At least 50 die in Djibouti floods At least 50 people have died and many more were missing in floods after torrential rains pounded Djibouti in east Africa this week, aid workers say. Many homes were washed away as floodwaters surged along the dry Ambouli riverbed between the capital, also called Djibouti, and Balbala suburb, an area in which 65 per cent of the capital's 400,000 inhabitants live. "So far the storm has claimed the lives of 50 people but as many as 100 more are missing and feared dead," Abdourahman Chamsan Saleh, the secretary general of the Djibouti Red Crescent Society, said. The Red Crescent and national authorities estimate about 10,000 people have lost shelter and property. The storm brought down telephone poles in the capital, causing a virtual communications blackout for four days. Electricity had been restored to about 50 per cent of the population. Officials say they were concerned that only 40 per cent of the city's water supply, usually inadequate for the needs of its population, especially in the poorer suburbs, was functioning. The Djibouti military, with the assistance of US and French military helicopters, evacuated about 1,500 people to the safe grounds of two schools. --Reuters

Aqil Mohamed explaining their initiatives to Human Rights NGOs during the syposium on Peace and Security (December 10,2003) Addressing the people at the kharia (public square) during the International Human Rights Celebration In a caucus with NGO leaders of Togdheer, their first time to work with civil society groups. The Aqils of Togdheer (in the middle) with the rest of Human rights leaders from different regions. Togdheer Aqils with Bashir, Victoria and the author Knowing the Aqils By Yvette Lopez of Taste of Africa web logg "Sheer beleed" or peace conferences were composed mostly of these men. The 1993 Borama conference granted these traditional leaders a separate legislative chamber of their own in the government structure of Somaliland. It is known as the Guurti, the collective voice of various clan leaders. This is one distinct feature of Somaliland government, which is a fusion of traditional and "modern" leadership models. Among the traditional leaders, there are the Aqils, the head of the diya-paying group in the intricate clan system of Somaliland. Some of their functions are to act as a judge (within their clan) or negotiator (in situations that require inter-clan dialogues) upholding the "Xeers" or customary laws that govern the traditional practices on issues such as inherited marriages, revenge killings or any conflict that involves the clan. In an oral society like Somaliland, customary laws are not written on paper, but imprinted in the minds of these elders and are passed from one generation to another by word of mouth. Traditionally, these clan leaders are expected to possess the wisdom and protect the culture and tradition of this country. They are crucial in deciding when clans should go to war or when it should uphold peace. One eastern region of Somaliland, Togdheer has one distinct traditional structure. The House of Aqils. The place where the Aqils meet and gather. Togdheer is reputed to be a place where some of the fiercest liberation fighters originated. It straddles a strategic location connecting the capital to the east. They too are represented in the Guurti. The first Aqils I worked with are from this region. They hold the pioneering role in acting on human rights issues in the country. They traversed the road very few attempted to take, they initiated changes in customary laws. In September last year, upon the initiative of the younger clan leaders, Togdheer's House of Aqils met, debated and agreed on issues affecting issues on human rights. Togdheer's Governor Abdi Hussein recognized their crucial role when he said during his opening speech “The Aqils are the thread that connects the government and the communities; any interventions concerning peace and development will not be successful without the participation of the Aqils” . With the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) the gathering was held upon the initiative and request of the younger Aqils who want to effect change. Some of these changes on customary laws related to women's right to choose their spouse. “If the marriage does not happen between two consenting individuals, it will not last and will not result to a good and stable marriage. If we allow the woman and give her the freedom to choose her husband then, there is a huge chance that marriage will work..” Aqil Shukri explained. This was supported by Sheikh Ahmed Sheikh Ali Yusuf who attended the same event when he said: " “If a woman’s husband dies, she is free as she was in the beginning. We do not have the authority to tell her that she cannot get married. Inherited and forced marriage cause child neglect, lawlessness and conflict. So God is telling us that the woman is free to choose and to marry.” Inherited marriage is only one of the issues they tackled. Controversial and sensitive issues such as revenge killings or "Ano" is another major concern they want to change. As a result of the conference a Declaration was passed and signed by the leaders of the House of Aqils. After the gathering, they travelled to far flung villages and informed the people who were gladly surprised by this development and like the traditional Somali way of gathering they met and discussed with the people ...under the tree. As a result, there are reports that after women heard about the initiative, widows have started marrying the men they have long wanted to marry, not by the virtue of his relationship to her deceased husband, but of their choice.

