The Somali society has been in conflict situation since the fall of the government in 1991. Younger members of the Somali Society living within the country have had no experience of or interaction with the state and its institutions as conceived in a democratic society. A big part of the Somali nation has been dispersed around the world residing in the Diaspora or as refugees. Contestation for power and resources between sets of war-lords within the country on one hand and international ‘outlaws’ on the other has heightening insecurity, environmental degradation and poverty lowering the life expectancy levels for the populations.
The National Civic Forum (NCF) is an independent, non-partisan organization founded by a cohort of Somali professional and scholars that met on September 20th – 24th in Nairobi, Kenya. NCF’s mission is to generate and disseminate creative ideas that will assist in the establishment of a democratic political order, durable peace, justice, rule of law, and sustainable development.