Microsoft Word - Somalia Conference Summary.doc

This document is an executive summary of the international conference "Unpacking the Somali Conflict," held in Pretoria on January 21, 2009. Organized by the African Security Analysis Programme, the event brought together analysts and practitioners to discuss the complexities of the crisis in Somalia, the role of the Transitional Federal Government and the African Union, and alternative paradigms for peace and conflict resolution.

• Effective conflict resolution in Somalia requires a Somali-driven process rather than the application of externally imposed templates for reconciliation and state-building. The international community should focus on creating political space and engaging more surgically rather than debating whether to intervene.
• Since 1995, Somalia has maintained governance through traditional authority, Sharia courts, and customary law, despite the absence of a formal government. The lack of a de facto State is attributed to fears that a central government could be instrumentalized by one interest group against another.
• The Djibouti peace agreement is criticized for failing to incorporate Islamist forces, which may result in a lack of buy-in from groups representing significant portions of the population. Historically, peace agreements in Somalia have been followed by worsened fighting due to fragmented interest groups and shifting alliances.
• Somaliland's success in consolidating peace and establishing an effective government is attributed to a process designed, financed, and managed by Somalis. This included large multi-clan peace conferences that addressed security systems, land rights, and constitutional issues.
• Long-term security in Somalia depends on the establishment of a security sector based on the rule of law as part of a sustained political development strategy. Additionally, it was noted that radicalism and jihadism can only be defeated ideologically, not through military means.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2009). Microsoft Word - Somalia Conference Summary.doc. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SOMALIACONFSUMJAN09.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Microsoft Word - Somalia Conference Summary.doc. 2009. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SOMALIACONFSUMJAN09.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Microsoft Word - Somalia Conference Summary.doc |date=21 January 2009 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SOMALIACONFSUMJAN09.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2009microsoft, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Microsoft Word - Somalia Conference Summary.doc}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2009}, month = jan, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SOMALIACONFSUMJAN09.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }