Waxaa magaalada Jowhar kasoo degay wafdi uu hogaaminayo Ra'iisul wasaare Pro Cali Maxamed Geedi Somaliweyn - Jowhar Garoonka Diyaaradaha -Somalia - 7/06/05 Waxaa timi dayaaradii ugu horeeysay oo sidey hay'adaha qaramada midoobay iyo wariyeyaal uu ka tirsan yahay C/raxmaan Koronto oo ah wariyaha BBC-da waxa ayna soo degtay abaarihii 10:00am barqanimo waxaana lafilayaa ineey goor dhow soo garaan diyaaradii sidey Pro: geedi. Waxaa ka mid ah dadka kasoo hormaray Pro. Geedi Safiirka Baritain ee soomaliya Devid pil safiirka Mareeykanka, safaarada swedan masuul ka socda, safiirka Talyaaniga, safiirka koonfur Afrika u fadhiya Keenya, masuuliyiin UNDP, Saciid warsame oo ah madax ka tirsan WFP oo hadal yar ka jediyey garoonka ayaa sheegay ineey sugayaan ra'iisul wasaaraha oo halsac ka dib soo degi doona iyadoo oo halkaasi ugu sii gudbi doona kiliga Shiinaha oo la doonayo in xariga loo jarro. Dayaaradii labaad ayaa waxa ay soo degtay abaarihii 10:37Am Barqanimo waxa ayna sidaa wafdigii Pro Geedi oo uu ka mid ahaayeen labada Gole ee dowlada Federaalka wasiiro iyo xildhibaano oo aan gartay Mawliid Macaani Maxamuud iyagoo ugu sii gudbay kiliga Shiinaha.

USC Cabinet Warlords in Mogadishu Dismantle Somalia checkpoints Mogadishu (HAN) , June 8, 2005- The USC Warlord cabinet started removing the checkpoints this morning, the public are spearheading the exercise," deputy prime minister Mohamud Abdullahi Jama told Reuters in Mogadishu. "I personally witnessed six checkpoints removed in the city centre. It's been a success, I'm optimistic it will end well." Somali warlords Tuesday began living up to promises to dismantle cash-collecting militia checkpoints in the capital of Mogadishu. National Security Minister Mohamed Khanyare Afrah, a former warlord, was the first to close his and disband his militia, the BBC said. In all, more than 10 of 43 longstanding blockades were dismantled Tuesday. Last month, three key Mogadishu warlords who spent years fighting each other, began to merge their militias into a joint force, and some 1,400 men have been sent to training camps outside the capital. President Abdullahi Yusuf was elected last October by a transitional parliament based in neighboring Kenya after two years of talks aimed at ending 14 years of warfare and anarchy, but Yusuf has said he finds Mogadishu too dangerous for the government to return. Instead, he favors the cities of Baidoa or Jowhar as a temporary haven. Sources: A UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

