The brother Jamal may simply be more "practising" or with basic Islamic learning unlike other Somali or Muslim journalists...it's often recent reverts or the islamically illiterate that are prey to radicalisation but prejudiced ignorance is hard to resist (and they may feel easier to express their racism towards the more practising ones).

There was always something very striking in countries where despite desperate need for most basic and vital services, a large part of the public budget went into non priority areas and unnecessary bureaucracy if not outright waste, even with the overwhelming majority of the population lacking almost everything deemed as vital or public service. And this was exactely the sentiment prompted yet again after comparing other countries realities with the wider Somali context as described most recently in this update: http://somalilandpress.com/somaliland-budget-2014-is-business-as-usual-48092'>http://somalilandpress.com/somaliland-budget-2014-is-business-as-usual-48092 Any reasonable person would concur that Education, Health and other forms of social spending should come first, followed by a heavy emphasis on infrastructure to enable long term recovery (not growth for its own sake, because much growth goes in hand with deteriorating conditions and pollution); yet, this seems to be the exact opposite of what happens very often. Instead of such social spending representing 60 to 80% of overall spending with infrastructures amounting to much of the rest, much goes wasted on ministries on paper, parallel presidential funds, likewise duplicated and bloated security forces etc. Worth mentioning is also the fact that taxation must attain realistic levels to secure the future of the nation towards the 20-30% of total GDP at the very least but more in cases of large diasporas (taxed by the Eritrean government) or when high levels of spending goes to destructive habits such as khat etc (which should be prime heavy taxation targets just like in Djibouti) if not other unproductive uses (land and property speculation fuelled by the absence of any form of recurrent, annual tax or transaction duty etc; even Djibouti taxes luxury villas rent at around 17% or 2 months out of 12). Should it thus takes several generations for less destructive spending patterns of public resources, a more progressive set of priorities (vulnerable groups, healthcare, public health and prevention etc)? Is there any point in growth when cities are not liveable due to pollution and unamanaged traffic(even leaded fuel is yet to be banned as elsewhere), with neither parks nor open spaces let alone pedestrians only zones? http://somalilandpress.com/somaliland-budget-2014-is-business-as-usual-48092

It's well known that Djibouti should switch to natives and english langages but implementation and ideal are two things: the best solution for learning in the initial years should be the mother tongue, Arabic and English should follow naturally with French phased out progressively; of course, this takes time and mounting quality concerns arise too (nobody minds Italian, French etc for some purposes such as courses funded by them and sorely needed; just like Mogadishu is restricting Italian but with minor exceptions). Economic dependency is, however, more and more tenous with the Japanese, Dubai, Saudis, Chinese, Cubans and others contributing much more in terms of rents but also big energy or logistics infrastructure schemes, healthcare, small manufacturing, fishing, water & irrigation, property, finance etc. The Chinese even promise planes and much stronger military aid in exchange of naval facilities, but so do Tokyo, Washington etc. Generally, Somalis and their partners need more cooperation and patriotism to dispense with foreign military assistance and aid rather than fingers pointing and small minded rivalries.

IV fluids manufacturing is very basic, initial stage of the industry if not almost an extension of the healthcare but it demonstrates willingness to improve the efficiency and finances of local healthcare. It is all great but the health of the nation should not rest on an old lady or few individuals and NGOs but an efficient civil service backed by a solid tax system (10% of overall public spending at the very least). There is no progress worth mentioning without universal primary care and public health system dealing with prevention (dealing with widespread maternal and child malnutrition, sky high birth mortality rates or even the recent AIDS trend). It's very hard indeed to reverse the devastating pregnancy or before pregnancy maternal malnutrition for instance and very basic child nutrition support make a huge difference at all levels during the lifetime; thus, giving such sections vouchers etc should be a crucial government priority. PS talking about areas, Hargeysa Shacabka area is by far my fabvorite albeit overbuilt lately and heavily polluted if not noisy thanks to the traffic explosion etc (the dry river or dooxa, State house area remaining space etc should all be protected and public parks and pedestrian only zones created to make it liveable and less toxic with leaded fuel banned as elsewhere in the world).

Was the protested coordinated with John Kerry’s visit to Ethiopia today? Perhaps a calculated move. If we Somalis still have irredentist ambitions we should use the OLF as a means of somali galbeed liberation. empower and hide behind the oromos. have them fight the battle That was actually the strategy of the Somali State in its heyday, as both the OLF and TPLF were hosted alongside the Eritreans. Sadly, Oromo nationalism is used by the ruling TPLF today both gainst the Amhara "excessive demands" and Somalis (Dire Dawa, Harar and other areas ceded to Oromia). However, a collaboration with or even concessions to Oromos is still key in furthering the implosion of the Abyssinians colonial project spearheaded by Menelik, whereby a huge portion of Oromos perished and many Somalis were sold as slaves too, victime of the most savage atrocities (that shocked even British colonial observers and other Westerners). Here is an excellent written account by a well-placed British expert and advocate that also relate the maladroit attempt at decolonization by Somalis hampered by public relations or diplomatic deficiencies as the Ethio basically sold the idea that it was an invasion rather than the decolonization of the Somali British protectorate portion illegally ceded to Menelik: The Betrayal of the Somalis, by Louis FitzGibbon "It should be thaught as History course in the high schools of Somalia"

the moon landing was staged by MAraykanka and Earth is flat by literally quoting Quran without the depth of understanding required to interpret That happened to me too, and was declared "misguided", bullied for a while; still, the more learned or cautious replied to them, as they trust him, that there is another interpretation to this "Earth flatness". Thus, the issue is the ignorance and therefore the critical thinking applied to how to understand the stillness or expansiveness of Earth; besides the very concept of movement is a relative one as an object movement or stillness vary according to the reference frame in basic physics (eg, a train is not moving if the reference is another train at similar speed or the passenger inside etc...). Regardless, it's often misunderstood that science does not equal truth but a constant struggle to have more accurate, encompassing theories albeit how evident flaws may be. For instance, at the most basic level, how coorect is Newton mechanics now that quantum mechanics theories are available? What to do about epigenetics now that traditional genetics seems more and more grossly naive, with genes expression moduled by the environmental context rather than being fixed once and for all? The fact that Atheism gained ground in some ccountries at certain times of anti clergy sentiment (feudal exploitation and other abuses linked to the church etc) or that others could be more "scientific yet much more deeply "religious" is not a coincidence (eg, French revolutionaries compared to the current USA, still deeply Christian) is by no means a coincidence. Ideally, one would be equally litterate in science and religion, but being aware of the uncertain and temporary nature of scientific theories as well as the cultural context (science does not happen in a vaccuum but within the prevalent culture taht set its focus, priorities and paradigms) just like religious learning require scholarship (eg, Aramaic, Hebrew etc to study both testaments or ancient texts).

It's fair to say parochial politics is well covered; however, it would be interesting to focus more on businessmen, traders and big companies's influence, hold on power. It seems they are not only too close to decision makers but even calling the shoots with the near absence of taxation, which means terrible conditions for the masses unable to access water, healthcare or prevention services and the long term (urban planning and infrastructure). Have those trading elites convinced others that adressing the lack of regulations and ultra low taxes are not real priorities? Is it even possible to talk about the nationalisation of cash cows such as livestock exports, utilities or at the very least the Telecoms? Do people realise that they are entitled to basic services and that taxation or public revenues increase is the only way to deliver it?

