The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

lence, including sexual violence, to be totally neglected and ignored by
warlords and their militias.
As for the children, they lost access to education, health and the opportunity
to grow up in a peaceful and normal environment, as they were
exposed to militarized violence. Thousands of Somali children were born
and are growing up in fenced refugee camps in neighbouring countries
such as Kenya. Other children, particularly those displaced from their
homes, are living in deplorable conditions in internal displaced persons
camps, as in the Ceelasha Biyaha – also known as Afgoye Corridor – in
Mogadishu, where they cannot be reached by international and local aid
agencies. due to insecurity. The current insecurity, political and socioeconomic
situation in the south and central regions of Somalia continue
to affect the well-being of Somali children.
It was not only the local armed militia groups that negatively affected
the security of Somali women and children. Neighbouring Ethiopia has
politically and militarily supported a number of Somali warlords since the
Somali state collapsed in 1990. It also invaded Somalia militarily on December
26, 2006, to fight against the United Islamic Courts and to protect
the TFG led by Abdillahi Yusuf. The Ethiopian forces militarily
defeated the UIC forces in the capital, which enabled the TFG to move
to Mogadishu in January 2007; however, their presence has led to military
resistance led by former warlords, their armed militias and also ordinary
Somalis who opposed the use of violence. It also revived
nationalism and a religious movement opposed to the occupation by Eth -
iopia, a Christian country, and affected the efforts of reconciliation and
rebuilding a transitional state. The resulting waves of violence caused
thousands of deaths, destruction of property and displacement. From
the end of 2006 through January 2009, when Ethiopia pulled its troops
out of Somalia, Mogadishu was the scene of death, where artillery shellings
and roadside bombs were daily occurrences.
TFG President Abdullahi Yusuf supported the presence of the Ethiopian
troops; some of the members of the Transitional Parliament, including
cabinet members, vehemently opposed it. This political rift led to the resignation
of Yusuf as president, and another national reconciliation pro-
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