Exhumations without (transitional) justice? Recovering the dead in Somaliland

TL;DR

This paper explores how families in Somaliland view recent efforts to recover victims of past political violence and highlights their complex needs for justice and healing.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the specific needs and concerns of families affected by political violence in Somaliland, emphasizing survivor-centered approaches in post-conflict justice.

Findings

Families support exhumations but also seek formal legal justice for perpetrators.

Many families accept documentation of atrocities as an alternative to legal accountability.

There are concerns that forensic investigations may reignite clan conflicts.

Abstract

Forensic investigations of political violence are pursued for retributive and restorative justice purposes, although the relationship between the two processes has been the subject of debate. Alongside these debates are conversations emphasizing the need for actor-, victim-, or survivor-centered agendas for transition after conflict. Using ethnographic data, this article accounts for the viewpoints of 74 Somalilanders who lost a family member during the political violence of the 1980s Siad Barre dictatorship. Discussions with families centered on recent mass grave exhumations, their knowledge of forensic anthropological investigations, and their wider views on local post-conflict processes. During interviews, families highlighted the need for exhumations, formal legal justice activities, and investments in physical and mental health institutions. While most family members want perpetrators tried through formal legal means, many would accept processes to inform the young, the international community, and the historical narrative about the atrocities, as accountability may be beyond reach. Moreover, some relatives are primarily focused on Somaliland's pursuit of international recognition, whereas others view investigations as volatile and believe they may spur renewed clan conflict. This article supports arguments brought forth in response to post-conflict investigations for over 20 years: family needs are complex and must be pursued during forensic work using survivor-centered approaches. Furthermore, this article shows the complex and context-specific needs of families of the dead in Somaliland. Arguably, these needs should be central to further post-conflict work in the region, and they can also inform emerging transitional justice efforts across North Africa and the Middle East.

•Families of the dead in Somaliland have needs that are not being met by recent mass grave exhumations.•Families of the dead are generally supportive of mass grave exhumations but a majority are also looking for formal legal justice processes to hold the perpetrators accountable, preferably in international courts although following Shari'a principles.•Since few family members of the dead believe their loved ones' killer can be held accountable (since the conflict took place over 30 years ago and Somaliland is not internationally recognized) many would instead accept documentation of atrocities to inform the young, the world, and the historical narrative.•There are concerns amongst Somaliland communities that forensic investigations through mass grave exhumations will lead to renewed conflicts between clans.•The Somaliland case shows the continued need for locally specific survivor-centered approaches to understanding post-conflict needs in order to support transitional justice processes that respond to local experiences, socio-political contexts, and ethnic divisions.

Families of the dead in Somaliland have needs that are not being met by recent mass grave exhumations.

Families of the dead are generally supportive of mass grave exhumations but a majority are also looking for formal legal justice processes to hold the perpetrators accountable, preferably in international courts although following Shari'a principles.

Since few family members of the dead believe their loved ones' killer can be held accountable (since the conflict took place over 30 years ago and Somaliland is not internationally recognized) many would instead accept documentation of atrocities to inform the young, the world, and the historical narrative.

There are concerns amongst Somaliland communities that forensic investigations through mass grave exhumations will lead to renewed conflicts between clans.

The Somaliland case shows the continued need for locally specific survivor-centered approaches to understanding post-conflict needs in order to support transitional justice processes that respond to local experiences, socio-political contexts, and ethnic divisions.