Civil society must be involved

Significant difficulties impede finding an effective treatment for violence in Somalia

• Since the formation of the Somali National Movement in the 1980s, violence in Somalia has become the norm.

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• Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has unveiled a timetable for the indirect parliamentary and presidential elections.

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Somali Prime Minister, Mohamed Hussein Roble, unveiled a timetable for the indirect parliamentary and presidential elections, and the schedule includes elections for the upper house of parliament on July 25, and the lower house between August 10 and September 10, after which the two chambers meet to vote for Presidential elections on October 10.

These postponed elections come at a time of tension, and could turn into violence on a large scale, if the root causes of this violence are not addressed. Since the formation of the Somali National Movement in the 1980s, violence in Somalia has become the norm, whether this Violence as a result of attacks by al-Shabab, or the deaths of civilians as a result of US drone strikes, or the government shooting at protesters, or the failure of AMISOM forces to protect civilians, has become a daily reality for Somalis.

turbulent situation

The causes of the turbulent situation in Somalia are due to more than just a constitutional crisis, as this armed conflict, which began nearly three decades ago, has become the most complex multi-directional security crisis in the world. Civil society and players must participate in order to make peace to work with security players to bridge the gap. between the state and society, and this must be implemented, along with useful steps by the government and clan leaders, to help end this intractable crisis.

The international community has always provided aid and tried to facilitate peace negotiations. As a result of Somalia's fall in the Horn of Africa, this country has become of geostrategic importance to international players. Countries with competing interests provide support because peace and stability in Somalia will hold greater opportunities for economic growth in the region and the world.

The United States has been involved in Somalia since 2007, but most of its efforts were focused on combating terrorism against "Al-Shabaab." At the beginning of this year, the United States ended its military presence in the country, but its air strikes continued at a terrifying pace, until US President Joe Biden ordered, Stop all air strikes this year.

According to the US Africa Command, the United States carried out 52 air strikes in 2020, 63 in 2019, 475 in 2018 and 35 in 2017, and these raids led to the death of many civilians.

Compete for power and resources

The competition for power and resources is the main reason for the conflict between the militias, and still most of the operations carried out by the government for the Somali people are done by tribal leaders, in addition, government ministers lack experience in governance, and are often elected on a tribal basis, which leads to Deepening inequality between different social groups. To address the crisis, civil society and peace-making players must be involved in order to reconcile past divisions, and build traditional institutions that manage conflict.

Although women and youth are ignored, they constitute the majority of the Somali people, and they know their need for peace, but they usually do not have access to the social institutions that are only available to men, and Somali organizations are working to empower women and youth to participate in the political process.

During the “Corona” pandemic, local organizations focused on internally displaced communities, to reduce the spread of misinformation and support those affected by violence and drought, and local civil society and peace-supporting organizations launched initiatives that contribute to making peace and stability in the country.

Ignore local civil society

Local civil society has been neglected, although there are many local Somali organizations working to address the cycles of violence in the country, and the international community and private institutions should invest in local organizations, as their understanding of local issues and relationships with high stakeholders is essential to address and reduce violence In Somalia, it is very important to support local peace initiatives, efforts to establish state authority and bring it together and society together.

Given the presence of al-Shabaab and civilian militias, the military approach is a reaction with certain conditions in Somalia, but decades of violence have proven that this approach is a failure, as a different approach is needed to stop the cycles of violence and find a path to stability.

• As a result of Somalia being located in the Horn of Africa, this country has become of geostrategic importance to international players, who have been providing it with the necessary support for its growth.

Ibrahim Mohamed - Director of a local organization in Somalia

Vahi Mirkian - Deputy Director of US Policy International for Peace Management

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