I read an article from the Turkish Daily Sabbah that the United Nations spent in Somalia $55 billions since 1991, and there was nothing to show for it. Of course we should not blame those who are giving the aid, but if you look carefully these kind of aides create corruption and oligarchy. In the late eighties when Somalia was collapsing through affiliation and other ills, the country borrowed almost 2 billion from the donor countries. In my opinion, welfare and handouts never built nations or families. THe African American community was one of the most hard working people in America in early nineteen fifties. When they striked big cities like Chicago used to shut down. Thirty years later when every immigrant got off a ship and made the American dream, the blacks were put in high rise buildings like sardines and given welfare for life. Since then their life was never the same. THe same thing goes to the Somalis who settled in housing projects. They could not see or gauge what was going on in the country. Some thought that by getting few hundred dollars that they were cheating the system with huge money, but they did not know that they were missing more than the few dollars. When things are given you for free , you would not know the value of the things that surround you. I do not want to go on with long drivel, but this concept of expecting others to build your nation is a concept shared by all Somali leaders. I said many times that this town of MOgadishu or the government of Somalia is not without cash or money. "Magaaladu lacag ayey la ciirciiraysa, Hoteelada boqolka dollar lagu seexanayo bal soo eeg". THis president got close to hundred million dollars for direct aid from other countries with less than 10 months in office , yet they might not have the salary of the soldiers. We want to know what this $300 million has done for Somalia at the end of three years. WE have seen what the Turks had built with few years. The days of millions spent in Nairobi hotels and airports is over. A consultant will be paid six figures and a Somali employee will paid $300/month.

the everyday mundane stuff eh. its thursday, so ill be playing football later on this evening iA. it's the highlight of my week. playing football is underated. its great for fitness and for making friends.

Madaxweynahayagii 3aad oo la kulmay kaayagii 5aad

Haldoorka Somaliland oo taageeray MBA

Historically the real estate industry is one of the truly highly developed industries throughout Somalia's history. Even when the Italians were running Mogadishu there was a large market for real estate since ownership of a residential property gave the owner rights to settle within the city. So Somalis are experts in this area so it is better to pay a premium and let the pros handle it. Why all the headache?

Ah, a suspect for a long time but now I know the clan tag. By the way, in the absence of industry, Somalis are creating hyperinflation in the property market. But when we finally develop productive industries, the land prices will crash as other venues for investment would be open for the savers.

Sums up the predicament of this sad ass country.

Not only in city roads but even in the countryside, buses and trucks must get out of their way when they see the speeding Qat landcruiser. Everyone from the villager to town people must get out of their way or else, " Mag malihid". Cadnaan, Actually in 1983, when the government prohibited the Qat imports from Ethiopia, the locals in Gabiley area had cultivated a large Qat farms. During my last year of HIgh school. , I went to Arabsiyo town with one of my classmates whose family owned a Qat farm in the area. We literally went to the farm and cut our own Qat to chew for almost the week we were there. It was a god Qat, but it needs little bit of moisture and more irrigation. " Waxooga laamaha caleemaha waa weyn lihi way qadhaadh yihiin, laakiin si qofku lacag uga sameeyo waa in uu isku dhex daraa kuwa waaweyn iyo kuwa kale. Haddi shaqo fiican laga qabto oo la derso waxa laga yaabaa in uu la mid noqdo qaadka Ethiopia". Suldaanka objected few threads back when I said that the Somaliland politicians use Qat more than others, but when I visited every politician I knew chewed the drug. Anyway there are ways to keep the hard currency within the country and regulate this drug. WE do not have real governments , but there is a lot of money to be made from Ethiopia and Kenya. WE have a plan.

Maakhiri, Everyone is trying to be close to downtown, and if you got a good wide space, they could use for hotel , Bank or other Hawala businesses. They assume that people will not be able to reach your business if you are out of the main square, but if they organize local busses or cheap transport people will come other markets. Booram waxaan ku arkay magaaladii oo magaalo kale laga dhex dhisay oo la buuxiyey dhulkii banaana ee lagu nasan jiray iyo staanadii baabuurtu joogsan jireen. WAxaan is idhi waar dadku maxay iskugu wada dhawaanayaan. It is a bad culture that could be changed by new urban planners,

Land sales and speculation is the only trade that is left in every peaceful region of Somalia. Cities like Garoowe, Boorama and Burco where people congregate for one single market (Suuq) for trades and exchanges, those spaces that are close to the market are expensive. The should create a "suuq" for every neighbourhood like i Hargeisa. In Somaliland the mayors got nothing but to sell public lands, parks school yards or open spaces where people use parking or other issues .Everyone is in the game including the ministers. fact it was Ahmed Siilaanyo who gave the national theater to a local businessman. Che, get some of your friends and start your own village or town 20 minute outside Garoowe. WAxaa laga yaabaa dhulkaa banaan in reer hebel yidhaahdaan angaa leh. A friend told me that from Mogadishu to Hargeisa every open public land is claimed by someone, if not the tribe that lives in the area will demand money or else.. You can start with a nice town where streets are wide and the land is zoned with retail, residential and public places like parks , hospitals and schools. Try to recruit some friends if you decided to relocate.

