"The role of diasporas for the reduction and prevention of armed violence" Regional Review Conference on the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development Geneva, Switzerland | 8-9 July 2014

1. Proliferation of Small Arms and
Reduction of Conflict in Somalia
Small arms are purchased on the open market, these arms flow in from
neighboring states and make minor conflicts among communities. People still
feel unsafe and retain arms for personal rpotection or clan protection.

2. High Ratio of illicit Small Arms presence in
Somalia
• There are between 850 000 to 950 000 privatelyowned illegal
firearms in Somalia
• It is estimated 42 out of every 100 Somalies own a weopen.
• Out of 178 countries , Somalia ranks at 58 in total civilian firearm
possession.
• Law to register a weapon or to record the sale is not exist. Any Law
enforcement Authority

3. Somali Arms at Work in Somalia
• Al-shabaab Militants has been fighting Amisom backed troops in
Mogdishu for many years.
• Somalia has no means of weapons manufacturing but there is no
shortage of small arms. Easy access to Small Arms and lack of
accountability.
• There is a light number of small arms and light weapons and technical
armory( a type of vehicle modified to be used in combat) in
circulation often in the hands 0f clan milities.
• Scarcity of resources such as limited of pasture and drinkable water
bring unnecessary conflicts,

4. Recommendation to Effective reduction of Small Arms
• Somali Diaspora groups encouraging alternative measures like botton
up policies from village-level to urban level peace and reconcillation.
Peace –building activities address community capacity to manage
peace and resolve conflicts thoughapplication of traditional and
enviromentally relevant mechanisme in Somalia.
• Somali Diaspora and civil society groups must create awareness
programs and selection process to communicate local problems from
village to city level to national level ( national forum ).
• Create jobbs
• Qualified facilitators are required to educate the population
particulariy the militias with risk awareness.

5. • Ease inter-ethnic tensions to reduce demand for small arms and
disrupt the main routes of illicit small arms comming into Somalia