Land Conflict in Somalia: A Review of the Literature and Gap Analysis

Land conflict is widely regarded as a major driver of conflict and political instability in Somalia. It has numerous facets that intersect with cultural norms around identity, homeland and political entitlement, economic interests, environmental and resource demands, and displacement and disempowerment. Recognising the complexity of the topic, the centrality of this issue to Somali political and social conflict, but also the breadth of work that has already been performed to date, SSF commissioned an extensive literature review to consolidate knowledge and research garnered to date. A gap analysis highlights areas for new research and comparative learning from other fragile and conflict affected states offers new ideas that may be applicable, if contextualised, to the Somali space.

Key recommendations include:

• Further research to understand the principles of land dispute resolution under customary and religious law, options for land reform; deeper understanding into al Shabaab mechanisms of land dispute resolution.
• The African Land Policy Centre and the IGAD Land Governance Unit are engaged to support the FGS on land policy, legislation, and peer to peer learning from other regional states on land governance.
• Work to establish the status and location of the cadastre for Mogadishu and initiate a process to reclaim it and re-establish it.
• Invest in the development and implementation of “fit for purpose” land registration systems where this is possible in urban and rural areas, to pilot innovative methods for strengthening tenure security.

Alongside the research, SSF has made available the matrix of literature reviewed as a resource to fellow policy makers, researchers and stakeholders who are interested in this topic.

This paper forms part of the Funds wider research into reconciliation and long-term conflict transformation on some of Somalia’s most challenging and entrenched issues, such as Assessing the scope and parameters for transitional justice in Somalia; and Local Reconciliation in Somalia – Factors that Enhance Durability and Success.