Alshabaab and Forced Marriage in Somalia: Beliefs, Practices and Interventions - Judy Ngina

Abstract

Forced marriage has been and continues to be practiced traditionally in Somalia where brides are exchanged between neighboring clans for the purpose of building alliances that give access to grazing areas and water or sealing peace agreements. Wives are also subject to inheritance where they select from the brothers or cousins of the deceased with no choice to reject being inherited. Although Islam does not advocate for forced marriages, individuals and groups subject the religion to a harsh interpretation. This paper sought to understand the beliefs surrounding the practice of forced marriages, how forced marriages are perpetrated by the various social institutions and come up with interventions aimed at creating awareness of the repercussions of forced marriage on both individual and national development.