Rift Valley Institute

The 'Local Governance in Somalia' RVI podcast discusses devolution of power in Somalia in the context of rapid urbanisation. The podcast reflects on the 2021 World Bank Review, which aims to facilitate a more informed dialogue between the government, private sector, civil society, development partners and other stakeholders on a more comprehensive urban development strategy in Somalia. In the 3rd episode, Horn of Africa Programme Manager at the Rift Valley Institute- Hannah Stogdon- speaks with Dr. Ken Menkhaus, professor of Political Science at Davidson College, Horn of Africa and Land Urbanisation specialist working on local governance, service delivery, and forced displacement. The podcast also hosts Makiko Watanabe, a Senior Urban Specialist working on local governance, service delivery, and forced displacement and Dr. Olivia D’Aoust who is a senior urban economist working on issues related to the economics of urbanisation, territorial development, and conflict and fragility.

The RVI education programme aims to inform influential constituencies working in eastern and central Africa about the people and communities in the countries where they work. It consists of 2 main types of trainings; the Annual Field Courses on Sudan and South Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes; and bespoke courses tailored for a variety of international organisations. These courses provide a basis for an understanding of current political and developmental challenges within the countries or regions in question. Watch the trailer for more information on our training programme and be on the lookout for new courses on our newsletter, social media platforms and website. You can also reach out by email at courses@riftvalley.net.

'Land in Somalia' RVI podcast discusses land governance in Somalia in the context of rapid urbanisation. It looks at cities where both opportunities and challenges for Somalia’s development and prosperity are most acutely felt. The experts debate how to manage and reduce the risks Somali cities face so that they can increase their potential to provide livelihoods and deliver services in a way that is more inclusive and accessible for all. In the second episode,Horn of Africa Programme Manager at the Rift Valley Institute- Hannah Stogdon hosts World Bank Land Administration specialist Paul Prettitore and co-lead of the Land and Conflict Working Group and is conducting research on the relationships between land, conflict and inclusion. Prior to joining the Bank, Paul was a Human Rights Advisor and Property Law Coordinator at the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.   The podcast discusses the 2021 World Bank Review on Urbanisation in Somalia with the aim of facilitating a more informed dialogue between the government, private sector, civil society, development partners and other stakeholders on the role of land governance in a more comprehensive urban development strategy in Somalia.

This RVI podcast discusses Governance in Somalia in the context of rapid urbanisation. It looks at cities where both opportunities and challenges for Somalia’s development and prosperity are most acutely felt. The experts debate how to manage and reduce the risks Somali cities face so that they can increase their potential to provide livelihoods and deliver services in a way that is more inclusive and accessible for all. In this first episode of two, Horn of Africa Programme Manager at the Rift Valley Institute- Hannah Stogdon talks to Horn of Africa expert Tobias Hagmann who is the Director of Public Culture Lab Ltd in Switzerland and an associate professor in development studies at Roskilde University in Denmarks. He was the Lead Researcher for the RVI study on Urbanisation in 7 Somali cities that contributed to the World Bank’s Urbanisation Review.

Over the past two decades, the Horn and Eastern Africa Region have witnessed a proliferation of peace-making and peace-building processes as a means of democratisation. A wealth and power sharing governance arrangements designed and upheld by regional and international institutions often saw the transfer of political decision-making away from the local and national level, consolidating them instead in the hands of belligerent elites and a global technocratic class of experts. How have these forms of international diplomatic interventions shaped prospects for peace and democratisation in the region? Sharath Srinivasan’s When Peace Kills Politics: International Intervention and Unending Wars in the Sudans (Hurst/OUP, 2021) provides a refreshing appraisal of the theory and practice of peace-making by drawing attention to its inherent contradictions that contain risks of violent failure. The book launch engaged the history of interrelated peace-making efforts and their failures in Sudan and South Sudan, from the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement to the more recent Juba Peace Agreement signed in 2020, and their potential to subvert non-violent civic politics. The book launch was co-hosted and organised jointly by RVI and the International African Institute and supported by Hurst publishers

This podcast recording of an RVI forum on Sudan's political developments discusses the current situation following the military coup, whether a military dictatorship is inevitable and the possible implications of it on domestic affairs and international support.

Over the past year, countries across the East Africa region have held elections to elect leaders at various levels. These polls have been accompanied by complaints over irregularities, violence and a general lack of credibility. In Uganda and Tanzania, disputed polls and allegations of rigging by incumbents were followed by brutal crackdowns on democratic freedoms. In Ethiopia, despite the AU’s election observer mission declaring the twice-postponed election “orderly, peaceful and credible”, a fifth of the country failed to take part in voting owing to an opposition boycott, war and insecurity, and logistical problems. Somalia’s failure to hold long- delayed indirect elections has endangered its fragile peace. While in Somaliland-despite urban low voter turnout and ballot tampering in the rural areas, the long delayed parliamentary and local council elections were smoothly run leading to a surprise loss to the ruling party and a peaceful transfer of power. Still, harassment of opposition candidates during campaigns - and women exclusion remain a feature of the electoral process. All this begs the question; Are elections in East Africa a democratising force or a flashpoint for violence?

Over the past year, countries across the East Africa region have held elections to elect leaders at various levels. These polls have been accompanied by complaints over irregularities, violence and a general lack of credibility. In Uganda and Tanzania, disputed polls and allegations of rigging by incumbents were followed by brutal crackdowns on democratic freedoms. In Ethiopia, despite the AU’s election observer mission declaring the twice-postponed election “orderly, peaceful and credible”, a fifth of the country failed to take part in voting owing to an opposition boycott, war and insecurity, and logistical problems. Somalia’s failure to hold long- delayed indirect elections has endangered its fragile peace. While in Somaliland-despite urban low voter turnout and ballot tampering in the rural areas, the long delayed parliamentary and local council elections were smoothly run leading to a surprise loss to the ruling party and a peaceful transfer of power. Still, harassment of opposition candidates during campaigns - and women exclusion remain a feature of the electoral process. All this begs the question; Are elections in East Africa a democratising force or a flashpoint for violence?

