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Profile of Somali Minority
communities
(Click to Learn more)
MINORITY GROUPS TARGETED
- Generally addressing and
targeting all Somali minority
groups which are totaling
2,000,000 according to a study
on Minority Groups in Somalia
published by the United Nations
Coordination Unit (UNCU) and the
Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Somalia in September 2002.
- Targeted groups & clans are
classified in to A & B :-
- Group A (Yibir, Madhiban, Muse
Dhariyo, Tumaal, Yahar, Jareer/Bantu),
Jaaji & Baajuun), which are
the Most socially excluded groups in Somalia.
- Group B (Banadir, Ajuuraan,
Reer Awhasan, Meheri, Arab
Somali, Garjante, Ashraf etc)
which are not
facing any social exclusion and discrimination.
Social
Exclusion Groups in Somalia
There are groups of people in
all societies who are
systematically disadvantaged
because they are discriminated
against. Discrimination occurs
in public institutions, such as
the legal system or the
education and health services,
as well as in the household and
in the community.
In Somalia there several
Minority groups which suffer
from deep social exclusion in
Somalia are (Yibir, Madhiban,
Muse Dhariyo, Tumaal, Yahar,
Jareer/Bantu, Waat of garre,
Jaaji, Qalamashube of Banadir,
Gabro of Barawe & Ayle etc).
These clans are socially
excluded minority groups, they
are among the world’s poorest
people and the most
disadvantaged people among
Somali population who live below
the poverty line.
Vulnerable minority occupational
groups are excluded community in
Somalia from the overall
development process of the
country. They scattered all over
the country, performing
livelihood activities in almost
all Districts and Regions of
Somalia using locally available
raw materials, with limited
products differentiation based
on culture, history and
traditions.
They are performing the
following livelihood activities
& produce ranging from basketry,
mats, agriculture, hand-crafts,
small hand industries, fishing,
boat building, blacksmith,
carpentry, tannery, shoe-making
and other leather products which
is considered by Somalis as a
menial casts work or tasks.
These items are produced in
almost all Districts and Regions
of Somalia using locally
available raw materials, with
limited products differentiation
based on culture, history and
traditions.
Handicrafts production in
Somalia is cultural, traditional
and predominantly a minority or
cottage industry, engaged in by
rural youth of both gender but
largely by women folk, to
supplement household incomes.
The tradition has been to hand
over craftsmanship and skills
from generation to generation.
This tradition has waned
considerably over the time. Even
though master craftsmen can
still be found, their numbers
have diminished considerably.
Men, women and children who are
discriminated against often end
up excluded from society, the
economy and political
participation. They are more
likely to be poor. They are more
likely to be denied access to
income, assets and services.
These people suffer from social
exclusion – and poverty
reduction is harder as a result.
Poverty reduction policies often
fail to reach socially excluded
groups unless they are
specifically designed to do so.
DFID population policy paper
titled “Reducing poverty by
tackling social exclusion on
2005”, the paper outlined
challenges posed by social
exclusion, and the ways
governments, civil society and
donors can help to tackle them,
and to give excluded groups a
voice, to ensure their
participation in poverty
reduction programmes and to
build social movements & make a
real difference to the lives of
excluded people.
Well-intended development
projects & Poverty reduction
policies from Donor communities
and Somalia local government
agencies and non-governmental
organizations even in stable
regions (Somaliland/Puntland)
have little contact with them.
Due to social exclusion &
challenges poverty reduction
polices failed by not reaching
minority groups which are the
most needy people. They are
lacked almost every thing, as
non-minority people who were
better connected socially,
politically & militarily took
the benefits. As most of the
minority communities are
illiterate, many are landless,
and are exploited by outside
moneylenders. The Minority
disadvantaged groups lives under
in what an ILO calls an ‘evil
circle of economic and social
marginalization’.
However, in their zeal to earn
quick money for a living, the
artisans produce in fragmented
environment, with no
appreciation of market
requirements, quality, design,
standards and systematic
organization of markets.
Innovations, design and product
adaptations are limited, given
the low skills and capacity of
Somalia’s artisanal producers.
The situation is made worse by
the marginal position of these
communities.
DFID population policy paper
describes the challenges posed
by social exclusion, and the
ways governments, civil society
and donors can help to tackle
them. These include:
- Creating legal,
regulatory and policy frameworks
that promote social inclusion;
- Ensuring that socially
excluded groups benefit from
public expenditure as much as
other
groups;
- Improving economic
opportunities and access to
services for excluded groups;
- Promoting their
political participation in
society, and their capacity to
organize and mobilize
themselves;
- Increasing accountability to protect citizens’ basic human
rights; and
- Tackling prejudice and
changing behavior.
- DFID population
policy paper titled “Reducing
poverty by tackling social
exclusion on 2005”.
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Somalia/Somaliland,
