LEWISTON — Professor Ali Mohamed Aden, director of the Centre for Democracy and Political Reconciliation in Somalia, will be the featured speaker at the Great Falls Forum lecture series Thursday, Nov. 17.

It begins at noon in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library. Aden’s talk is titled, “Establishing a Credible Government in Somalia.”

Over the last 20 years, repeated efforts by the United Nations to bring an end to the internal conflicts in Somalia have failed. Many Somali clans believe that these failures are due in large part to the fact that the U.N. views Somalia through the eyes of their neighbors, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda, and has failed to establish direct communications with the entire mosaic of clans and sub-clans that exist within the country itself. This has led to a great deal of mistrust among many of the clans who fear that their voices are not being heard.

Professor Aden and the CDPRS feel that the time has come to try an alternative approach. Their plan calls for bringing together a broad coalition of Somali clan elders to set in motion a comprehensive reconciliation process in an atmosphere conducive to achieving a true peace in their country.

Ali Mohamed Aden has been active in Somali politics since the early 1990s when the present period of unrest began. In addition to his work with the CDPRS, Aden has been engaged with his alternative career in computer programming, software development and teaching. He currently runs the Gateway Tutor Academy in Lewiston.

Admission is free to all forum events, and no reservations are required. Attendees are invited to bring brown-bag lunches, or to take advantage of the forum’s partnership with Guthries cafe and request one of the eatery’s custom-made, gourmet sandwiches or salads to be delivered to the library in advance of the talk. Orders may be placed by calling Guthries at 376-3344. The menu is available at www.guthriesplace.com. Coffee, tea and bottled water will be available on site at the library.

The Great Falls Forum is jointly co-sponsored by Bates College, Lewiston Public Library and the Sun Journal. The Lewiston Public Library is at 200 Lisbon St. at the corner of Pine Street.

More information on Thursday’s lecture or other upcoming events in the Great Falls Forum series is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135 or www.LPLonline.org.