Strengthening the Role of Religious and Traditional Peacemakers 

Executive Director, Antti Pentikäinen

Insights on the rational - why working with religious and traditional peacemakers can be significant

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Westgate, 2013: How to deal with Al Shabaab?

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How to respond? Situation should not be made worse.

Extremist movements

Local disputes

Radical interpretation of religion

Use of outside force

Looking back, Somalia in 2009. - Lawless country with no functional government, 15 failed peace process. Who could help?

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Observation 1: Continuation of the current TFG would be acceptance of a failure

(From UNSC presentation 2009).

Observation 2: The policy of not speaking to Al Shabaab is only making situation worse

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(From UNSC presentation 2009).

Observation 3: Without some discipline and coordinated action international community will derail all peace efforts 8

(From UNSC presentation 2009).

This was the situation, but how to bring peace? - Experiences of UNPOS outreach to Elders facilitated by Finn Church Aid.

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Ban Ki-Moon at SC: “The process should be open and inclusive and SRSG has been working with the clan and religious leaders to reach consensus.”

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1. Identify Elder’s

Conflicts have often multiple layers. Religious leaders can mediate local disputes which fuel larger conflicts. In 2010 FCA and RfP helped to resolve more than 10 local and regional conflits inside Somalia.

11Grassroots reconciliationbecame the key

2. Help Elder’s to resolve local conflicts

Thank you.

antti.pentikainen@kua.fi and +358 40 5313 514

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3. Help Elder’s to unite

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4. Woman’s involvement is crucial

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5. Help Elder’s to contribute to overall peace process

What next? How the Elders and Religious Leader’s could be helpful? This is doable in one year.

Establishing National Guurti

Help to create a consultative constitutional process

Assist in elections of the TFI´s

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(From UNSC presentation in May 2011).

About the methodology, what might work?- How can we better work together in supporting local traditional and religious peacemakers?

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Methodology of involving traditional and religious peacemakers on the ground

Baseline study

Bring key actors

together

Mapping of local conflicts and support

their resolution

Build cooperation structures

Approach and advice

international community

Outreach and broadening the peace process

National reconciliation

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Structure and activities of the new network

- Ideas, where tarditional and relgious peacemakers could be helpful?

- Lessons learned from earlier cooperation with UN entities?

- Suggestions for network: how it can be helpful?

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Thank you.

Thank you very much!