Xaaji, as for South & Central regions of the Somali Republic meelahaa jaahwareeryo badan ayaa ka jira. Jaahwareeryadaas hal tusaale waxa ah wasaaradahan badan ee isku wada hawl loo magacaabayo. Howl dhab ah na lama wado, waayo hadii si daacad ah loo shaqaysanayo wax horumar ah oo ka gaar ah inta ay Turkida iyo wadamada kale ee shisheeye qabteen ayaa la arki lahaa. Jagooyinka wasiirada iyo wasaaradaha looma samayn si ay hawl u qabtaan ee waxaa loo abuuray in dad lagu qanciyo. Dhibaatooyinkaa waxa sababay fikridayda ayan ka diibanaya, iniga oo khibrad gaar ah u leh: 1. Nidaam iyo hab xumo (no organisational structures, no systems and procedures, no internal checks and balances, no transparancy, no accountability, bad staff) taas oo saamayn weyn ku leh waxtarka/waxqabadka laan iyo haayad kasta ee dowladda. 2. Daacad-darro iyo musuq maasaaq oo keenaysa in shaqaalaha dowladda, wasiiradda iyo xubnaha barlamaanka qaarkood ay jeebkooda uun u shaqaysanayaan iyo sidii ay jagada loo magacaabay uga faa’iidaan lahaayeen. 3. Dowlad dhisidda Soomaalidu way ku jahwareereen laakiin ma aha howl aan laga bixi karin ee waa howl waqti kooban lagaga gudbi karo, hadii wadada sax ah ee la yaqaanno loo qabsado. Dowladahan la sheego ma ahan wax aan la fahmin karin, Iinta ugu weyn waxa ay dowladuhu ka kooban yihiin wasaarado ay u sareeyaan wasiiro iyo haayado dowladeed oo maamule loo magacaabo. - Wasaaradahaas iyo haayadahaas waxa loo sameeya howlo ama ujeeddooyin iyo awooddo sharci ah oo qoran, kooban oo ay tahay inay fulliyaanoo, lagulana xisaabtamo. - Qof kasta oo shaqaalo ahina wuxuu ku jiraa jago gaar ah, waxaana saaran masuuliyado qoran, kooban oo la kala leeyahay oo lagula xisaabtamo. - Wasaaradahaas iyo haayadahaas (iyo laamaha ay ka kooban yihiin) markaas waxa ay leeyihiin nidaamyo iyo qalab u gaar ah shaqooyinkooda (organisational structures, systems and procedures, specialist tools/equipment/programs) oo ay ku fuliyaan shaqooyinkooga. Markaas inagoo iminka og information kaas oo dhan, hadii aynu is waydiino: - maxay ku noqotay in Villa Soomaaliya iyo goobaha kale ee ay leedahay dowladdu ay uga dhacaan weeraro, qaraxyo, ismiidaameyn etc? - maxay ku dhacday in ay xubno ka tirsan ciidamadda dowladdu ay iyagu is dagaalaan ama shicibka wax yeelaan ama musuq maasaq lagu sheego? - maxay ku dhacday in aysan weli jirin wasaarado ama haayado dowladeed oo dhisan oo shaqeeya, lana arko waxtarkooda? Waxa sababay the lack of all which an effective government department/agency must have as I did list above. So these are not insurmountable problems.

