The Center for research & dialogue (CRD) is an independent not-for-profit corporation aimed to promote the social, economic & political rebuilding of Somalia.
WSP International was established in May 2000 in order to expand on the pioneering peacebuilding work initiated under the pilot War-torn Societies Project (WSP). Working in close partnership with the United Nations, WSP International seeks to facilitate the active involvement of local, national, and international actors in ongoing collective dialogue and research that allows societies emerging from conflict to better respond to the challenges of social, economic and political rehabilitation.
Center for Research and Dialogue (CRD)
Is pleased to announce a forum on

SOMALIA: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities:
- in search of pragmatic approach to the Somalia crisis -

Somalia:

Issues,

Challenges

and

Opportunities

 For little more than a decade, the crises in Somalia represented the most complete and intractable case of state collapse to confront the Somali people and the international community alike. Since January 26, 1991, Somalia had no internationally recognized central authority that represented the Somali people in the international arenas and exercises full and complete authority inside the country. The collapse of the state along with all public institutions that provided essential services to the Somali people prolonged the civil strive. This also precipitated into severe humanitarian crisis throughout the country. Several years of destructive civil wars managed to obliterate national infrastructure, shatter community/clan relations, and created widespread lawlessness and segmentation into warlord fiefdoms.

Voices

of Somalis

In

Search of

Peace
To end this prolonged anarchy, successive reconciliation conferences were held and many efforts were made over the past decade organized

by the international community have all not succeeded to bring the desired results of the Somali people. End of last year 2002, a number of Somali political faction leaders gathered in the Kenyan town of Eldoret, an attempt by the international community for a viable national reconciliation conference and to broker a peace and revive central government in Somalia. The IGAD sponsored peace conference presents an improvement over previous international efforts - a seemingly limited support from international community; more comprehensive representation of armed factions unlike the Arta conference; appropriate timing when the Somali people became weary of inter-clan wars; and an agenda which emphasizes a long-term process focused on resolution of key issues of conflict rather than mere haggling over power-sharing.

Despite these laudable features, critics overshadow the current national reconciliation conference as a trivial exercise and repetition of the familiar political ritual. While many Somalis see the conference as a serious process that may be moving in the right direction, a largely ceremonial event to launch a more serious, long-term process. Many more view it as a last chance for the Somali people to snatch the opportunity for the revival of a Somali state. One observable element though in the current peace and reconciliation effort in Kenya is the absence of business groups from the conference and the peace building processes inside Somalia whose power base, influences and leverage could have greater impact in the peace-building efforts inside Somalia.

The Center for Research & Dialogue (CRD) an affiliate of WSP International (in partnership with the United Nations) has traveled to various parts inside Somalia as a part of a research study on issues ertaining to the rebuilding of Somalia on: social, economic and political reconstruction. The Center compiled a comprehensive research data to be released as a country profile on the spring 2003. The researchers of the Center met with people over 10,000 in many areas visited including faction and political leaders, international actors, local NGOs and civil society members, business groups and traditional elders in their respective regions. The Center utilizes during its research modern hi-tech audio-visual equipment to produce a digitalized documentary films along with the research documents.

 
On April the 16th and 17th 2003, the Center for Research and Dialogue presents a preliminary research finding to the Somali business groups in the United Arab Emirates, the hub of all Somali businesses during the last two decades. This is intended to facilitate dialogue in an attempt to solicit their support and input into the peace-building efforts inside and outside Somalia.
The center presents documentary films entitled:

   1) Wada-Tashan Meyno; Kalana Tegi Meyno (That we will not apart each other; nor have         Dialogue)
   2) Iga-Guur laygu Guuli Maayo (That I cannot be threatened to Leave)
   3) Dareen Dhalis (Emotional Appeal)

This Forum is planned to take place in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on April 16-17, 2003.
For those of you who are interested to participate or contribute, please contact:

crd@crdsomalia.org or yahya@crdsomalia.org or jabril@crdsomalia.org

Forum organizing committee office at: 00-971-50-652-6832 or 00-971-50-7273394

Date:              Wednesday 16, Thursday 17 April, 03
Time:              7:30 p.m. to 12:00 p.m
Location:        Dubai - Specific location to be announced