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

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.