In a bid to forge peace in the restive Luuq District of Gedo, the Jubaland administration has embarked on a journey of reconciliation. This district, historically marred by violent clan hostilities, now stands at a crossroad—will the longstanding feuds finally find resolution?

First Vice President of Jubaland, Mahamud Sayid Adan, announced with gravitas that a peace symposium had been convened in the town of Dolow. This gathering seeks to bridge divides, drawing together elders and influentials from the three feuding clans. “Our resolve to steer these negotiations is unwavering,” Adan asserted at a press briefing, adding with conviction, “we are prepared to shoulder all related expenses of this peace initiative.”

What drives a clan to war, and what persuades them to the peace table? Luuq’s recent skirmishes have sown seeds of discord, pushing families from their homes in a frantic exodus. The authorities felt compelled to step in—can peace truly be enforced, or does it have to be nurtured within the community?

Adan’s words were diplomatic yet firm: any group that dismisses the outcomes of this dialogue will face consequences. Governments can only do so much; ultimately, it is the will of the people that upholds peace or rends it asunder.

Jubaland’s role as a peacemaker in Gedo is neither trivial nor new. This region often finds itself ensnared by the web of inter-clan disagreements, where political motivations often lurk in the background. The administration’s aspiration is clear: to negotiate an enduring accord that secures the region against future altercations.

Once, during a trip across these rugged landscapes, I met a local elder who spoke of peace as a wayward traveler—always sighted but rarely settled. Will the latest peace talks in Dolow give respite to this age-old traveler, or simply send him wandering anew?