Images of the House of Aqils of Togdheer by Posted by Yvette Lopez of Taste of Somaliland The House of Aqils of Togdheer with Victoria (the lone female) of DRC taken during their Human Rights Conference. An Aqil signing the Human Rights Declaration. Aqils meeting the villagers of Ainabo and the villagers of Odweine ' *First four photos courtesy of DRC-Somaliland

A Taste Of Africa-Posted by Yvette Lopez at February 20, 2004 05:22 PM Notes on my Teacher' Group is a story about UFFO, their arrest and trial written by Jama Musse Jama, one of the students who participated in the protest. UFFO is Somali word which means the wind before the rain. In 1980's UFFO was a symbol of change. A young group of doctors, engineers, teachers and intellectuals organized themselves to advocate for the deteriorating condition suffered by the people in this northwestern part of Somalia. They spoke of the neglect and hardships, and launched actions to mobilize the public to improve conditions of hospitals and schools. The Siad Barre military regime answered by arresting UFFO members, they were sent to prison, some in solitary confinement and sentenced to die. Their arrest triggered anger among youth and students, for them UFFO was a symbol of change, a symbol of hope. The students passed secret notes and messages to signal the start of the protest. Student leaders from Farah Omar, June 26 and Gaan Liba led the huge number of youth from various secondary schools to march to the District Court of Hargeisa. The mission, to protest against the abduction and arrest of their teachers and UFFO members. Military forces and prosecutors from the south was brought to Hargeisa to conduct and secure the court hearing. The detemined masses of students, armed with stones and agitated by the repressive treatment of the government in the South stood their ground. The mobilization was confronted by technicals (military vehicles with artilleries) and armed soldiers. Their protest was met by force, the soldiers open fired targetting youth demonstrators as young as 12 years old. In defense and anger, the students retaliated by throwing stones. Hundreds of them were arrested, beaten, imprisoned and some lost their lives. This action is highly remembered because it triggered massive resistance against the dictatorship. Men from various clans, fathers, brothers and students themselves started joining the Somali National Movement (SNM) an armed group that was during that time building up forces in Ethiopia. February 20, 2004 Dhagax Tuur Dhagax Tuur, is Somali which means stone throwing. ------ They gathered at around eigth in the morning. Banners and flags they painted with their own hands proudly waved in the air. Like any other march, there was the police band tuning their trumpets and horns. The people were not only young leaders and members of SONYO, the only nationwide youth umbrella in the country. Grey haired men also joined the mass up, they were members of UFFO, the first victims of the Siad Barre dictatorship. Led by Mohamed Baroud Ali, (the number one target of the military government during that time, one of the UFFO members who suffered torture and imprisonment in solitary confinement for 8 years) other UFFO members and SONYO leaders stood in front of the District Court of Hargeisa. Together they passed a landmark that serves as a remembrance of the fateful court decision against the UFFO members, together, they prayed in memory of the students who died in that same place 22 years ago. Then, they continued to march proudly in the streets towards the public square. Mohamed Ali Banfas, a well respected and popular poet, narrated the details of what has transpired, he too participated in that same demonstration 2 decades ago. Ministers from various government departments join the group, leaders of political parties like UCID and KULMIYE's own presidential bet Ahmed Mohamed Siilaanyo were present. They all spoke of the spirit that embraced the country during that time, they all spoke of the courage and the collective strength of the youth that resisted the dictatorship. "Today marks the day we started our struggle. Its the day when the nation decided to fight against the dictator. This day will always remind us never to join our brothers in the south but to strongly defend our country, Somaliland." Siilanyo said. Mohamed Hashi Elmi, the Ministry of Trade of Industry spoke not only of the past but also encouraged the people to work hard for the future. He talked about the potential of the country, in areas of fishing, agriculture and industry. "If we work hard, save our money and build these industries it will give a better future for the youth of our country" Elmi noted. SONYO's National Chairperson Mohamed Hassan Saiid explained the importance of peace to the young generation. "The peace we experience today is valuable for our future. We would not have been here today, celebrating our country, Somaliland if the youth of the past did not take the first step towards change" Saiid said. Although they come from different political parties and clans, they gather to remember the event when they joined hands and started to fight for their country. Indeed Somaliland hanoolaato! (Long live Somaliland!) ---

Lets hope and pray thats the end of it.

