Press release�

Whose peace is it anyway? Connecting Somali and international peacemaking

International peacemaking efforts to end 20 years of war and humanitarian catastrophe in Somalia keep failing.

A new publication and policy brief released today by Conciliation Resources argues the international community must urgently rethink its approach and learn from how Somalis themselves have managed to secure peace in many parts of their country in recent times.
Whose peace is it anyway? explores these often overlooked Somali peacemaking success stories and sets out lessons and conclusions for international policy.

“Supporting Somali-led peace processes is the most effective way for the international community to help Somalis find ways out of a protracted crisis,” said co-editors Mark Bradbury and Sally Healy.

Published in English and Somali, it includes over 30 articles and interviews

with a range of Somali elders, senior international diplomats and peacemaking experts.

A Somali elder from Puntland who has participated in many peace processes and is interviewed in the report explains that “To reconcile as a nation, we need to have true faith once again, confess our wrongdoings and forgive one another. Application of force and suppression of freewill resolves nothing.”

“We would be wise to follow the voices and lessons set out here, in whatever role we play in helping Somalia create a more peaceful future for itself,” said Bernard Harbourne, Lead Conflict Adviser, Africa Region for the World Bank.

The publication was developed in partnership with Interpeace www.interpeace.org and is available online at www.c-r.org 

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Please contact Elizabeth Drew on edrew@c-r.org or 0044 207 359 7728 ext 235 for further information.