State collapse, peace enforcement and the responsibility to protect in Somalia

Somalia is a collapsed state, hence the responsibility to protect has shifted to the peace enforcement African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). This article examines the relationship between state collapse, peace enforcement and the responsibility to protect in Somalia. It focuses on the military component of AMISOM and argues that under conditions of state collapse, coupled with the missions' structural and operational limitations, AMISOM lacks the functional capacity to enforce peace, and extend and restore state authority in Somalia. The structural and operational weaknesses emanating from its mandate have adversely affected its concept of operations and rules of engagement, resulting in human rights violations. It is unable to effectively protect civilians in the country. AMISOM is, therefore, an impediment to the responsibility to protect in Somalia. Under state collapse, shifting the responsibility to protect to the international community can produce unintended detrimental consequences.