure East African region.

“Both the African Union and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) are there to ensure the harmonisitation of the Somalia intervention by various countries.  The paramount interests of every frontline country  is to protect their national security and stabilise Somalia,” he said. 

Still, the Somalia question has been interpreted differently by the three frontline states depending on their narrow national interests. Kenya and Ethiopia historically have taken the same position of the fear for the pan-Somalia nationalisms. Both countries have substantial Somali population.

Kenya and Ethiopia involvement in Somalia has been driven by the issue of insecurity emanating from Somalia and to some extent, the lingering fear that a strong united Somalia will revive the pan-Somalia nationalism.

In recent interview, Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Moses Wetangula, said that Kenya has been assisting Somalia write a new constitution and was taking keen interest in the contents since the initial draft had hinted at pan-Somalia nationalism.

“The OAU Charter and the Constitutive Act of the AU recognises as sacrosanct, boundaries that were inherited from the colonial powers at Independence. The writing of the Somalia constitution should be within the current democratic process in the continent,” he said.

The pan-Somalia nationalism, advocates  that Somalia, Djibouti, North Eastern Province in Kenya and Ogaden in eastern Ethiopia be brought together to create a greater Somalia.  In Kenya, this led to the Shifta War from 1963-1967 when then Northern Frontier District sought to secede.