State without leadership : leadership emergence in Somalia violent conflict

الملخص EN

The ease of sheikh Sharif sheikh Ahmed, former president of Somalia's transition federal government (TFG).

attests the fact that leadership emerges from a process that involves interplay between the leader, followers and the context.

sheikh Sharif was an effective leader when he dynamically and organically emerged as Islamic courts union (ICU) chairman through a leadership process that developed within a context of desperation and anarchy after his relationship with followers was built over time.

but when he was imposed by the international community as the leader of the TFG.

the leadership process was interfered with and in place emerged a leader-centered vision and resultant opposition from the Somali people or followers.

this paper demonstrates that imposed leadership is bound to fail as was the case with Ahmed Sharif when the international community made him the president of the transition federal government of Somalia.

in this case the leadership process had not developed organically.

this paper affirms the fact that effective leadership emerges normally from a situation of need as was experienced in Somalia following the country’s descend into chaos, insecurity and lack of leadership.