The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

men, who profited from their colonial superiors. Lack of education and
skilled training then hindered Somali women from obtaining political representation
in the post-independence period. In addition, colonial administrators
neither consulted women as community leaders nor
appointed women as tax collectors. It is worth noting that Somali
women gained some access to education, employment and some level
of recognition as equal citizens of their country under the military gov -
ernment of Siad Barre, even though they faced certain challenges and
restrictions under the military regime. They were expected to provide
full support and to participate in state run programmes and projects. Despite
efforts by the military state to empower women, discrimination
and marginalization of Somali women persisted during the post-independence
years, and have persisted in war-torn Somalia to this day.
This is not to say that the post-independence years, 1960 to 1969, were
easy for the new Somali leaders. This period brought many challenges to
the new nation, particularly among the new national leaders, who lacked
the resources and the institutions to embark on participatory nation-build -
ing. Thus, Somalia, under the rule of its “sons” became de pendent on
foreign aid from its former colonial powers, Italy and Britain. Somalia’s
over-reliance on foreign aid spawned corruption, which in turn affected
the transparency and accountability of its post-independence political
system. Foreign aid also solidified the clout of the ruling class, leading
to abuses of power.
The protracted militarized violence in Somalia does have an international
dimension. For example, during the Cold War, both the Soviet Union and
the United States engaged in ideological rivalry, with each country want -
ing to extend its ideological and military influence in the newly independent
countries, including those in Africa. Somalia, a young and poor
nation with a long coastline and a strategic location, was a desirable ally
for both superpowers, who sought to establish military and naval bases.
The leader of the military government, Siad Barre, also saw an opportunity
to tap into the resources from both superpowers. Under his rule,
Somalia gained received both financial and military assistance from both
the Soviets and the Americans, to build its military and other sectors,
which strengthened the regime’s military power and its authority over
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