In light of the recent clashes in Somalia, a concerned friend asked me why the Somalis are always at loggerheads? Somalia has been without any form of government for over a decade now. The current clash between the different stake-holders is just one of many that have manifested themselves in the lasy years and which in a sense have shaped the country and the conscience of its people.

My concerned friend wanted to know why the Somalis were forever fighting. It was a tough question. A question I had no answers to. Being a Somali myself, I don’t really understand why my people resort to violence and guns. No matter how many books I read and how much I acquaint myself with the situation and its complexities, I am afraid I am left with more questions than answers each time i make an attempt.

In my opinion, in order to fully comprehend the psychic of the average Somali-man, and therefore grasp the motives leading to the failures of the peace and reconciliation processes in that country, it is essential to identify the role of ethnicity as a human-divider in historical and contemporary Somalia. The chronic crisis in Somalia may indeed be a result of an accumulation of factors such as institutionalized corruption , a deteriorating economy and disastrous and discriminatory domestic policies, just to mention a few, but the issue of patriarchal Clanism as a deep-rooted people-separator also plays a colossal role in the failures of peace process and in general in Somalia. Superiority and inferiority identity complexes are inherent to this attitude.

What is the smell of peace like? This remains an unanswered question for many Somalis in Somalia. Will there ever be a smell of 'peace' in a country plunged into lawlessness, violence and clan warfare? I don't know. I can't answer that question. Neither do i have an answer for my concerned friend. But I do know this: as long as there are clan and gender injustices, insecurity abuse of human rights, and as long as perpetrators are not brought to justice, that smell will remain a very far-fetched one.

We need to harness and invest in the re-conceptualization and re-construction of a generation of young Somalis with a new mentality- a mentality of peace- a new conduct- a new thinking-that will engage in the development and multiplication of the importance of seeking alternatives to violence in times of conflict and in negotiable reconciliation. Building a culture of peace and non-violence is not only necessary but urgent. This is an effort worth investing in and, in my opinion, the only way that might effectively contribute to the itinerant efforts on sustainable peace in Somalia.

Sahro M. Ahmed
Leiden

Resuming Life, and doing small things with great love

Dear friends,

I am back!
I have arrived safely this weekend from Kenya/SOmalia/Ethiopia and even though I am glad to be back home in Holland and my body is here, my mind and spirit are still lurking about somewhere in Africa. Being in Africa has literally changed my life. Coming from a place where people are dying of hunger and disease and are fighting for water and grains ....and coming back to Holland where there is such an enormous abundance of food and security... the contrast is just too great and at times for me too much to bear. The sounds and sights and especially the suffering there still haunt me. While the people in Holland are more concerned about their dogs and cats, the people of north-eastern Kenya are suffering in a way I can not describe. I have never seen any suffering of this magnitude. People are dying by the second of small infectious diseases and of hunger.

What is even more infuriating is the lack of knowledge of the people here and in the world of this disaster in east Africa. Yet i believe together we can make a difference, if we unite our forces, pool our resources and demand justice and equality, NOW. But in order to do so, one has to want to do that.

That willingness, or rather awareness, compassion and empathy for humanity is sadly lacking. I am aware that there are many good people who are already doing wonderful things, but how do we win the hearts of the majority? How do we bring about change without acknowledging the necessity for one? How can we we let this injustice continue any longer? And what are our individual roles and responsibilities in all of this? I believe that one single person can make a difference; no matter how small, or big.

Knowing that I can make a difference in this world is an immense feeling, a great motivator that helps me decide what I want and what I am willing to exchange for it. I think the key thing in life is establishing priorities and earning success that is based on service to others, not at the expense of others. Such a felling turns moments into catalysts in creating positive, forward-looking, optimistic images in our mind and lives.

Picking up my student life here again remains a challenge. But then I have always believed that challenges are there to be turned into opportunities. Now that I am back and having seen the crisis, I can not act like I don’t know, don’t care. I just cant. I intend to create publicity and awareness of what I have seen and I intend to do so by means of the media. The media plays a big role in bringing about social change and justice. Yet the media in the Netherlands and elsewhere are not covering this injustice adequately.

Millions are at risk of loosing their lives to the appalling famine and drought. Many of them babies and children. Children who could have been responsible future leaders, and whose potential could have been harvested. Creating awareness is the least I can do, while keeping in mind the fact that the quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence regardless of their chosen endeavor and that one can do anything as long as one has enthusiasm, commitment, drive and passion for that endeavor.

The with doing an Anthropological research is that the researcher is not limited to an office. I have been able to come down to the level of the people there and grasp their plight and situation. Not only have I been able to do that, but I also have seen potential for change.

Mother Theresa said we are all called upon to do small things with great love.

But how does change occur?

I welcome all ideas and suggestions.

Sincerely, Sahro M. Ahmed