Rebuilding State-Society Relations in Post-Conflict Settings: A Case of Somaliland

State structure and its institutions always determine the outcome of state practices. In Africa, one of the most defining characteristics of its states and institutions is the lack of political will among the state leaders. This has become the feature of many African states and their subsequent failure to meet the people’s needs and expectations. What emerges from this analysis is that the African countries, due to their odd policies and governance structures, have failed to coordinate their institutions effectively and efficiently. Therefore, many Africans are migrating for economic purposes and are eager to benefit from the opportunities available in the global north, which dominates the world’s political economy. Yet some people are escaping from the repressive regimes ruling in their respective countries. In contrast, others have experienced social exclusion and marginalization from the state opportunities, including economic opportunities and political positions, thus opting to leave their country. This article examines the state fragility in the African states, its impact on the state institutions, and its outcome, such as migration, which is the major consequence of Africa’s state fragility. Furthermore, the article analyses restoring the citizen-state relationship and building inclusive state institutions. Therefore, this article calls for an urgent response to the challenges against state institutions in the African context in general and Somaliland in particular. Policies to improve social and security services, such as health facilities, educational institutes, police, and access to good roads, are needed to improve the lives and livelihoods of the state and citizens.