ISS and EIIPD Conference BY INVITATION ONLY: Assessing the Implications of Drought and Famine on Peace and Security

Date: 2011-12-13 to 2011-12-14

Venue: , Kuriftu Resort and SPA, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia

BY INVITATION ONLY

ISS and EIIPD Conference

Assessing the Implications of Drought and Famine on Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa

Once again, drought has plagued millions of people in the hyper-arid regions of Somalia, Ethiopia and northern Kenya. The impact is specifically felt in the larger parts of Somalia. Every day brings disturbing news of increased death tolls and more people fleeing to the refugee camps in both Kenya and Ethiopia.

On 25 August, 2011 the African leaders gathered at the first ever African Union (AU) pledging conference that resulted in a pledge for more than US $350 million that would go to the relief efforts to assist the millions of people in the crisis. During the pledge conference, the chairperson of the AU, and President of the Republic of Equatorial Gunea, Mr Teodoro Obiang-Ngema Mbasogo, underscored the importance of not ignoring the factors that hinder peace, security and stability in the region. This affirms the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) chairperson, and Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mr Meles Zenawi’s statement on the need to inquire into the roots of the crisis and break the cycle of famine in the future.

Five months have lapsed since the UN declared the situation in Somalia as ‘a state of famine’ without any significant change on the ground. Three factors exacerbate the insecurity caused by the famine, firstly the lack of rain in the region resulting in the death of crops and livestock of the predominantly pastoralist community. Secondly, the on-going insecurity in the region amplified by ineffective responses by the international community, local institutions and humanitarian agencies and finally, the absence of any fully functional public institutions in Somalia. Aid workers and aid provision becomes virtually impossible and very dangerous in circumstances and areas under violent conflict, particularly in the Southern part of Somalia in areas controlled by Al-Shabaab.

As these and other events unfold in the region, it has become vitally important to investigate what the implications of the recurrent drought and famine could be on the need for peace and security in the sub-region particularly in Somalia. This conference aims to examine ways to alleviate the conditions of the victims of famine through providing the platform for policy makers, international, regional and national actors to question the possible contributions towards the region’s peace and security crisis. The conference will also consider the recent attacks on refugee camps, the intervention in Southern Somalia, aerial strikes and military intervention by the Kenyan, American and French armed forces.

Speakers will be drawn from the countries of Horn of Africa affected by the famine, mainly Somalia, political actors such as TFG, AMISOM, AU, UN, various humanitarian aid agencies and researchers. 

Please note that discussions occur under the ISS rules, which means no attribution without specific permission.