SAFERWORLD in Somalia/ Introduction

DJIBOUTI

Djibouti GULF OF ADEN Somalia has endured nearly three decades In Somalia, 30 years of violent conflict have eroded In the absence of fair and unbiased security services, of civil war and state collapse. Frequent institutional structures and severely strained the economy there is a high level of mistrust and conflict among droughts and resource shortages have led to of this traditionally pastoralist society. Severe droughts, communities, and between society and the state. Clans clan disputes, corruption and al-Shabaab attacks have often provide their own informal security, and armed devastating famines and the displacement SOMALILAND affected people in terms of their security, access to justice, groups and individuals frequently use violence to resolve of people within Somalia and to neighbouring jobs, healthcare, food and nutrition. disputes and assert power. In the absence of a coherent countries. The election of a new president and inclusive approach to people’s security, armed non- Garowe Nevertheless, there are reasons for hope. In February in February 2017, though still conducted state actors like al-Shabaab continue to draw recruits. 2017, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo was elected president by a highly limited electorate, was seen by in a more inclusive and transparent process than in past In Somaliland, despite a devastating ongoing drought, many as more inclusive and transparent than political transitions. Work towards planned one-person- the situation remains comparatively peaceful. Galkayo previous selection processes. The country is one-vote elections in 2021 must begin right away, but In November 2017, Somaliland elected a new president, now preparing for universal-suffrage elections democratisation in Somalia will undoubtedly continue to Muse Bihi Abdi, in an election accepted by domestic in 2020–21. Somaliland, which has enjoyed be gradual and characterised by difficult compromises. and international observers as fair and transparent – a major achievement given the instability in the region. greater stability over the last 25 years since Prolonged violent conflict over power and resources has Parliamentary and local elections are now scheduled for SOMALIA prevented Somalis from living together peacefully and declaring itself an independent state, also early 2019. obstructed the development of strong and accountable peacefully elected a new president in KENYA state institutions. Formal security services such as November 2017. Baidoa the police and national military lack impartiality and Jowhar regularly abuse their power.

Mogadishu LOWER SHABELLE

INDIAN OCEAN

Kismayo

About us

We believe in a world where Saferworld is an independent international organisation To do this we: n through our programmes, research and analysis we working to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives. n support communities to identify and address their identify new models of conflict transformation and everyone can lead peaceful, We are a not-for-profit organisation, with programmes own security and safety issues peacebuilding in over 20 countries and territories across Africa, the n build better community-police relations n support evidence-based advocacy nationally and fulfilling lives, free from fear Middle East, and Asia. internationally n work with partners to improve the accountability Saferworld has been working in Somalia and Somaliland of police services and make recommendations on n train and deploy local observers to monitor electoral and insecurity. since 2004 to promote democratisation and more security policy processes throughout election cycles inclusive governance, and to improve community safety. n support civil society organisations, particularly n empower political party officials at the regional and women’s groups and youth groups, to get involved district level to effectively carry out their duties in important decision-making processes on peace, n build the skills of women’s and youth wings of political security and development parties to participate in decision-making n ensure civil society organisations are equipped with n convene consultation meetings on the constitutional skills to influence decision makers on policies that review process, and affect the lives of all Somalis n train and deploy local mediators to help in election n build partnerships with both state and non-state disputes. actors and train partners to tap into existing opportunities, improve efficiency and impact, and to make the most of available resources n conduct research and analysis on the drivers of conflict and their dynamics, good governance, and democratisation. Our work our achievements Governance and democratisation

