The internet access in the northern Somali town of Lasanod was forcefully shut down by the security forces of Somaliland, a self-declared region in northern Somalia that broke away and declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces started in Lasanod town on December 26, 2022, and have been ongoing for a week until January 2, 2023.
A large number of security forces that were deployed to Lasanod forced the local internet providers of Somtel and Golis to shut down the internet connection in the early morning of January 1, 2023, and also cut off electricity for many hours in order to contain the protesters’ coordination and record the brutality of the security forces. The Internet connection, which had been down for nearly 12 hours, was restored in the night.
In the same way, Somaliland shut down the Internet in August 2022 to stop protests against postponing the region’s presidential election. On August 11, 2022, Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition of which Bareedo Platform is a member, criticized the move. The return of this kind of violation in January 1, 2023 is an unfortunate, and Bareedo Platform is calling on Somaliland authorities to end this and ensure free and open access to the internet.
Somalia is currently experiencing its worst water scarcity in decades, driven by successive droughts and the ongoing climate crisis. According to a 2020 World Bank report, the availability of freshwater per person has sharply declined from 2,087 cubic meters in 1962 to just 411 cubic meters in 2017—well below the United Nations’ recommended minimum of 1,000 cubic meters per person. Additionally, 70% of Somalia’s rural population has limited access to safe drinking water, as highlighted in a February 2021 report by Save the Children.
The persistent decline in freshwater availability, compounded by recurring droughts, has intensified competition for water resources, frequently sparking conflicts in rural communities. While climate change plays a significant role in these water conflicts, the lack of effective community-based governance structures for water management and equitable access is a core underlying issue.
In 2022, Abdikhayr Mohamed Hussein, a senior member of the Bareedo Platform and a Bertha Challenge Fellow, embarked on a mission to address these urgent issues. Through a one-year fellowship supported by the Bertha Foundation, Abdikhayr worked closely with Somali rural communities, including clan elders and water sector stakeholders. His work focused on finding sustainable solutions to the water crisis and reducing conflicts stemming from water scarcity.
The result of his efforts was a groundbreaking manual, the first of its kind in Somalia, designed to guide rural communities in managing their water resources more effectively and equitably. This manual provides Somali traditional elders and community leaders with tools to establish community-based water management systems, mediate water-related disputes, and foster collaboration in the face of recurring droughts and climate threats.
More than just a set of instructions, the manual is a roadmap for empowering Somali communities to take control of their water resources. It builds their capacity to manage water sustainably, prevent disputes, and address the growing challenges posed by climate change. Abdikhayr’s work also seeks to inspire better policymaking in rural water governance by providing practical solutions and fostering community-based consensus.
The manual is designed for those most affected by the water crisis: rural communities, particularly livestock herders, as well as peacebuilding groups and water sector stakeholders. Traditional elders can use it to set up water management structures that ensure peaceful and fair resource sharing. Peacebuilding groups can draw on its guidance to resolve water-related conflicts and promote harmony. Water stakeholders can use it to inform their programs and initiatives in rural areas.
Now available in both Somali and English, the manual stands as a vital resource for Somalia’s rural communities as they navigate the challenges of water scarcity and climate change. It can be downloaded via the link below, offering hope and practical solutions to a nation in crisis.
As a youth organization, Bareedo Platform marks International Youth Day each year on the 12th of August and celebrates the contribution that young people make in social and public matters in Somalia. In this year and third year in row, Bareedo is going to commemorate the #IYD2022 virtually and present to you a handful youth members who contributed to the society.
This is a great time to celebrate and appreciate some youth members who actively contributed to matters that important for the community and also become a role model for other peers to do same. In this moment, Bareedo is going to empower young people to participate in public life so that they are prepared and equipped to contribute to society’s development.
It’s time to celebrate International Youth Day!
For information on the theme of International Youth Day 2022 keep an eye on the Bareedo’s website and social media platforms for updates. You can also send more to our email info@bareedo.org
Sharmarke Yusuf is an International Rotary peace fellow, for his extensive experience in Peace and development and had 10-week session of field study in Makerere University at Rotary Peace Center for gaining knowledge through examine new approaches of peace building and conflict transformation, following by application of leadership skills.
The Peace fellow returned to Somalia in his community for implementation of social change through guidance and mentorship professionals in the field.
