REMITTANCES FOR PEACE MITTANCES FOR PEACE? THE TRANSNATIONAL POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTS OF SOMALIS IN NORWAY

The report examines the role of the Somali diaspora in Norway in supporting political actors and peace processes in Somalia. It finds that while ideological support exists for national actors like the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), the most impactful financial contributions occur at the sub-clan level to fund either conflict or reconciliation. The authors recommend that the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs adopt a more proactive approach to diaspora engagement and support decentralized peacebuilding initiatives.

• Financial contributions to (sub-)clan levels are more widespread and have a more direct practical impact on conflict and peace processes than support for national political actors, as the effects are more readily felt by family members.
• The Islamic Courts Union (ICU) maintained a broad support base among the diaspora in Norway, which facilitated large-scale fundraising for projects such as the Mogadishu city cleaning project in November 2006.
• Support for the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) among Somalis in Norway is limited, with few reports of large-scale remittances; instead, supporters primarily use advocacy and lobbying within Norwegian institutions.
• Diaspora remittances play a critical role in funding sub-clan conflicts, including the purchase of weaponry and payment of fighters, as seen in the 2004-2006 conflict between the Saleebaan and Sacad clans in Mudug and Galguduud.
• The diaspora also facilitates reconciliation by funding 'shir' (assemblies) and compensational payments (diya), such as in the Daroor case where millions of USD were received from the diaspora to resolve fighting between two Isaq clans.
• Many Somalis in Norway contribute to peace and stability through non-political 'humanitarian' or 'developmental' remittances, specifically targeting education and health sectors to provide services in the absence of a functioning state.
• Somalis from Somaliland have established a more successful lobby within Norway compared to other groups due to their longer history in the country, better organization, and the post-conflict nature of their state.
• The Ethiopian invasion of Somalia in 2006-2007 caused widespread outrage among Somalis in Norway, reinforcing nationalist attitudes and shifting political allegiances.

APA

Horst, C., & Gaas, M. H. (2008). REMITTANCES FOR PEACE MITTANCES FOR PEACE? THE TRANSNATIONAL POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTS OF SOMALIS IN NORWAY. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/0fc2471b-7c45-47ba-9ac5-2360471fc089/Remittances for Peace 2008.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Horst, Cindy, and Mohamed Husein Gaas. REMITTANCES FOR PEACE MITTANCES FOR PEACE? THE TRANSNATIONAL POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTS OF SOMALIS IN NORWAY. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2008. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/0fc2471b-7c45-47ba-9ac5-2360471fc089/Remittances for Peace 2008.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Horst |first1=Cindy |last2=Gaas |first2=Mohamed Husein |title=REMITTANCES FOR PEACE MITTANCES FOR PEACE? THE TRANSNATIONAL POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTS OF SOMALIS IN NORWAY |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2008 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/0fc2471b-7c45-47ba-9ac5-2360471fc089/Remittances for Peace 2008.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{horst2008remittances, author = {Horst, Cindy and Gaas, Mohamed Husein}, title = {{REMITTANCES FOR PEACE MITTANCES FOR PEACE? THE TRANSNATIONAL POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTS OF SOMALIS IN NORWAY}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2008}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/0fc2471b-7c45-47ba-9ac5-2360471fc089/Remittances for Peace 2008.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }