Dhusamareb, 01 December 2023 – The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) is actively supporting peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts in Galmudug State. In a significant step, over 50 peace activists, women, youth representatives, and traditional elders from five Galmudug districts participated in a three-day workshop in Dhusamareb, focusing on reconciliation and conflict resolution.
Galmudug, a region in central Somalia, has faced inter-clan conflicts over resources, land, and elections. The workshop, organized by the Galmudug Ministry of Interior and Federal Affairs and Reconciliation (MOIFAR) with ATMIS’s support, covered conflict understanding, resolution techniques, and sustainable reconciliation.
Ahmed Osman Aden, the Galmudug State Deputy Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs, emphasised the importance of responsible social media use to curbing the spread of misinformation that might lead to conflict. He encouraged the participants to promote peace both online and in public, urging them to share the knowledge gained during the workshop.
“You are young and new blood and should therefore educate the public on peace using the skills learnt from this training,” said Minister Aden, urging the participants to become change-makers in the conflict-prone region.
The Political Affairs Officer for ATMIS, Sayid Abdi Hirsi, commended the success of the workshop, highlighting the impressive turnout by grassroot peace activists throughout the Galmudug State who are now engaged to advocate for peace and reconciliation.
“The workshop was to train traditional leaders, civil society representatives, women, and youth in reconciliation and conflict resolution techniques. Participants from across Galmudug State including Hobyo, Galkaayo, Abudwaq, Dhusamareb and Adaado districts, attended the successful event. We extend our gratitude to the Galmudug Ministry of Interior for their support in organizing this important workshop,” said Hirsi.
A participant at the Workshop, Abdirizak Sirat Shidane, considered the acquired skills in reconciliation and conflict resolution timely and beneficial. He expressed a keen desire to implement the newly learned techniques to encourage dialogue and restore peace within his community.
“This is a very good programme, and we engaged and learnt a lot. It brought together different people from different places, and we learnt conflict resolution mechanisms, how to foster dialogue and what you need to restore peace which is something we really need in our area. We look forward to putting the mechanisms into practice for the benefit of our community,” said Shidane.
Civil society activist, Ubah Hassan Ugas, described the workshop as an invaluable opportunity for Galmudug State. She expressed her appreciation to the Galmudug Ministry of Interior and ATMIS for their roles in facilitating it. Committed to community improvements, she pledged to share the acquired knowledge and apply it towards resolving existing conflicts and easing tensions.
“We are excited about this reconciliation and conflict resolution programme. Galmudug needed such peacebuilding initiatives, and we thank the Galmudug Ministry of Interior and ATMIS for making it possible. The insights we’ve gained are invaluable, we are committed to sharing it with the community,” said Ubah. Given the ongoing conflicts in Galmudug, we look forward to applying what we’ve learnt here to resolve the existing conflicts and tensions,” she said.
The ongoing inter-clan conflicts in Galmudug, which adversely affect the fight against Al-Shabaab and the liberation efforts by the Federal Government of Somalia and ATMIS, highlight the importance of local reconciliation initiatives. These efforts are vital for the successful implementation of the transition plan, especially as ATMIS progressively phases out its presence in Somalia.