War, peace and the circulation of mobile money across the Somali territories

This chapter charts the development of the Somali digital financial and telecommunication industries, of which mobile money is the most visible manifestation. With its rapid and surprising development, this sector has provided a de facto financial infrastructure for the circulation of capital and commodities-as well as the physical infrastructure for telecommunication-across the many borders of the greater Somali economic space. Due to their size, strategic importance, and political versatility, these conglomerates are key actors in the politics of circulation. While there are cases of direct support to state making (in Somaliland), financial and telecommunication firms have been averse to taxation and regulation, and have managed to keep international competitors out of Somali territories.