<cite> @Xaaji Xunjuf said:</cite> Oday Having country with a large population doesn't necessary mean that country is economical viable or has a larger Economy what u need is education and a proper handling of the human resources of the country. Countries with a huge population such as Nigeria are most of the time the ordinary citizens are very poor, its never really about the population if you have 120 million people who are uneducated and are unemployed and there is no infrastructure and everything is Foreign owned there is prospect for a better future for that country. Furthermore Somalia is very undeveloped and when a country and its population are underdeveloped generates conflicts and corruption, and conflicts and large scale of corruptions prevent the necessary steps to get the economy in order. Where we differ Mr Oday Somali u wan to build Somalia on the back of the hard work of Somalilanders , But Somaliland serves only her people and the scare resources it has , is only for her own people. <cite> @Xaaji Xunjuf said:</cite>Somalilanders should not eye on the few banana plantations in the south of Somalia and it should not invest there and waste its money Somalilanders from Hawd need to move to Hawassa and relocate their capital there. Somalilanders should advance their ports and eye on the massive Ethiopian market while a segment of the population invests their capital in hawassa. EPRDF is even willing to sell Farm land for what ever price is agreed on. Somaliland should sustain and develop an entrepreneurial based economy with an open market, and make sure the big corporations are properly taxed it can easily expand its sphere of influence with the right thinking and because its people are very creative. 1. An existential threat The reality is that today the very existence of the Somali people is at stake. And as a Somali, you should realise that if you live in a house and in that house the room next to yours is burning, you are at risk of the fire spreading to your room and if nothing else, the smoke will reduce your oxygen take if it does not suffocate you. But if the person with whom you live in house prospers, you too are more likely to prosper. The Somali people's existence is threatened in many ways and by many factors, which I will outline below: - Cataclysmic environmental degradation (deforestation, desertification, drought ultimately leading to hunger and famine) - Economic underdevelopment (no jobs, no income, no sustenance, no shelter, no food, no industry) - Social problems (qat addicition, FGM, tahriib, unemployment, lack of education, no healthcare) etc. 2. Risks and opportunities for Somaliland Somaliland is peaceful, stable and there are functioning government institutions and all these things deserve applause and encouragement. And although Somaliland may not be facing the direct security issues that the South faces, Somaliland is facing an existential crisis of its own, related to the threats I listed above. In some areas the current Somaliland leadership has not delivered social, political and economic development to its people or more importantly security (security is wider than just immediate personal safety). The ‘politicians’ use the issue of independence to distract the populace from the real issues of extreme poverty, hunger, disease, lack of education/health/clean water/roads/jobs/infrastucture/economic development. And independence is certainly not a panacea that will magicallt solve all these things. One of those areas where the Somaliland leadership has failed to deliver has been the lack of engagement, whether covert or overt, with the situation in both Puntland and South Central Somalia. Waxaa aad ka fursan waydo, horaa loo qabtaa, waa ta la yidhi. And you should realise that there are many benefits for Somaliland from engaging with North-Eastern and South-Central Somalia. I will explain how and why. Let me assert that the current Somaliland strategy has not deliver social, political and economic development to its people. I would add that I think this is [partly] because Somaliland spends at least 65% of government expenditure on security, rather than devoting those limited resources to other crucial areas relating to development and public services. What this highlights to me is that by engaging with and building mutually beneficial and respectful relations with the other Somali regions - Puntland in particular - Somaliland potentially stands to gain a lot by strengthening its security. In fact, Somaliland probably has more to gain from engaing Puntland/The Sourth than it has to gain from engaging donors or foreign entities. And Xaaji don't underestimate the potential wealth that lies in agriculture either (through production of tradable commodities, edible produce that improve nutrition and health and raw materials that can be processed for sale) which Somaliland can tap into by engaging with the southern regions. So call it enlightened self-interest if you like. In addition, Somaliland and all Somalis alike are threatened by the arrogance, aggression and utter disregard and contempt for the Somali people and the Somali Republic from external actors involved in the Somali conflict and who seek to assert their authority over the country. And the latter is a long term threat which requires a long term solution, a threat far greater and more imminent than any threat or petty squabbling from small Somali sub-clan rivalry. Demographics are against us, for we are only a small nation compared to the 100m Ethiopians next door who are hungry for land and resources, more so than your average Somali sub-clan or group . To survive, to protect our land, our resources and our people we must work together as Somalis. This does not mean ruling each other or oppressing each other, it just means working together for danta guud and common interests. But Somaliland also faces threats from within the South Central regions of Somalia, from terrorists, militias and corrupt and self-serving politicians who will sell the whole Somali peninsula out to the highest bidder. And the gravest and most costly mistake that Somaliland can make it to choose to not engage and not seek to influence events, situations (and entities) the outcomes and actions from which can immensely affect its politics, economy and security. Its a head-in-the-sand policy to is and would be ludicrous to pursue. To stop the conflict in the South Central regions is in Somailand's interests. To have strong relations with Pundland and other regions is in Somaliland's interests. To work together to mutually beneficial outcomes is in Somaliland's interests. 