Somali Perspectives: Institutional and Policy Challenges

The high-level seminar held in Rome on 6 May 2015, which saw the participation of delegations from Puntland and Jubaland, represented a relevant opportunity to trigger international dialogue on the future of Somali institutions and the security challenges affecting the Horn of Africa. The seminar was organised by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), and the Embassy of Italy to the Federal Republic of Somalia. In the discussion, federalism emerged as the most viable option to stabilise Somalia after twenty years of conflict and fragmentation. However, federalism would appear to be an ongoing process; a specific model of division of competencies has to be defined in the complex constitutional process in order to avoid further inefficiencies and instability. Another relevant theme linked with Somali stabilisation is the nexus between security and development. A renewed attention focused more on development than on security challenges could represent the core of a new international effort in support of the Somali reconciliation and securitisation process. This report provides a summary of the meeting and highlights the key points that emerged from the debate.

Report of the high-level seminar on "Somali Perspectives: Institutional and Policy Challenges" organised in Rome on 6 May 2015 by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), and the Embassy of Italy to the Federal Republic of Somalia.