Galkayo – Quite a few cities in the world are split – sometimes by historical differences, sometimes by administrative divisions and, in some cases, by national borders.

But very few of them have such a turbulent recent history as Galkayo, a city which straddles two of Somalia’s Federal Member States, Puntland and Galmudug.

The route to this transformation has been long, and the city’s young dwellers played a pivotal role in reshaping Galkayo's future through formal avenues, such as active participation in elders-led peace negotiations under the leadership of the Mudug Youth Forum, as well as informal initiatives such as awareness-raising campaigns, projects, and safe spaces fostering dialogue and building trust.

One of the young people involved in this peace process was Mohamed Sheikh Said Haji.

Journey of peace advocate

Born in the coastal town of Hobyo in the Mudug region in 1990, Mohamed Sheikh Said Haji is from the Federal Member State of Galmudug, located approximately 500 kilometres east of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

He recounts how the elders played a key role in the early stages of peacebuilding.

“In 2015 and 2016, Galkayo was gripped by one of the most devastating conflicts, claiming countless lives and causing widespread displacement. Initially, peace efforts were primarily orchestrated by the authorities and traditional elders,” he recalls.

“The elders reminded us that Galkayo's conflict predated many of our lifetimes, urging the youth to defer to elders’ wisdom. However, it became increasingly evident that relying solely on the elders was inadequate to address the challenges of the present,” Mr. Haji adds.

Having completed his education at Waberi Primary and Secondary School in 2015, Mr. Haji went on to earn a Bachelor of Sharia and Law from Daaha International University in Mogadishu in 2019. Mohamed became the principal of the school he had attended.

Located on the Galmudug-administered side of Galkayo, the Waberi Primary and Secondary School is celebrated for its academic achievements. In 2021, one of his students secured the highest grade in Somalia's national examination. Beyond academic achievements, his school has been pivotal in promoting peace and reconciliation within Galkayo.

Mr. Haji firmly believes that educating and actively involving the city's youth in the peace process is the only way to achieve lasting peace in Galkayo. He continued to advocate for the inclusion of young voices in peace negotiations.

“Witnessing the recurring cycle of conflict and its subsequent socio-economic ramifications, I, alongside fellow youth from both the northern and southern districts of Galkayo, organised a peace rally,” Mr. Haji recalls. “Students from secondary schools across Galkayo, including mine, joined hands in staging one of the city's largest peace demonstrations. It unfolded in the main market, the centre of economic activity that bridged the city's two halves.”

Involving young people in peacebuilding was not without its risks. Mr. Haji, along with peace activists who attempted to mediate between two armed groups at Galkayo’s main market in early 2017, came under gunfire and barely survived. The shooting resulted in the death of a police officer from the Joint Police Patrolling Unit, a unit supported by the UN and established as part of the 2017 Galkayo Ceasefire Agreement between Puntland and Galmudug that consisted of police officers from both states.

“I was very aware of the risks associated with engaging in Galkayo's peace process, particularly when organising peace rallies,” explains the 33-year-old peace activist. “Nevertheless, my friends and I willingly embraced these risks. The youth from Galmudug and Puntland chose to be proactive instead of relying solely on the elders, who had repeatedly struggled to establish lasting peace in Galkayo.”

Despite the challenges faced by Galkayo's youth, their efforts began to yield results. Under Mr. Haji's leadership, young activists-initiated awareness campaigns and engaged in media discussions, consistently promoting peace and coexistence among Galkayo's residents.

One of the standout platforms facilitating the success of their campaign was ‘Nabadoon,’ or ‘Peace Maker’ in English, inaugurated in 2020.

“Conducted every three months, these discussions aimed to enhance communication among young individuals, diverse societal groups, and respected community members,” Mr. Haji explains. “Within these discussion forums, the youth emphasise to Galkayo's residents that peace is a prerequisite for any development in the city,” he adds.

Youth Peace Initiatives in Galkayo

Recognising the need to unify youth voices for greater impact and to broaden the understanding of the extensive benefits of peace, more young individuals came together. In 2017, the youth of Galkayo founded the ‘ Mudug Peace and Integration Forum’ in Mudug. In 2022, it changed its name to the ‘Peace and Development Forum’. The Forum brings together young people from Galmudug and Puntland and uses education to promote peace and social cohesion.

“I’ve been the chairman of the Forum since 2020, and I would say we have played an important role in fostering peace, reconciliation, and integration in Galkayo. We do this by raising community awareness and supporting those who are affected by the conflict in the city, especially those who have been wounded or lost a parent,” Mr. Haji explains.

“We engaged teachers and students from Galkayo's primary and secondary schools in our awareness campaigns. We started by organising events in schools, wherein students participated in protests, media engagements, and community gatherings to voice their collective desire to end disunity,” he explains.

The efforts of these young individuals have brought some stability to the city, as Mr. Haji observes, “A few years ago, the residents of Galkayo were compelled to remain indoors for a significant part of the day, especially at night, due to insecurity and fear, but today, that situation is very different”.

“There was a time when the people of Galkayo lived in constant fear. Mistrust was common, and the city's transportation network operated at a minimal capacity. People rushed home before sunset. However, the transformation we've witnessed is remarkable. Business thrives in the city, and residents move about freely,” he attests.

The dividends of peace are also evident in Galkayo's education system. As the principal of Waberi Primary and Secondary School, Mr. Haji notes that school enrolment has surged from 171 students in 2017 to a current count of 700 students, with half of them being girls.

“This is a significant change, and I firmly believe it is linked to the peace we've attained in Galkayo,” he asserts.

Another activity that Mr. Haji and his young team do in promoting peace is organising the Galkayo Peace Book Fair.

“The project was initiated in 2021 by the Peace and Development Forum, and it aims to foster peace in the Galkayo region through literature and discussion,” says Mr. Haji, adding, “We have held two successful Galkayo Book Fairs since 2021, and now we are planning the third year. The book fair brings together people from all over Somalia to learn from Galkayo’s history and share their insights on advancing peace and integration in the city.”

In addition to these awareness-raising initiatives, Mr. Haji and his group support those who have suffered from the conflict, particularly orphaned children.

“We began some initiatives in 2018 to support children who lost their parents in the Galkayo conflict or the Somali civil war. Every year, we raise awareness among Galkayo residents about the importance of creating a safe and peaceful environment for families and children. As Galkayo youth, we also buy clothes for the children on Islamic holidays like Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha,” Mr. Haji says.

UN and youth

Through several resolutions, the United Nations Security Council has underscored young people's pivotal role in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and sustaining peace. The Council has consistently emphasised ensuring youth participation and leadership in these areas and fostering youth engagement spaces.

In Somalia, the UN lends its support to the Forum and other initiatives led by young individuals dedicated to forging a more peaceful and prosperous future for Galkayo.

Galkayo's transformation reveals that the active engagement of youth in peacebuilding initiatives resonates with the global Youth, Peace, and Security agenda. In the context of Somalia's ongoing journey towards stability and prosperity, the commitment and resilience demonstrated by its youth exemplify the potential for positive change.