3. Let me not be misunderstood And let me not be misunderstood or misinterpreted. I am not calling for the dissolution of Somaliland or Puntland, I am not calling for Somaliland or Puntland to necessarily submit themselves to the corrupt and ineffective ‘government’ down south without udertaking due diligence, preparations and putting the necessary structures in place. Nor am I saying that the SFG parliament represents SL. I am just saying that working together we are stronger, politically/economically/culturally and militarily. And SL has so much to teach and share with the Southern regions. You see, the mistake that was made was to centre all the political and economic power in a specific part of the country which created imbalances and grievances within the country and later on led to conflict. What was needed was, clearly, local democracy and decentralisation. SL and PL can and should remain autonomous because, although their models have clear faults, they have shown that they have made local democracy work. But if the Somali people want to secure, as you say, their safety, economy and future of their land they will need to work together, pool their resources and minds and re-brand the Somali name as a whole. I do not believe that we can achieve political, economic, military success as 50 small, weak and economically and militarily unviable ‘states’. We will only be dominated by our much larger neighbours, and the writing is on the wall. 4. Build on what exists and what works What we need is a consortium of the northern regions to creep southwards. Instead of waiting for foreign countries, SL and PL have shown what Somalis can achieve and they have a leadership role to play in stabilising the southern regions, they have much experience and knowledge to share. But you will note that I have not specified a system of governance or a political solution to the age-old Somali problem of power sharing. And I am not saying that Somaliland or Puntland can't be autonomous, within a Somali union, to the degree possible. I genuinely believe that the Somaliland aspirations can be accommodated within the existing Somali Republic. There are many ways in which a stable bottom-up political system can be built up, centred around existing structures such as town, city and province councils based around urban areas, which can then form so-called federal unions. Of course existing regional governments such as Somaliland and Puntland will be at an advantage as far as governing is concerned. 5. A slippery slope But haddii la aqballo, oo ay wax sahlan oo fudud noqoto in dalka marba qaybi iska go'do, inaga (Soomaali oo dhan) ayaa halis weyn ku jirna, madaama: 1 - Mar hadii la kala dhaqaaqo gacalnimadu iyo xididnimadu way iska baaba'daa, due to the passage of time (see Djibouti, maanta maba soo sheegato ama haybsato Soomaali). Oo dabeedtana waxaa dhacaya in marba cadow midh midh meel cidlo ah inaga helo oo la inaga dhergo, dabeedtana haddii aynu Sooomaali nahay, sidaas ayanu ku dhamaanaynaa. 2 - Dalkeennu 'territorial integrity' dambe oo sharciyaysan oo caalamka oo dhan laga aqoonsanyahay/aqbalsanyahay lama hubo' inuu heli doono. Xittaa hadii taas la helo', dalalka kale' kuma qasabna inay aqbalaan xuduudo cusub iyo dowladdo cusub. Imikadan ayay Kenya baddeenna qaybo doonaysaa, dhulkeenuna wuu ku xigaa. 3 - After structural destruction and disintegration comes re-building and it takes a greater amount of time and effort to build something than it is takes to take something apart. So you may never achieve that utopian dream, you may never realise that vision which you aim for. And I am not talking even of tangible structural rebuilding (e.g. infrastructure) or even the building of governmental institutions, I am talking about (a) the building of links and relationships with foreign countries and the entrance and acceptance into international organisations; and (b) having built those links and entered those international organisations, being a country that counts, a country that when it speaks is heard a country that carries political/economic/military/demographic weight - and Somaliland would be none of those (whereas a united Somali Republic would have a much better shot). And I am not saying that Somaliland can't be autonomous, within a Somali union, to the degree possible. 4 - Smaller countries are more vulnerable, economically, politically, socially and militarily. Again let me not be misunderstood, I am not calling for the dissolution of Somaliland, I am not calling for Somaliland to submit itself to the corrupt and ineffective ‘government’ down south, I am not saying that the SFG parliament represents SL. I am just pointing out the fact that together we are stronger, politically/economically/culturally and militarily. 6. Hadal haan ma buuxsho Together we stand, divided we fall. Hadal haan ma buuxshee, all I am saying at the end of the day is yaan xidhiidhka la goynin ee ha la adkeeyo xididada Soomaalinimo, gacalnimo, ummad-nimo iyo danta guud oo loo wada shaqaysto.

