na*c*as iyo na*cab allaha naga qabto

^^ :D You are rather too slow still--you are still hung on the era the pics were taken, rather than the pics themselves. That I call missing the point It is like focusing on the white soldiers on the Lido peach, rather than teh sandy peach itself , Waryaa wax iskula har. ps. I am sure Daud would love it to deatjh

^^And your alternative is to preserve the status qou and continue to comment on 'clan federalism' Carafaat, weligaa caano geel ma dhantay ?

^^As always you are being slow, Sayid. Daud and I have an agreement about this topic. ps. private messages are not working in SOL. pps. pictures, pictures, Sayid. Don't pay attention to what the FO researchers wrote or the captions they provided.

No more transitional status for Somalia. We have been through a hell as a nation, the time is ripe to regain our dignity. Twenty years have elapsed, and some folks are still talking nonsense

This 1950s postcard shows a majestic Mogadishu street shaded by palm trees. The former offices of the Municipality of Mogadishu were housed in the building on the left, and the lavish Croce del Sud Hotel, to its right.

In 1960, British and Italian Somaliland were joined, and Somalia officially gained its independence after centuries of foreign rule. The first elections were held in 1964, with the SYL winning an absolute majority. Somali politics began to flourish, with women taking an active role. Taken from an Associated Press article published in 1966, the photo above shows a pristine main street in Mogadishu. The caption describes Somalia as "perhaps the most democratic country on the dark continent." A free and fair election has not taken place in Somalia since the 1960s. Four decades later, the country is riveted by despair.

A view of the white city of Mogadishu from the Indian Ocean in 1952. Sydney Oats describes the road into Mogadishu as barren for the first several miles, as the city had been shelled and bombed after the Italians had been driven out. The houses that were still standing were overgrown with grass and weeds. While many European expatriates lived in extravagant Italian-inspired homes, Somalis lived in traditional rectangular houses, often lacking windows.

^^Adeer you don't know what you are talking about. Lugaha meel iskugu duwo,

Blood stained the streets of Mogadishu on Jan. 11, 1948 as Somalis protested the possible return of Italian rule to Italian Somaliland, which had been controlled by the British since 1941. One report stated the clash between Italian supporters and the Somali Youth League, Somalia's first political party, was fueled with "bullets, arrows, broken bottles and knives," leaving over 50 Italians dead. One year later, as the U.N. General Assembly debated whether to reinstate Italian control, more protests rattled the city. In November of that year, it was decided that Italians would once again hold trusteeship, but only under the pretext that Somalia would gain independence in ten years. On the left, the British flag is lowered on April 1, 1950, marking the end of British rule. Pictured to the right, the Italian flag is immediately raised. The picture was provided by the military, as Oats and the rest of the Royal Air Force were not allowed to attend the ceremony for their own safety.

When the great Arab explorer Ibn Battuta landed on Mogadishu's shores in 1331, he was greeted with a feast fit for a king. Hundreds of camels were slaughtered daily to feed the flourishing port city, where a man could eat for ten. The sultan, clad in silk and fine Jerusalem cloth, was followed by a procession of trumpets and colorful canopies upon which golden birds perched. How times have changed in Somalia. Today, centuries of European colonization and political strife, coupled with interludes of devastating drought and flooding, have created a failed state that's become a haven for lawlessness. For years, Somalia was passed between foreign powers: first the Portuguese, then the British, then the French and Italians. Upon its declaration of independence in 1960, the country's artificially drawn borders proved incapable of anything resembling stability. Now, Somalia remains in a constant state of conflict. Once known as the "pearl of the Indian Ocean," tourists flocked by the plane-full until the country descended into civil unrest in the 1990s. Now the only visitors are aid workers and their heavily armed bodyguards. When a Canadian tourist landed in Mogadishu last year, immigration officials thought he was either a spy or insane. Above, young foreigners enjoy a warm day at Lido Beach. Sydney Oats, a former Royal Air Force (RAF) electrical fitter who was stationed in Mogadishu in 1949, provided this photo, as well as several others. He told Foreign Policy that Lido Beach, with its white beaches and breathtaking view, was the best part of Mogadishu, where young soldiers spent their afternoons nearly every day. Until 1991, when President Siad Barre was overthrown by a coalition of warlords after 22 years in power, Lido Beach was a popular club scene. This week brought news that Somalis are finally returning to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean after years of deserted beaches. But this brief beach-going interlude may be short lived. With pirates patrolling the coastline and the terrorist network al Shabaab arming children with AK-47s, Mogadishu remains arguably the most dangerous city in the world. Above, a picturesque downtown Mogadishu around 1936. Pictured on the right is Arba Rukun mosque, known as the Mosque of the Four Pillars. Built in 1269 AD, the mosque predates Ibn Battuta's historic arrival in Somalia. The Italian-built Catholic cathedral, which now lies in ruins, sits in the center, and the Triumphal Arch, honoring Italian King Emmanuel III, on the left. A postcard sent in 1950 shows the Garesa Museum. Built in 1872 by the Sultan of Zanzibar, it was later established as a museum by the Italians in the 30s, and later, the national museum after Somalia's independence. The museum suffered looting and damage at the onset of violence in the 1990s and has remained closed for two decades. Above, the princess visits a monument in Mogadishu on April 18, 1936. Source: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/11/17/once_upon_a_time_in_mogadishu?page=full#0

