SOMALIA / JOWHAR PEACE

For most of the world, Somalia is a failed state conjuring images of wrecked infrastructure, bombed out buildings, and rogue militias. Following the collapse of the central government in 1991, Somalia and its people have endured 14 years of civil war between rival clan militias. The ensuing anarchy caused mass destruction, looting of public and private properties, mass killings, and the displacement of tens of thousands of people.

The newly-elected President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed officially moved to Somalia from Kenya on June 14th. Though it is the 14th attempt at establishing an effective central government in as many years, the Transitional Federal Government has had success creating peace accords between the main warring clans, and because of this, optimism for a new Somalia remains high. This optimism is reflected in the renewed pastures, revived infrastructure, and thriving business districts of the Middle Shabelle region of southern Somalia, and its capital city, Jowhar.

There is strong support here for the new government, and a sense among the people that peace can hold. And while khat-fueled militias are still ever-present, the Middle Shabelle Administration Police are no longer actively warring for power; they are now the peacekeepers. Their guns have ironically become symbols of law and order in anticipation of helping to secure what many believe will be a temporary seat for the new Somalia government.

The streets are once again safe for the residents of Jowhar, and farmers have been able to return to some of the most fertile land in Somalia. Life in general seems to be retuning to normal. Given its close proximity to Mogadishu - Somalia's capital and still prey to the insecurity of inter-clan fighting - Jowhar was one of hardest hit regions of the civil war. Because of the new peace and stability in the region, markets are now thriving, and streets that were at one time empty are once again teeming with life. Popular Café Rose in downtown Jowhar is one such business benefiting and growing because of stability in Middle Shabelle.

Its owner Hassan Mohamed Abdul fled Somalia during the civil war to Yemen. He returned to Jowhar four years ago when he heard that peace had been restored to the region. English Translation:"I expected this town to be the best place (for me to come back to), and (Jowhar) is in my heart and soul. I want my business to grow and move forward. Peace is the most important thing in the whole world. I would not be sitting here now with this money if I were in Mogadishu." Maxwell Gaylord is the United Nations Coordinator for Somalia.

He has witnessed the rebirth of Jowhar. "Again in the town of Jowhar, which was probably ravaged by civil war - there's plenty of signs of the wreckage - I think you can see it (Jowhar) coming again. There's telecommunications, electricity; there's a very good water supply, which was put in with the assistance of the United Nations through UNICEF.

So, you know, it's a town in central South Somalia that is normal. And I have to admit, there's not too many of those elsewhere. So, it does stand out as a beacon in that sense. "There was much cause for celebration on the part of the people of Jowhar during a recent visit to the region by the Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Gedi earlier this month. His presence seemed to confirm what residents here already know: that Jowhar is a shinning example for the rest of Somalia, and the region itself is critical to Somalia's future economic prosperity.

Officially, the Prime Minister came to open the new Duduble (or China) Canal, which was dug and built by the hands of Jowhar residents. Only 35 percent of the funding and expertise for building the canal came from outside donors and non-governmental organizations. The balance came from the Middle Shabelle Administration. Because of this, in part, residents of Jowhar have become owners in their own future.

The canal, with its ability to regulate and tame the Shabelle River, will benefit 50,000 people and irrigate an additional 30,000 hectares of farmland. Max Gaylord: "So it's (Jowhar) is in a very strategic location and sitting as it does astride the Shabelle river - the land around here is wonderful agricultural land. This could be the bread basket of East Africa quite easily." As Jowhar resident celebrate their newfound peace and prosperity, the outside world can only wait to see if Jowhar rises to the challenge of being a new face for Somalia.