EVENT | Nairobi Forum: A Somali Spring?

9 October 2012
In Press releases

5pm Thursday 11 October 2012

The Austin Room, Braeburn School

Gitanga Road – Lavington – Nairobi

Participants:

Ken Menkhaus, Professor of Politics at Davidson College, North Carolina
Amal Ismail, Publisher and Founder of Bridge Magazine
Jabril Abdulle, Director of the Centre for Research and Dialogue, Mogadishu
Matt Bryden, former Chair of the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea

N.B. DUE TO THE HIGH LEVEL OF INTEREST THE EVENT HAS MOVED FROM THE BIEA TO A LARGER VENUE AT BRAEBURN SCHOOL IN LAVINGTON. CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS TO BRAEBURN SCHOOL.

The election of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as President of Somalia on 10 September was a major event in the region, bringing to an end a deeply flawed, eight-year political transition. The election of an active member of civil society who has consistently worked to end Somalia’s conflict has both electrified Somalis and surprised and relieved the international community. This may herald a Somali version of an Arab Spring, with all the uncertainties that entails.

Within a month of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s election, AMISOM wrested control of Kismayo critically weakening al-Shabaab. Mohamud’s administration faces a daunting number of difficult tasks ahead. This is a window of opportunity for Somalia that the international community must approach with the right policies.

The Rift Valley Institute is pleased to invite you to the Nairobi Forum for Research, Policy and Local Knowledge, for a debate on the future prospects for post-transition Somalia.

SPACE IS LIMITED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND, PLEASE CLICK ON ‘REGISTER’ BELOW AND APPLY ONLINE FOR A PLACE. ONLY RECEIPT OF A CONFIRMATION EMAIL FROM THE RIFT VALLEY INSTITUTE ALLOWS ENTRY TO THIS EVENT. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE EMAIL [email protected].