Rethinking the Role of Traditional Institutions to Building Lasting Peace in Africa: Lessons Learned from Somaliland, Horn of Africa

Abstract

The African traditional governance institutions had faced serious challenges by the arrival of European colonial powers that undermined the existing local institutions. The colonial powers weakened local institutions and introduced their own top-down governance system. Thus, the aim of this study is to revitalize the African traditional institutions to build sustainable peace and democracy in the Horn of Africa considering the Somaliland bottom-up peacebuilding experience. In this study, qualitative research method was used while the data were collected through document analysis. For this article, the discourse data analysis method was used. The findings of this study revealed that revitalizing traditional institutions have potential value in peace building process. Hence, internally designed bottom-up peace building process was able to create relatively a peaceful and stable Somaliland state in Horn Africa. Besides, a hybrid governance system which integrated both traditional and modern governance institutions used as a vital tool for lasting peace and promoting democracy in Somaliland. Furthermore, the participation and high respect for local elders in peace building process has played a crucial role in creating sable society. Finally, based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that any stakeholders, either politicians or policy makers, should recognize women’s role in peace building process, revise the educational system to incorporate traditional knowledge with modern one, open more political spaces so that competent parties can engage with alternative thought and win-win peace building approach while interacting with external actors.