Is that the professor's wife at the end of the video? She has an beautiful voice.

Xaaji your title for this thread is nonsense. And wadahadal is the right approach to peacefully resolve the border issues, Somalis do not need any more confilct.

<cite> @gooni said:</cite> wiilashan snm I don't agree with your use of that term, unless you are using it in a historic sense, because it is if nothing else doing so is just counter productive, looking at things always from a qabil lens is not helpful, and know that qabyaalad dugsi ma leh waxay dumiso mooyaane'.

<cite> @Xaaji Xunjuf said:</cite> What economy has Somalia what Somaliland needs i never understood the economic factor Somalia is as poor if not poorer than Somaliland, Xaaji like I said above, "when I advocate for abandoning the independence agenda, I do so not because I think that a union with the southern regions will be immediately functional and beneficial, but because I can see what we can be and why it is important that we are united in the long term." I am not talking about immediate economic benefits, but in the long term there are potentially many economic/political/military/cultural benefits and advantages that Somalis could realise if we co-operated and worked together. These benefits and advantages I refer to are related to our population size and I shall detail below the ways in which Somalis would potentially benefit if we do not split up into a 100 weak and insignificant little 'countries'. 1. Having a country with a larger population means: - Your country represents a larger [viable] market as it has a larger consumer base which means that it is easier to attract foreign direct investment. - Your country represents a larger [viable] market as it has a larger consumer base which means your domestic companies can potentially grow larger than they would be able to if your country had a smaller population, which in turn means they potentially can expand internationally and bring hard currency back into the country. - If you've got a larger population you've got a larger workforce within your economy and this means that, all other things being equal, your potential economic output is higher than a country with a smaller population. - A military is funded with the resources within that economy and military personnel are drawn from the populace within the country and this means that if you've got a bigger population this gives you a potential military advantage over a country with a smaller population. - A country that has a large population/economy/military potentially has greater political leverage and importance in the world which means that (a) it is more likely to be able to form meaningful and mutually beneficial relations with other countries and (b) it is more likely to be able to project and defends its interests domestically, regionally and internationally. 2. Having a small country with a small population means: - Your country represents a smaller [unviable] market as it has a small consumer base which means that it is extremely difficult to attract foreign direct investment. - Your country represents a smaller [unviable] market as it has a small consumer base which means your domestic companies cannot domestically grow larger than they would be able to if your country had a larger population, which in turn means they will find it extremely difficult to expand internationally and bring hard currency back into the country. - If you've got a smaller population you've got a smaller workforce within your economy and this means that, all other things being equal, your potential economic output is smaller than a country with a larger population. - A military is funded with the resources within that economy and military personnel are drawn from the populace within the country and this means that if you've got a small population this gives you a military disadvantage over a country with a larger population. - A country that has a small population/economy/military has less political leverage and importance in the world which means that (a) it is unlikely to be able to form meaningful and mutually beneficial relations with other countries and (b) it is unlikely to be able to project and defends its interests domestically, regionally and internationally. If you don't get those things then you should honestly not be talking about politics. But all that is theoretical, let's talk about the real tangible economic opportunities and benefits. - The southern regions have most of the estimated 8 million hectares of arable land in the Somali peninsula, able to grow a huge variety of crops - currently Somaliland imports agricultural produce from Ethiopia. SL companies could invest in the fertile regions in the south and transport the goods at cheap rates to the northern regions or exported abroad or processed and turned into consumer goods - without incurring import/export duties/levies/taxes. - The southern regions have a larger population and represent a market to which goods and services can be sold, without incurring import/export duties/levies/taxes e.g. soaps and detergents from the detergents factories in Burao and Boorama, tinned fish from Berbera, furniture from Hargeisa, construction companies from Las Anod etc. - Berbera's deep sea port can be made accessible to and import/export services sold to the cities in the central parts of the Somali republic. I could go on... <cite> @Xaaji Xunjuf said:</cite>hadaad odhan lahayd nin jeebkisa buuxa wax ku darso waan garan laha , Qaarada Yurub in wax lala wadaago waan ogalahay wadamada latin America but what do koonfurians have to offer. 3. Let's think about that for a minute. But Xaaji, laba su'aalo ayaan ku waydiin. 1.Qaarada Yurub iyo raggan jeebkoodu buuxo ee aa ka hadlaysid haddii ay sidaada u fikerayaan ma waxa aad moodaysaa in ay iyagu doonayaan inay kula macaamilaan? After all, you rule is that you shouldn't deal with anyone whom you perceive to be worse off than you at the point in time. 2. People situations and fortunes change, so although you may perceive someone to be worse off than you today, situations change, and sometimes you have to look at what is possible and not only what is currently there. <cite> @Xaaji Xunjuf said:</cite>If the Koonfurians want to cooperate with Somaliland based on mutual interest i say yes lets do that Europe Cooperates the Asian states cooperate. I absolutely agree with you and that is all that I am advocating for, for Somalis to co-operate on mutual interests and with mutual respect. And I am now starting to believe that regions like Somaliland and Puntland should be more proactive in shaping and setting their agenda of co-operation both with each other and with the southern regions. <cite> @Xaaji Xunjuf said:</cite>By the way this topic is Somaliland. why do you have to inject garowe into this. Because I think its relevant to the topic. <cite> @Xaaji Xunjuf said:</cite>Independence is very important of the people of Somaliland its to correct the mistake their fathers made. Its to secure their economic prospect and the safety of their land and that of the future and that of their children and their children, nothing less than full fledged independence status for the people of Somaliland. Though i understand the Somaliland government should do all it can to make the quality of life better for the ordinary Somaliland citizen. And i believe with the little resources they have they are doing all they can, but the end goal should be the common objective of all Somalilanders young and old. On the issue of independence, like I said before: Having said that, independence is not the most important or urgent issue that SL needs to address. If anything the ‘politicians’ use the issue of independence to distract the populace from the real issues of extreme poverty, hunger, disease, lack of education/health/clean water/roads/jobs/infrastucture/economic development. And independence is certainly not a panacea that will magicallt solve all these things. More focus needs to be put on economic development because the current situation is appalling. Somaliland has been persuing independence for close to 25 years, or a quarter century, which is a distraction that the people cannot afford. So SL needs to build on the great achievements so far by focussing on economic development and seeking closer and improved relations with PL for a mutually beneficial relationship. SL is in the long term better off as an autonomous region within the Somali Republic than outside it, because demography is destiny and the smaller a country you are, the more vulnerable and politically/economically/culturally/militarily relatively weaker you are. Independence would be a grave mistake in the long term for SL. And when I advocate for abandoning the independence agenda, I do so not because I think that a union with the southern regions will be immediately functional and beneficial, but because I can see what we can be and why it is important that we are united in the long term. And let me not be misunderstood or misinterpreted. I am not calling for the disolution of Somaliland, I am not calling for Somaliland to submit itself to the corrupt and ineffective ‘government’ down south, I am not saying that the SFG parliament represents SL. I am saying that working together we are stronger, politically/economically/culturally and militarily. And SL has so much to teach and share with the Southern regions. On most of the other things you said, I agree with you to an extent, but I differ slightly on interpretation. You see, the mistake that was made was to centre all the political and economic power in a specific part of the country which created imbalances and grievances within the country and later on led to conflict. What was needed was, clearly, local democracy and decentralisation. SL and PL can and should remain autonomous because, although their models have clear faults, they have shown that they have made local democracy work. But if the Somali people want to secure, as you say, their safety, economy and future of their land they will need to work together, pool their resources and minds and re-brand the Somali name as a whole. I do not believe that we can achieve political, economic, military success as 50 small, weak and economically and militarily unviable 'states'. We will only be dominated by our much larger neighbours, and the writing is on the wall. What we need is a consortium of the northern regions to creep southwards. Instead of waiting for foreign countries, SL and PL have shown what Somalis can achieve and they have a leadership role to play in stabilising the southern regions, they have much experience and knowledge to share. Together we stand, divided we fall.