Having taught largely myself abstrat algebra, linear algebra etc around a decade ago from the distance learning Uni course of my elder brother, it came as a surprise to me that even the hardest subjects on the surface can be more efficiently learnt through self-study if one wants to. I then continued with perfectioning my English in fun ways with the help of Tv programs and software called "tell me more" by Auralog and getting sent issues of Times magazine (tip used in one of my sibling elite school). It was so exciting at beginning that I went through revising the basics, the pronunciation etc within 2 months roughly before switching from the CD while reading a lot, notably websites. Passionate about history, health sciences etc, the sudden ease of access to reading and information in the West was thrilling at that time. By serendipity, I discovered not long ago that Spanish, as a latin langage and even Italian, were readily understandable and their grammar came naturally since I already spoke French; I did not go much further that way though since it did not have the same urgency of English (intellectual or academic English is also very similar to French). It's also the case that sometimes a seemingly unrelated subject can ease greatly others; my hated French grammar classes (hardly learned much of it directly) such as the subjunctive etc assists even in English authored Arabic grammar (the terms, concepts etc) let alone other latin langages where much is the same (I curiosly went through an Italian page without any translation, grasping it fully; likewise one could say spanish grammar mirrors it pretty much). Of course, I improved a lot in my arabic & Islamic studies too, tried basic programming, delved deeper into other scientific subjects that caught my attention such as epigenetics (it was so fascinating that what we knew was so oversimplified and that genes expression is influenced by the environment such as stress, diet etc rather than genes determining things as assumed). You basically realise we know almost nothing even in the hard sciences such as physics, which is the most fundamental, where the Newtonian model gave way to quantum explanation at the microscopic scale etc (or that basically matter is just energy, so solids such a human body are full of "holes, just energy waves or the current definition of atoms). Meanwhile, I kept reading on economics (not a science but appears serious on the surface for beginners) as I was already familliar with it through dad mini library who taught it long ago before realising that such subject hardly tells anything meaningful but hide its ideology driven theory as similar to science (only the accounting side such as GDP and "common sense" observation such as printing too much currency causes inflation if not matched by a rise in output etc makes sense). Still, works on development, particular countries technological and output growth etc may be interesting when stripped of ever revised flimsy theoritical frameworks such as the assumption of humans as rational optimiser in micro-economics etc (again, one should not take the overuse of maths as a sign of rigor in what is basically ideology driven, simplistic and grossly inaccurate theory of human behavior). Those counter-intuitive, fascinating aspects of physics, biology or even history are mind opening for everyone and a basic overview may suffices for most people. The question is do you guys enjoy learning for its own sake and endeavor to be well-rounded in the most crucial subjects and at the general level at least (roughly undergradute)? Do you view reading as important in itself and an overriding hobby?

It looks like patriotism and better efficiency, along with much less corruption, is a major advantage of the rebel group (also less rapes, theft etc). Time for others like the TFG to learn from it (of course I'm not a Shababist)? Somali farmers benefit from al-Shabab reforms In Somalia's breadbasket, many welcome al-Shabab's move to expel foreign aid groups and build canals. Bulo Mareer, Somalia - It is just after 8am and Sheikh Abu Abdullahi is busy inspecting what he refers to as his latest "anti-NGO" project: workers digging new canals in Bulo Mareer, a town in Somalia's Lower Shabelle province. The diggers have been at work since 6am, as part of a province-wide canal-building project that was launched about two and a half years ago. Al-Shabab - the al-Qaeda-linked rebel group fighting against Somalia's internationally backed government - has so far spent about $2m on the project, along with others like it in south and central Somalia, according to the group. Three months have passed since the last drop of rain hit Bulo Mareer, but thanks to the numerous canals and waterways, the town is lush and green. [...] [The NGOs] bought their food from abroad and never bought from us local farmers. They killed every incentive to farm.

Things are not that simple: clans in the past centuries seem to have been fairly fluid just like their location. A group can join a clan, even if non somali but somali related Galla, and some clans have a heavy association component both in the North and the South (the Dire-Dawa/Djibouti one, the Baidoa one etc); locations of clan confederation may change as suggested by location names in the North (Ceel Mar..., from Gedo group etc) by this Somali geographer called kariye. It's a bit like Danmark claiming Normandy, Britain, or Kiev (where Vikings started the first Russian state) etc...History is complicated and more chaotic than it may seems.

Public Health, Healthcare costs, Family relationships stability and children nurturing, or even individual well-being and physical as well as mental optimal health, discipline, harmony and focus in society etc; there are many parameters relevant accross all cultures. Moral relativism or social liberalism extremism (actually, liberalism in the West started with Jewishs and Christians rather than than atheistic values) makes no sense when carried to its logical conclusions in every sphere (and most people will oppose it anyway way before the "everything goes" stage, from Japan to Peru)...

