HC together with PDRC undertook an assessment of the Bandiiradleey and Galdogob conflict and peace in April this year. The two teams from the two organizations organized 30 Semi-structured interviews: 15 Galdogob, and 15 Bandiiraley, and interviewed government officials, security officers, elders, businesspeople, women, youth, academics, peace activists, media, Peace committees, minorities, where possible pastoralists, etc. Likewise, we also organized 4 Facilitated Focus Group Discussions: 2 Galdogob, and 2 Bandiiraley.
The assessment utilized the following questionnaire to extract the information needed from the respondents:
- What is the current situation in terms of conflict and peace?
- When and how did the tensions and conflicts between the communities of Galdogob – Bandiiradley begin?
- What were the sources/root causes of these tensions and conflict? And who were the actors?
- Who are the main internal and external actors of conflict and peace? What are their interests, roles, resources, capacities, and relationships?
- What is the progress of the Galdogob – Bandiiraley Peace Agreement? What has/has not been achieved from the agreed peace terms? What are the challenges to the implementation?
- What is to be done for a sustainable peace in Galdogob – Bandiiradley? Which actors can facilitate them and what support do they need?
The assessment found that a pastoralist sparked the dispute in 1987, which eventually spread to the towns of Bandiradley and Goldogob. In 1988, a Bandiradley man assassinated a member of the Goldogob-Lelkase clan, sparking a larger battle. Lelkase assassinated two of the participants’ fathers, Mr. Moodi and Hoorif, and this incident sparked a clan war. The troops of the Siyad Bare dictatorship assaulted Bandiradley, and many people perished in the SURXUN battle. Many armed insurgents spread throughout Somalia after the 1977 Ethiopia-Somalia War, and the government dubbed them (MAHBAR).
The situation is currently peaceful; communities can move freely between the two sides; business is returning; local government is cooperating; the Pace Agreement must be upheld; Phase 3 of the Galkacyo Agreement has not yet occurred; Government implementation is lacking; the Justice System needs to be strengthened, and the Elders Peace Council must be formed as soon as possible.
The following things need to be done for Galdogob-Bandiiradley to have lasting peace
- The two peace conferences’ agreed-upon points must be upheld.
- The third phase of the agreement needs to take place at Galkacyo.
- Blood must be compensated, and the situation with the injured must be resolved.
- Animal-free grazing area is also needed.
- Restitution of conquered territory; military integration on both sides; social integration; and community awareness initiatives
- Elders peace committee from both sides of the conflict need to function as they are the front line quick response team when an incident occurs.
- Constant knowledge on all sides;
- Bad government infrastructure;
- Government leadership; and
- Media involvement is also needed