Somalia - where the gun rules By Joseph Winter BBC News, Mogadishu "Somalia is ruled by the gun," I was told by Bashir, a militiaman. And as I was interviewing him, I was reminded just how cheap that has made life in Somalia. One of Bashir's colleagues started causing trouble, presumably because he wanted some money. A row ensued with one of the six armed bodyguards I had to travel with whenever I left the hotel. A machine gun was soon picked up and I threw myself to the ground, prompted by my natural cowardice backed up by my training on dealing with dangerous situations, as the weapon was wrestled out of the gunman's clutches. No-one was hurt and we immediately left but in a land awash with guns and no neutral security forces to settle disputes or to take complaints to, a minor row can easily become fatal. While I was in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, there were three high-profile assassinations of senior officials from various factions, and a former top military officer. Alert levels Driving around Mogadishu, I constantly wanted to take out my camera, as there were so many amazing sights - ruined buildings, old telephone posts straining under new wires, and countless examples of how people are managing to get by without a government. However my guards warned me to be careful - the city is full of roadblocks manned by militias who do not like being photographed. It turned out there were three levels of danger: Green - take your time, get out of the car and take as many photos as you want Amber - be quick, the driver will slow down to let you take a snap out of the window Red - don't even think about it Weapons are even used as a way to break up the horrendous traffic jams which partly result from a lack of police. Whenever our pick-up came to a halt, gunmen would get down from the back and point their weapons at the drivers of the minibus taxis who had stopped in the middle of the road to pick up passengers, causing gridlock further down the line. The minibus drivers did not seem shocked at the sight of the barrel of an AK-47 sticking through their window, but it did prompt them to speed up the boarding of their passengers. There are at least three functioning hotels in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, clean and with air-conditioning, and they all lay on security as a matter of course. My six armed guards mostly looked as though they were in their 20s and so would have grown up with the gun after the height of the civil war in the early 1990s. Not stealing The one time my bodyguards did cause a stir was in a refugee camp - a former school. As I was speaking to one of the camp leaders, I noticed a woman, who had presumably fled her home because of fighting between militias, stop and blanche at the sight of six armed men standing in the path between the makeshift tents which have sprung up in the school grounds. I felt awful but she was soon told that the gunmen had not come to steal her belongings this time and she carried on her way. Guns have become a part of everyday life in Somalia and changing this is the new government's first - and biggest - task. If it can disarm the militias, running schools and hospitals will be easy. But despite the preponderance of guns and the shocking sight of refugees living in former ministry buildings, the extent to which life carries on is astonishing. The latest mobile phones handsets, running water and electricity are all available to those who can afford it. Coming home There are regular international flights, albeit on rickety Russian planes to dirt runways well outside the capital. On the flight to Mogadishu, I got chatting to two young Somalis who had grown up in Europe. They were as worried as I was about their native country's reputation for lawlessness. After more than a decade abroad, they were returning to see their families. In fact, they had even more reason to be afraid, as someone might try to steal their valuable European passports and hope that a tired immigration officer could not tell one Somali from another, leaving them stranded. One was so worried that he had left his travel documents in Kenya and was using his Somali papers which are only accepted on that journey. 'Family business' And the huge number of Somalis living abroad is one sign of hope for the country. I met another young Somali who spoke perfect English with a Canadian accent. He was working in a dingy office across a dirt road which had become a swamp after a two-hour downpour of rain from a ruined shell of a building. He cheerfully told that me swapped life in orderly Canada for this to help out with "the family business". If he, and many others like him, take their training back home to boost the well developed Somali entrepreneurial spirit, the country should at least be able to make money. Bashir the militiaman told me he needed his gun to feed his family but that he would prefer to do something else. If the guns can be removed from the streets and alternative sources of income provided, maybe his next argument could be solved amicably, or even in the courts - the rule of law replacing the rule of war.

