Tax Collection in Somalia

The Rift Valley Institute published in May 2020 a paper titled "Tax and the State in Somalia: Understanding Domestic Revenue Mobilization" by Sagal Abshir, Khalif Abdirahman, and Hannah Stogdon.

Somalia faces major challenges in creating an effective system of domestic taxation.  Revenue collection by the federal government suffers due to competition it faces from other systems of governance--both traditional and religious, as well as by non-state actors--which also collect taxes, or other financial contributions.  Often, they do this with more efficiency and accountability than the federal government.

Somalia: Al-Shabaab -- It Will Be a Long War

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 26 June 2014 a solid and detailed analysis titled "Somalia: Al-Shabaab -- It Will Be a Long War."

ICG concluded that al-Shabaab represents a culmination of the long-term shift toward social conservatism in Somalia that is difficult to reverse.  As an insurgent group, al-Shabaab retains core constituencies in many parts of south-central Somalia that are not currently addressed by locally-acceptable governance alternatives.  As an organization, al-Shabaab has demonstrated an aptitude for strategic planning that should not be underestimated.  It remains rooted in its Somali context, is willing to learn and benefit from external influence--notably al-Qaeda--while retaining a strong inclination toward local autonomy.