n Established three non-state actor platforms in South Central Somalia, Somaliland and Puntland to promote and coordinate civil society involvement in peacebuilding, To promote fair and transparent elections in several statebuilding, governance and democratisation. We support civil society’s crucial role in observing elections, increasing civic political regions across Somalia and Somaliland, n Introduced community action forums in three regions of Somalia to enable communities engagement and improving voter education. Saferworld has also helped with civic and voter education to identify and determine how to address their own safety and security challenges. and formed working partnerships with electoral n Organised large-scale, civil society led domestic election observer missions for the 2012 Saferworld plays a significant role in supporting management bodies. These include the Transitional and 2017 general elections and for the 2016 voter registration in Somaliland, as well democratisation and improving governance in both Puntland Election Commission (TPEC), the National as for the 2016–17 electoral process in Somalia. This work has strengthened public Somalia and Somaliland. In partnership with Somali Independent Election Commission (NIEC) of Somalia and oversight of election processes and enhanced the credibility of election results. civil society organisations (CSOs), which are crucial in the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Somaliland. providing services that are usually the responsibility n Identified drivers of conflict and explored effective means of addressing them through of the state, we build better relations between the Saferworld supports civil society organisations in extensive research and consultation with stakeholders and communities across Somalia government and Somali citizens. Saferworld aims to overseeing democratic processes across the region. and Somaliland. strengthen the participation and influence of these In the lead-up to Somaliland’s 2017 presidential election, n Achieved one of the strongest presences in Somalia and Somaliland of any international CSOs in important policy and decision-making processes Saferworld encouraged voter education on the voter peacebuilding NGO – through successfully recruiting talented staff, building on peace, security and development. With partners, we registration process, assisted parliament in the strong partnerships with Somali organisations, and launching offices and installing established and continue to work with three platforms amendment of the house of representatives election representatives across Somalia and Somaliland. that offer Somali people the opportunity to consult with legislation, built the capacity of the three political parties n Led a coalition of Somaliland civil society actors to promote innovative action on national and international policy and decision makers that contested the election, and supported the training Sustainable Development Goal 16 – at a national, regional, and global level. on issues that impact the well-being of Somali citizens and deployment of 620 domestic election observers. (see: Promoting Somali voices for peace). Drawing on lessons from peace processes around the our strengths world, we also research and analyse conflict dynamics and assess how these might help or hinder potential n Over 14 years’ experience of working with Somali partners on governance and peace agreements in Somalia. peacebuilding in Somalia and Somaliland. n A large and experienced team who are predominately Somalis. n Permanent offices in Hargeisa and Mogadishu, with representatives in Nairobi, Kismayo and Baidoa. “ My hope for future democratisation processes in Somalia is to get leaders who will respect and implement the constitution, and enhance the capacity of government institutions to deliver the services that citizens expect.” Hamud Mohamed, PUNSAA election observer.

case study: somalia’s road to democracy

Throughout Somalia’s 2016–17 election process, The observers – trained by Saferworld and its partners – Somalia elections in numbers The 2016–17 electoral process Saferworld worked alongside civil society organisations, took on varied duties including checking election Somali leaders designed the 2016–17 process with the authorities, national and international groups to improve materials and voter registration documents, deterring 135 international community’s Clan Elders transparency and accountability to ensure Somalis had a and reporting any incidents of violence or intimidation, 16.3 support. Thousands more voted greater say in the future of their country. and documenting the general atmosphere in polling in this election than the last one, SELECT stations. “Observing the electoral process was proactive, but voters still made up a tiny In February 2017, Somalia’s lower and upper houses million not confined solely to election day but crucially during fraction of the population. of parliament elected the country’s new president, Somalia’s estimated the steps beforehand including the planning phase, 14,025 Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, using an indirect selection population Federal Member State Delegates election officials’ recruitment and training, electoral parliaments 51 per elective seat process. The process began in 2016 with 135 clan elders delegate selection, campaigns and so on” said Mohamed appointing 14,025 delegates to represent numerous clans ELECT ELECT Noor, former chair of Saferworld’s partner, the Puntland and sub-clans and to elect the lower house of parliament. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Non-State Actor Association (PUNSAA). ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Members of the upper house were elected by the ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● parliaments of the federal member states. Another improvement was the increased involvement of ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 34 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● women in the 2016–17 election process. “The adoption ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Election observers ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● One success of the 2016–17 electoral process – regardless ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● and enforcement of the women’s quota was among the ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

● ● ● ● of its unevenness – was the active engagement of trained and deployed ● ● ● ● ● most interesting yet challenging occurrences in the male- by Saferworld domestic election observers despite the challenging 54 275 dominated clan culture of Somalia. A woman defeated Members of the Members of the political and security environment. Upper House Lower House three men during the upper house election within the “Election observation is a valuable tool for improving Puntland Parliament – an amazing outcome!” said the quality of elections. Observers help build public Mohamed Noor. confidence in the integrity of the electoral processes,” 2020–21 BOTH SELECT reflects election observer, Fadumo. The year when one-person-one-vote elections are scheduled President

Source: Wall Street Journal; World Bank Somaliland elections in numbers 873,331 registered voters 704,198 registered voters who collected voting cards case study: somaliland decides

