Berghof Foundation: 50 years of conflict transformation

Building peace
in Somalia,
one Shir
at a time
Somalia is characterised by various types of conflict
that include clan rivalry and religious extremism. The
lack of economic opportunities, poor governance
and lingering insecurity in the country frustrate
Somalis’ attempts to build a more peaceful society.
Conflicts in Somalia often begin with disagreements
between individuals and later escalate to clan-based
violence. Much of the violence relates to disputes
between communities around land and resources,
and these conflicts have various historical roots and
causes, many of which have never been addressed.
The civilian population bears the brunt of the
conflicts. This is also the case in the central states
of Hirshabelle and Galmudug, where the Berghof
Foundation has been active since 2015.
In such a context, a proactive approach
of dialogue and mediation is indispensable to
prevent violent conflict, and most importantly to
improve the conditions that help sustain peaceful
sociopolitical relations and coexistence. To achieve
this, the Berghof Foundation has been using
inclusive community dialogue assemblies, or
Shirarka. Each large-scale Shir allows members
of the public the space and opportunity to discuss
their concerns about various topics. The event
takes place over a period of six days and involves 50
participants from all relevant segments of society,
“
The community has gained
a lot because everyone’s
opinions were considered in the
discussions and it has produced
applicable results, which help in
resolving conflicts in Balad.
Ugaas Mohamed Weli Islow Hussein
Traditional elder and co-facilitator
of the Balad dialogue assembly
2015–present
including elders, religious leaders, members of the
business community, journalists, women and youth
representatives, artists and poets.
The aim of the Shirarka is to create an open
and inclusive platform where the people can feel free
to discuss pertinent issues in their communities and
society. The platforms give them a chance to come up
with ideas to transform local conflicts, and through
mechanisms that we have created within the project,
these ideas and perspectives are then channelled
to decision-makers at the state and national levels.
Over the years, this format has proven to be a wellreceived
tool for fostering local ownership and
articulating local views on conflict and peace.
The participants have the opportunity to learn about
others’ perspectives, which builds empathy and
strengthens social cohesion.
Topics addressed at the Shirarka over the
years include approaches to conflict resolution
and transformation, mediation initiatives, in-depth
conflict analysis, federalism and the federalisation
process in Somalia, reconciliation support, and
preventing revenge killings. In upcoming Shirarka,
we will address the impact that climate change
has on (community) conflict. These discussions
should increase recognition of the climate crisis and
its impact on conflict and peace in Somalia, while
supporting the development of ideas for how to
address and reduce the impact of climate change.
The people who take part in the Shirarka are
active and engaged individuals in their communities
and they are encouraged to guide discussions on
these thematic matters when they return home. They
act as multipliers in their communities, and the topics
of the Shirarka thus reach a wide range of people in
Hirshabelle and Galmudug, both geographically and
with regard to different social groups.
The events are carried out in close
cooperation with the authorities from Hirshabelle
and Galmudug States and their district-level
authorities. This cooperation with the authorities
builds the visibility and credibility of the government
within a federal system. The diverse perspectives
on conflict that are voiced at each of the assemblies
are then linked to policy- and decision-makers at the
government level. These assemblies thus contribute
greatly to the mutually reinforcing processes of
reconciliation and statebuilding while increasing
social cohesion. Moreover, through these events,
the concepts of mediation and reconciliation have
become more mainstreamed in Somali society and
have been received with great interest on the part
of the community and government. Reconciliation
among the communities and clans in Somalia is seen
as an essential element for successfully building a
prosperous and peaceful federal state.
“
When I go back, I will share
with them what I’ve learned
from the debates: the root
causes of conflicts and how to
resolve them. All of this has very
much influenced my life and that
of the people around me.
Ishmael Geedi Hassan
Shirarka participant and member
of a Somali youth organisation
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