How a community driven approach is achieving peace at a Somali town with USAID support

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How a community driven approach is achieving peace at a Somali town with USAID support

MARKA (HORN OBSERVER) Marka town is an ancient port city in the Lower Shebelle province of Somalia and approximately 90km to the southwest of the nation's capital Mogadishu. But this town has been the best example to think when one has to descri

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A community driven approach has brought together men and women in Marka to discuss peace and safety in the Lower Shabelle region. (PHOTO/LSR Comms).

MARKA (HORN OBSERVER) Marka town is an ancient port city in the Lower Shebelle province of Somalia and approximately 90km to the southwest of the nation's capital Mogadishu. But this town has been the best example to think when one has to describe the impact of Somalia's protracted conflict.

It has been once controlled by the terror group al-Shabaab which committed brutal atrocities against Marka residents. For years, Marka has been a hostile environment. Inter-clan conflict in 2012, that has become one of the fiercest and longest feuds in the country.

But now that is a past history: The two main communities in Marka have joined hands and even united to defend their common interest as the people of Marka, according to the Marka District Commissioner, Abdullahi Ali Ahmed (Wafow).

"The trail of mistrust has now been changed by a joint trustful peace and safety committee formed by residents of Marka and sub-locations," Mr Wafow said.

On Monday a group of men and women have gathered for the start of a five-day training with the support of TISPlus, a USAID funded initiative that aims to increase Somalia’s stability through participatory processes that promote good governance and community cohesion. The training started with Quran recitation where a local elder prayed for peace and unity for the people of Lower Shabelle.

"Our people love one another. They share many things but the problem is that they did not communicate well to known each other's story and build trust. In fact if that could have been done longtime ago there could have been no problem," says the Governor of Lower Shabelle Regional Administration, Ibrahim Ali Adan Najah who officiated the training.

"A community driven approach to understanding & providing security, such as this initiative, is key to the stabilisation efforts for the people of Lower Shabelle. They identify both causes of insecurity & solutions to it," Governor Najah adds.

Marka was famous for producing and trading high-quality bananas, once Somalia’s main export. Huge banana and citrus plantations covered the area. Clans militias from Habar-gidir and Biyomaal then started to fight for control over the rich and productive swathes of agricultural land in the Lower Shabelle region, which is regarded as Somalia’s food basket and located in South West State.

"Each clan believed that they were the owners of Marka and then fighting broke out. The once prosperous port city and surrounding area plunged into chaos, poverty and anarchy. No clan won. It is our common interest to live together as one. That is why we are here today for this safety and peace committee," Elder Abdalla Bashir Nur told the participants as he described the vivid memories of the horrors and suffering brought about by the conflict.

Women participate a training on peace and safety in Marka on Monday 26 Oct, 2020. (PHOTO / LSR Comms).

WOMEN ROLE

At the training session on Monday, Muna Mohamed Subeyr, the chairwoman of the local women organisation has described the unity of Marka as the most important thing at stake for the whole community. She said women are now playing key role to ensure that any type of clan conflict returns to Marka.

"Many people, including women and children, were forced to flee Marka due to the hostility. Women were particularly vulnerable. We have a responsibility to take as the women of Marka. We will not allow anything that divides us," she adds.

The residents of Marka are now enjoying the dividends of peace. Life is back to normal: schools are open, business is booming, and people continue to return to the town. The Community participation approach employed by the local authorities has achieved a great deal of success as Governor Najah explains.

"Thanks to the efforts we have made including the community driven approach, Marka has regained its status of one of Somalia’s most peaceful, thriving urban city and its community is serving as an example that peace can be shaped by the locals through dialogue and trust," Mr. Najah adds.