“People were fed up with war.”

Haunted by grim violence, Somali women lead the peace process

October 31, 2024

a group of people posing for the camera — Fatuma (right) meeting with government leaders as part of her peace advocacy campaign.

Photo: UNDP Somalia

Fatuma Ali Iman, 33, was eight-months pregnant in December 2022, when hostilities among factions were continuing to rise in Somalia’s Baidoa district.

Despite her vulnerability, Fatuma, was engaged in a low-profile women-led peace advocacy. The Women Peace Network of Baidoa, was campaigning to bring ruling party and the opposition to the negotiating table. Both sides were showing no signs of de-escalation. The social and economic toll on the community climbed.

That December Fatuma, secretary of the network, and her colleagues were on their way to a meeting to discuss how to convince the warring parties to reconcile.

Suddenly, a big blast! A rocket propelled grenade, fired by opposition forces at a passing government vehicle, landed nearby.

The ground trembled, and a cloud of dust and debris filled the air, engulfing the entire area in chaos. People scrambled for safety, screaming in panic.

Fatuma sought safety in a roadside teashop. Her friends ran for their lives in different directions.

“It nearly hit me. I was terrified. I could not see or hear anything for the first few seconds and then all I saw was black smoke and people running away,” she recalls.

When the dust subsided, Fatuma returned home. The day’s meeting was canceled. But not for long.

“We resumed our mission on the third day. We were strong women,” she says. The fighting had led to a complete shutdown of schools and the town's main market, leaving vulnerable people starving.

The women’s group staged demonstrations and protests wearing red headbands and white flags, issued press statements, mobilized the media, traditional elders, religious leaders, and rallied the public. “We used all possible options to convey the message that the people were fed up with war and it was getting intolerable. We received crucial support from the traditional elders and religious leaders,” says Fatuma.

“It nearly hit me. I was terrified. I could not see or hear anything for the first few seconds and then all I saw was black smoke and people running away.”

- Fatuma Ali Iman

"We tried to convince both sides by explaining them how the conflict was impacting everyone in Baidoa, including their own families. The schools were closed, kids were out of school. We appealed to them to at least care about the future of their own children and stop fighting," she said.

The women also reached out to the President of Southwest State, opposition leaders, federal MPs, the Speaker of the Federal Parliament, local and clan leaders, religious figures, and anyone who could influence the warring parties.

Despite the risks, the team continued their peace activism. Their efforts reached the federal government, international partners, including UNDP and the UN Mission in Somalia, and culminated in a reconciliation conference in January 2023, and a historic peace agreement, facilitated by another UN programme on state building and reconciliation.

Fatuma gave birth to her fifth child on 5 February 2023, when there was peace in Baidoa. Within three months, she was back on her campaign, providing training and leadership advice and support to other women and needy people in her community.

Since then, Fatuma and her team have resolved numerous disputes, saved several vulnerable people, including the internally displaced, and people in her communities from disintegration, violence, discrimination and injustice. “The skills I learned from the training we received on non-violent communication have empowered me to make a real difference,” she says. With increased confidence, she was trusted later in 2023 to lead the Peace Working Group, that was mandated to handle local disputes and communal conflicts.

a group of people sitting at a table — The Women Peace Network of Baidoa held meetings wearing symbolic white robes and red hairbands.

Photo: UNDP Somalia

“I have resolved numerous local disputes, many involving violence within households. I meet them every day as I pass through the town. Some of them even say they would have committed suicide had they not received our support,” says Fatuma. “I feel motivated when I see I have been able to change peoples’ lives positively.”

Today, Fatuma is a mother of four daughters and two sons, and she continues to advance her campaign. She feels her success is rare one. “But in my case, I’m fortunate to have full support from my husband and my parents,” she says.

The role of the Joint UN programme, she says, was crucial as it supported women to participate in peace building efforts through capacity building, networking and facilitation. The Southwest State president Abdiasis Mohamed Hassan Lafta Gareen was also one of the key people who, always encouraged women empowerment. “His backing provided us the confidence to continue,” says Fatuma.

Fatuma’s husband, Mohamud Mohamed Ibrahim is a clan leader and is proud to see his wife taking on a leadership role. Ibrahim takes care of children when his wife is busy with her official work.

“I know what the women group is doing is very risky. In the beginning I used to caution Fatuma but these days I feel less worried,” he says. “She has already demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, and I am proud to support her in all respects.”

Fatuma is one of over 250 women leaders who are directly contributing to building peace in their communities and across Somalia. They were all supported through the Joint Women, Peace and Protection Programme (implemented by UNDP, UNWOMEN and UNSOM) and funded by the Peace Building Fund and Multi Partner Trust Fund.

a person wearing glasses and smiling at the camera — Fatuma continues her work with the full support of her husband and family.

Photo: UNDP Somalia

“Fatuma’s journey, like that of hundreds of women across Somalia, is a tale of courage. It shows how a few determined women who can no longer suffer ongoing inter-community conflicts, decide to take brave and bold action. It also shows how the UN through a series of interconnected, carefully crafted interventions can empower these courageous women with knowledge, tools and ultimately confidence to make a huge difference to drive positive change within their communities. United and stronger together to advocate for peace and reconciliation, equipped with advanced techniques such as non-violent communication, their daily work contributes to local dispute mediation, justice and peacebuilding in their communities. These efforts at grassroot level have laid the foundation for larger reconciliation processes to succeed such as the South West State Reconciliation Conference, also supported by the UN.”
Lionel Laurens, UNDP Resident Representative in Somalia.

Today, Fatuma’s bravery and dedication to peacebuilding continue to inspire other women in her community and beyond.

“Nobody could have imagined this kind of active leadership role of women in Somalia a decade ago. Conflict resolution, dispute handling, clan conflict negotiations, it was all men’s jobs before,” says Fatuma. “Now, as part of the Peace Working Group, young and old women, representatives of youth, the internally displaced, and minority groups all comfortably sit down together with men in equal capacity and play an active role in handling disputes.”