XARFO, Mudug (Kaab TV) – “We are a Muslim and noble people. The burden we carry is like a milk cow on our shoulders—if we let it spill, we will be the ones to regret it,” said Hawo, a local peace advocate, during a powerful speech in Xarfo town, Mudug region.
Her address followed the announcement of a peace agreement that ended a recent clan conflict, which claimed three lives and led to the destruction of a water well by warring clan militias.
Hawo challenged the men and elders, who are parents of the warring boys, to take responsibility and stop their sons from engaging in conflict. She reminded the residents of Xarfo that if peace is destroyed, life will never be the same, and everything, including the milk they depend on, will be spoiled.
She also warned of the consequences in the hereafter, emphasizing that “killing and looting will never be forgotten.”
While calling on the government to fulfill its role in maintaining peace, Hawo stressed the equal responsibility of the local community in ending the conflict. She urged a deep and thorough assessment of the root causes of the recurrent disputes in the region to prevent future violence.
Hawo’s speech underscores the vital role Somali women play in peacebuilding and reconciliation. Though women are not participants in the violence, they remain its primary victims, often working tirelessly to rebuild and restore peace in their communities.