Somaliland (and Puntland) has indeed achieved a lot and it should be commeneddd for being a region that is peaceful, stable and democratic, which is a world away from the Southern regions of the Somali Republic. And both the people, leaders and diaspora of SL deserve praise for the role that they have played in maintaining this stability and democracy, which is a source of pride for all Somalis. Having said that, independence is not the most important or urgent issue that SL needs to address. If anything the 'politicians' use the issue of independence to distract the populace from the real issues of extreme poverty, hunger, disease, lack of education/health/clean water/roads/jobs/infrastucture/economic development. And independence is certainly not a panacea that will magicallt solve all these things. More focus needs to be put on economic development because the current situation is appalling. Somaliland has been persuing independence for close to 25 years, or a quarter century, which is a distraction that the people cannot afford. So SL needs to build on the great achievements so far by focussing on economic development and seeking closer and improved relations with PL for a mutually beneficial relationship. SL is in the long term better off as an autonomous region within the Somali Republic than outside it, because demography is destiny and the smaller a country you are, the more vulnerable and politically/economically/culturally/militarily relatively weaker you are. Independence would be a grave mistake in the long term for SL. And when I advocate for abandoning the independence agenda, I do so not because I think that a union with the southern regions will be immediately functional and beneficial, but because I can see what we can be and why it is important that we are united in the long term. And let me not be misunderstood or misinterpreted. I am not calling for the disolution of Somaliland, I am not calling for Somaliland to submit itself to the corrupt and ineffective 'government' down south, I am not saying that the SFG parliament represents SL. I am saying that working together we are stronger, politically/economically/culturally and militarily. And SL has so much to teach and share with the Southern regions. But as I said the achievements of SL (and PL) are commendable and are a source of pride for all Somalis.

