Publication

This paper addresses the role of traditional authorities as important non-state actors in contemporary northern Somalia, including in the conflict between Puntland and Somaliland. It explores a number of case studies to illustrate how relations of traditional authority have changed with the involvement of traditional leaders in “modern” state politics in Somaliland. The main argument presented here is that despite much emphasis on hybrid political systems in the African literature and beyond it still makes sense to distinguish different types of political actors in the Somali context with regard to their form of authority and mode of legitimacy.