A new political campaign tactic http://m.allafrica.com/stories/201311040516.html/ Presidential Candidate Dr Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Condemns Acts of Aggression 4 November 2013 Former Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and Puntland Presidential candidate, Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali 'Gaas' strongly condemns the acts of aggression perpetrated by the incumbent president, Abdirahman Farole. On Friday Morning, a vehicle belonging to the Abdiweli for Puntland campaign was ambushed as it traveled through the Nugaal region of Puntland State on their way to Galkayo. The vehicle and its unarmed passengers were attacked by forces linked to the Presidential Office. Of the men attacked, one passenger was shot in the thigh and another managed to escape with minor injuries. The driver was kidnapped and the vehicle driven away. Reports suggest that the vehicle and the driver are both being held in an undisclosed location in Garowe close to the presidential palace. The team included the former Police Commander for the Bari region, Abdihakim Yussuf Hussein who is currently managing the campaigns security efforts. Dr. Abdiweli called this attack a scare tactic to create insecurity and hence derail the election process yet again. "Today's attack is a continuing trend to stifle the political process and presidential candidates' ability to campaign freely within the Puntland State of Somalia. I urge my supporters to remain calm in the face of such act of provocation and promise to continue working with all candidates in these elections to securing fair and peaceful elections" Dr. Abdiweli said. In discussing the upcoming elections, Dr Abdiweli stated, "Puntland, as the first recognised state within the Federal Republic of Somalia should be a beacon and an example of stability and security. During these elections, I will continue to maintain dialogue with all candidates to ensure free and fair elections. I urge the support of all parties in upholding this" "We call on our international partners to observe the election process from the selection of the Members of the Parliament, the Dispute Resolution Committee, and the efforts to hold credible elections among others" he added. Puntland MP's will go to the polls on 8th January 2014 to elect the state's new President. These elections were delayed from 2013.

Carafaat;970167 wrote: Guys, We need to be more patient. Its easy to criticize and find faults, but its much more difficult to come up with alternatives. AMISOM was deployed in Mogadishu in 2008 and Sheick Shariif was elected in january 2009, but they only managed to drive out AL Shabaab from Mogadishu by mid of 2012. It took them nearly 3 years to liberate Mogadishu. Hasan Sheick hasn't even been in the job for a year. But his government already filled the (political) vacuum left by Al Shabaab in Beletweyn, Baidoa, Gedo, Marka, etc. So be patient and give the government some time. It's not as if the comparison is made in out of thin air. Compare the progress made between August 2011 (when Al Shabaab left Mogadishu) till August 2012 when the city was very much secured and the territory under the government's control expanding rapidly, to the period between September 2012-July 2013. Clearly security and military progress have regressed or stalled completely.

Geedi is accused of a lot of things but he made sense there, wallahi nothing is gonna change and Somalia is going to be stuck unless people in Mogadishu can figure out their head from their A$$.

Of course, because the leadership we've had since Independence until now were God-fearing, upstanding men?

Somali hormar waligeed ma gaareso. Xenophobic, ignorant, bigoted, intolerant, small minded etc... The idea of Unity is an oxymoron or an anathema to the average Somali.

Mayaani;918755 wrote: dadbaa afartii sano sugi la'a war iska dulqaata oo danihiina wax u qabsada. TMZ nagu noqdeen sheikh madaxweynihiisa ha soo dhaweeye maxaa laga rabaa. Bored with the level of ciyaal like discourse here already. There's a 101 legitimate issues to criticise this government on, one needs not to resort to making up stories. This is another yet instance where the behaviour of the political class of this country disgusts and disappoints me yet again, regardless of ideology, tribal or other affiliations. Sometimes I doubt if these men cannot build a district, let alone a country. ilaahe baan qabnaa. Samafal;918760 wrote: Sxb we lived by hope for 23 years and still do,s o don't take it away from us. Inshallah brother, things will improve and something good will happen for us.

After you boss, unmask yourself and I'll follow suit.

Reiterating something I witnessed earlier today = shaming others..... for something I'm guilty of. Which is what exactly? Ideologues.

They don't pay my salary nor can this government afford it. Better check the facts next time brother.

Cyiaalkaan and their Internet memes. Facts are facts friend, if you have access, ask around. nuune;918602 wrote: How did they let you in to pray in the state house, unless you work for the government, or minister in disguise. One of these is partially correct.

To say I'm disappointed wouldn't cover after what I saw today. I went as usual to pray Jumah in the State House Mosque. The President showed up very late, during the Khutbah, the Imam stopped the sermon for a full 5 minutes until the president finished praying and settled down, then continued after receiving a nod from the President to proceed. The entire mosque was confused. The sermon then became all about the 'glorious president', he spoke about his trip to the States, the attainment of US recognition. The 'historic visit to London' and continued in that vain. He then spoke of the Prophet making agreements with non-Muslims and compared him to President Hassan. That was the Friday sermon, a feeble Imam trembling, fluffing his words praising the President and praying God protect and empower him in every other line, and so forth. I was a supporter of President Hassan, but the little guy with the Napoleonic complex is a dictator already after just 3-4 months. Ministers who want to see him on urgent state business are sent away and told to make an appointment 2 days in advance. This is just one small sample of his 'Presidential style'. Even Sharif, who was criticised a lot in his tenure hardly operated in this manner. There is hardly a plan and agenda for governance over the next 4 years, outside of fluffly proposals in NGO lingo. May God help Somalia.

xabad;917598 wrote: indeed, when you just think things are getting better and old wounds are healed and bang you're witness raw unadultered 90's clan arguments. guys lets move on. I concur, but the obvious question has to be asked: Why are these sentiments resurfacing now as opposed to during Sharif's presidency?

This elder generation of Somali's are a complete joke. They despised the deceased dictator Siyad Barre, yet all of them are carbon copies of his style. The Somalia idea of protocol once again is a joke. The way a leader stands on a podium looking the fool, the entire government arrives to greet them at the airport -- this could be Hargeisa, Garowe or Mogadishu, yet the story is always the same. Embarrassing.

Woaaah, we have a pedant in da hooooouse!

Different decades? Yes. Different realities? Well, of course the capital was held hostage by Moor-yaans. If anything, had the US intervention succeeded, I'm certain we'd have had a stable government by 1995. Btw, this forum censors the word Moor-yaan? Hilarious.