The interlinked Stabilization and Recovery Components identified by Hirshabelle State institutions and communities in line with Federal Government Stabilization Strategy and Action Plans are to gauge integrated activities/results that promote stronger civilian-led stabilization under its four Components that sustains test of time.
Details of the four Components under Stabilization Strategy and Recovery Plan are illustrated below: .
Component 1: Community Recovery.
Community leadership and ownership through collective decision-making for the collective ownership while providing increased services at local levels through rapid response infrastructure is crucial to affected communities to normalize their living conditions. The forced removal of Al-Shabaab from urban areas in the last few months left displacement-affected communities with humanitarian vulnerabilities and risks, recovery needs and varying dimensions of instability. The impacts of displacement crises can be catastrophic on the lives of affected populations, dislocating populations from their homes, livelihoods, and communities. They include the physical, visible impacts such as damage to housing and public infrastructure, injury and death.
After large parts of Hirshabelle State of Somalia were recovered from Al-shabaab, the need for the communities to discuss options of their needs has arisen to lay foundations for the long-term development objectives. Through having structured dialogue around substantive issues, to restore community-level stability as a pre-requisite for sustainable recovery in Hirshabelle communities have identified the following key priorities relating to bringing the required stability:
I Repairs and construction of boreholes to supply clean adequate water to the communities.
II Construction of a communal market to help support local people’s income.
III Construction of new schools and rehabilitation of old ones.
IV Construction of health centers/MCHs to support health provision for communities.
V Rehabilitation of roads to enable ease of access and reduce insecurity.
VI Installation of Solar Lights to help enhance commerce and security.
VII Sports and recreational centers for social cohesion.
VIII Life Skills Development and Provision of Business Start Up Support.
Component 2: Reconciliation and Peacebuilding.
Social reconciliation and peacebuilding are integral for longer-term stability in Hirshabelle. During the consultations around the Stabilization Strategy and Recovery Plan number of conflicts were identified that need to be addressed in community reconciliation efforts acknowledging both the individual and community disputes.
After the liberation of territories from Al-Shabaab some disputes over pastureland, farmlands and spheres of influence in disputed territories have heightened inter and intra-clan mistrust, which may hinder the establishment of stable local governance structures that support and serve all communities equitably. Intensity, frequency, and size of casualties varies from time to time but remains unresolved for decades.
As seen several false starts on a range of reconciliation activities in different areas, with various partners developing their own strategies in the absence of a coherent state-owned framework, it is important to lay the foundation for grassroots state government led initiative which links reconciliation processes across Hirshabelle. There is an urgent need for a standardized process that addresses issues identified within communities so that the state government is adequately connected and seen the provider of services.
Reconciliation measures driven by clan elders usually places ceasefires and mitigates to certain extent but remains fragile and constitutes time-bomb that waits triggering. The Hirshabelle Inter-Ministerial Committee for Stabilization and Recovery, local administration and partners conducted detailed research and/or workshops to identify actions at the district and community level. Many of these conflicts/disputes have been identified as follows: -
I Intra and inter clan conflicts.
II Land disputes, scarce pasture resources, water, and farmlands.
III Power sharing both state government institutions and civil society.
IV Lack of conflict resolution mechanism.
Component 3: Local Governance
Achieving peace and stability is a multifaceted process. Whilst it includes security, rule of law, service delivery and economic recovery, more attention should be paid to achieving the most basic elements that will help mitigate conflict, instill confidence in the population and at the same time lay the groundwork for stable and sustainable peace and prosperity. While each sector is critical to success, governance carries special importance
Local governing structures and systems must exist to enable the full participation of all stakeholders in the decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods, the prioritization of major needs against limited resources and coordination to avoid duplication of services. Without an agreed synchronized, coordinated and institutionalized governing system - even if it is limited, defacto or interim – the results on the ground will be mixed at best, and at worst create confusion and conflict, providing openings to spoilers and rent seekers, and be more likely to foster chaotic or unreliable service delivery.
Over the last six months, a particular focus in Hirshabelle has been on the newly liberated cities. As the offensive intensified and big cities were recovered, there is a renewed pressure to begin moving towards the re-establishment of caretaker, interim administrations and local councils.
Districts and towns administrations appointed by the current Hirshabelle State remain in place in most of the major cities singled-out for the stabilization process. Laws, policies and Procedures for the formation of district councils and interim administrations of Hirshabelle are all in place. Among other things the main priorities for effective local governance include: -
I Construction of administration blocks and a social hall.
II Setting up local district administrations in all districts/towns that do not have permanent structures and provide initial capacity building to transition functioning permanent local councils.
III Laying groundwork for communities to develop their permanent structures, through civic dialogue and inclusive process; through learning on good citizenry, transparency and accountability achieved via community driven projects process; and through intensive and specially targeted civic dialogue initiatives.
IV Capacity building training for local Authority, youth, women group and traditional leaders on good governance and leadership skills.
V Awareness campaigns by civils society, women groups, youth that use both media and public forums to disseminate good governance peace messages.
VI Setting up Local Structures for Peace such as District Peace Committees, Religious Mediation Councils, Elder Councils, Women and Youth Groups.
Component-4: Rule of Law
There are few police officers on the ground across Hirshabelle State of Somalia and very limited police stations which were either destroyed and in pathetic condition or nonexistent. There is a need to train, equip and deploy more police officers and rehabilitate/construct the police stations so that the police can play their role to enhance the rule of law and maintain security of the newly recovered towns
Also, there are limited functional local courts and prison facilities in all the liberated towns and as a result, many people seek justice in their traditional mechanisms or through religious leaders whose verdict in a particular judgement lack enforcement due to defunct rule of law.
A major challenge in the rule of law is the absence of funding to recruit, equip, deploy, and pay salaries of police personnel and rehabilitation/construction of police and justice infrastructures.
Key priorities for the rule of law focus include: -
I Access to Justice.
II Establishment of security apparatus mainly community policing
III Putting in place formal justice system infrastructure such as court houses, public buildings, prisons, police stations.
IV Recruiting and training judicial officers.
V Public Order.
Cross-cutting Issues
Cross-cutting issues are themes that that intersect with the main stabilization and recovery components or can be easily integrated into the main components without losing focus of the main goals. These cross-cutting themes include preventing and countering violent extremism, gender, and youth. Hirshabelle State Government relevant institutions and international partners should `ensure stabilization programming is linked to these cross-cutting issues.
