Supporting Community Peacebuilders and Government Officials to Promote Reconciliation in Hirshabelle State, Somalia

Somalia is characterised by various types of conflict at different levels that have at their heart clan rivalry, resource scarcity, religious extremism and a lack of dealing with the past. Unfortunately, both the Somali elite as well as external actors have a history of assuming that power-sharing arrangements among the elite actors can lead to conflict resolution and ultimately reconciliation on the ground – an assumption that has proven repeatedly to be shortsighted.

The implementation of a federal system since 2012 brought with it new conflicts primarily due to the top-down approach in which the federalisation process has been implemented. Grievances developed around the (perceived) unequal sharing and distribution of resources within a federal system and have aggravated conflict dynamics in many parts of the country. Simultaneously, there are historical grievances due to the many atrocities committed during the civil war and the lack of comprehensive reconciliation and dealing with the past to address these issues. Thus, there is an urgent need in Somalia to encourage and support conflict transformation and reconciliation on the local level in order to reduce violence, foster social cohesion, and ensure proper participation in the ongoing governance processes in the country.

The Berghof Foundation works closely together with the Hirshabelle State administration and partners directly with the Hirshabelle Ministry of Reconciliation.

The project is generously funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read the full grant agreement.

Local partners

• Sharif Abukar Ahmed, Project Manager (Jowhar, Somalia)
• Open Horizon Co. Ltd, Administrative and Financial Accounting Assistance (Nairobi, Kenya)
• Mohamud Hassan Abdi, Finance and Logistics Officer (Mogadishu, Somalia)
• Zainab Mohamed, Project Officer (Mogadishu, Somalia)

Trauma and Trauma Healing Workshop

In January and February 2021, two workshops on trauma and trauma healing were conducted in Jowhar and Beledweyne with all members of the Hirshabelle Insider Peacebuilders Network (IPN). The IPN members took part in a 4-day workshop on the topic of trauma and how it can be the underlying cause of conflicts and act as a barrier to long-lasting peace. The workshop also addressed how trauma may impact the IPN members’ efforts in building peace and encouraging reconciliation. The participants learned skills to identify and react to such trauma in their communities and discussed how they could integrate trauma-sensitive approaches into their ongoing peacebuilding engagements in Hirshabelle State.

Direct Support for Reconciliation and Mediation Activities of the IPN

Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Workshop for Elders

In April 2021, the IPN members in Jowhar conducted a 3-day workshop on conflict resolution and peacebuilding for elders from two neighbouring communities involved in a land dispute. The IPN members designed the workshop for roughly 20 community leaders from both villages in order to build their capacities to mediate the conflict peacefully. The participants learned lessons on collaborative mediation, and the IPN members facilitated an open discussion between the community leaders.

Mediation and Conflict Resolution Workshop for Women

In April 2021, the IPN members in Beledweyne conducted a 4-day mediation workshop for roughly 40 women in the community. The event addressed how conflict can impact the safety and environment of an entire community. The workshop focused on the role of women in conflict resolution within the community. The IPN members provided inputs on conflict resolution and facilitated an active discussion among the participants.