General Morgan is not my relative Mobb you are quick to call others 'aabe Siyaad's children' (ironic when you consider Mama Khadija) then Morgan must be your inaader Back to the topic, you've ducked n dived without answering the charges and i'm not letting you off the hook. Can you explain once and for all what you meant by "this bull about genocide and mass graves" Was it all load of bull or was Morgan responsible for something very awful?. TELL ME WHAT YOU BELIEVE. Do you agree with any of the following comments: Originally posted by Mobb_Deep: I translated some main point from the interview so here it is na'mean. Attrocities against the North: I have heard these accusation but don't listen to them. I was defending my country just like everyone else when some rebels aided by mingistu attacked our country. I was a high ranking officer. I was doing my job of defending my country. The mass graves they talk about is the people they killed from their tribal conflict. We have proof that they attacked cities full of civilians and our government was just doing what it was supposed to do. Defend the country from the SNM rebel who attacked. 'Morgan has blood on his hand' is a vague Blair-like answer.Prove me wrong by answering the questions directly. There many who belittle the crimes done by this man IN SOMALILAND and I think you are one of them. TELL ME WHAT YOU REALLY BELIEVE AND IF I'M WRONG, I'LL TAKE IT ALL BACK. HornAfrique You are a staunch supporter of Abduqasbaaye Saladboy who held several position in the 21 wonder years of Siyaad government without any guilt or apologising for its crimes. Horn condemns Riyaale for being a member of the NSS while when he is the 'numero uno' campaigner of of 'President' Saladboy who was a Deputy in Siyaad's Ministry of Defence when Hargeisa and the whole Somaliland was being bombed and mined and has the nerve to talk about 'selective justice'. At least Riyaale acknowledges and apologised for the crimes committed. I don't think you telling SOL how emotional you are about whats going on in Xeraale is petty and what we are talking about is on a much larger scale so if you have nothing to contribute, don't.

Originally posted by Gediid: Lemme explain where the idea of Shaah is bad for women came from. In the good old days of the real nomads,tea was a precious item bought from faraway places and availible only to a few.It was only served when guests came to visit.To stop women from drinking it they simply said shaah is bad for women and that was the end of it.Till recently women believed in it.Twisted old men so maaha..... Twisted indeed, if thats true that is Gediid where does this 'myth' or Somali tradition that we are not supposed to eat most internal organs of animals originate? We can eat kidney but not heart, we can eat liver but not lungs and intestines and necks are for ladies only . Most of my uncles never ate chicken and fish to them was like eating snake. Not even Arabs have these 'traditions' let alone other Africans. Maybe these little politically/religiously-incorect 'myths' are the only things that show our unique Somali heritage and identify who we really are.

Originally posted by Mobb_Deep: You actually couldn't find anywhere I said Morgan is innocent you went back to an interview made by Morgan on another website which I posted like everyone else does on this website na'mean. Mobb I say you took time to 'translate' and post views of this murderous relative of yours not only to sanitise this monster but also because you agree with them and it doesn't take a genius to figure that one out. Not every household has a person who takes time to 'translate' and write a 'transcript' of TV interview of a mass murder they don't 'like' and your claim that is : 'like everyone else does on this website' is a lie. Just days earlier this what you were asking: Originally posted by Mobb_Deep: Qudhac, let me ask ya a sincere question. What would Riyaale do as the president of Somaliland if a "renegade militia" captured Berbera and Burco? Let me guess, General Mobb_Deep would DO what General Morgan DID. Do you remember this because I do: Originally posted by Mobb_Deep: Guys, MMA is getting tired of this bull about genocide and mass graves posted on here everyday when the people of Bay and Bakool were massacred. "this bull about genocide and mass graves" Is that Morgan or Mobb_Deep I wonder? No need to read between the lines there, is there? "the people of Bay and Bakool were massacred." Yes they were by who exactly? Was it the SNM? The answer is NO. They massacred by none other the people who committed the genocide you call 'this bull' in Somaliland. General Morgan is among them but you MMA and the rest lack the irony to see that when you use the Bay tragedy to attack Somalilanders. The SNM chose to make peace at their peak while others descended into orgies of killing and revenge. Lets keep things real because many of you hate the SNM just because they kicked silver spoons out of your mouths. PEACE NA'MEAN

Samurai ...and one’s trip is purely for personal health reasons, then it must mean one thing only, eh! Yeah, HRH's vets are the best. . . .