Somalis to leave Kenya next week Somalia remains awash with guns Kenya says it is providing planes to fly home members of Somalia's government in exile, who have been in Kenya for nearly three years. Kenya's ambassador to Somalia told the BBC that final payments had been made to Somali MPs and they would be repatriated on Tuesday after a party. If the Somalis do leave, it will be the first time their government has been based inside the country since 1991. "Everything that begins has to end," said Mohammed Abdi Afey. President Abdullahi Yusuf was elected last October by the transitional parliament based in Kenya after two years of talks aimed at ending 14 years of warfare and anarchy. The government is split between Mogadishu warlords who want to keep Mogadishu as the capital and President Yusuf Ahmed, who want to base it in the towns of Baidoa and Jowhar. Checkpoints In Mogadishu, Somali warlords have dismantled more than 10 out of 43 checkpoints the national security minister has said. The roadblocks are the most visible evidence of the lawlessness and chaos Deputy PM Mohammed Jama Where the gun rules Mohamed Khanyare Afrah, a warlord turned cabinet minister, was the first to shut down his checkpoint and his militia vowed not to return. Correspondents say more than $40,000 are raised from tariffs paid to those manning roadblocks each day. It is the main source of income for some 20,000 militia in the city. "The roadblocks are the most visible evidence of the lawlessness and chaos," Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Jama told the BBC's Network Africa programme after militia promised to remove them by mid-morning on Tuesday. A journalist covering protests against the roadblocks was shot dead at the weekend. Confidence According to the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu, hundreds of people marched with Mr Jama and other ministers through the city's streets dismantling the checkpoints. Facts and figures about life in Somalia At-a-glance Despite uncertainties about whether all the militia would comply, one belonging to one of Somalia's most powerful warlords, Hussein Aideed - an ally of the president - was also removed, he says. The row over where to relocate the new administration is threatening to split the government. "It has a wider significance beyond Mogadishu," Mr Jama said. He said he had confidence that this time the mood was different and that the initiative would be successful "The will is there, the public demand is there. They're trying to create a climate for peace which will make security possible," he said. A monitoring group of 30 people, including the chief of police is overseeing the dismantling process. Last month three key Mogadishu warlords, who spent years fighting each other, began to merge their militias into a joint force. Some 1,400 men have been sent to training camps outside the capital, along with dozens of battle-wagons. Businessmen in Mogadishu have pledged $70 each month to militiamen as long as they are in the camps. Meanwhile, a delegation led by Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Ghedi arrived in Jowhar on Tuesday. The African Union has agreed to send some 1,700 troops to Somalia but said it would not send them unless it was safe to do so. Checkpoints dismantled in Somalia Somali warlords have dismantled more than 10 out of 43 checkpoints in the capital, Mogadishu, the national security minister has said. Mohamed Khanyare Afrah, a warlord turned cabinet minister, was the first to shut down his checkpoint and his militia vowed not to return. Correspondents say more than $40,000 are raised from tariffs paid to those manning roadblocks each day. It is the main source of income for some 20,000 militia in the city. "The roadblocks are the most visible evidence of the lawlessness and chaos," Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Jama told the BBC's Network Africa programme after militia promised to remove them by mid-morning on Tuesday. A journalist covering protests against the roadblocks was shot dead at the weekend. President Abdullahi Yusuf was elected last October by a transitional parliament based in Kenya after two years of talks aimed at ending 14 years of warfare and anarchy. Confidence The Mogadishu warlords want Mr Yusuf's interim government to relocate to the capital when it leaves neighbouring Kenya. But President Yusuf, who has little support there, says Mogadishu remains too dangerous and wants to go to Baidoa and Jowhar instead. According to the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu, hundreds of people marched with Mr Jama and other ministers through the city's streets dismantling the checkpoints. Despite uncertainties about whether all the militia would comply, one belonging to one of Somalia's most powerful warlords, Hussein Aideed - an ally of the president - was also removed, he says. The row over where to relocate the new administration is threatening to split the government. "It has a wider significance beyond Mogadishu," Mr Jama said. He said he had confidence that this time the mood was different and that the initiative would be successful "The will is there, the public demand is there. They're trying to create a climate for peace which will make security possible," he said. The decision was announced at a meeting on Monday at the Centre for Research and Dialogue at which most militia were represented. A monitoring group of 30 people, including the chief of police is overseeing the dismantling process. Last month three key Mogadishu warlords, who spent years fighting each other, began to merge their militias into a joint force. Some 1,400 men have been sent to training camps outside the capital, along with dozens of battle-wagons. Businessmen in Mogadishu have pledged $70 each month to militiamen as long as they are in the camps. Meanwhile, a delegation led by Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Ghedi arrived in Jowhar on Tuesday. The African Union has agreed to send some 1,700 troops to Somalia but said it would not send them unless it was safe to do so.

Unfortunately, Ilaahay haa u naxariistu marxuumada xaq daro ayaa lagu dilay run ahaantii.

Somali journalist killed at checkpoint protest 05 Jun 2005 14:44:06 GMT Source: Reuters MOGADISHU, June 5 (Reuters) - A Somali journalist was killed on Sunday when a truck driver protesting against illegal checkpoints outside Mogadishu shot at her car, the HornAfrik media group said. Duniya Muhyadine Nur, in her early 20s, was reporting on a protest by truck drivers demanding that the checkpoints be dismantled. "The bullet was meant for the car driving them to the demonstrations, but not necessarily for her," HornAfrik director Ahmed Abdisalam said. Nur, who had worked for HornAfrik radio and television for two years, died instantly. Protesters had set up roadblocks between Mogadishu and Afgoie in an attempt to halt traffic flow and pressure local militias into removing the checkpoints, Abdisalam said. The checkpoints are a key source of income for militias that typically demand money from passing buses and trucks. Warlords and their roaming militias have controlled the country of seven million since ousting military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Last month Mogadishu warlords demobilised hundreds of fighters in an effort to persuade Somalia's fledgling government that one of the most violent capital cities was safe enough to serve as the base for the administration, now working from Kenya. But many residents say only a fraction of the city's gunmen have been demobilised and dozens of militia checkpoints remain.

Unfortunately, Ilaahay haa u naxariistu marxuumada xaq daro ayaa lagu dilay run ahaantii.

Somali journalist killed at checkpoint protest 05 Jun 2005 14:44:06 GMT Source: Reuters MOGADISHU, June 5 (Reuters) - A Somali journalist was killed on Sunday when a truck driver protesting against illegal checkpoints outside Mogadishu shot at her car, the HornAfrik media group said. Duniya Muhyadine Nur, in her early 20s, was reporting on a protest by truck drivers demanding that the checkpoints be dismantled. "The bullet was meant for the car driving them to the demonstrations, but not necessarily for her," HornAfrik director Ahmed Abdisalam said. Nur, who had worked for HornAfrik radio and television for two years, died instantly. Protesters had set up roadblocks between Mogadishu and Afgoie in an attempt to halt traffic flow and pressure local militias into removing the checkpoints, Abdisalam said. The checkpoints are a key source of income for militias that typically demand money from passing buses and trucks. Warlords and their roaming militias have controlled the country of seven million since ousting military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Last month Mogadishu warlords demobilised hundreds of fighters in an effort to persuade Somalia's fledgling government that one of the most violent capital cities was safe enough to serve as the base for the administration, now working from Kenya. But many residents say only a fraction of the city's gunmen have been demobilised and dozens of militia checkpoints remain.

