Systemic Drivers Behind Rising US Airstrikes in Somalia: Colonial Legacies, Drone Economy, and Local Resilience

Indigenous Somali knowledge, embodied in the xeer customary law system, offers a restorative justice framework that prioritizes clan‑based negotiation, compensation, and reintegration over punitive violence. This system has historically mitigated inter‑clan feuds and facilitated livestock‑trade agreements, yet it is routinely bypassed by external actors who favor kinetic solutions. Ignoring xeer erodes local legitimacy and fuels grievances that armed groups exploit. Reviving and supporting xeer‑based mediation could reduce reliance on air strikes by addressing root conflicts at the community level.