Sir James Mancham research institute to hold public lecture on Somalia |10 May 2018

The Sir James Mancham Peace and Diplomacy Research Institute of the University of Seychelles are organising a public lecture entitled ‘Who cares about Somalia’ on Thursday May 17 at 4.30pm at The Station, Sans Souci. 

Everyone in Seychelles has heard of Somalia, often because of the pirates who have caused so many problems for local shipping. Little good news has come from that country in recent years, which has earned the unenviable tag of a failed state.

Occupying the Horn of Africa, it is riven by conflict between opposing warlords and terrorist groups. Most of the land is barren and peopled by nomadic herdsmen, and there is no tradition of democratic government.

But does it always have to be like this? 

Can Somalia one day be a good neighbour in the region and part of the international community? 

People do care about its future even though there are no easy solutions.

Each of the three discussion leaders is an expert in different aspects of this subject. British High Commissioner Caron Röhsler will tell of efforts by the international community to bring together the various factions; Superintendent of the Prison Service, Raymond St Ange, will share his personal experience of dealing with Somalian pirates, asking why they choose to do this; and Associate Professor Ashton Berry will turn our attention to Somalia’s 3,000-kilometre coastline as a largely untapped economic opportunity.

The public lecture will offer a relaxing environment for an open exchange of discussions and views.