By SOO MAAL This is an internal Puntland matter, and Somaliland doesn’t have a room in this particular issue By Fyr Kanten Good enough SOO MAAL, next time I better not catch you posting another Somaliland topic you hear? First, the original purpose of forum was for nomads to exchange their opposing views, and everyone is entitled to post their opinions, or in another words any nomad can state anything both positive and negative about Somali politics, political leaders/warlords such as Abdulaahi Yusuf, Gheedi, Cadde Muse, Riyaale, Hussein Caydiid, Musse Suudi, etc and political administrations/entities such as Somalia, Puntland, Somaliland, Hiiraanland, etc All nomads can post and comment both positive/negative, whatever thing about Somalia, Puntland, Somaliland, Hiiraanland, etc whether they are internal/external matter for particular region Therefore Fyr Kanten, you to a great extent misunderstood my comment, I said the two Puntland security personal incident is an internal Puntland matter and has nothing to do with Somaliland, as Mr. Khadar Osman Dhabar incident was an internal Somaliland and has nothing to do with Puntland. So you missed my point. And you as member of this forum, I believe you can post comment both internal/external issues of Puntland and Somalia. And you informed to not post/comment about Somaliland Issues (internal/external) But, if you recommending to SOO MAAL (myself) to not post and comment on anything concerning Somaliland, Well I don’t mind that recommendation but only if you (Fyr Kanten) will not post and comment on anything to do with Somalia, Puntland, and particularly my region Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn. I really don’t want to post/comment anything about Somaliland, let alone a negative thing, but the problem is the unjust claim of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn region by Somaliland, and the fact that my region Sool Sanaag and Cayn is under attack by Somaliland. It is like Israel /Palestine Issue everything boils down to the source of the problem Britain, But our brothers from Somaliland (meaning the people from Hargaysa-Burco-Berbera Triangle) need to be smarter than Israelis, come up with reason and respect the wishes of the people from Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn region as they like people to respect their wish to form their own state and secede from Somalia (the fact is people from Sool Sanaag and Cayn don’t share the secession issue with people from Hargaysa-Burco-Berbera Triangle).

Ayoub Sheikh This is an internal Puntland matter, and Somaliland doesn’t have room in this particular issue True, the two men were part of Puntland Security Services, and they were murders, Excuse me but average Somalilanders have been known to moonlight as judges and Ministers in Puntland. Nonsense, Classic case was the Education Minister who chose to upgrade himself back to Somaliland last year. What makes you think the militia is immune to piss-takers? Tell me that, Mr. Sifir (Kulmiye’s former campaign manager) is different from that Education minister. You have to understand that people and self-interest individuals are different Puntland (the people and the government) has dignity. At least, Puntland security services don’t kill civilians, unlike Somaliland security services that slaughter Non-isaaks indiscriminately in the streets of Hargeysa. Most recently, Innocent Khadar Osman Dhabar (m), late 20s, married with 3 children was killed in daylight in the streets of Hargeysa, and Up to 100 demonstrators from the Gaboye minority group were arrested. Well, the donkey of Somaliland Mr. Riyoole (the former NSS officer) is worst brutal killer; the guy cannot think of himself, he always implements the plans of the evil.

