Relief, Reconciliation, and Reconstruction in Somalia: Views of Prominent Somalis
The purpose of the meeting was to see if this diverse gathering of Somali professionals could develop consensusre commendations about how to promote more effective relief efforts in Somalia and how to advance toward political reconciliation and reconstruction Given their divergent perspectives, the group was able to achieve an impressive degree of consensus on key points. The purpose of this report is to summarize these points of consensus.
Highlights:
A group of prominent Somalis, meetings as a Study Group of the U.S. Institute of Peace, on November 18, 1992, made the following recommendations regarding international intervention in Somalia:
- The international community providing relief must have the authority, the resolve, and the military means to deliver relief supplies without obstruction.
- It should be made clear to local factions that the international community has no intention of recolonizing Somalia or of transforming Somalia into a UN trusteeship.
- Close contact must be maintained between international military and relief officials and local factions and leaders.
- Careful attention must be given to the varying conditions prevailing in different parts of the country, and the relief efforts need to be adapted to local circumstances.
- International assistance needs to be provided at an early stage to help organize local and regional police forces.
- The existing international arms embargo must be enforced more vigorously, with appropriates sanctions imposed.
- The U.N. needs to be more active in facilitating dialogue and promoting political reconciliation both within and among various political parties and factions in Somalia. Dialogue across regional lines can come after reconciliation advances further within regions.
- The question of whether Somalia should be a single state or divided into two states in need not be a preoccupying issue at this moment, since the survival of the Somali people takes priority.
