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The conflict of Kenya and Somalia can be analyzed with various
levels with plenty of correlating
causes. For this assignment, we are going to look at only one
level of analysis that can explain
more about the possible causes. If we look at Interstate level
of analysis, where in this level it
concerns the influence of the international system upon outcome.
It focuses on the interactions
of states themselves, without regard to their internal makeup or
the particular individuals who
lead them. This level pays attentions to states relative power
positions in the international
system and the interactions among them. The theory involved in
this level of analysis is the
Theory of Realism. Whereby, it explains the basic ideas of
international relations in terms of
power. Meanwhile, the international conflicts are the struggle
for power. The same thing
happened here in Kenya and Somalia case. Where the parties
involved are mainly focused to
get power in all means.
There are lots of possible causes of this conflict between Kenya
and Somalia. The causes are
firstly, boots on the ground in Somalia. As Godane plainly
stated, the biggest single reason for
the attack on the Westgate Mall is the presence of Kenyan
soldiers in southern Somalia. Kenyas
army was sent into Somalia in October 2011 after a spate of
kidnappings of Westerners. There
are still around 4,000 Kenyan soldiers in Somalia1 as part of
the 17,700 strong African Union
peacekeeping mission (AMISOM). Secondly, disrupted cash flow, it
took them a year to get
there, but when Kenyas army finally chased Al Shabaab from its
last urban stronghold, the
Somali port city of Kismayo, in late September 2012 the
militants were deprived of an key
source of income charcoal. According to United Nations
investigators, $15 million worth of
illegal charcoal is traded out of Kenya each month2. But its the
Kenyan generals and their local
allies who they say are cashing in now. Thirdly, revenge which
are pure and simple, during the
Kenyan militarys slow advance across southern Somalia in 2011
and 2012, there were
1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Linda_Nchi
2http://allafrica.com/stories/201311200203.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Linda_Nchihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Linda_Nchi
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numerous reports of civilian casualties. Al Shabaab likes to
style itself as the one true defender
of the Somali people3, and its leader Ahmed Godane said in an
audio message released late
Wednesday night that the Westgate assault was in retaliation for
the deaths of Muslims.
Next, is the symbolism and terrorism, Nairobis Westgate Mall is
everything the extremist Al
Shabaab abhors a temple of Western consumerism where we can buy
Nike shoes and iPhones,
watch movies and drink cocktails. It attracts whealthy families,
business people, politicians,
foreign visitors and expatriates. Hitting the mall and
massacring the people inside was a
deliberate strike at the heart and soul of a society Al Shabaab
despises. Lastly, Proof of strength
on the each others. Years of growing internal division and
military setbacks left the group
looking weak, and led some Western officials as well as the
Somali government to declare Al
Shabaab defeated4. But in the last few months, Godane carried
out a bloody purge of his own
ranks, killing off dissenters and pushing Al Shabaab even
further into extremism. With the
militants claiming the attack Godane himself has praised, the
message is clear Al Shabaab is far
from finished.
3http://thinkafricapress.com/somalia/al-shabaab-westgate-siege-was-all-about-kenya-godane
4http://forums.ssrc.org/kujenga-amani/2013/10/15/al-shabaab-terror-in-kenya-implications-for-peace-and-
security-in-the-region/
