Minority Rights and Environmental Justice in Somalia

Ibrahim Hassan Mohamed, Marginalized Community Advocacy Network (Somalia)

This presentation explores how environmental degradation and climate-related shocks intensify structural inequalities faced by minority communities in Somalia. Based on field engagement and advocacy experience, the paper demonstrates how exclusion from land governance systems, weak protection mechanisms, and limited political representation compound vulnerability during droughts and floods. The presentation argues for integrating minority rights into climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and peacebuilding policies. It proposes practical mechanisms including inclusive local governance platforms, gender-sensitive protection systems, and community-driven accountability frameworks. The session contributes to broader debates on environmental peacebuilding by centering marginalized communities as agents of change rather than passive beneficiaries.