Originally posted by Sooyaal: i don't see what the fuss is all about? If criminals,murderers etc. are to be tried so be it. nomads here should not scared about that. if you know your innocence then your safe. or IS THERE DAD, BROTHER, UNCLE ETC WHO DID SOME BAD DEEDS IN WAQOOYI! in that case your fear is understandable . loooooool That crossed my mind too but I was too scared I thought the 'Pan somalis' and 'true patriots' would welcome anything that removes some if not all of the trouble-makers from the scene. How wrong was I?

Mobb Deep Waa ninkaagaa Qabiilka magaciisa wata, That nick is not my qabiil name so calm yourself down mate. I'm prepared to tell you what that nick stands for, or if you prefer i'll tell you my sub/sub-sub clan just to put you out of your misery. Mobb Deep where have I said Morgan is innocent? Tell me what this, is if not a sick attempt to sanitise the Butcher of Hargeisa>>>>> web page Is this one of your tribalist smear campaigns or is it just another day at the marfish? :confused: :confused: Are you confusing me with someone you know? Mobb Deep Morgan and SNM all belong to the same category of criminals In your dreams young man, in your dreams only. na'mean. Naaa mate!! me don't. . ... .

Baashi I suggested 'Truth Commission' because it might make it easier for some people to admit their crimes because they won't fear punishment if they did, and not to 'bottle' things as you put it. If the likes of you and Liqaye are already on the defensive what are chances of the 'real' culprits admitting their crimes. Since tribunals don't give death setences even to most brutal of individuals and take years if not decades, the only way to get the facts recoreded might be following what the South Africans did. I thought Milosevic submitting a witness list 1,500+ was the best time-wasting tactic but you came up with: "If and when we got a working government will have them... answer few specific crimes against humanity". If you can't try these criminals now, how will you be able to do it when or if become your official 'working government' )? Time is marching on and some of the suspects are no longer with us.

Mobb Deep contain yourself bro. Last you were claiming Morgan is 'innocent' and now SNM were 'savages'. We all know who the savages are and you can't change history with a few posts in SOL. na'mean. . NOPE! .

Baashi (all folks in commanding position at the time of crimes were committed) This will exclude the people who did the the torturing and killings won't it? Maybe we should have a 'Truth Commission' like South Africa and spend the money on the orphans and crippled.

Where is Col. Yey anyways? quarantined at Battersea dogs' home? :confused:

Originally posted by Mobb_Deep: It thought the "terrorist" were alleged to be from Puntland and were supported by Abdiqasim according to Somaliland media na'mean. Mobb the article posted by Konweyn is from... Somaliland media . There are different versions given, you can either wait and see outcome or decide which one to believe.

Qudhac whether Buurmadow is angel or not is not the issue, the question is why was he arrested? where is the evidence the government kept saying they had? From outside its looks like the government used the police and courts for political purposes esp when you consider Cismaan Kaluun came and went while Buurmadow was in prison. When you add the Jamac Yare incident, looks like some senior members of this administrations don't know when they are sailing too close to the wind.

Baashi Prof Lewis had it coming as he continues to poke his nose into our affairs. Baashow if I open my mouth 'i'm blinded by qabiil' The likes of Fuad Aadan are 'in it for the money'. Who are you prepared to listen to without dismissing them with a trite phrase? Blv me there are naive folks who reference his "opinions" as if they are ahadiith! Not to mention the influence his works lend to the lobbyist and their clients. Sometimes he is worth quoting esp when he hits he nail on the head like this: "Some southerners will protest that Somaliland 's recognition is a blow to Somali unity. But this is sheer nonsense and sounds hollow coming, as it does, from people who in the last fourteen years have done nothing to advance Somali unity and even less to further human rights and democracy. Somali ‘re-configuration' as the British foreign office blandly calls it, has already happened. The people of Somaliland have demonstrated that their independence is a fait accompli whatever outsiders choose to think. Nor does this in any way endanger or diminish the ethnic identity of the Somali people and their socio-economic cohesion that reaches into Djibouti , Ethiopia and Kenya —an un-disruptive political dismemberment already accepted within the Somali nation. Thus, the attitude to Somaliland 's independence, of those southern Somali politicians who oppose it, is akin to that of a person who has had a limb amputated, but still claims to feel it as part of his body." By I.M. Lewis FBA

Originally posted by mojam: What is it with these guys? Don't they have any sense of what fashion is? I mean come on ... A purple shirt with a black suit coat? ... A red tie with a black coat? Solowly solowly adeer Were are getting closer and closer to the underwear question, don't you think? BTW I just love the diversity in dress sense displayed below; from baseball caps to macaawiis. How colourful esp if compared to Saddam's cronies eh.

