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Imposing order from the skies? Civil aviation as a precarious site of state sovereignty in Somalia

Abstract

This paper explores the intricate relationship between connective infrastructures, state sovereignty, and terri- torial control in Somalia, utilizing the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) as a case study. The paper reveals how the SCAA’s dejure authority is both appropriated and misappropriated within the broader context of po- litical maneuvering in the country. It illuminates the ways in which aviation, as a critical infrastructure, has served both as a tool and a battleground for political influence and control, highlighting the strategic importance of the SCAA in Somalia’s state-building efforts. Data for this study were collected through key informant in- terviews with politicians, bureaucrats, and private aviators. Through this detailed case study, the research contributes to the broader discourse on the role of infrastructure in shaping political landscapes and the com- plexities of state sovereignty in post-conflict settings.

Keywords

Somali Infrastructures Sovereignty Aviation Airports Politics Elite Territoriality Legitimation

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