Somalia
“Peacebuilding is not just about negotiations, but about addressing the emotional aspects of conflict. By using cultural arts & technology, and amplifying the voices of those most affected—especially women—we made a real impact”
Abdinasir Mohamed Yusuf is the Programme Coordinator & Deputy Director, Puntland Development Research Centre (PDRC) dedicated to fostering peace and reconciliation in Somalia. In this PeaceTalk, he shares his personal childhood experiences that led him to become a peacebuilder.
Mr. Abdinasir Mohamed Yusuf is a seasoned peacebuilding expert and currently serves as the Deputy Director and Head of Programs at the Puntland Development Research Centre (PDRC), one of the pioneering peacebuilding organizations in Somalia. Born in 1978, Abdinasir holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in international cooperation and humanitarian aid. He began his peacebuilding career in 2005 when he joined PDRC as a researcher, eventually rising to lead the organization’s Mobile Audio-Visual Unit. In this role, he focused on raising civic awareness and promoting community-level peacebuilding efforts across Somalia. His work in this area was not only impactful but also widely recognized as a model for others, as many of the processes he developed were documented and shared as best practices.
Over the years, Abdinasir has been instrumental in facilitating numerous mediation efforts that have led to peace agreements and the cessation of armed violence in various parts of Somalia. His expertise extends beyond the technical aspects of peacebuilding; he is deeply committed to the principles of community-driven conflict resolution and sustainable peace. His work has consistently focused on empowering local communities to take ownership of peace processes, ensuring that solutions are both culturally relevant and widely accepted. Many of these successful community mediation processes have been documented in films, manuals, and replicated as best practices and resource guides. Abdinasir’s expertise and dedication to peacebuilding have made him a respected figure in the field, and he continues to contribute to the development of effective, community-driven strategies for conflict transformation in Somalia.
Abdinasir’s contributions to peacebuilding in Somalia have made him a respected and influential figure in the field. His dedication to fostering dialogue, promoting understanding, and building trust among conflicting parties continues to drive his work. Today, he remains at the forefront of efforts to develop innovative, community-based strategies for conflict resolution, aiming to create lasting peace in Somalia.