Platform kinship and the reshaping of political order in the Somali territories.

The article examines the emergence of "platform kinship" in the Somali territories, a model of governance and development mediated through digital platforms—particularly WhatsApp—that leverages genealogical clan structures rather than formal state institutions. Drawing on fieldwork in northern Somalia, it highlights how WhatsApp groups enable dispersed kinship networks to coordinate dispute resolution, development projects, political campaigns, and crisis responses, while shifting power from traditional elders to youth, diaspora members, and business elites. This digital kinship reinforces clan identity as the primary political unit, often deepening inter-clan divisions and challenging state-building efforts and national identity formation. The findings suggest that platform kinship constitutes a viable alternative governance model with significant implications for scholars and policymakers engaged in digital governance, development, and peacebuilding in conflict-affected regions.