Khayr, it’s an existential crisis of sorts, not a complaint about anything material. I’ve just lost interest in most things and most people, lost passion for the many of the things I thought I was passionate about, and feel a bit lost when I thought I had a clear plan. I don’t respond well to contingency, and I’ve realized that everything in life is contingent, as much as you may plan for it. Is this not the case for many of us or people in the West, when removed from life hardest struggles, death and risk (actually people from porrer countries and times are less likely to be depressed, unhappy etc) . As you suggest, relying solely on planning, worrying about planning everything and the generalised incitation to "follow one's passion" instead of doing firstly what helps most others or is most coherent with one's core value, care for others instead of self-absorption and follow life natural path (early marriage and responsabilities) may well be the reasons. I personally awake most brutally when visiting burials, hospitals or suffering ones about how trivial and self-absorbed if not ungrateful we could be. There is this thinker called De botton seen on the web etc talking about status anxiety or how seeking status compared to others may be the root of modern times problems(amplified when societies become meritocratic in appearance, albeit very different in reality, eg "anything is possible in America or for everyone"). Thus, stress and unhapiness take a toll and create much of the common physical as well as health problems as the famous Roseto village study in the Italian enclave of Pensylvannia and others showed that strong community sense (common meals with extended family, solidarity accross the village etc) was a very powerful protection against heart disease and other killers even when the diet becomes equal (half the rate of hearth diseases, virtually no crime etc despite a switch to common American heavy on junk diet). That over-hyped guy prescribes however old time and ancient thinkers wisdom of reminding oneself of death, some measure of misanthropy (contempt for keeping up with the Joness or judging people according to status etc) etc; not so earth-shattering a revelation for Muslims or follower of other religions.

Probably; there are historical sources suggesting the Fulanis, Peuls or Hausas migrated westwards in Africa and alongside Tuaregs/Berbers share some common origin with Somalis or even Tutsis (langage and biology are not always related; a lot of Bantus seem to have common blood with Cushitics) or cushitics in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania etc. Ethiopian Amharic may be a semitic langage too but their blood differs little from that of Oromos and Somalis (just like with the Beta Israel or Falashas). The bottom line is that things are not as they seem or that simple; you have also for instance Viking or North German origin traces in Russia etc but also in Venice which langage was not Italic originally (as in other parts of Italia) while even Germany had much non german origin blood. It's just human nature to be swayed with simplicity and racism. Maybe the "Berber" group is along the Bantu-Niger-Congo, Mongoloid and Eurasians with their Indo-European/Aryan one of the initial human segments rather than a mix; middle-age Arabs would be a mix of Berber-Aryan (eg, through Egyptians, Iranians, or even axumite Ethiopians maybe) even if it's more a linguistic group than an ethnic one today (Algeria, Lybia etc are largely Berber; Turkey is such a human melting pot today resembling little original Mongols or Turks).

This may make you laugh, but not long ago (in the 70s), Somalia was the South Africa of Africa, speaking for and assisting liberations fronts from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti etc all the way down to South africa as a strategic state that belongs that straddles accross 2 continents or multiple spheres while being well armed and even reputed as progressive from the early 60s, Syad was chairing the UA (in the 70s I think) and Kenya was not even independent as early as we were.

What does natural means? If some animals have endless partners too, should humans mate with everyone, at any time? Should cannibalism of one's children, for instance, be allowed too or maybe the decapitation of one's partner as some animals and insects do? It's human nature to have all the wildest fantasies, some are drawn to violence, others to children (pedophilia), endless promiscuity or even incest, so where should the line be drawn to allow for every impulse since there is even a case for murderers to be potentially born with more violent trait (low resistance to frustration or anger)? Again, all those endless debates miss the point that on a practical level, what should really matter to everyone regardless is the common good (if not individual well-being). Clearly, stable relationship with the opposite sex is the only form associated with positive physical and mental well-being while fostering the next generation and family links whereas homosexuality is not and is even extremely toxic or unhealthy on purely medical grounds, not to mention its healthcare economic costs. Thus, the argument that everyone's impulse should be allowed for regardless of wider social consequences, public health as well as individual well-being is pure nonsense or some "liberal" arguments for drugs, pedophilia etc should all then be seriously considered on an equal footing.

True, no need to fear death but nostalgia is much worse for sensitive people like me; no need for all the photos and videos (those Europeans keep ancestors paintings on walls).

