Sustaining the post-agreement peace – Galkaio, Somalia

This article examines the implementation and evolution of the 2017 peace agreement in Galkaio, a divided town in central Somalia marking the border of clan and state boundaries. Drawing on extensive fieldwork and a trans-scalar peacebuilding framework, the study explores how peace has been sustained through adaptive mediation, local political agency, and the revival of customary law (xeer), rather than formal institutions or international oversight. While the agreement has brought a degree of stability and investment, it remains vulnerable to relapse due to a fragmented security landscape, unresolved inter-clan tensions, and weak governance structures. Conceptually, the paper challenges linear models of peace implementation, arguing instead that peace must be understood as a fluid, negotiated process embedded in political ‘unsettlement’. By linking political economy analysis with trans-scalar dynamics, the article contributes to debates on local peace processes and offers insights for sustaining peace amid institutional fragility.