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REPORT ON DEMOBILIZATION AND REINTEGRATION OF FORMAL SOLDERS AND COMBATANT SOMALI CASE STUDY PRESENTED BY: Mr. Abdullahi Sheikh Abdi Hussein
From: Techno-Forman Organization (TFCO) March 20, 2001 DEMOBILIZATION AND REINTEGRATION OF FORMER SOLDIERS AND COMBATANT SOMALI CASE STUDY I. Historical Background a. Civilian Government of Somalia b. Military Regime c. Civil War Era d. Post Civil War
INTRODUCTION Somali's Historically and culturally are Pastoral Nomads people, divided into different regions, trips, clans and sub-clans where they share every think through ethnic line. Some organizations believe the majority of the Somali population are pastoral nomads. There is no any real statistics related on this, in the mean while some other organizations emphasize there is some progress of changing the lifestyle of Somali Pastoral Nomads. The Backbone of the Somali Economy has been the Pastoral sector for centuries. The biggest difference between Somali and other African countries is the size structure and dynamic of Somalis pastoral economy but for the last 10 years the Somali business and trade is changing due to the open market system. CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA During the civilian government in Somalia every limited number of small arms was in the country because of strict control from the government side and the only existing arms in the hands of the civilians at that time was in the hand of some Pastoral Nomads for livestock rustling and to defend their lives. This culture of carrying arms was very popular and is still popular in North East, North West and Central Somalia. MILITARY REGIME After military regime took power in 1969, they tried to control the weapons going into the civilian's hands and declared to introduce Scientific Socialism Ideology. Never the less after Ethiopia and Somali war 1977 unlimited number of small arms and other sophisticated weapons also goes into the hands of pastoral nomads and civilians urban and extra urban areas. That this has indepolished the power of the military Regime in Somalia. THE CIVIL WAR ERA The Somali civil war originated from, economic mismanagement tribalism, nepotism, poverty growth, social injustice and lack of quality political leadership. This is the legacy of the Seyid Barre dictatorship who lead the country in 10 years of civil war and continuation of senseless inter clan fighting, killing, looting destruction and occupation of school, hospitals, water Installation, destruction of Museums, libraries, monuments and other social infrastructure. Moreover the interruption of Humanitarian assistance distribution for vulnerable people. Women, children and elderly person, including internally displaced groups and many people are forced to leave the country. Un-doubtly the intervention of international community in 1992 has saved many Somalis life and has facilitated Humanitarian distribution and economic recovery particularly in war turned areas of Central and Southern Somalia. In 1994 when international Community has forced to leave the country, the situation became more worse than before because of the power struggle among the Somali warlords and the situation deteriorated. In this situation, the victims are always civil society groups. The war in Somalia has caused lack of peace and trust and insecurity among the Somali’s and denied the education access for many Somali children, (This is an embarrassment to the Somali people and International communities), food security problem, and population movement and cross boarders migration. B. PARTNERS TO BE INVOLVED IN DEMOBILIZATION AND REINTEGRATION PROGRAMME. SOMALI COMMUNITIES: Elders, Religious Leaders, Business communities Women groups and Youth. DONORS AND UN AGENCIES: USAID, EC, DANIDA, SIDA and other Donors UNDP, UNESCO LOCAL AUTHORITIES: District and Regional Administration and Emerging Governance: Somali Land, Punt Land and TNG. TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP: UGAS, MALAK, IMAM, BOQOR, SULATAN, WABAR and GARAD etc with support of military and civilian actors. NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL NGOs and other civil society groups. As we are aware of the NGOs working in the sector. OTHER CHALLENGES:
- Lack of Peace and Trust among Somali Society. - Small arms and heavy weapons in the hands of the militia - Community expectation: Participation, contribution, co-ordination and commitment. - Funding and logistic constrain. - Insecurity.
Sharing of information and experiences form presenters and participants. Suggestions, recommendation and future plan of action Reference: BLOOD AND BORN
The Col of Kingship in Somalia Society, By I. M Lewis (Ref: P.136, 137) The Red Sea Press Inc. LAWRENCEVILLE - 1994 The post civil war Somali business class, By Ronald Marechal (Ref: P.10) Ecol de hautes etudes en sciences sociales/Center of African Studies 54, boulevard Raspail, 750006 Paris, France 1996 School Rehabilitation Construction and improvement in Somalia By Addullahi Sheikh Abdi Hussein UNICEF ESC/SACB Education workshop: 12 – 16 Feb 2001 At Karen – Nairobi Foreign partnership towards Community Owned schools in Somalia Guidelines of Education Sectoral Committee of Somalia AID Co-ordination Body (Ref P.11) Co-ordinated by UNICEF – Nairobi 1998 Somali Education Sector Development Program Action plan 2001 – 2010 By Dr Beebe (University of Nairobi) (Ref P. 3) UNICEF ESC/SACB education workshop: February 12 – 16 , 2001 At Karen Nairobi Kenya. |
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