What's with the media's infatuation with the hospitality sector. These hotels and restaurants are necessary in that they cater to the returning diaspora and the parasitic U.N agencies making their way back to Mogadishu, but they are unsustainable in the long run and mean nothing to the average citizen of Mogadishu. Are there efforts underway to revive the textile industries?

The title of that Youtube clip is erroneous. Our reputation was tarnished long before this scandal. It's only because of that already tarnished reputation that The Star went out of its way to state the ethnicity of those involved. To be seen, not only to be associating with drug dealers, but Somalis in particular is being used to further chide him.

I guess we'll see if the holder(s) of the alleged tape will come forward now, given that they would be guaranteed a large sum of money. I get the feeling that they've been laying low, since having it known that you possess something worth $200,000 in the drug dealing community reduces your life expectancy dramatically.

warsamaale;955582 wrote: Well done, although it would've been better if somalis concentrate on other sectors apart from the service industry . +1 I've always wondered where the money for these services has been coming from since our export industries are only just coming out of the woodwork. That question was answered when my mom asked me to 'lend' her $500 so that Guled from Las Anod could have his own laptop.

Haatu;955414 wrote: Blackflash, I can only speak for myself but then I also know that nearly all Somalis are Muslim and are not happy to see a religion other than Islam propagated in their country. One question you all seem to be overlooking is, why does Christianity need to be propagated in Somalia in the first place? I don't see a need for the propagation of Christianity in Somalia. I support there being restriction put on the missionaries until the average Somali is not living in condition that would make them latch on to the ideology of whoever is providing them with sustenance.

One of many reasons why aid has always been detrimental to development in Africa. Remittance also carries many of the same implications, including degradation of culture.

Having reserves of Manganese in an area is not equivalent to it being a pollutant in that area.

Marksman;955396 wrote: I'm interested in opinions of individuals. No one can speak for someone else. @Tallaabo I agree. But in my opinion there should be restrictions in spreading a different religion other than islam. I'm all about social cohesion. Not about which religion/ideology is true or not. If Somalia chooses to go the non-secular route, then the government should at the most restrict funds from the public purse from funding the proselytizing of other groups, but not actively curtail their rights to propagate their ideas.

Haatu;955391 wrote: We have no need for their faith. Let them stay away. You speak for everyone?

An interest fact that sets Vietnam apart from the other SE Asian nations (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines etc.), is that their industries aren't dominated by ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs. I think their grassroots economic growth would serve as an important case study for future planners in Somalia.

It only took a day for the classic denials symptoms and conspiracy theories to make their way on to my facebook feed. It's good to see it being countered by some Muslims this time.

Apophis;953949 wrote: Collective victimisation. Should white middle aged men protest and show "passion", every time a white middle aged man commits one of those unspeakable crimes upon a child? One is responsible for his own actions, not those of others ( a lesson evident for anyone who drives a car). Who said anything about protesting? I was alluding to there being some internal discussion on why 'misinterpreted' doctrines of Islam are being used by so many to commit atrocities. Until the issues are resolved, the voices of the average Muslim do have to be heard. Not matching the intensity of the diatribe espoused by the groups who claim to speak for all Muslims would be naive.

nuune;953932 wrote: Tallaabo, every allegation made need to have support, adigu ummad dhan ayaad eed dusha ka saartey, don't you know the first peoplle to condemn the bheading yesterday were Muslim organizations/communities in the UK, and in return what did they achived, several mosques were atacked as I reported on that thread, you see, whether Musims condemn the attacks or not will not make a difference for the average red-neck. Muslims in the U.K will need something more than the empty words of press releases by religious P.R firms. How about a reaction with about .05% of the passion seen at the protests to the cartoon drawings?

Nin-Yaaban;953756 wrote: So we got Oba and Xabad gone. Who is goin' to update us on the Mogadishu Pictures thread? SMH. Oba is gone? :eek:

Safferz;953686 wrote: Crazy white people hack others to death all the time, but when they do it they have the privilege of acting as deranged individuals rather than representatives of religions/communities. How many recite religious manifestos to passers-by? How many involve multiple assailants?

Muslim dude covered in blood wrote: 'I apologise that women had to witness this today' What a gentleman.

While the reasons behind the emigration of Mexicans are complex and many, they are for the most part economic migrants. Somalis on the other hand are fleeing famine and war. Mexico was an industrialized nation last time I heard, highly stratified, but industrialized nonetheless. So why is there comparisons being made between negligible Somali migrations and the never ending streams of Mexican migrants that will impact the lives of all Americans, including Hispanics?

AfricaOwn;952245 wrote: As business person would you invest in a risky market (no insurance, law of the jungle) like in Somalia today? There is a good chance their investment could plunge into the water...These guys are business folks first before they're Somali. True, but why are non-Somalis more willing to take the plunge in business outside the hospitality sector, when the Somali business persons likely have more connections and a better understanding of local/regional politics?

What is it with Somali entrepreneurs and their cowardice? Why are many Somalis involved in many industries throughout the continent, but seem to fear investing their wealth in their own country? I wouldn't refer to others as cowards if it weren't for the fact that non-Somalis seem to be falling over themselves to fill in the gaps. Lol at Malawi being a neighbouring state of Somalia.

Safferz;951757 wrote: Your outrage seems empty. There is a lot at stake here, particularly in how race and class collide in story, so if some Somali kids want to run with this, let it be. I think it's powerful. I have nothing against the dealers themselves. It's the donators and how desperate they are to remove an elected official. History will not only remember a crack addict in office, but also a group of people willing to establish what is essentially a charity coke dealers to finally oust an oaf who is unlikely to return as mayor in next year's elections.

Safferz;951753 wrote: Yup, and I was glad to contribute. Good on them for breaking this story and engaging with political and media institutions in their quest to find a buyer. They pay with their lives every day in the drug market, and the man who owns the video has said that he wants the money so he can get out of that world and move to Alberta to start over. Oh yes. 'Work' in Alberta, they said. You won't get your brains blown out in Edmonton, they said.

SomaliPhilosopher;951752 wrote: lool as blackfish said, are we too donate our money to coke dealers? The Somalia Orphanage Project Damn orphans. All destitute and shid. They can't hold a candle to our local drug dealers.

Wait a minute. Are people actually fundraising money to meet the demands of a drug dealer?

That's a strange looking sidewalk.

Safferz;951658 wrote: ^^ it's plausible when you consider that census figures rely on national origins (Somalia) but miss all the Somalis who come from or through other countries as immigrants to Canada. I'm sure all the TO folks here would agree that the number is awfully low. The census accounts for this by asking what the 1st, 2nd and if nessecary 3rd languages are in a household. In the case of Somalis, who are more or less linguistically homogeneous, it can serve as an accurate marker of Somali population figures. Here's an interesting tool from an old article on the CBC. It lets you view acceptance rates for refugees by country between the years 2006 and 2009. You'll notice the acceptance rates for countries where Somalis live in large numbers are among the highest. Here's a great reference for getting an idea of the potential population of Somalis in Canada: Refugee Stats Comprehensive