Somali Peace Talks are the most important topic in the news today after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with top UN officials in Mogadishu to discuss the future of our region. This week the halls of the presidential palace were filled with diplomats who all want to see a plan for ending the long years of conflict that have hurt so many families. This Somali Peace Discussions session focused on how the United Nations can help our government take full control of the country now that the international soldiers are starting to go home. The leaders talked for hours about the need for better border security and how to stop the illegal flow of weapons that causes so much trouble in the Horn of Africa. We have seen many meetings like this before but this time the Somali Peace Discussions feel different because there is a real sense of urgency to fix the problems before they get worse. The President explained that for the whole region to be safe we first need to make sure that Somalia is strong enough to stand on its own two feet and protect its own people.

The reason why these Somali Peace Discussions are getting so much attention from the world is that the Horn of Africa is a very busy place for trade and shipping. If there is no stability here it affects everyone from the small shopkeeper in Mogadishu to the big companies in Europe and Asia. This Somali Peace Discussions effort is trying to create a “security bridge” where all the countries nearby like Ethiopia and Kenya can work together instead of being suspicious of each other. During the meeting the UN representatives promised that they would keep supporting our army with training and new technology as part of the Somali Peace Discussions agreements. Many people in the street are hoping that this is not just another empty talk and that we will see real changes in our safety very soon. It is a very difficult path but the Somali Peace Talks are the only way to avoid more war and to start focusing on building roads and schools instead of buying more bullets for the soldiers.

Main Goals for the Somali Peace Discussions
First the Somali Peace Talks must find a way to stop the fighting in the areas where the government is still struggling to keep the peace. Second we need the Somali Peace Discussions to result in more money for the local police so they can protect the small villages far away from the big cities. Third the Somali Peace Discussions are looking at how to share the water and the land between the different groups so they don’t have to fight over resources anymore.
Fourth through the Somali Peace Discussions the United Nations wants to make sure that the next elections happen on time and that they are fair for every citizen. Fifth the Somali Peace Talks include a big plan to help the young people find jobs so they don’t get tempted to join the groups that cause violence. Sixth and finally the Somali Peace Talks are a way to tell the world that Somalia is ready to be a leader in the Horn of Africa and that we are a nation that loves peace.
The Real Impact of the Somali Peace Talks on Regular Life
If the Somali Peace Talks succeed it will mean that a mother can send her child to school without worrying about what might happen on the way. It will also mean that businesses can open for longer hours and that more tourists might finally come to see our beautiful beaches and our history. The Somali Peace Talks are basically a promise to the next generation that they will not have to live through the same darkness that their parents did. We are tired of seeing our country in the news for only bad things and we want these Somali Peace Talks to change that story forever.

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It is a slow process and we must be patient because you cannot fix thirty years of problems in just one afternoon of talking. But as long as the government and the United Nations keep the Somali Peace Talks going there is still a big window of hope for our future. We must support our leaders in this journey and stay positive even when things look difficult on the ground. The peace we all want is closer than it has ever been and we just need to keep working for it every single day.






