Somalia

Contact

Ivan Campbell
Head of Africa Programme

What are the challenges in Somalia?

Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991. Sixteen years of lawlessness and armed violence have eroded the country's social, economic and governance structures, and left a very fragile state.

Three distinct regional entities have emerged (Somaliland, Puntland and South-Central) each with varying degrees of stability. A Transitional Federal Government has been established but its effectiveness is limited. Much of Somalia suffers from extreme violence and insecurity caused by:

competition between clans
the proxy wars of neighbouring states
a massive inflow of arms

What we do in Somalia

As there is no effective central government in Somalia, other elements of society play an important role in filling the vacuum. They are known as 'non-state actors' (NSAs)and include the private sector and civil society groups.

However, these same groups have been excluded from discussions with the Somalia Government authorities and with donors concerning policies for development and reconstruction.

Our work in Somalia focuses on strengthening the capacity of these NSAs and helping them to get involved in national and international policy processes.

Together with our Somali partners, Academy for Peace and Development, Puntland Development Research Centre and Centre for Research and Dialogue, we have helped set up platforms for these groups in each of the three regions of Somalia.

These platforms represent the business community, women, youth groups, religious and professional associations. They allow NSAs to engage directly with the Somali authorities and with international donors such as the European Commission, to influence - for the first time - key decisions affecting their future.

We will continue to help dialogue between these groups and international policymakers.

Reports and briefings

Bringing together Somali civil society in the quest for peace, March 2008

Strengthening dialogue between NSAs, administrations and the EC on the European Union's new assistance strategy to Somalia, July 2006

News and activities

Saferworld condemns the targeted killing of civil society activists in Somalia

In May, Saferworld and Somali partners, CRD and PDRC helped a delegation of 15 Somali civil society leaders to meet with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in Djibouti. The UN Special Representative for Somalia welcomed the delegation and encouraged them to draw on their firsthand experience of the situation in Somalia to act as a neutral pressure group for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The delegation spoke of the escalating humanitarian crisis, and impressed upon the UNSC the need for the international community to provide sustained and coherent support for an inclusive and non-military solution to Somalia’s conflict. The UNSC appreciated the opportunity to interact with Somali civil society, and the UN asked the delegation to stay throughout the peace talks in Djibouti, reflecting the positive contribution that the group had already made to the process.