Renowned conflict resolution experts have urged Somalis to embrace peace mediation and negotiation as a key approach to ending conflict that has scoured the Horn of Africa country.

Rolf Meyer, a key player in talks that replaced apartheid with majority rule, Judith van den Boogert, a senior training and researcher fellow at Clingendael Institute, and Walter Samah, political affairs officer at the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), made the appeal after training 21 Somali leaders from different backgrounds, including the civil society, youths and political leaders, in areas of conflict resolution.

In the training that ended on Wednesday in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, participants were taken through rigorous skills training and simulations on conflict resolution. They were also taught processes of mediation and negotiations, dialogue, creating inclusivity, root causes of conflicts, decision-making criteria, and strategies in handling conflicts.

The presentations were blended with experiences from South Africa.

"My impression is that there’s a lot of energy and passion (from participants) to put to work what they have learned here at the training,” said Meyer, the training’s key facilitator. "It’s very encouraging.”

He said his key purpose at the workshop was to share South Africa’s experience in overcoming the conflict occasioned by apartheid.

However, he cautioned participants that every conflict is unique and it may not be possible to replicate South Africa’s experience fully.

"I came to contribute (to the workshop) to help Somalis find their own solution to their problem,” he stated.
Mr. Meyer, who has also played mediation roles in as Palestine, Madagascar, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Colombia and Zimbabwe, said he was delighted by the mix of Somali participants, as it was an indication that all sectors of the country were represented at the workshop.

"Personally, when I listen to people from Somalia, I am encouraged that’s it is possible to solve the conflict. All the people here need is trust and inclusivity. I am optimistic”

He said it was Somalis themselves who had the responsibility and ownership to solve the conflict.

Dr. Samah said that apart from taking the war over to Al Shabaab military, AMISOM felt mediation and negotiation was another key ingredient in stabilizing Somalia. "We are bringing other means to peace in Somalia. This workshop will go a long way in strengthening the capacity of Somalia.”

But, he was quick to add that mediation and negotiation should not replace the traditional ways of peace resolution that have been in place and which, to an extent, have helped parts of Somalia live in relative peace and stability.

"I am very encouraged at the level of participation that they are eager to use the knowledge they have gained here. They are really motivated.”

He agreed with participants that three days of training wasn’t enough. The workshop, he said, would identify participants to act as trainer-of trainers (ToTs) for similar workshops, aimed at building their capacity for mediation and negotiations.

"They have learned new skills but it shouldn’t stop there; they have to inculcate it in their communities, families, villages and offices. They should use (the skills) effectively to impart knowledge. They have to think nationally and act locally,” Dr. Samah said in an interview on the sidelines of the workshop.

In her presentation on the last day of the workshop, facilitator Judith van den Boogert from the Clingedael Institute, said of the participants, "this is a high-level group, has plenty of knowledge and is really eager to have solutions to the Somalia problem. It is very important that they can train themselves and other people in their country.”

She praised AMISOM’s role in Somalia and said she would have discussions with the Mission to find ways of sustaining such trainings.

The Clingedael Institute has held similar trainings in South Philippines, Syria, and South Sudan, among other war-torn regions.

"In Somalia, many people are working towards change, towards peace, so you have to reach out to them, to the different clans. You have to dialogue. I really admire people who try to work for change. I really appreciate the work Somalis are doing to bring peace to their country,” she said.

Ms van den Boogert hoped that there would be a growing population in Somalia that seeks to use negotiation and mediation processes to bring the much required stability to the country.