THE BIASED BBC: AN OPEN LETTER by Mahamud M. Yahye, Ph.D. - Friday, June 03, 2005 at 15:00 The Head, Africa & Middle East Region BBC, Bush House London, UK Dear Sir, At the outset, I would to like to express, in the name of your faithful Somali listeners, our deep gratitude to the BBC World Service for airing its very popular Somali Service for so long. In my opinion, and I think many Somali speaking people in the vast Horn of Africa Region share this with me, your efforts in this regard have been very commendable and greatly appreciated. I also personally believe that the most valuable and effective assistance that Great Britain has ever offered to the Somali people is its sponsorship – through the British taxpayer’s money – of broadcasting the Somali Service for almost the past five decades. I also know that in the recent past, and particularly after the end of the cold war, several foreign language programmes were discontinued by the BBC due to budgetary constraints. However, the Somali Service was exempted from this elimination in recognition of the current tragic situation in our homeland. Myself, I started listening to your Somali Service in 1957, right after it was started, when I was doing my elementary schooling in Galcaio, Somalia (even, perhaps, before its current Head, Mr. Yusuf-Garaad Ahmed was born), and I liked it very much. Since then I’ve a made a point to make this Service part of my daily living and to listen to it almost every day wherever I am, and I think this is typical of all Somalis – educated or otherwise – of my generation. (Here in Saudi Arabia, we hear this programme very clearly three times a day - mainly through short waves. But even when I’m traveling and I’m in, say, Europe, North America or elsewhere, I listen to it regularly through the internet). Why do we love the BBC Somali Service? I love it simply because of its neutrality, objectivity, its relentless search for the truth and its continuous endeavors to present the two sides of any major issue. This programme is the main, I dare say the only, source from which the overwhelming majority of Somalis – most of whom illiterate who speak only their native tongue – get the most up-to-date, factual and unbiased news about the world, in general, and their respective countries (in Somalia, self-declared Somaliland, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya), in particular. This is especially vital, in the case of Somalia, at this very critical juncture in its history when we have no functioning central government, we have been going through a devastating civil war for almost 15 years, and the local radios broadcast only the news and programmes favoring the particular warlords who own them (and which I make a point never to listen to, because I know beforehand the lies and partisan propaganda they will dish out). Above all, Somalis will never forget the vital and unique role that the BBC Somali Service has been playing in the past 15 years for conveying information or re-uniting family members who have lost loved ones (or informing them about those who died unbeknownst to them) because of this terrible and seemingly never-ending civil war, by means of its daily announcements on missing persons. In short, devotion to this Service is arguably the only thing that unites all Somalis today. However, I am sorry to say that, in my view and in the view of many Somali listeners, the BBC Somali Service has, in the last few years, been deviating from its well-known and time-honoured tradition of impartiality, objectivity and professionalism. Simply stated, the programme often tries not to present both sides of an important story and is gradually becoming like the local radios in Somalia or another Horn Afrique. The point I’m making is that the Head of that Service, Mr. Yusuf-Garaad Ahmed, may be an excellent journalist, but he is often biased and he strives mightily to suppress any story or dissenting voice that he does not endorse. And he behaves as if the BBC Somali Service belongs to him personally or to his wider clan. As a matter of fact, some Somali listeners accuse him of doing his level best to push the political agendas of some Somali warlords, particularly those in Mogadishu, the ruined capital of Somalia. Moreover, some of his appointed reporters in that lawless city, namely, Hassan Barise and Farhiya Ali Qajo, often try to paint a false, rosy picture about its security and how its “wonderful, peace-loving leaders†are going to restore peace and stability to it. But as you may be aware, just last week, a bomb was thrown into a rally in Mogadishu where the new Prime Minister of Somali, Mr. Ali Ghedi was giving a speech – and which in the opinion of the experts had targeted Ghedi himself, despite his understandable denial - causing the death of at least 14 innocent inhabitants of that unlucky city. (Others also accuse him of very serious tribal favoritism in his recruitment of staff for the Somali Service. I personally cannot prove this charge, although people who know the situation very well confirm that the overwhelming majority of the employees who have been recruited for the Service since Yusuf-Garaad assumed office actually belong to one of the major Somali clans which happens to be his own). That way the Head of the Somali Service helps, intentionally or unintentionally, those selfish men who, for the past 14 years, have been perpetuating the civil war in Somalia, have been thwarting all genuine peace and reconciliation efforts, and who constantly impede, despite their disingenuous protestations to the contrary, the formation and the functioning of any viable, stable central government in that destroyed country which, together with its unfortunate people, they have been holding as hostages for so long. This is so, because they gain enormous economic benefits from the continuation of the current anarchy and lawlessness and, as even Somali children know by now, they do not have the greater interest of Somalia at heart. Thus, Yusuf-Garaad enables these evil, tribal-minded men to use the BBC Somali Service as a regular and free outlet for airing their cheap, pernicious and very misleading propaganda, as well as their naked lies. Dear Sir, To give you an example, there is currently a heated debate as to whether the newly formed Transitional Federal Government of Somalia - which is still based in exile in Kenya – should move to Mogadishu, the official capital of Somalia, or be re-located, at least temporarily, to a more peaceful city in the country, like Baidoa, Jowhar or Belet Weyn, until the security of Mogadishu could be assured. As expected, some of the local warlords, particularly those of this latter city, insist that the seat of the new government can never be anywhere else except Mogadishu – as if this is a divine ordinance (i.e., fatwa in Arabic) or something enshrined in the holy Koran or cast in stone. They are, of course pushing this political agenda not for the public good but for their own selfish interests and to make the government hostage to their whimsical, unpatriotic demands. To counter this seriously flawed argument, I wrote the attached e-mail to Yusuf-Garaad, and I called him up a couple of times, to explain why the new Somali government cannot re-locate to Mogadishu for the time being. But he totally ignored my contribution and he did not allow me the courtesy of airing a summary of my views on his programme - or even acknowledge receipt of my e-mail - bearing in mind that he conducts long and expensive telephone interviews, almost on a daily basis, with the notorious Somali faction leaders who are well known for pushing their narrow tribal agendas, who initiated and have been perpetuating the ruinous civil strife in Somalia, and who are famous for being economical with the truth. (I even suggested to him that I could bear the cost of the phone call for my proposed interview, if he is trying to save some money for the BBC). A such, they always try to use the BBC for that dubious and illegitimate purpose. That is why I’ve lately been switching more often to BBC’s other programmes, such as BBC’s main World Service, its Arabic Programme, its Focus on Africa, BBC Afrique (in French), or even Voice of America, because they are now better, more informative, objective and more balanced than the current Somali Service. Last but not least, I plead with you, Sir, to safeguard the kind of fairness, objectivity, balance and professionalism that we have always associated with the BBC which I consider as the best radio station in the world. Furthermore, I earnestly hope that the BBC Somali Service will be one of the instruments for restoring peace to our ruined homeland in addition to spreading the lofty ideals of freedom, democracy and modernity over there, and not an agent of partisanship and discord. I also wish that you will help give your audience or clients, especially Somali intellectuals, like me, who have neither political ambitions nor vested interests in the perpetuation of the present civil war in our failed-state, but who are genuinely and very deeply concerned about what is happening over there, to present their views from time to time through occasional debates or letters. (By the way, I have a very good job and I would not, honestly, accept today to be the President or the Prime Minister of a ruined country and a failed-state like Somalia, because I wouldn’t where to start from!). In this connection, I have a simple suggestion for you: Why doesn’t the management of the BBC set a term limit of, say, 5 to 7 years for the tenure of the Head of the BBC Somali Service or make a regular rotation among the present staff of the Service, some of whom may be as equally qualified for the job as Yusuf-Garaad, if not more? Or why don’t you restore the old tradition of appointing a neutral, non-Somali person as the Head of this service from time to time? Please, Sir, don’t allow one single individual or Big Brother (as the famous British author, George Orwell, would have liked to call it) - in this case the Head of Somali Service - to determine, unilaterally, what we, your customers, i.e., the listeners, should or should not hear. Otherwise, many of your listeners in regions or cities other than Mogadishu will be turned off, will feel sidelined and betrayed and will be forced to switch to other alternative media or broadcasting stations. And this will, undoubtedly, be an enormous loss for your vast Somali audience, a very serious damage to the BBC’s well-earned credibility and a total waste of the British taxpayer’s money. Very sincerely yours, Mahamud Mohd. Yahye, Ph. D. Islamic Development Bank (and former Deputy Mayor of Mogadishu) Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

