Our Somalia division is working to support young people formerly involved in non-state armed groups. The purpose of holding dialogue forums in Somalia is to encourage members of Al-Shabaab to lay down their weapons and reintegrate into society. At the same time, it is important for the general public to deepen their understanding of so-called violent extremist organizations and the individuals involved. To achieve this, we have been creating opportunities for dialogue between the local community and former combatants, while also providing education and raising awareness among the broader population.
This time, we will report on a dialogue forum held in collaboration with the Somali government’s Ministry of Information as part of these efforts to involve the general public.
Background and purpose of holding the dialogue forum in Somalia
In July and September, we held dialogue forums in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, in collaboration with the Somali government’s Ministry of Information. These forums were attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, security authorities, religious leaders, local community leaders, and ordinary citizens.
One of the goals of the Dialogue Forum is to promote mutual understanding and build a cooperative system among stakeholders. Many people in Somalia’s local communities have a distrust of not only Al-Shabaab but also the government, police, and military amid ongoing conflict. It is essential for the various local stakeholders to deepen their understanding of what needs to be done to achieve social stability and peace, and to make efforts to build mutual trust and cooperation.
The dialogue forum also aims to raise awareness and educate young people to prevent them from joining Al-Shabaab. People living in Al-Shabaab-controlled areas often come into contact with extremist ideology and propaganda, and many only know biased ideology. Furthermore, people who do not live in Al-Shabaab-controlled areas often do not fully understand the tactics used by the group to recruit. This makes it easier for young people to join so-called violent extremist organizations when they are approached. Therefore, it is important to use dialogue forums like this one and the media to raise awareness of not only the extremist ideology disseminated by Al-Shabaab, but also ways and means of life that do not rely on violence, and to help them shift to the latter.
The forum was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Minister of Information and a young man whose father had actually been killed by Al-Shabaab, and saw lively discussions on the issue of armed conflict and the pursuit of peace in Somalia. Below are some comments from participants in the July forum.
Minister of Information *who co-hosted this forum with us: “In order to resolve the issue of violent attacks by Al-Shabaab and achieve peace and security in Somalia, it is important for the government and local community members to join hands and consider how they can resolve religious and social issues. Let’s work together to consider what we should do in our respective positions and take action.”
Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency:“Amid the ongoing conflict between Al-Shabaab and government forces, in areas liberated from Al-Shabaab control, the police are actively working to protect local community members and build trust. However, ordinary citizens remain deeply suspicious and distrustful of both government forces and the police, making it difficult to build trust.”
General public (young person): “My father was killed in an Al-Shabaab armed attack. At the time, I felt as if my soul had died. It was a painful and sad experience, but that is precisely why I feel so strongly that we must solve the problem of the armed conflict. I am scared, but I hope that we can all muster up the courage to join forces and talk about it, and we should take action.”
As the participants said, resolving armed conflict requires the cooperation of not only the government and police, but also the general public, and for the whole of Somalia to join forces. Sharing this idea with a wide range of stakeholders was extremely meaningful in terms of realizing conflict resolution.
▲Speakers at the dialogue forum.
Furthermore, at the September Dialogue Forum, a former high-ranking Al-Shabaab official who is now serving as Deputy Director of the Somali National Counter-Terrorism Center after being pardoned by the government also participated and gave an opportunity to introduce the efforts of the Counter-Terrorism Center. Seeing someone who once held a key position in a non-state armed group speak to society as an agent of peace was extremely important as it served as a catalyst for changing public perception.
▲A former high-ranking Al-Shabaab official, who was pardoned by the government and is now serving as Deputy Director of the Somali National Counter-Terrorism Center.
Words from Accept International’s representative
Our organization’s representative, Mr. Nagai also gave a speech at the dialogue forum.
Mr. Nagai’s speech (excerpt): I truly respect the fact that so many people have come together, even though it is very sensitive to talk about Al-Shabaab and armed conflict in public. (Note: If you make negative comments about Al-Shabaab and Al-Shabaab learns of them, you could be threatened or your life could be put at risk.) I believe that achieving peace in Somalia cannot be achieved by just one person or one organization, but by the cumulative efforts of each individual’s thoughts and actions. That is why we believe that each and every one of you, the citizens of Somalia, is the key to peacebuilding, and we will do our utmost to support you.
Furthermore, there are many different views on peace in Somalia, and I believe that they will differ depending on your position. In this context, I hope to build a cooperative system that will allow us to think together about how we can build peace.
We will continue to work with the Ministry of Information to support your will and efforts. It is a great honor to be here today to actively discuss peace from various perspectives.
▲Mr. Nagai giving a speech at the dialogue forum.
Future Outlook
Many people participated in this dialogue forum, and we were able to have very meaningful discussions towards peace in Somalia. In the future, we are considering various approaches, including holding dialogue forums online, in order to involve even more people.
We will continue to expand our efforts to support young people in Al-Shabaab in laying down their weapons and reintegrating into society. Through initiatives that engage the broader public, we remain committed to contributing to a more peaceful Somali society. We sincerely appreciate your continued support.
