So what are Ina Abdirashiid Ali Sharmarke's qualifications? What makes this "kid" better than other Somali candidates? Because his father used to be the President???

From what I am hearing, Faroole and Galaydh are good friends and Puntland admin is more than happy with Galaydh as opposed to other candidates who are much closer to Faroole clan-wise. If Faroole was outright against Galaydh, I think Shariif would find it extremely difficult to pick Cali Khalif Galaydh as Prime Minister. That is the politics of pragmatism. But in the latest chatter, the dark horse in the race is a classmate of Shariif who lives in Libya. We shall see.

Al-Shabaab is NOT behind this. Abu-Mansuur called him a friend. Denied his group had any hand in this The plot thickens. Who is behind this then? Ethiopian agents?? Others??

Duke and Oodwayne have been pushing this line that Che is a "secret" mole who works for Maxamed Cabdi Yusuf. Who started this? I am not sure it was HornAfrique or someone, but whoever it is, these exchanges about Che and "mole-ish being" are as funny as hell. Where is NGONGE when you need him. Che, we need a resolution on this matter. Provide your birth certificate my friend (two elders are needed and a telephone call to Garoowe). Quick .... If this matter is not resolved soon, you may become a Brundian soon.

I'll constantly update this thread as I find more stunning landscape pictures. This is sort of my "baby thread" and that means only LST is allowed to update the pictures. Kindly try not to add your own choice of pics.

Quixotic? Inconsequential romantic chatter? Whatever it is, such is the idea being floated around in few circles with strong political clout. We shall see.

1) When 75% of the 500 MPs are from the USC clan. War Biixi, waxaasi waa been. Ha rumaysan awoowe. Awoowe, Shariifka u ducee oo si khalad ah ayay wax kuugu sheegeene soo hubi. Don't wish for this government to fail because of a perceived unfairness on how the MPs are allocated. These MPs are useless anyways, but they certainly are not "75% USC clans" as you put it.

A&T, your hostility towards certain regions of Somalia is noted.

Xiin flew to Djibouti yesterday not realizing the party is over. The only person he met there was Maslax as the good Sheikh was already off to Addis. Disappointed Xiin is back tomorrow.

Juje, my pick is the legend you heard his speech last night, Mr. Xasan Abshir Farah from Nugaal. He rallied "Yeey MPs" behind Shariif and I believe Shariif will have him among the top finalists if anything. We wait and see.

Waranle, Shariif needs to focus on the assignment in front of him, and that is to get on with the selection of PM and the cabinet. Any dash move to do a photo-op with Meles a day after this historic election makes no sense from a PR point of view.

Kool, inadeer I can take the slap up. Mid weeyn jeegada iiga dhifo. Laakiin haku talax tegin yaah. Go ahead. I may even change my username to "Ina Jeego Dharbaaxo" just for the 2 weeks. Laakiin adiga ma iga yeeleesid.

Kool, dhalinyaradaan ma garanee? Toronto iyo Minneapolis ayeey inta badan ka tageen. Look at their faces and "style" closely. Al-Shabaab ragga u dagaalamo waaye. Kuwo aa garaneeso aabo ku jiro aa laga yaabaa. Ina Jeego-Dharbaaxo, Cilmi Yare wiilkiisii yaraa, ina Dhamuuke, Qoob-deero walaalkiis, etc. Kuligood Shabaab eey u dagaalamaan waana kaa dacwoonooyaan. I propose a 2 week ceasfire to assess the situation for the sake of Shiekh Shariif's historic win. In that period, Kool will stop calling the boys the dreaded "X". How is that for a deal with your cousin?

Shariif needs to be very careful with his PR here. This is a very sensitive topic. I wouldn't advise him to meet Meles/Mefsin at this time.

Landslide indeed. 70% of the vote is amazing. Sheikh Shariif is a hero and a good man. May Allah guide him to the right path of good governance. We all pray for him. He seems a very humble man. If I feel bad for someone, it is Nuur Cadde who has been humiliated in this process. The old TFG guards who didn't want to give Shariif a free ride seems to have all voted for Maslax as a protest instead of Nuur Cadde.

Emperor, Gaadaale is a decent, competent candidate from the all important Nugaal Lowlands (no bias here. ). I am very sure if he is picked the folks from that landscape below Xammur mountains, to Sinujiif dry rivers and Uusgure belt... all the way to beautiful Iyax valley will erupt with joy. I'll write a bid about him later. He is a very competitive guy. Nin sahlan maaaha Gaadaale.

Having said that, one thing that Maslax going to the last round tells me is that any talks as to what Shariif should give Maslax if he throws his support behind Shariif may have broken down. Maybe Maslax knows he is not going to get anything from Shariif. Maslax has every right to say in the game even thought some people may see it as just a minor "delay" to get to the finish.

Maslax hala daayo. This is not a coronation. This is an election. Let the guy compete and let him finish. It is good for the process. It is good for Shariif.

Isn't it 2:00 AM in Djibouti now? This thing may go to sunrise it seems.

so what is happening now?

Maslah has now earned to be the next Prime minister. Ducaysane, that is actually not how the process usaully works. You need to vote for the President in order to earn his pick. Any clan that is seen "consolidating" behind their man will have no chance from the winner.

Xiin, SOL already projected.

Well done to Maslax. It really must be disapointing Nuur Cadde did poorly in his TFG. It seems all the TFG votes went to other candidates.

Edson is from Puntland. Even though all the MPs from Puntland are and will be on Shariif's side (taking revenge against Nuur Cadde) but he seems to have secured few votes in the first round just to show he is competing.