Elders in Somali state pledge to contribute to peace,development
Jijjiga, December 29,2024 (WIC)- Elders of Somali state were urged to be vanguards of peace and mobilize the public to engage in development endeavors.
Speaking at the peace and development conference of six woredas underway here, Deputy Head of the regional Security, Justice and Administrative Affairs Bureau, Abdurahman Mohammed Areb,said the elderly are expected to resolve ethnic conflicts and create conducive situation for development activities.
The Deputy Head underlined the significant role of the elderly in the effective implementation of the development works underway in all woredas of the region with the budget allocated by the government and the Pastoralists Communities Development Program (PCDP) protecting them from anti-peace elements operating under the disguise of ethnicity.
He further stated that in order to create sense of ownership of the development activities, the elders should organize and mobilize the public to monitor the proper utilization of the budget for the intended development activities, which according to him would contribute to strengthening good governance.
The elders on their part said their limited participation in the discussions about the development activities of the regional government has restricted their involvement and expressed their readiness to work in collaboration with the state.
Over 550 elders and representatives of woredas are in attendance of the conference.