Guys, the elephant in the room, is us, SOMALIS and their leaders, we failed to provide and build our nation. WHY are we talking about aid, it is shame! become too dependant, and these guys paid the aid, they can spend as they see fit

Not sure why the land is overpriced, mainly to do with services availble in limited area. As for the cost of the building, tiles, roofs, pipes, Wcs, steel, cement, glasses, almost everything except sand, or rocks, are imported, and that is why it is expensive to build, once those materials become local, then it will be cheaper

It is a plot to distract the media and build some allies. By making this move at this stage, he is probably trying to gain the support of the Jewish intelligentsia at this crucial stage of the investigation, but unlike the crazy evangelicals, most American Jews are liberals and they oppose Trump. It was Netanyahu who opposed the unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state by the United Nation's general assembly last year insisting that the two state solutions could only be achieved through negotiations. Who knows the general assembly might start that process soon. Another way to read this move is that Mr. Trump could not deliver the Israeli and Saudi wish of attacking Ira, so this is probably a consolation prize for Netanyahu, yet the biggest losers of all this are the Arab allies of America., like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Fat boys of the Gulf. No one even considered their concern. This is definitely strengthening Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Qatar and those who oppose American policy in the middle east. Trump abandoned all trade agreements that had guided world commerce for the last fifty years. Soon he will leave NAFTA, he left the TPP (trans pacific partnership),He rejected the transatlantic agreement that suppose to bring EU and North America. Soon no one will sit down with America or ask their opinion whether it is the Middle East peace process, the UN or other bodies that regulate current issues. If the tribal congress of America do not act soon, he might dismantle America within four years. Some even suggested that Putin might help him for four more years, and within eight years of Trump , America will leave the world stage and will replaced by China, Russia, Turkey, india and others.

that is a piece of change for some of the rich guys there niyoow. walahi you'd be surprised how much some of the families in garowe have. they are multi-millionares. i know two families worth 5 million dollars each. they are my closest relatives and they are not close to being the top 10.

The sheer amount of hypocrisy is so immense to a point that it makes me laugh. Because if the US government recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel, does anything change on the ground? Israel still occupies all the lands that the United Nations has allocated to the Palestinians: including entire East Jerusalem. With or without the recognition of the United States, the city of Quds: including the Holy Mosque is under the control of Isreal. So nothing will change if the Trump administration goes ahead with this move. Matter fact, this episode will simplify this complex situation in the Middle East and will show Pro-Palestinians groups that America can never be a Neutral partner in any talks.

mid reer gabilley ah wuxuu ii sheegay in his family owns khaat farm in gabiley area but he told pple prefer the ethiopian then the local khat. i dont think banning khat would work but locally produced khat would keep the money within the country.

Saxb aad buu ug baxaa, especially white leaf, and not highly potent. agree kuwa kale lagu beeru weeye, but at the end, this is not good, it is a drug, and should be banned, in my opinion

Great to see a picture of young Ali Matan Hashi, Somalia's first pilot. He certainly made the nation proud. Allaha u naxariisto.

Same shidh happening in Kenya. Only industry is real estate and land speculation. There is a population boom and every inch has been squatted on. Can't be sustainable in the long run.

I absolutely heart Nostalgic images of Somalia, Here is one from sometime in the early years of the 70's, A road trip from Mogadishu with my Uncle Ali Matan Hashi, Aunty Daleys & Big sister Aisha and other relatives

This is amazing. Societies progress. We regressed backward. My observations: 1. Diversity 2. Good manners 3. Cute and healthy kids 4. Beautiful Somali teacher

Mooge. Walaal. Developed nations have laws that contain the scope of lobbying done for foreign entities and simultaneously if the lobbyists breach these laws, they are held accountable. So there is a system in place. Since there is no system in place in our country, there is no way we can have lobbyists. Ciida can't be held accountable for these individuals' action. So let's called them what they really are: Mercenaries.