OBSERVATORY OF CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION

Despite the fact that the total number of violent deaths that was relatively small, only 11 cases, the data of safety and security monitoring of January, February, and March captured in Burao has shown that 7 of them were firearm related ones. Getting the data from secondary sources that only have the records of victims, the triggers of the killings will inevitably remain the missing link. Burao is relatively secure as far as widespread armed conflicts concern, yet the firearm related deaths occur very frequently. One possible explanation of this trend could be the availability of small arms in the hands of ordinary members of the community.

A recent global study by Pobulation Action International reached the conclusion that the nations in which at least 60 per cent, two-third, of their population is under 30 years old have been more likely to go thorough outbreaks of violent conflict. The study report argues that these countries have a consistently growing group of young people entering labour market and seeking opportunities of employment. It is the condition that would have benefited those countries if their governments have sound policies, and the capacity to provide sufficient jobs, education and resources. In line with the above facts, the Crime and Victimisation Survey administred in the three political regions of Somalia (Somaliland, Puntland and SouthCentral)in 2009-2010 has identified youth been both the perpetrators and the victims of violence to a larger percentage.

Since 1991, dozens of reconciliation conferences has been held for the Somali groups in which the last one in Djibouti produced the current Traditional Federal Government (TFG). Furthermore, most, if not all, of those reconciliation conferences seem to be dealing with the immediate actors of Somali conflict, and not the root causes of the conflict. There is a need to a complete paradigm shift from the previous strategies of Somalia’s peace-building and social reconciliation. That may include both identifying and addressing the root causes of the prolonged conflict in this country.

As many global citizens celebrate the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, the Somali people had a little to celebrate. For Somalis, last year was not much different from the preceding years in terms of the political upheaval and violence. The social instability coupled with the cyclic droughts continues to aggravate the humanitarian situation of the country. January, 2011 has marked the 20th anniversary of the collabse of the Somali state, the onset of the chaos that has claimed over hundreds and thousands lives, and caused the displacement of millions of residents from their homes.

OCVP received an international researcher (MS. Ingvild Magnæs Gjelsvik) from Tromsø University, Norway. The researcher, in collaboration with a local researcher assistant, will be working on joint research projects between UNDP Somalia and Center for Peace Studies (CPS) at the University of Tromsø. The research focuses on reintegration of former combatants; the research is part of a study that international expert groups are launching at the CPS. This expert group is currently launching an intensive study on reintegration in Somalia as part of a three-country study: “Improving reintegration programming in Somalia, Afghanistan and Nepal through evidence-based research”. The output will be a series of policy reports that should help improve policy formulation and program development in certain key areas both in Somalia and other war-torn countries.