Sharif is a brilliant politician, it does not surprise me if he wins again come August.

Jacayl & NGONGE, I have seen a hard copy of the new constitution, and could not find any objectionable clause that warrants the noise I am hearing---even some Muslim scholars I heard have objected to it. . Given where Somalia is at today, a constitution that could be modified and is up for ratification in four years time should not hinder the transition. The issue of federalism Carafaat is referring to is a political in scope, and is the direct result of the mistrust among Somali people. That too should not be a reason to stay in the transitional status. Simply put ; put up or shut up as the political cliche goes; this is no time for trivial, peripheral debates when our political calendar is full of substantive issues the constitution being one of them.

Saa waxaa yiri xiinfaniin oo ah mudane laga soo doorto degmadda Ceel-buur Seriously, what is it in this constitution that people are opposed to? From what I have seen this is very comprehensive and well written constitution. Even if it has a shortcomings , there will be a time (4 years from now) when most Somalis will have an opportunity to ratify it. In 1960, when Somalia was about to regain its independence a constitution that was written in similar fashion was adopted. In 1964, Somali people got the opportunity to ratify it and permanently adopt it. We can exactly follow the same process with respect to this constitution. All the keyboard waranle out there come out and challenge this constitution so we can see if the objections are based on substance or there are other motivations behind the loud opposition against constitution amplified by VOA and BBC .

^^War Faarax Brown, aniga professor Aw Tusbaxle waan la socdaa wayadaan, isku rag baanu nahay oo hoos baanu u wada soconaa Gabdhaha reer bariga aniga iyo isagu waan u simannahay, weliba hadda they are in demand

^^Independence is not in the cards. The implosion has already started. And with Khatumo in the cards now, even referendum may not be a good option for the Northern Mothers.

^^yeah what ever rocks your boat saaxiib. I don't really care who needs who, all I care is that is Somalia is one, iyo in dadka xanaaqsan la sasabo oo lasoo caro celiyo

Mukulaalow;822850 wrote: Abtigiis. waxaad ammaanteeda ka tagtay inaad u raaciso " Gacaliso waxaa tahay tan ugu quruxda badan dunida, waxaad leedahay indhihii Cabdullahi, timihii Cadde, bishimaha C/Raxmaan iyo kubka Cabdiwali". :D Kanaaba Professor Tusbaxle ka daray

It is not bad at all: yesterday Somaliland was adamant it wont talk to Somalia while today the debate is revolving around the details of the talks.

Nimanka go'ayaa waa wareereen. Xaaji Xunjuf's threads are good indicative of secessionists confusion

Farmajo's Tayo party has more qaacida shacbiyah than this HiilQaran thing, Professor Abtigiis

Weligii macno badan ma lahayn Afsoomaaliguu xoogaa yaqaanaan ku ixtiraamaa

War nuune jemce wanaagsan War ninyahow qolodaa ha igu soo qaadin, waabaa la ii geeyey gabdhahaa afkaa ii ciilay, sawaxiliga anaa qaxooti ah baan wax ka bartay intii waa iga lumeen

^^ poorly written essay Wardheernews should editorial should have done a better job in accepting opinion pieces

^^Nairobi nuune degan uu waa ka baqayaaye, Mombosa kula ballan