pure propaganda

whoa! masha'Allah when was this picture taken? and where? this i must know! Salax u diin Bro it is our Somali capital Mogadishu, I am not sure when the picture was taken, but I believe it is before the Somali civil war began.

Somali Port for import of nerve gas against Eritrea, Eritrea Daily.net,31 May 2005= Secret reports we have obtained say that the Ethiopian ministers who recently visited Hargeysa, the capital of Somaliland administration, have signed an agreement with the Somaliland authorities allowing the Ethiopian Government to use Berbera Port to ship in never gas for use against Eritrea. The reports said that the Ethiopian ministers presented the Riyale administration with two proposals, one of which it accepted. One proposal sought the use of Berbera Port to import the dangerous chemical; the other sought permission for Ethiopia to develop a new natural harbour near Berbera Port, which would allow the neighbouring country to import anything it wants – arms or chemicals. The Riyale administration is said undecided about the latter proposal. Somaliland ministers have left for Ethiopia, accompanying the visiting Ethiopian ministers. There were no details about their trip to Ethiopia. The Somaliland ministers will deliver a message from President Dahir Riyale Kahin to Ethiopian Prime Minister Zenawi, as well as hold talks with senior Ethiopian Government officials on the [port development] issue. Nerve gas is extremely toxic. If a tiny hole is punctured in a barrel containing the gas, the chemical can escape putting people in the area at risk. Saddam Husayn was reported to have used the chemical against Kurds. The Ethiopian government is said to have bought the chemical from mercenaries. If Ethiopia, a long-time enemy of Somalia, lays its hands on nerve gas, it may use against the Somali people. Source: Awdalnews website via BBC Monitoring Service. 30 May 05.

