The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Political Affairs Unit has concluded a three days conflict resolution and reconciliation training for 40 representatives from HirShabelle State to impart them with conflict mediation skills to strengthen grassroot reconciliation drives to promote peace.

The training was held in Mogadishu and attended by members of HirsShabelle State administration, elders, women and youth from Jowhar and Beletweyne towns. The event was officially opened on Friday by AMISOM Police Commissioner Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Augustine Magnus Kailie reiterated AMISOM’s resolve to strengthen peace in Somalia.

"At AMISOM, we have the firm belief that dialogue, leading to conflict resolution is the basis of a lasting reconciliation. And we are proud that we are now able to support the ongoing efforts that we have seen take place across HirShabelle over the years. In that respect, I want to commend the efforts of all HirShabelle stakeholders,” AIGP Kailie said in his opening remarks.

During the 3 days the participants were taken through oral and practical lessons including group work on understating conflict, causes of conflict, reconciliation and conflict resolution best practices and more specifically on the types of generic traditional conflict in HirShabelle State and its best resolution mechanism methods.

AMISOM Political Officer Muna Hassan said that the training objective was to impart key conflict resolution skills and provide an ambient atmosphere for open dialogue among participants.

"The Political Affairs Office of AMISOM organized this workshop in order to encourage dialogue and to give you the platform to talk to each other and resolve any issues because we are in 2020 and the world has moved on from tribal, clan and regional conflicts. We wanted to give you a platform to openly talk to each other and to reconcile,” Muna said.

Shamsa Isse Adan, who spoke on behalf of the participants said they learnt new conflict resolution mechanisms which they hope to put into practice. She emphasized the need for women and youth to be included in the negotiating tables when resolving conflicts as both have a huge impact and role on the society.

"We promise that whatever we gained from you including your good advice we will take with us home so that it also benefits our people. We promise to use women organization and even their private meeting places to spread the word and encourage peace,” Shamsa said

The training was officially closed on Sunday by Head of Social Affairs of Hiran region Sheikh Hussein Osman, who was among the participants. He urged AMISOM to continue supporting local grassroot reconciliation drives since they are the best way to end conflicts.

"The agenda of the workshop was reconciliation and it was well articulated and discussed in depth and explained very well. We were taught what causes conflict and how to resolve it. This training came at the right time when the country is heading for an election and it is the right time when reconciliation is needed,” Osman said.

This was the third such training organized by the AMISOM Political Affairs Unit in the past month. Galmudug and Southwest States have also benefited from similar conflict resolution trainings. In total, close to 150 participants were trained and they will now be expected to help spread peace and harmony in their local communities as the country prepares for crucial elections in 2021.