80% In 2016, after consultations with 1,500 community Al Jazeera featured Saferworld-commissioned photos in D RIO N PE voter turnout IO members and leaders in Somaliland, Saferworld and its Somalilland elections photostory, raising awareness CT LE Institutional Constitution -E its partners, including the Somaliland Non-State Actor about the election process including registering to vote, ST strengthening Legislation PO Audits & & professional Forum (SONSAF), helped the Parliamentary Committee campaigning and voting. Electoral system evaluations development & boundaries Legal reform for Internal Affairs and Security to redraft legislation Voter lists Electoral bodies Since the election results, Saferworld has been supporting update Archiving &

on the election of the House of Representatives. Codes of conduct research

post-election activities including putting together a

In advance of voter registration for Somaliland’s

documentary film on the election process, organising

55.1% Official results third direct presidential elections in 2017, Saferworld Budgeting, funding Post-election Legal Kulmiye votes photo exhibitions of campaigning and voting in Complaints & financing framework successfully advocated to the National Electoral & appeals Electoral calendar (the winning party) Hargeisa, Nairobi and London, reporting on election D Tabulation Recruitment & Commission (NEC) to change its civic education strategy O

I of results procurement findings, and paving the way for the 2019 House of R Verification Planning &

E to directly engage local civil society and elders before of results The implementation Logistics & security

P

Representatives and local council elections.

Electoral

the election. We trained and deployed 620 election N

Voting O

cycle P

I Training & R

observers who covered 41 per cent of polling stations T operations & E

C Vote counting election day education Operational training -

“ We designed a high-tech application system E

E

L for election officials

across Somaliland. Reporting by Saferworld and SONSAF- Voting L

E E

, that enabled our domestic observers to send Special & Electoral Voter Civic education C

1642 trained domestic election observers found that 90 per T external voting campaign registration Voter information I

polling stations O

cent of polling stations opened on time, closed peacefully data every single minute to SONSAF’s office. N

P

E

and began counting votes on time, which strengthened It also allowed us to locate every observer R

I Campaign Media Voters registration O

confidence in the legitimacy of election results. across Somaliland. The data we received coordination access Observers accreditation D Breaches Code of Domestic observers included the time polling stations opened, & penalties conduct Parties & candidates “ Because we are an emerging country, the world Party financing any incidents that occurred and how they can see our democracy. So it’s important to were resolved.” 620 show our process is fair and transparent.” Mohamed Barwani, executive director, SONSAF. domestic election Isir Guleid Hussein, observer and student. observers trained by The electoral cycle – reflecting Saferworld’s holistic approach during Saferworld and SONSAF Somaliland’s presidential elections. source: http://www.eces.eu/eea-training Community security programme cycle

Promoting Somali voices for peace Community security

Saferworld’s approach is based on a conviction that All three platforms’ growing influence over emerging Prolonged conflict in South Central Somalia has We are also working with partners to establish state- the exclusion of the voices of Somali citizens from the policy issues is demonstrated by the outputs they have prevented Somalis in many regions from living together level advisory committees for the police services. These country’s political and peace processes has contributed to generated and developed, including consultations, peacefully. Often violence has been used to gain power committees – made up of civil society representatives, conflict and has prevented inclusive peacebuilding and advocacy, outreach activities, position papers, and and resources. Continued conflict in the region has former police officers, lawyers and government officials – statebuilding. Working to address this, Saferworld helped policies. Examples include: PUNSAA’s crucial input into prevented the development of strong, unbiased and visit police stations to assess their work and to feedback to establish and develop non-state actor platforms Puntland’s electoral legislation and media freedom accountable state institutions. Formal security services, ideas for improvement. We use the evidence gathered (NSAPs) in Somaliland (SONSAF), Puntland (PUNSAA) bill; SONSAF’s successes on the issue of hydrocarbon such as the police, lack legitimacy and impartiality, and from this process to make recommendations to improve and South Central Somalia (SOCSENSA). These platforms exploration, which committed the government to regularly abuse their power. policy – to create more accountable and inclusive offer a two-way channel for Somali people, whose voices ensure all new explorations are preceded by community institutions where people have a role and voice in Consequently, there are high levels of mistrust and are too seldom heard in important decision-making consultation; and SOSCENSA’s support for Somalia’s addressing their concerns and grievances. conflict among communities and between society and processes, to connect and communicate with national constitutional review process, the NGO bill, and the state. The clans themselves often resort to providing and international policymakers. The platforms’ legitimacy the mediation of a conflict between the Ministry of their own informal security, and armed actors frequently stems from including a diverse range of participants Education and a private sector education establishment. use violence to resolve disputes and assert their power. from many different sectors of society, and conducting Since 2015, the NSAPs have scaled up their work in Due to the lack of a coherent and inclusive approach to consultations on policy-making gives the platforms their numerous areas: strategy development; increasing human security, violent groups such as al-Shabaab are legitimacy. public trust in government institutions; improving thriving in many parts of the country. The platforms feed information both ‘up’ to policymakers representativeness; supporting policy formation; Saferworld is working with partners in three regions of and ‘down’ to platform member organisations and and securing strong relationships with governments. Somalia – Banadir, Jubaland State and South West State – the communities they serve. Policy is thus informed Saferworld has focused on building NSAPs’ capacities to tackle mistrust among and within communities that by those who are closest to and most affected by the to maintain and strengthen their position as citizens’ leads to violence and conflict. We do this by supporting relevant issues and contexts, and information about conduits – so that citizens can ensure their needs are partners to create community groups that identify safety decision-making processes and their outcomes is shared met through effective governance, hold authorities to concerns affecting their communities. We then support transparently with the broader society. account, and bring about long-term change towards these groups to work with security providers to find peace and stability. solutions to these concerns. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Research, advocacy and analysis Development Gender equality