Ameenah True I'm usually really sad on these days. Reminds me of how far we are from the walaaltinimo, the pride and tolerance that lead to the 26th June and 1st of July. BUT, we don’t have another alternative; the only thing is to safeguard our walaaltinomo and somalinimo, and don’t be sad since these days are brightest days in modern Somali history. I feel enormously happy in Somali Independence Days (June 26 & 27, and July 1) and the Somali Union Day + Somali Republican Day + Somali Nation’s Birthday (July 1). And I feel really sad in some dark days in Somali history such as (October 21, March 9, January 27, and May 18) May Allah bless the Somalis of those days and give us the insight to follow their footsteps Insha Allah... Amiiin

The Celebration of the Somali National Week comes between June 26 and July 1 every year. June 26; North Somalia took independence from Britain (Gobalada Woqooyi ayaa ka xoroobay Ingriiska) June 27; Djibouti took independence from France (Jabuuti ayaa ka xorooday Faransiiska) July 1; South and East Somalia took independence from Italy (Gobalada Bari iyo Koonfir ayaa ka xoroobay Talyaaniga) July 1; the Union Day (Maalintii Midowga Soomaaliyeed) July 1; the Somali Republican Day (Maalinta Jamhuuriyada Somalia) HAPPY BIRTH DAY SOMALIA Qolabaa Calankeedu Duul waa ceynoo, Anagaa keenu waa cirkoo kala, Aan caadna laheyn een caashaqayee. Xiddig yahay cadi waad na ciidamisee, Carradaan kaligaa aad u curatee, Cadceedda sideeda caan noqo ee..... Aamiin Erayadan waxaa tiriyay isla markaana ku luqeyn jiray Allaha u naxariistee Abwaan Cabdillaahi Qarshe LONG LIVE SOMALIA Munaasabada 26 June, 27 June iyo 1da Luulyo - Maalmaha Xornimada SOOMAALIYA Fellow the Links, Listen and enjoy the patriotic songs Heeso Wadani ah Heeso Wadani ah

whats the difference between the india and indainland, or china and chineseland, or Ethoipia and Ethoipianland. Mogadisho is also somaliland.

Munaasabada 26 June, 27 June iyo 1da Luulyo - Maalmaha Xornimada SOOMAALIYA Heeso Wadani ah Heeso Wadani ah

HAPPY BIRTH DAY SOMALIA Qolabaa Calankeedu Duul waa ceynoo, Anagaa keenu waa cirkoo kala, Aan caadna laheyn een caashaqayee. Xiddig yahay cadi waad na ciidamisee, Carradaan kaligaa aad u curatee, Cadceedda sideeda caan noqo ee..... Aamiin Erayadan waxaa tiriyay isla markaana ku luqeyn jiray Allaha u naxariistee Abwaan Cabdillaahi Qarshe LONG LIVE SOMALIA

History of the flag In 1949, the assembly of the United Nations decided that Somalia would be under the former Italian colonial power as a trusteeship territory for ten years. There were three other governments who were member of united nations commission that was sent to Somalia and were sent as advisory council of the trusteeship administration of Somalia. They were Egypt, the Philippines and Columbia. In April, 1950 the Italian trusteeship administration took over power of Somalia,and the British military administration left Somali During the early months of 1954, the legislative council had been formed by the Italian trusteeship administration and advisory council of the United Mations. The members of the legislative council were composed Somalis, Italians. Arabs and Indians. They had to prepare all laws and legislation concerning the country the ten years of trusteeship territory of the United Nations. The members were not elected,but each political party, foreign community or any other recognized organizations had to select members who were representative the above mentioned organizations. Mr. Mohammed Awale Liban had been selected by the Somali labor trade union. Then members suggested the the Somalia national flag must be adapted by the legislative council in order that the somalia people get to know their National Flag before independence. So the program of the legislative council agenda reached to be discussed the Somali National Flag. Mr. Liban had proposed that only the somali members should discuss the issue of their own Flag. According to the legislative councils constitution each new proposal had to be voted on by the Legislative council members. Mr liban succeeded his suggestion.while members of legislative councils which now only Somalis. They choose the chairman for Mr. Sheik Omar. Then the temporary new chairman said that the agenda will debate the next day. Therefore Mr. liban went home and started to design the Flag. Of course he had chosen a blue color and the middle was a white star.however, each point of the white star would represent the five Somalia regions, which were divided by the colonial powers. The next morning the session started around 10:30. However, when the chairman had opened the session Mr. Liban had requested to the chairman to give him a chance to speak, the chairman allowed him. He stood up in front of legislative council members and stretched out on his chest the blue Flag with a white star in the middle. therefore as he kept on stretching on his chest, then one of the Somali members applauded and cheered while clapping for five minutes. The Somalia temporary chairman had made short speech in which he mentioned the greatness and ability of Mr. Liban whose talent had produced such a beautiful Flag less then 24 hours. Mr. Mohammed Awale Liban said the blue color stands the United Nations who help us to reach our dream of independence; white means peace and prosperity; the star is the five regions of Somali. Faisal H. Jama, 8 Mar 2000

