Somalia: Creating Space for Fresh Approaches to Peacebuilding

Somalia has been without an effective central government since President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991. Years of fighting between rival warlords and an inability to deal with famine and disease have led to the deaths of up to one million people. Reconciliation and lasting stability in a country fraught with competing militias and divided loyalties remains elusive. Policymakers inside and outside of Somalia often make decisions based primarily on global and regional security concerns while overlooking local complexities and the potential for conflict transformation. Speakers will discuss the impact of current policies isolating blacklisted groups in Somalia and propose alternative perspectives that could encourage the design of an inclusive peace process in Somalia. Discussion will draw on John Paul Lederach’s article, “Addressing Terrorism: A Theory of Change Approach,” in the recent report, “Somalia: Creating Space for Fresh Approaches to Peacebuilding.”