Saferworld’s research ensures our programming and Our research, which spans South West State, Jubaland The new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development According to the United Nations Development advocacy is underpinned by sound analysis. Our recent and Banadir, will analyse current political and conflict includes a standalone goal – SDG16 – on peace, justice Programme’s Gender Inequality Index, Somalia has one research has focused on a range of objectives, from dynamics and changes to the context that could help or and inclusion. This goal – together with goals on gender of the highest levels of gender inequality in the world. understanding the attitudes and perceptions of hinder potential peace agreements. It will also analyse equality and reducing inequality make up a collection This is characterised by various forms of discrimination community members towards democratic reforms, to best practices from approaches to conflict in other of universal commitments to build peaceful, just, and against women and girls, and gender-based violence. learning about how federal state formation is impacting countries – including Algeria, Colombia, Afghanistan inclusive societies – something we call SDG16+. Institutionally and culturally, responses to gender-related governance and reconciliation in Jubaland. and Sierra Leone. Understanding both successes and issues have been weak. We integrate a strong gender In Somaliland, Saferworld is exploring what failures from these cases will help build a body of perspective into our community security programming, Where possible, Saferworld works in close partnership implementation of the commitments of SDG16+ will knowledge that can guide recommendations for Somalia working with partners to understand the particular with Somali actors and partners to build their research look like. We are bringing together civil society leaders, to build a lasting peace. challenges faced by women and girls and supporting skills and to ensure that research is grounded in their working with government ministries, and holding women’s participation in public debate, policy-making understanding of conflict, governance and state Saferworld’s Somalia and Somaliland team conducts consultations across the country to raise awareness of and peace processes. Integrating gender into our formation. advocacy across all our programmes of work. We engage the importance of SDG16+. Saferworld has supported planning and programme is essential to ensure that international and Somali decision makers through policy Somaliland civil society champions to share their We have explored how communities perceive conflict issues recognised during the design phase are addressed and practice recommendations, informed through work on SDG16+ with global audiences at high-level actors such as clans, the government and non-state armed throughout implementation. our experience in and knowledge of the context. policy events. Through this engagement, Somaliland actors like al-Shabaab. Building on existing evidence in Our advocacy addresses democratisation and good civil society organisations are creating networks with Jubaland, Saferworld is looking at the need for political governance, gender equality, peacebuilding and how other regional stakeholders to collaborate on SDG16+ agreements in Somalia to help create peace and stability. the international community can better engage in initiatives locally, nationally, and regionally. Somalia to tackle issues that are of concern to Somalis. Contact us saferworld in somalia and somaliland [email protected] Web: www.saferworld.org.uk Twitter: @saferworld For further information about us and our work, please visit www.saferworld.org.uk/somalia-somaliland offices or email us at [email protected]. Goljano Area, Hargeisa, Somaliland Phone: +252 634 772 586 You can keep up to date with our work by signing up at Km 4, Check Point Four, Airport Road, www.saferworld.org.uk/stay-informed or by following us near Beder and SOMPRINT, Mogadishu, Somalia on social media. Phone: +252 615 252 276

The Somalia/Somaliland programme receives generous funding from a range of Saferworld is a UK registered charity (1043843) governments and institutions including the Danish International Development and a Company Limited by Guarantee (3015948) in England and Wales. Agency (Danida), the European Commission, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign photographs front cover: © un photo/stuart price Affairs, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). introduction © amisom photo/omar abdisalan; un photo/tobin jones about us: © un photo/stuart price; kate stanworth/saferworld our work: © kate stanworth/saferworld; un photo/ilyas ahmed; cultural video production; un photo/awil abukar; international idea; un photo/stuart price · above © un photo/stuart price