Yusuf’s social change initiatives will engage youth in his communities to empower them and transform as a positive force of transformation in their communities through communication and thinking skills (TOCfE) positive peace education, employability skills and community volunteer activities. Yusuf is using a theory of constrain to change negative behavior, the TOC theory is originated by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt (1947-2011)” he was an author and a business management guru. The theory of constrain is a set of thinking processes along with common sense methodologies used to logically identify and overcome key limitations in creating favorable change and that allows for youth to think critically and make positive, responsible decisions.
The initiates will be in class training, practical sessions followed by community volunteer activities where the young people integrate with their communities to carryout public and common good activities.
Bareedo Platform facilitated Right to information and protection of vulnerable groups – Remote training units for 34 journalists from different media outlets in Puntland, mainly those based in Garowe, the capital city of Puntland state in Somalia.
The 5-day training was conducted 34 (M: 21 F: 13) journalists, editors and other media personnel from key media outlets in Puntland, mainly those based in Garowe, the capital of Puntland in five different days from May 29, 2022 to June 11, 2022.
Trainers; a media training expert and a digital security expert delivered training sessions by using their own experiences and lessons and knowledge contents extracted from 5 videos previously recorded and shared by the School of Journalism of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy. And they covered the following topics or lessons during the five days training:-
Day 1 – Training Unit 1: Freedom of speech, human rights
Freedom of expression is an increasingly rare commodity.
Why it is necessary to defend it in the world and how it is possible to do so, considering the various national sensitivities.
National and international laws on freedom of expression and international charters.
The United Nations: origin, declarations, laws, agencies, advocacy activities.
International human rights laws: human rights defenders, agencies and NGOs for human rights defenders.
National legal frameworks demonstrating the freedom of information, freedom of speech, the freedom of media/press; looking at Puntland Media Act.
Day 2 – Training Unit 2: Freedom of the press, fighting censorship
How to practice journalism without running into the mesh of censorship and how to resist self-censorship.
Writing techniques for journalists, associations for the defence of information rights.
How the international judicial system works in cases of arrest or criminal conviction, which international lawyers to appeal to.
Day 3 – Training Unit 3: Information and misinformation
Some call it fake news but it is misinformation.
Use factual truth to draw attention to unverified details.
How to recognize misinformation content, how to dodge it, how to organize debunking.
Social media and websites: the world’s largest debunking sites and the most effective projects in progress.
Practical demonstration by looking at use of the following fact-checking tools
Fact Check Explorer
InVid plugin
YouTube Metadata
Pimeyes
Google Images
Google Earth
SunCalc i
AccountAnalysis.app
Tinfoleak
Centralops.net/co
Who Posted What
Day 4 – Training Unit 4: Protecting data: protect yourself and others
Protecting sources today means knowing how to protect your computer data.
Alternative and protected browsing techniques, password, double verification, Osint.
How to manage and protect your social media, smartphone apps to use and set up security and privacy set ups in computers and other equipment.
Practical demonstration by the participants to evaluate the security vulnerabilities of their digital equipment and social media accounts.
Practical demonstration by the participants to evaluate security and privacy set up of their Android mobiles and windows computers
Discussion on how to deal with online harassment and abuse as well as recovering or claiming back blocked online accounts.
Day 5 – Training Unit 5: Dialogue with minorities
Definition of vulnerable and marginalized groups in Somalia
At the basis of a peaceful society lies coexistence, in constructive dialogue with minorities. Acceptance of the other is necessary for peaceful coexistence.
Examples and practices of coexistence and active laws in the world to guarantee and promote it.
How to deal with a reportage on the themes of coexistence, religious dialogue and intercultural differences: techniques and methods.
The training was delivered successfully and met its intended objectives. 34 journalists and media workers from the key media outlets in Puntland improved their understanding of the international and national laws on freedom of expression, freedom of press and human rights and how to effectively address censorship and safety problems. Journalists gained capacity and skills to use the existing digital tools to counter misinformation, disinformation, fake news and unreliable contents. They received digital security knowledge and use of the relevant digital tools to defeat the growing digital threats and do their vital work safely and effectively and make their families and their sources considerably more secure. Additionally, journalists understood their role in protection of the vulnerable groups in their reporting.
The local TVs such as Puntland TV, MMTV, Universal TV and Horseed Media reported the training sessions and what the journalists learned from each session and how will these help them improve the issue of freedom of the press and the protection and protection of journalists in Puntland, Somalia.
The participants of the training appreciated the School of Journalism of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart and Caritas Somalia for this useful training, and also Bareedo Platform for facilitating the training sessions. They requested similar and continuation of such trainings and capacity building opportunities in the future.
