More than 50 traditional elders living Mogadishu attended one day forum for experience sharing. The objective of the forum was to strengthen the traditional elders ‘roles in peace building through participation in decision-making and community cohesion.
The participants watched a documentary film about Somaliland traditional roles played by Somaliland traditional elders of successful reconciliation conferences in which Somaliland enjoys today. This documentary film was recorded during peace tour of several Banadir elders who met Somaliland traditional leaders known as Guurti and other resources people in Hargeisa and Borame to learn how peace of Somaliland was achieved and traditional elders’ roles in that conferences.
Among recommendations given to Banadir elders by Somaliland Guurti was “as peacemaker be patience, be united, avoid external conferences, pay expenses of your meetings and challenge the politicians who are self-saving ones.”
After 30 minutes Film is watched, Mr. Hussein Sh. Ahmed (Kadare), one of most Somali tradition experts who were among the six Somali scholars that wrote Somali language in 1970s has deeply explained Somali cultural and differences about traditional elder’s roles in different regions.
The participants asked many questions about topics which he answered very well and they were very happy to know the Somali cultural about peace making and reconciliation. One of the noticeable cultural differences between north and south regions in relation to our subjection of discussion is that the northern traditional elders will do what they promise to do while the southern elders may not keep their word.
Then preliminary discussed started where participants suggested their recommendations of how to reach peace in south-central Somalia. When explaining the difference Somaliland elders and those in south-central one elder said “Somaliland elders tried their best with honest and their efforts became fruitful, we (the southern elders) tried our best with dishonest and our efforts failed”
The participants appreciated the documents and recommendation from Somaliland traditional elders and thanked Somali Peace Line who facilitated this forum. Most of elders requested SPL to continue such activities that enhancing traditional elders roles in peace building and community integration by facilitating dialogue among clan elders to build their confidence.
Mohamed Hasan Haad, a chairman of Hawiye traditional council of elders who participated the forum said “ I now recognized that we need reconciliation starting from very grassroots level to national level because if you look how Somaliland reached sustainable peace they first reconciled clans and ended their conflicts and then agreed to building national administration.”
Finally, elders agreed share lessons learnt from that forum with their respective communities and cooperate how peace can be obtained.