Are all the universities for profit? Alpha your response to my questions would also be much appreciated bro.

Does anyone know if the University of Hargeisa is a for-profit entity?

Xaaji you do realise that the stability and security of SL and PL are interdependent. PL is a crucial buffer for SL from HMS.

I havnt the time to read the entire article but without a doubt citizens have a large role to play in protecting themselves and the communities they live in against criminals and terrorists. It is of utmost importance that a sense of vigilance is instilled in the local community.

So Yemen which is in the Arabian peninsula is part of the Horn of Africa? That's quite an epic misstatement on the part of the 'foreign minister' - and in the very first sentence of his article no less. Not a good look.

Somali Women Cashing in on Business In the Hamarweyne market, Mogadishu’s largest, 24-year-old Maryama Yunis is finding success with her tiny cosmetic store. The young Somali entrepreneur has been in business for two years, selling everything from soaps and shampoos to lipsticks and eyeliners, and now she’s turning a decent profit. “As more and more young women in Somalia grow increasingly aware of their looks and like to take care of themselves, the cosmetics business has naturally grown and I took the plunge to meet that demand,” Yunis told IPS in Mogadishu. Yunis is one of a growing number of women in this traditionally conservative Muslim country who are going into business because of the opportunity to attain financial independence and upward mobility. Even educated women in this Horn of Africa nation are expected to focus on raising families, but attitudes are shifting alongside women’s role in society, says Hawa Dahir, a social activist in Mogadishu. “Times are changing in Somalia and people are now more aware of the entrepreneurial potential of women and are more accepting of the role women can play in the economy of the family and the country as a whole,” Dahir told IPS in Mogadishu. Yunis herself is a university graduate. She studied nursing but opted to pursue her dream of becoming an entrepreneur instead. “With my mother’s help, I managed to convince my father to allow me to follow my dream and start the store. With the money I am earning, I am becoming more independent by the day and I’ve become an inspiration for many young women,” Yunis said. But for many women, entering the world of business is not a choice but a necessity forced on them by the death or unemployment of their husbands, according to Dahir, who studies women in business. Faduma Maow has a shop in the Bakara market in Mogadishu, where she has been working as a clothes trader since the death of her husband three years ago. The mother of four told IPS that she takes her children, aged between seven and 15 years, to school before heading to the market. “It is tough being a working parent, but it can also be rewarding. I am financially independent and pleased to say I am making progress towards my goal of raising a family and building a stable future for myself and my children,” Maow said. Dahir said that while there are no reliable statistics on Somali women entrepreneurs, their presence in the country’s small business scene is “palpable”. “Many women have started businesses here in Sinai and other markets in Mogadishu,” Rahmo Yarey, owner of a teashop in this busy market, told IPS. “I also hear that the same thing is happening in markets in the regions. Women are becoming breadwinners for many families in our country.” Women are involved in a range of small businesses, selling clothes, cosmetics, fruit and vegetables, or khat – the leaves of the Catha edulis shrub, chewed as a stimulant in Somalia. Women can also be found selling fuel in open-air markets and on street corners in Mogadishu. And they are doing it all with very little assistance. Somali businesswomen say working as an entrepreneur has its challenges. Firstly, it is nearly impossible to raise capital to start a business. Local and international financial institutions closed down following the collapse of the central government in 1991 that marked the beginning of two decades of civil war. A couple of local banks have now been established but one handles only savings and remittances from Somalis in the diaspora. The other does offer loans, but only to those who can put up collateral, which few women have. “It is not possible to get money to start up a business – even more so if you are a woman,” Aisha Guled, a khat trader in Mogadishu, told IPS. Guled herself got her start only thanks to support from a relative. She said that she has been struggling to make ends meet since she started selling khat. “Most of us have started with the little we could get and struggled up the ladder. Some don’t make it, others remain stuck in the beginning, but some are lucky enough to break even and make a profit soon and expand,” she said. Though the Somali government says it is trying to do all it can to help businesswomen working to support their families, one official told IPS that the government cannot at this stage offer financial support to businesswomen. “The provision of a secure environment for women to operate in is a key priority in supporting women in business,” the official said on the condition of anonymity. “Despite all the challenges that women entrepreneurs face in Somalia, the country’s womenfolk are showing that they are up to the challenge of being shrewd business operators, while maintaining their roles as mothers and wives,” Dahir said. She called on academics to study the rise of Somali women in the business sphere as well as in politics and other fields in society. Yunis said that as Somali society’s views and attitudes towards women’s role change, she expects more and more women to take up roles not only as entrepreneurs, but in academia and politics as they prove themselves to be equal to men in every aspect of life in Somalia. “It is just a matter of time before we see many women join men in equal measure in rebuilding our country because our society is changing thanks, in part, to the changing times; women will be more equitable to men in every area,” said Yunis. http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/04/somali-women-cashing-in-on-business/