Northerner, First, someone like you shouldn’t wonder because of your hypocrisy, you are against Siyad’s regime invasion of Hargeysa, and supporting Somaliland’s (a clan based state) occupation of some parts of Sool, is that because the Somaliland is my clan’s faction!!! Second, people of Somaliland (Hargeysa-Burca-Barbara Triangle) did not voice their concerns when Puntland was invaded in the late 1970s, then why you expecting them to voice their concern when Somaliland received the same thing in the late 1980.

Somali Talks Delegates Head Home The Nation (Nairobi) NEWS June 1, 2005 Posted to the web June 1, 2005 By Tony Kago Nairobi A group of delegates to the Somali peace process started relocating to their country yesterday. Two sets of delegates left for Mogadishu and Joha in line with an announcement last week by Kenya's minister for Regional Cooperation John Koech. The Somali government's spokesman Yusuf Ismail while confirming that the delegates had left, said President Abdullahi Yusuf and Prime minister Mohammed Ali Ghedi would relocate at unspecified date. He announced that President Yusuf's seat of power will be at Mogadishu and not Baidoa which was early this week rocked by clashes that left 13 people dead and 29 wounded. A dispute over where to locate Mr Yusuf's divided government has deepen power struggles within his administration. The President is under pressure from foreign governments and donors to return home from Kenya. The location of the government, which has been based in Kenya since it was formed last year, is a key security issue for Somalia's neighbours. Yesterday, Mr Ismail told a Press conference at Chester House that the relocation was being done on a free will basis as part of the transition process. The spokesman added that Troops from the African Union will move in after the relocation of the government. He said the clashes in Baidoa were caused "by people opposed to the peace and stability of the country." While making the appeal last week, Mr Koech urged the international community to help the government settle down and start rebuilding the country. The minister said that although the Somali government still looked divided, the people at home were anxious to see it united and get down to business. Initially, he said, it would be based in either Mogadishu, Doha or Padoa towns. The minister accused the media of portraying Somalia as an irredeemable country. Early this month, 13 Members of Parliament from three regions in the country announced they had formation a federal State. The MPs from lower Shabella, lower and middle Juba regions declared they had formed the Federation State of Somali Hinterland. Led by Dr Ali Mohammed Mohamud (Apollo), they said the State will be autonomous from the transition Central government and will have its headquarters at Brava. The MPs told the press at Nairobi's Chester House that formation was in line with the Somali Provisional Federal Charter, the laws of the country, its culture and traditions.

Rare Somali Horses Now Call St. Louis Zoo Home created: 6/1/2005 12:32:08 PM (KSDK) - Three Somali wild asses are now calling the St. Louis Zoo home. Fataki, Liberty, and Tukia recently arrived from the San Diego Zoo. They will be living near the zoo's Somali wild *** stallion, Tokar. The Somali wild *** is one of the most endangered members of the horse family on the planet. Only about 700 to 1,000 exist in the wild. The last populations of the animals are found in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The three new arrivals are not destined to breed with Tokar, as they are all related. The females will be paired with a Swiss male later this year. The zoo hopes to find a suitable female for Tokar from a European zoo to maintain genetic diversity. Tokar is 10 years old and has been at the St. Louis Zoo since 1999. If you want to catch a glimpse of them, the best time is early in the morning or in the evening when it is cooler. That's when they are the most active. The Somali wild *** is gray with a white belly, and black striping on its lower legs. Males range from 600-700 pounds. Females weigh about 500-600 pounds. Both stand about four feet at the shoulder