In early July, the Clingendael Academy collaborated with the UNDP and the Ministry of Interior of Somalia to train 35 Somali peace makers in Negotiation and Insider Mediation. The training built on the time-tested embedded local mediation practice in the Somali context and produced valuable insights on how Somali peace structures can be optimised.

Using the Clingendael Strategic Choice Framework to find new entry points for Somali mediation and conducting a SWOT analysis on Somali insider mediation structures, the training allowed respected elders from the all federal member states, civil servants from the Ministry of the Interior and line ministries and supporting actors such as the Somalia Joint Fund and the UNDP to have an open discussion about how to build a safer and more stable Somalia. Women and youth also got the chance to step into the mediator role, receiving praise from the elders for their performance.