Deegaan, Politics and War in Somalia 331
Various local and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
and Community-based Organisations (CBOs) are implementing environmen-
tal projects, but donors have recently begun requiring NGOs to conduct envi-
ronmental impact assessments for any project proposed in Somalia. Very few
NGOs are involved in awareness-raising projects, or promote more equitable
and non-violent ways of sharing natural resources. Access to and ownership
of land remains a very sensitive issue and NGOs, whether local or interna-
tional, face difficulty openly discussing land issues since no real grass-roots
peace and reconciliation process has been established.
A conference held in Kismayu in early 1993 during the UN operation in
Somalia convened elders and politicians from the Lower Jubba region. They
agreed on a ceasefire, disarmament, reopening of roads, reunifications of the
people and communities and to return looted proper tie^.^' These agreements
were memorialised on 6 August 1993 with the signing of the Jubbaland Peace
Agreement.
The communities in the Gedo and Bay regions of Somalia organised and
held another important conference in early 1994. Representatives of the
Somali National Front (SNF), the Somali Democratic Movement (SDM) and
a large number of community elders, clan leaders, and intellectuals from both
regions attended. The purpose of the conference was to reconcile the warring
factions, the SNF and the SDM, and to unite the peoples of the two commu-
nities. The conference endorsed the Bardera Agreement, which included
General Morgan's Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM). It has allowed the
peaceful interaction of the communities of Gedo, Bay, Bakol, the Middle and
Lower Jubba regions.
Overview of the Environment
The decade-long civil war has resulted in a breakdown of policy and law
governing the access to, use of and ownership of land and resources in
Somalia. Some NGOs are presently carrying out environmental awareness
programmes, but are giving little attention to issues such as rights and own-
ership that underlie violent conflict. In addition. Somalia remains heavily
dependent on relief and development assistance. Because of the absence of a
central government in Somalia, the centrality and importance of environ-
mental issues remain a problem.
Physical Environment
Somalia is located in the eastern part of the Horn of Africa and covers a total
land area of 637 540 square kilo metre^.^^ Its semi-arid climate favours pas-
toral nomadism. Water scarcity readily provokes communal conflict over