In the Somali-populated territories of the Horn, pastoralism and agro-pastoralism are the dominant mode of livelihood. The northern Somali livestock trade involves the annual export of at least $200 million worth of live animals.

Land has been a source of both prosperity and conflict for Somalia. For generations, the region’s varied terrain has provided forage for herds, land for crops, and space for commerce. At the same time, uncertainty over land rights has led to violence and contributed to the civil war of the last 20 years. Today, as stability returns to many parts of Somalia, the question of how to govern the land is a pressing challenge for all who are interested in reducing conflict and increasing prosperity.