•Somalia lacks trade agreements with the West, lacks a proper certificatory regime and is not a member of the World Trade Organization, making exports difficult. The vast bulk of Somalia’s current exports consist of charcoal and livestock heading to the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen. •Multiple currencies are in circulation, some of them worthless. Monetary control remains elusive with no new official bank-notes having been printed since the overthrow of Siad Barre in 1991, leading to a thriving black market in currency. Those above are very secondary issues comparing to the needs for civil service training and patriotism; the pundit does not realises the world has totally changed (now moribund France or sliding backwards Italy were central) and exports to the West means very little in East africa since China, Dubai or Qatar are desperately in need of minerals and farms produce while growing at record rates (14% for Qatar, similar to Dubai recent trends). Besides, nothing forbids having 2 similtaneous currencies or more accepted in many places as long as there is not too much counterfeit currency (Sland has thrived with its Shillings). Since this "terrorism expert" is based in Toronto, maybe he should specialises in advising follow Canadians in raising their productivity, lower than many Western countries, despite vast abundant resources and strenghten manufacturing while avoiding mineral exports created distortions etc. Since very little sincere and stable direct budgetary support is provided by Canada or others, Somalis owe them no explanation in any case (unlike Turkey or Arab partners).

<cite> @ElPunto said:</cite> Not quite sure what the ferment in Somaliland these days is about. Surely corruption allegations and mismanagement existed pre-Silaanyo. At the same time the ruling party supporters can't dimiss all the opposition their rule is causing. Clearly - they've pissed off some powerful constituencies. But then vote them out in the elections - the Somali propensity for buuq when the alternatives isn't much different is quite amazing. Indeed; buuq jaceyl runs in our blood, you would think elections and the very recent rise to power of a new coalition after so long etc would at least calm things (there are no such freedoms in other Somali places like Djibouti, Jigjiga etc). They seem to claim that corruption started now and was not much worse before without free schooling, doubling of salaries and many first time projects such as roads upgrades. Now, the other madness is that it seems that there are no credible taxation policy or development strategy, a credibly detailed alternative but sweeping accusations for the sake of it... I think that anarchism is the favorite trait of nomads and of course, since cultural traits last very long accross generations, even limited economic, public services and infrastructure progress like in Djibouti may take decades...

We should strive for facts and accuracy; Somaliland does not indeed really receive any significant bilateral aid, let alone funding from major institutions, guarantees, not even significant foreign expertise or scholarships etc. Humanitarian spending and NGOs inevesting in villas, foreign consultants or cars, to assist IDPs or try social engineering (women empoerment and that kind of stuff), piecemeal, unsustainable or self-serving projects such as "anti-terrorism" units etc is not serious aid. Besides, again, things should be put into their proper context; countries such as Djibouti receive $150 of aid per capita (aid is defined loosely here), and some countries even more, alongside all sorts of foreign rents such as military bases rents, taxation of foreigners, major investments under guarantee from international institutions, scholarships, technical assistance, etc. All these things are obviously not accessible to Somaliland, even simple insurances and letters of credits are a challenge albeit improving etc. Even if added, everything spent on Sland would not amount to anything close to the $150 of basic aid per capita ascribed to Djibouti (which actually gets much more both directly and indirectly, even outside its multiple rents). Anyway, aid matters if its real aid (no Japanese trucks funded by Tokyo, French loans tendered to French companies etc) that does not disrupt the accountability of the state to its citizens and is reliable and consistent, supporting local initiatives rather than imposing foreign priorities. In practice, this seldom happens apart from the Marshall program and other schemes where there was some local capability and genuine desire or interest to help like-minded societies (hence why manufacturing and trade helped many more countries to lift themselves).

