Somalia can be reborn as a country of progress and prosperity

24/02/2012

A Somali rancher herds cattle in Kismayo (Photo: G D Robinson for wikimedia)Last week, the eyes of the world were on Somalia. The London Conference on Somalia took place at Lancaster House on 23 February, attended by 55 delegates from Somalia and the international community. Somalia is emerging from the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. It is also the centre of a major ideological battle.
Somalia has been written off by Western powers as a 'failed state'. In an article, published in the Guardian at the eve of the conference, Ambassador Mohamed Sharif Mohamud, who is the Vice Chair of the Somali Initiative for Dialogue and Democracy (SIDD), argues that Somalia is not a 'failed state'. He presents a case that Somalia could be reborn as a country of progress and prosperity.

Youths for Peace! Eastern Africa Youth Conference opens

9/02/2012
Hon Dan KidegaYouths for peace; together making it happen is the theme for the second Eastern African Youth Conference that opened on 8 February in Kampala, Uganda, with Hon Dan Kidega, a Member of Parliament for the East African Community and a member of Initiatives of Change (IofC) Uganda, as the guest of honour. The conference, which will run for the next five days, consists of over 60 delegates from Burundi, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Somalia, as well as friends of good will from Cameroon and USA.
The chairman of MRA Uganda, Mr James Napokoli, welcomed the delegates and wished every one present a transforming and life changing moment in this journey of working to make peace prevail.
Delegates engagingAddressing common challenges that face the Eastern African bloc, Hon Kidega, taking great pride in being part of the Initiatives of Change network, shared his experience of how IofC ideas and principles has significantly impacted his life since his teenage life, and continues to impact it still. ‘ I made a commitment after meeting the ideas of Moral Re-Armament (now renamed Initiatives of Change) and that is the reason you will never hear anyone say that I have stolen anything from the public’. He also didn’t fail to emphasise the importance of moments of silence and inner listening. ‘Listen to yourself and share with your friend. There is peace in listening to ourselves.’
Hon Dan pointed out greed as the key cause for lack of peace, ‘It is greed that has caused absence of peace. To bring peace, one of the things we have to do is stop being greedy.’ He encouraged everyone to live a life bigger than themselves in a bid to search for peace. ‘Don’t live for yourself only, live for others as well and there shall be peace’, he said.
As a leader in East Africa Community, Hon Dan has a great concern for what future the region holds when economic and political challenges seem to divide the people on cultural and ethnic lines. ‘We must embrace our cultures and be ready to accommodate each other. Our religious and ethnic differences do not mean division to us but requires a great deal of thought on how we can have unity of purpose. While we talk about peace and passionately long for it, we must do it with fear of God.' Hon Kidege continued and asked the young people of the Eastern Africa region to stand for what will make a fundamental change in the future of our countries and what will improve livelihoods.

2nd Eastern Africa Youth Conference (EAYC)

three of our members were lucky to attend the 2nd Eastern Africa Youth Conference (EAYC) which was held in Uganda Kampala form 7th to 12 February 2012 and they represent Somali and kenya whit the the theme of the conference youth for peace let make it happen

 

Prime Minister of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Rev Fr Bonny Kyaligonza, addressing guestsAfter five days of deliberations, the 2nd Eastern Africa Youth Conference (EAYC) closed its curtains on Sunday 12 February 2012 with a call to the delegates present to be ambassadors of peace wherever they go. Speaking at the closing ceremony at Pope Paul Memorial, Kampala, Uganda, the Prime Minister of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, reiterated the value of brotherhood and sisterhood rather than building empires that are never guaranteed, in order to stand tall in the future. ‘We want Africa to rise and shine and that Africa is none other than you and me,’ he asserted.
Dr Karambu Ringera, one of the plenary speakers, addressing the gatheringThe ceremony was also attended by board members of Initiatives of Change (IofC)/Moral Re-Armament (MRA) Uganda. Bukombi Goretti, one of the IofC  Uganda board members, reminded the guests that peace is a process that will have to continue. Dorothy Tingu, a full time worker with IofC Uganda, when describing Africa as a continent of hope, took time to remind the Ipad generation that, ‘... tomorrow’s Africa is founded on the sons and daughters of today who will bring about renewal, hope and vision.’ Jamil Sebalu, the Vice-Chairman of IofC/MRA Uganda, highlighted that the youth have been used as perpetrators of violence by selfish politicians in the past, and he urged the youth to shun tribal and religious divisions for the sake of future generations.
Moses Monday, a plenary speaker from Sudan, addresses the gatheringThe forum brought together about 60 young visionaries to explore practical ways to respond to conflict and violence in the region. It featured speakers with a great wealth of knowledge and experience in peace initiatives within Africa, from Kenya, Sudan and Uganda. During the week, participants brainstormed and shared on issues including:

• the role of civil society as well as accountability and values as part of good governance, peace and security challenges in Africa
• the role of non-violence in conflict transformation
General Aronda addressing the delegates

• youths as a pillar to building sustainable peace.

The conference also played host to guests including the Chief of Defence forces in Uganda, General Aronda Nyakairima and Ambassador John Ntimba, both of whom shared their experience as peacemakers in the military and public service respectively.
Participants also engaged in a honest conversation exploring the theme, ‘Is the best of peace or the worst of conflict coming to Africa?’ They looked at the hope of Africa as a Delegates of South Sudan - newest state in the world - plant a tree at the conference venuepeaceful continent in the future and challenges towards attaining that culture of peace and stability. Afterwards, they engaged in a tree planting exercise at the conference venue as a commitment to making peace real, both in their lives and the community around them.
The conference concluded with participants making commitments to positive actions as a way of making peace happen in the region. One of the delegates wrote, ‘As an African, I commit to stop violence within myself and others.’ Another wrote, ‘I will be a change agent in all spheres of my life, be it social, economical or spiritual, everywhere I go. I will be a peace ambassador daily’.
Delegates sharingThe theme song for the conference Oh Africa by Sam Oyirwoth inspired and challenged many to appreciate their motherland Africa and work towards upholding her glory. In his song Sam says:
The land flowing with wisdom and honour…oh Africa!
The land flowing with riches and glory …oh Africa!
Oh Africa, rejoice in thy people,
Oh Africa, rise up and take your place!
Oh Africa, rejoice in thy land,
Oh Africa, rise up and take your place!
Delegates sharingThe next forum will be held in Rwanda, 18–24 February 2013. The vision bearers of EAYC hope that it would be held on a rotational basis in all the nine Eastern Africa countries. In line with this, under the leadership of Mbindyo Kimanthi who was re-elected to serve as the chair of the 3rd EAYC, the vision bearers are expected to create and unveil a strategic plan for the forum.