Problem definition
After the ugly civil war the reconciliation of the warring parties and the reconciliation of all the various antagonists [communities, clans, sub clans, etc.] is imperative

Adopting the South African Truth and Reconciliation model is not viable, under the present circumstances in Somalia, for the following reasons:

• Most of the warring parties and all antagonists have joined the peace process and are in the Transitional Federal Government
• The repercussions of a televised voluntary public confession of crimes committed, in a Somali context, needs further careful study.

Adopting the Rwandan and Bosnian models of setting up an International Criminal Court to try people who have joined the peace process and are part of the Transitional Federal Government is also not practical.

Recommendations
Support the political reconciliation process. This process has to succeed in order to go to the next phase of the reconciliation process.

• Help in defining the composition and agenda of the National Reconciliation Commission.
• This committee has to be totally autonomous while conducting its work and in the financial management of the resources put at its disposal.
• Members must be prominent personalities who are beyond reproach, competent, with integrity, not affiliated with any political group, and not engaged nor employed in any of the current political institutions.

Facilitate a Social Reconciliation program between the various clans and sub clans.

Establish a social reconciliation committee in every region of the country. Each committee will be headed by a member of the National Reconciliation committee [as defined in step a.]

Focus on the major antagonists and provide a forum for all groups to air their grievances and/or express repentance, and encourage traditional compensation approaches towards those victimized

Uphold the “Return of all properties to their rightful owners” principle and the payment of reparations whenever applicable.
vii. Create an Elders Committee to ensure that these Social Reconciliation efforts are ongoing.

Somali, Islamic and universal human rights values should guide both the National Reconciliation Committee and the regional Social Reconciliation Committees in their reconciliation efforts.

Create social programs that enhance both the Political Reconciliation process and the Social Reconciliation process. Specifically, programs that make use of the media, poetic and song compositions, social events, and sports should be encouraged.
e. The ownership of the reconciliation process and its financial management must be mainly in the hands of Somalis. These committees will be using the advice and expertise of the international community in order to accomplish their goals.

The massacres, crimes against humanity, and human rights violations that took place in Somalia are very grave but should be deferred to the elected Somali parliamentary government as soon as the transitional period is over. This elected body will decide what model is appropriate to bring those who committed these crimes to justice.