PRESS STATEMENT
WOMEN’S FULL AND MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION IS PAVING THE WAY FOR LASTING PEACE AND RECONCILIATION
Historic Grassroots Peace and Reconciliation Initiative Successfully Concludes in Galkayo
After three days of intensive grassroots peace and reconciliation efforts, women from the community and women’s organizations across the Mudug region successfully concluded their initiative today in Galkayo, reaching a significant and historic understanding between the Salemaan Abdalle and Sheikhaal Lobogay sub-clans.
This initiative has demonstrated a powerful truth: there can be no lasting peace without the full, meaningful, and active participation of women.
Women are not merely participants in peacebuilding—they are essential architects of peace. They play a fundamental role in healing communities, rebuilding trust, strengthening families, encouraging dialogue, preventing conflict, and laying the foundations for peaceful coexistence. Their voices, leadership, wisdom, and experiences must be recognized and fully incorporated into every effort aimed at achieving sustainable peace and reconciliation.
As a significant outcome of the initiative, the two brotherly and sisterly communities have agreed to organize a joint demonstration in support of peace, unity, reconciliation, solidarity, and peaceful coexistence.
Today, following a launch gathering organized by the Salemaan Abdalle women’s community, the women visited their sisterly Sheikhaal Lobogay community as a powerful gesture of friendship, solidarity, and reconciliation. From there, participants proceeded together to District Horumar in Galkayo.
Their peaceful gathering and collective movement marked a historic milestone in the ongoing peace and reconciliation process. It demonstrated the determination of women to take an active leadership role in building bridges between communities, healing relationships, and advancing peace.
This achievement sends a powerful message that dialogue is stronger than division, reconciliation is greater than resentment, and unity is the foundation of a peaceful future.
The agreement represents an important step toward strengthening relationships, promoting mutual understanding, resolving differences through peaceful dialogue, and building lasting cooperation between the two communities.
I extend my sincere appreciation and commendation to the traditional elders, community leaders, the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Democratization of Puntland State, the Puntland Ministry of Women Development and Family Affairs, youth, religious leaders, civil society representatives, women’s organizations, and all stakeholders whose commitment, courage, and constructive engagement made this important peace initiative possible.
In particular, I recognize and commend the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Democratization and the Puntland Ministry of Women Development and Family Affairs for their support and commitment to strengthening community-led peacebuilding. Their engagement demonstrates the vital role of government institutions in supporting women’s leadership, reconciliation, social cohesion, and sustainable peace.
Their collective efforts demonstrate that when communities choose dialogue over division and reconciliation over conflict, lasting peace becomes possible.
This is more than the conclusion of a three-day initiative. It is the beginning of a renewed commitment to peace, unity, dignity, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence.
Let us protect this achievement, strengthen the bonds between our communities, and ensure that women and young people remain at the heart of our peacebuilding efforts.
Peace is our shared responsibility. Women’s full participation is essential to sustaining it. Reconciliation is our pathway, unity is our strength, and peace is our common future.
Issued by:
Amb. Mohammed Awil
State Minister of Energy, Mining and Water Resources
Puntland State of Somalia
COMMENTS