It is the anniversary of the Wagalla massacre in which thousands of Somalis were killed by Kenyan security forces. Even 30 years after the event not even one person has been held accountable for the crimes that were committed. The Wagalla massacre took place on 10 February 1984 at the Wagalla Airstrip. The facility is situated approximately 15 km (9 mi) west of the district capital of Wajir in the North Eastern Province, a region primarily inhabited by ethnic Somalis. According to eye-witness testimony, about 5,000 Somali men were then taken to an airstrip and prevented from accessing water and food for five days before being executed by Kenyan soldiers. For years the Kenyan government denied that a massacre had taken place and insisted that "only 57 people were killed in a security operation to disarm the [area's] residents". It was not until October 2000 that the government publicly acknowledged wrongdoing on the part of its security forces.[ AUN to all those who were killed. They shall not be forgotten.

<cite> @Dr_Osman said:</cite> You can take many forms of federalism with the army, what's to say they're can't be federal soldiers clan based all around the nation, they are still the same army however in their own constituency to make the people comfortable. Dr. Osman will we not learn from our mistakes? If we institutionalise clan-ism we effectively ingrain divisiveness and distrust. Using a quote based system to recruit soldiers to ensure fair and balances representation is in itself fine, but we would be shooting ourselves in the foot if we create divisions of the military constituted entirely of a specific group.

The Horn of Africa – a region comprising Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Yemen I've taken the above quote from the first sentence of the article. Is Yemen part of the Horn of Africa?

Never complain to someone whose situation you do not know, for they may well be facing severe hardships and problems of which you are not aware. May Allah help us.

Never complain to someone whose situation you do not know, for they may well be facing severe hardships and problems of which you are not aware. May Allah help us.

The signature on the last pic looks photoshop to me And the name "Hassan Mahamud" has been photoshopped into the second to last picture. And the picture of the house has been taken from this website (and in fact the house is still for sale): http://properties.aplaceinthesun.com/Turkey/Antalya/ Mooge ninyahow shame on you for posting this gossip.

...

Kenyan troops massacre innocent civilians A Somali government official in the western region of Gedo accused the Kenyan troops in the country of refusing to pay for the compensation of six civilians they killed in 2012. Chairman of the Fah-Fah Dhun district in the Gedo region, Aden Shuqul Nunow, said that the Kenyan forces killed the six innocent men on January 2012 and the families of those killed are still waiting for compensation. “The men were deliberately massacred by the Kenyan troops on January 8 2012. We met with the Kenyan troops several times before and they told us they will compensate for the killing of the six men, but they changed their stance and denied they had killed the men,” Aden Shuqul Nunow said in an interview with VOA Somali service on Sunday. The chairman accused the Kenyan troops of widespread violence and corruption since they arrived in the country early in 2012. “We informed the Somali government about the killing and we are now telling the international community about the atrocities committed by the Kenyan forces,” the chairman said. Neither the Somali government nor the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia was available for comment on the latest accusations against the Kenyan troops in Somalia. http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2014/Feb/53229/somali_official_accuses_kenyan_troops_of_massacring_innocent_civilians.aspx

I forgot about this thread and I've just read lots of interesting comments I want to reply to, Inshallah.