Chapter Seven
Deegaan, Politics and War in
Somalia
lbrahim Farah, Abdirashid Hussein andJeremy lindIntroduction
There are two important reasons to assess the ecological sources of conflict
in Somalia. First, out of the 40 years that Somalia has been independent, the
country has experienced over ten years of civil war beginning in 1991. During
this time there were numerous peace and reconciliation efforts, none of
which have taken root. Changes in government, furthermore, have not
helped to further peace building and national reconciliation.
Second, local and international peace efforts have not considered the envi-
ronmental and ecological factors of the Somali conflict. Given the importance
of land and resources to the livelihood of most Somali, as well as the relative
power of different ling groups, it is essential that the role of ecology in the
onset and duration of conflict be evaluated. Doing so may uncover relevant
tools and techniques to manage the Somali conflict and prevent further moil.
This chapter shows that deegaan, or a land base and its resources, is sig-
nificant to understand the conflict in Somalia. The Somali conflict involves
many clans and sub-clans. Shifting alliances were formed between different
clans and sub-clans to gain leverage in the conflict and to stake stronger
claims to particular deegaan. In particular, the ecological conditions of the
Jubbaland region in southern Somalia are rich compared with the rest of the
country, and provide a major source of income and sustenance to Somalis.
Thus, control of these resources is a major source of the conflict in
Jubbaland, as this study shows.
Background to the Conflict
Somalia is located in the Horn of Africa bordering the Gulf of Aden and the
Indian Ocean. Its population, estimated to be between 9 and 12 million peo-
ple, shares a common language (Somali), religion (Sunni Muslim), and the
same ethnic origin (the Somali tribe). The majority (estimated at 65%) of the
population adheres to a primarily pastoral nomadic tradition.' The country
is currently embroiled in civil war, which broke out in early 1991 after the