Somalia: One year on

This workshop aims to take stock of the current state of affairs in Somalia, identify what has worked and what has not.

Date: 2013-08-29

Time: 09:00 to 16:00

Venue: Pan Afric Hotel , Kenyatta Avenue/Valley Road , Nairobi

RSVP: Samira Yusuf
Phone: +254 20 266 7208/7198
Mobile: +254 722 965 097
E-mail: [email protected]

Somalia has witnessed significant developments over the past 12 months. The Transitional Federal Government’s mandate ended on 20 August 2012 and the Somalia Federal Government was formed – the most representative in the country’s messy 21-year history, raising optimism of a possible renaissance for this Horn of African country.

The new political dispensation has done well to define plans for normalising the socio-economic and political order and rebuild both bilateral and multilateral relations. However, progress on the state-building objectives has been painstakingly slow.

The failure of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration to consolidate power beyond Mogadishu and the general lawlessness in many parts of country, remain stark reminders of the huge challenges to lasting peace in Somalia. There is also the dispute over Kismaayo and accusations of non-impartiality of Section Two forces of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), a majority of who are from the Kenya Defence Forces.

Central to the stand-off and to the debate on governance broadly in Somalia is the question of federalism, how it should be implemented and who should drive it.

This workshop aims to take stock of the current state of affairs in Somalia, identify what has worked and what has not, and discuss policy options for accentuating the state reconstruction processes.

09h00 - 09h30 Registration

09h30 - 09h35 Welcome

• Emmanuel Kisiangani, Senior Researcher, Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis, ISS Nairobi

 09h35 - 09h55 Opening remarks

• Abdi Aynte-Director-Heritage, Institute of Policy Studies
• Jan-Petter Holtedahl, Counselor (Somalia), The Royal Norwegian Embassy, Nairobi

09h55 - 11h00 Session 1: State of affairs in Somalia

Chair

• Andrew Attah Asamoah, Senior Researcher, Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis, ISS Pretoria

Panelists

• Abdi Aynte-Director-Heritage, Institute of Policy Studies
• Jan-Petter Holtedahl, Counselor (Somalia), The Royal Norwegian Embassy, Nairobi
• Q&A

11h00 - 11h20 Health break

11h20 - 12h45 Session 2: Critical security threats and responses

Chair

• Mark Bradbury, Rift Valley Institute, Horn of Africa and East Africa Regional Director.

Panelists

• Dr Opiyo Ododa, Senior Civil Affairs Officer, AMISOM
• Abdi Mohamed, Horn of Africa Security Analyst
• Q & A

 12h45 - 14h00 Lunch

 14h00 - 16h00 Session 3: Somalia and regional relations

Chair

• Emmanuel Kisiangani, Senior Researcher, Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis, ISS Nairobi

Panelists

• Kizito Sabala, Political Officer, IGAD Liaison Office in Nairobi
• Abdiwahab Sheikh, Director & Senior Consultant, Southlink Consultants
• Q & A

Closing remarks

• Andrews Attah Asamoah, Senior Researcher, Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis, ISS Pretoria