DU'A WHEN IT RAINS Allahumma sayyiban naaf'ian. (O Allah, (bring) beneficial rain clouds) [sahih al-Bukhari;, (Al-Asqalani's) Fath al-Bari - 2:518] DU'A AFTER IT RAINS MuTirnaa bi Fadhlil-Llahi wa Rahmatihi. (It has rained by the Bounty of Allah and His Mercy) [sahih al-Bukhari; 1:205, Muslim; 1:83] Du'as related to the weather .

FALLUJA, Iraq—Muslim clerics yesterday condemned the mutilation of the bodies of four U.S. civilians — but not their slayings — and the military announced the combat deaths of two more Americans. In Falluja, Sheik Fawzi Nameq addressed 600 worshippers at a mosque opposite the mayor's office, not far from the scene of Wednesday's deadly ambush of the American civilians. "Islam does not condone the mutilation of the bodies of the dead," the cleric said, but he did not pass judgment on the killings.>>>>full article>>>>>>toronto star ========================= Robert Fisk: " Most Of The People Dying In Iraq Are Iraqis" Ali(inna lillah wa inna ilaihi raajicuun) Mohamed Robert Fisk: "Now, you may ask why I do not write about Fallujah and the atrocities which occurred there three days ago: the cruel and atrocious murder of four Americans who were hauled, begging for their lives, from their two sports utility vehicles, burned, mutilated, dragged through the streets and then hanged naked - what was left of their bodies - from a decaying British railway bridge over the Euphrates river. The answer is simple. US proconsul Paul Bremer called their deaths "barbaric and inexcusable". Paul Bremer was right. But their deaths were not inexplicable". Adra ' ======================= Brutal killing of Americans in Iraq raises questions over security firms Julian Borger in Washington Friday April 2, 2004 The Guardian The four Americans killed, burned and mutilated in Falluja worked for a private security company, and their deaths have brought scrutiny of the increasing role played by hired guns in Iraq. Blackwater Security Consulting, the North Carolina company which employed the four men, said only that they had been in Falluja to provide protection for food convoys into the town but gave no further details. "We grieve today for the loss of our colleagues and we pray for their families," said the website for the firm's parent company, Blackwater USA, alongside the motto: "In support of Freedom and Democracy Everywhere!" It added: "The graphic images of the unprovoked attack and subsequent heinous mistreatment of our friends exhibits the extraordinary conditions under which we voluntarily work to bring freedom and democracy to the Iraqi people." Blackwater was founded in 1996 by a former US navy commando. It recruits former special forces soldiers, FBI agents and policemen to provide military and police training, and to serve as bodyguards and bomb disposal experts. Its employees are responsible for protecting Paul Bremer, the American civilian administrator in Iraq. As the US and other western armies have shrunk over the past decade, conflicts have increasingly been privatised. In Iraq, oil wells and pipelines are guarded by employees of Erinys, a company based in Britain and South Africa. It has 100 expatriates leading a 14,000-strong Iraqi force on patrol. The new companies' employees can earn up to $900 (about £490) a day in a conflict zone, far more than any soldier, often for similar work. The increase in their numbers threatens to draw elite soldiers away from conventional special forces, although the brutality of the Falluja attacks may affect recruitment. The four deaths in Falluja highlighted a dilemma for private security companies asked to work in the face of a violent insurgency. "Some are saying you should just stay under the radar and use local cars and all that," said an industry expert, who asked for his name not to be used. "Others say you should go around in easily identifiable cars with guns pointing out of the window." The Blackwater employees were driving into Falluja in four-wheel drive vehicles, easily identifiable as foreigners, when they were ambushed. Blackwater USA has been awarded more than $57m in contracts since 2002. Altogether about $20bn, a third of the US army's operating budget in Iraq and Afghanistan, is spent on contractors. Peter Singer, who has written a book on the phenomenon titled Corporate Warriors estimates that 15,000 contractors work in Iraq, about one for every 10 American soldiers. The US army argues that the use of contractors saves money and frees soldiers to fulfil their primary role - combat. The Guardian

Is the man left of Osama pictured wearing a baseball cap who I think it is? :confused:

SAKHIR MOTOR RACING CIRCUIT, BAHRAIN

DnD I like your Chinese Proverbs, here is one which sums up this thread: IF YOU SREEP WIZ AN ITCHY BUM YOU WAKE UP WIZ SMERRY FINGERS

Is that a "gotcha!" smile or what?