Professor Munzoul, Dean of Scientific Enquiry at Khartoum university explores to what degree has electoral management and the role of the National Elections Council (NEC) determined the success and quality of elections? and moving forward in the post revolution period, should the 2024 projected elections rely on the existing network of experienced administrators or aim to create a new generation? In Debate with Professor Justin- Durham University on how electoral politics actually work i.e how campaigns are run, how different grassroots politics have actually been between liberal election like 1986 and the NCP's elections i,e are there similarities? T

في الحلقة الثانية من السلسلة الصوتية 'انتخابات السودان' نناقش- على الرغم من الاستياء الشعبي من الأحزاب والعمليات السياسية - الدور الذي يمكن أن يلعبه المجتمع المدني في تحقيق الديمقراطية من خلال انتخابات حرة ونزيهة.

In this audio series we discuss, among other things, election models adopted in Sudan's modern history. It will also discuss the key choices available for policymakers who are involved in election design.

After a period of political impasse, leaders in Somalia— under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble— have agreed to a timetable for indirect elections in 2021. Elections for the Upper House are now scheduled for 25 July, for the Lower House between 10 August and 10 September, with the presidential election scheduled for 10 October. Though easing tensions, especially in the capital Mogadishu where armed forces had confronted each other in April, the agreement left several crucial elements of the electoral process unaddressed, including the selection process of delegates and the mechanism for ensuring the 30 percent quota for women’s seats in the Parliament, security management and electoral funding. At the same time, Puntland Federal State is testing a one-person-one vote electoral model for local council elections in three districts - Qardho, Eyl, and Ufeyn. This is a significant development, because a successfully managed electoral process in Puntland could provide a model for a broader democratization process across Somalia. On 15 July 2021, the Rift Valley Institute in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and The Elephant hosted a panel discussion to examine these issues and prospects for peaceful elections. The webinar also explored what the democratization process in Puntland could mean for Somalia’s long term democratic trajectory. Speakers Moderator- Mary Harper BBC Panelists Abdinassir Yusuf-Puntland Development & Research Centre (PDRC) Idil Ibrahim - Life and Peace Institute Ruqia Botan - LeadNow Omar Mahmood - International Crisis Group

After a period of political impasse, leaders in Somalia— under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble— have agreed to a timetable for indirect elections in 2021. Elections for the Upper House are now scheduled for 25 July, for the Lower House between 10 August and 10 September, with the presidential election scheduled for 10 October. Though easing tensions, especially in the capital Mogadishu where armed forces had confronted each other in April, the agreement left several crucial elements of the electoral process unaddressed, including the selection process of delegates and the mechanism for ensuring the 30 percent quota for women’s seats in the Parliament, security management and electoral funding. At the same time, Puntland Federal State is testing a one-person-one vote electoral model for local council elections in three districts - Qardho, Eyl, and Ufeyn. This is a significant development, because a successfully managed electoral process in Puntland could provide a model for a broader democratization process across Somalia. On 15 July 2021, the Rift Valley Institute in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and The Elephant hosted a panel discussion to examine these issues and prospects for peaceful elections. The webinar also explored what the democratization process in Puntland could mean for Somalia’s long term democratic trajectory. Speakers Moderator- Mary Harper BBC Panelists Abdinassir Yusuf-Puntland Development & Research Centre (PDRC) Idil Ibrahim - Life and Peace Institute Ruqia Botan - LeadNow Omar Mahmood - International Crisis Group

After a period of political impasse, leaders in Somalia— under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble— have agreed to a timetable for indirect elections in 2021. Elections for the Upper House are now scheduled for 25 July, for the Lower House between 10 August and 10 September, with the presidential election scheduled for 10 October. Though easing tensions, especially in the capital Mogadishu where armed forces had confronted each other in April, the agreement left several crucial elements of the electoral process unaddressed, including the selection process of delegates and the mechanism for ensuring the 30 percent quota for women’s seats in the Parliament, security management and electoral funding. At the same time, Puntland Federal State is testing a one-person-one vote electoral model for local council elections in three districts - Qardho, Eyl, and Ufeyn. This is a significant development, because a successfully managed electoral process in Puntland could provide a model for a broader democratization process across Somalia. On 15 July 2021, the Rift Valley Institute in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and The Elephant hosted a panel discussion to examine these issues and prospects for peaceful elections. The webinar also explored what the democratization process in Puntland could mean for Somalia’s long term democratic trajectory. Speakers Moderator- Mary Harper BBC Panelists Abdinassir Yusuf-Puntland Development & Research Centre (PDRC) Idil Ibrahim - Life and Peace Institute Ruqia Botan - LeadNow Omar Mahmood - International Crisis Group

On 15 June 2021, the Rift Valley Forum in conjunction with The Elephant and the Heinrich Boll Foundation hosted a webinar to explore the prospects for holding successful elections in Ethiopia and what success would look like. The virtual forum focused on the impact of the ongoing conflict and violence; online activism and the media’s role; the participation of women; and what this election means for the longer-term democratization process in Ethiopia. Moderator Muriithi Mutiga - Horn of Africa Project Director, International Crisis Group Panelists Abdeta Beyene- Executive Director, Centre for Dialogue, Research and Cooperation Dr Adem Abebe- Programme Officer, International IDEA Tsedale Lemma- Founder, Addis Standard Magazine