We, Somalis from downunder, have not assimilated yet like you folks in North America. There are lots of things that are still taboo here that has become normal in North America. I just can't stand the smell of what they drink so I mostly skip the event. For example they send out the Xmas party invite 30 days earlier and if I think it is not appropriate for me to be there, I sometimes arrange my leave a day or two earlier. Last year we went to a golf course so I attended. But previous years, they arranged a lunch at a local bar, so I skipped it. But during the year, luncheons, they accommodate my dietry restrictions by either going to a fully sea-food only restraunt or halal restraunts of which there are many. I got the other day bottles of fresh camel milk and my colleagues had a taste of it. They loved it.

When it comes to export and import banks the Ethiopians are ahead of us, Djibouti and even Kenya. Ethiopian exporters send their coffee beans and other products and most of the transactions are guaranteed by government and banks. Traders and exporters get letter of credit from the banks guaranteed by the government.It is one of those things that only a real government could do. Somaliland livestock exporters lose money to unscrupulous SAudi importers everyday year. Anyway, in Addis, you might think that there are more banks than hotels.THere is one in every corner.

Today's event was about commercial interest regarding a contract involving Puntland Development Group, an entity contracted by UAE to provide supplies to PMPF which is basically funded and run by the Emirates. The militia was led by Ciise Yulux who felt that he was left out of the contract. It really has nothing to do with redressing reer Bari grievances. A man like Ciise merely uses clan grievances to further his personal interest. But there's a larger problem in terms of governance. Puntland is at the same place since its creation in terms of political space. Some clans feel left out and the actual election process is corrupt. The man with the most money wins. As it regards to reer Bari, the argument is about resource allocation. They claim that they don't get their fair share as it relates to revenue collected from Bosaso port. But the reality is the port generates revenue because many Somalis that ain't from Bari use it. Without other Somalis, the port wouldn't generate that much. In the overall economic situation, reer Bari are not in any worse situation than reer Mudug. In fact, one can argue Mudug gets the least attention. Like the rest of Somalia, Puntland is stagnant. And without a new creative innovation, I don't see it getting better. And lastly, everything the UAE touches dies, it is time for them to leave.

WAxaan u malaynayaa dadka yar ee soo hadhay in aad kala dirta ayaad rabtaa. At the moment AWdal especially Borama and surrounding area doesn't need war. If war comes it will come from the Awdal coast. Wax badan ma maraabaan. Beerahoodain in ay qotaan oo degaankooda waxii ay ku lahaayeen helaan ayey rabaan . imagine that these community has most of the farming surrounding WAjaale both on the Ethiopian side and Somaliland side, they have shops and population within the city, yet they have zero representation within Wajaale administration. It is this new thing in Somaliland that if you vote for the opposition you could be eliminated from the civil service. Poliska wajaale kuma jiraan, maamulkana kuma jiraan. Waar reer Gabileyow kibirka joojiya oo abityaasheen xaqooda siiya. Xabad haday gaadhana, haddi ciidanka Soomaaliland faraha iskaga qaado, Sida ceel Bardaale waa la soo qaqaban reer Gabiley. Anyway, Somaliland needs those old and wise leaders like Cigaal and Rayyaale. These people should never had supposed to hold power in the first place. Imisaan ka dignay. Calaa kuli xaal nabad baan ku baaqayna . Askartan hadda xukunka qabsatay dadka intii hadhay in ay kala diraan ayaa laga baqayaa.

This guy puts things into context...

'Markaad dheregtaan waxii dhulka u dhaca aan qaadano'[, ayaa laga waayey madaxdii Soomaaliyeed. How can you sell ports and other public properties without consulting the people . THe Boosaaso business community could come up more or as much money than the corrupt oligarchs of UAE. Most Arabs in the gulf including Saudis, Egyptians and UAE are evil to the core. Nothing good will come out from their association.Rather please the foreigner Arab sit down with your local businessmen and come up with better solutions. WE Somalis know only UAE and the Arab despots. Certainly the world trade is bigger than them. Dahabshiil could invest Berbera.

Awoowe, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck. Surely, it must be duck. In this picture, you have Cheeseman along with 10 other men who seem to all be holding their utensils in their hands. And if my memory serves me better, a paper plate with a napkin, it is time for hot dogs. OK, I will take back 'cunaaya' part, but there is an intent to grab some of what on offer, which is most likely BBQ sausages.

The company I work for, even gets HALAL from halal butchery for few of us, or even for me , actually some of them even prefer HALAL, as less watery , they say, and tasty. anyway, SULDAANKA, is beckoning a real politician, qof aan waxna ka xishoon.