Doolow, Somalia – (Dawan Africa) — A UK-funded initiative, Nabadaynta Soomaaliya, is gaining momentum across Somalia as it expands its signature Townhall meetings to new conflict-prone districts, strengthening grassroots responses to insecurity and instability.
Originally launched as a community-driven peacebuilding program, Nabadaynta’s expansion follows early success in stabilizing tensions in Kismayo and Baidoa. Now, with new Townhall meetings launched in Doolow and Xudur, the initiative is emerging as a model for early intervention and locally-led conflict prevention.
According to a statement from the British Embassy in Mogadishu on June 16, 2025, the first Townhall meeting in Doolow—held on June 3—brought together over 100 participants, including local authorities, police, and members of vulnerable communities, to address rising local security threats. The forums are designed to foster cooperation between civilians and the police, enable collective decision-making, and create joint action plans tailored to each district’s needs.
British Ambassador to Somalia, Charles King, emphasized the UK’s commitment to locally rooted security solutions:“The UK is proud to support initiatives like Nabadaynta that empower Somali communities to own their peace. By addressing threats through dialogue and local leadership, we see real, lasting change.”
As of 2025, three rounds of Townhall meetings have been conducted in Kismayo and Baidoa, while Xudur held its inaugural session in May. With this expansion, the initiative is now active in four target districts: Kismayo and Doolow in Jubaland, and Baidoa and Xudur in South West State.
The British Embassy highlighted the measurable security outcomes already achieved by the forums:
- Joint community-police patrols launched in Baidoa’s high-risk neighborhoods without formal police presence.
- A black market for stolen phones dismantled in Kismayo, addressing a major source of urban petty crime.
- Improved local coordination in dispute resolution and access to justice.
Participants emphasized that the Townhalls help communities shift from reactive crisis responses to proactive threat mitigation. "We must act before violence escalates. These meetings help us understand threats and respond together," said a Doolow Townhall attendee.
Managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and co-funded by the United Kingdom and the European Union, Nabadaynta Soomaaliya focuses on people-centered solutions to insecurity, including trust-building, behavioral change, and inclusive governance.
As the initiative continues to expand, stakeholders are calling for the Townhall model to be adopted more widely, viewing it as a critical tool in Somalia’s broader peacebuilding and stabilization efforts.