<cite> @SomaliPhilosopher said:</cite> Does this hospital come with a teaching hospital? Will they provide any medical education of any kind? We must also be cautious. There is a growing influx of Kenyan nurses fleeing to Somalia for jobs. We shouldn't allow Somalia to be the next South Africa, or Australia for Kenyan nurses. We have enough unemployed medical practitioners. Abu-Salman, what is the role of djibouti? That was just to underline that the Turks send medical experts there too (and in other places); however, any nurse or skilled worker is desperately needed and welcome, in particular when it comes to the medical field (we are nowhere near having too many practiotioners and need increases with urbanisation and the explosion of chronic diseases associated with modern lifestyles, diets and habits). Actually one of the key priorities and reason d etre of the government is precisely to attract and foster healthcare workers (just like infrastructure or food and subsidies to those in need); so, a fully fitted hospital with foreign doctors, all for free, is a unique gift and precisely what is really needed in Africa (such professionally run institution can effectively function as a teaching unit, so effectively multiplying its usefulness). The workers are actually what matters most (a nurse or doctor with very few tools can do a lot, even if relying mostly on physical examinations, stethoscopes or micro labs). One can condense engineering courses in 1 or 2 years if not shorter for routine tasks but the clinical or most crucial part of the training of doctors need ideally years in an hospital setting. They are effectively the most precious assets or resources needed.

Really great work by the Turks (they are sending teams etc even in Djibouti); now, the local medical and nursing schools will make sense with those fully staffed hospitals, as the real training start with the clinicals or shadowing doctors. It is very telling that the Turks are the ones sending what is really needed in Africa, ie surgeons and engineers, rather than the Frenchs and others...

<cite> @Zakariye2014 said:</cite> The $200m budget figure is by no means accurate, not least because the exchange rate between dollar/shillings is arbitrarily set. <cite> @N.O.R.F said:</cite> On the $200+ budget, we haven't seen the breakdown yet. I'm quite sure most of it will be through some sort of programs for development. Not sure how much of it goes directly to government. Fair enough, nobody takes their figures at face value (else, Africans would have long starved); yet, the exchange rate can not be fully arbitrary for an open economy and the current finance ministers are renowned for being clean. Regardless, if revenues stand at 8% (much scope for increase), the budget should stand at not much more than 100 millions (highly doubt half of it would be aid financed or totally phantom). But all that is academic for we already know there is a huge gap between income groups; nobody thus needs the WB to tell us that the likes of Telsom, dahabshil, villas in hargeysa or traders need serious taxation for the underprivilged to access vital services. That or public airwaves and land need to be nationalised as public goods just like in other places (there is no escaping serious land taxation anyway, esp for bigger and commercial properties).

<cite> @N.O.R.F said:</cite> Who wrote this? Estimates are given then it states they are likely inaccurate. The $1.2b changes from just Somaliland to the whole of Somalia. Is the WB advising raising coorporate taxes in line with Ethiopia and Kenya? Established countries with structured economic/development strategies with tourism, exports and supported by the IC? The key word is indeed "estimates", which means very little apart from pointing out the modesty of urban economy (the GDP per capita can easily double if we just add rural milk production at its market value); how can we compare it then to places like Ethiopia? It is also the case that GDP figures, often understated, were heavily raised up in some African countries, not to mention the informal sector etc (aid or remittances do not count). Still, what is most interesting is that revenues stand at 8% yet the central budget alone is roughly $200 millions this year (around $250 m overall); is this not yet another gross inconsistency? Does that not means that Hargeysa can at least double if not quadruple its revenues to attain the same level as many similar or African countries where revenues range from 20 to 30% of the national output or GDP? It is all very interesting but to be taken with a pinch of salt of course...

East Africa : new oil and gas province (translated from french Treasury: tresor.economie.gouv.fr) A new oil and gas province is emerging East Africa and the Mozambique Channel . According to industry majors , the potential of the region is considerable. In 2012, four of the five major gas discoveries in the world were made in Mozambique , nicknamed "Little Qatar " by the oil companies. Tanzania has confirmed at least 30 TCF [1] gas and could make other discoveries which would make another important global actor. A gas pool is drawn between these two countries. In terms of oil, the challenge is the opening up of deposits. Regional geopolitics will be inevitable and will probably play a role as a platform in Kenya: Uganda prepares the exploitation of vast oil reserves in the Lake Albert provided to solve the question of the evacuation. South Sudan is seeking a new path to export its oil. In Kenya, encouraging signs confirm the presence of a deposit of crude near Lake Turkana , other reserves are likely in offshore where drilling is underway. Ethiopia also wants to get into the game and launch surveys . Finally , Somalia encourages companies to explore return on the basis of promising evidence .[...]  Somalia: exploration interrupted in 1991 by the outbreak of civil war should gradually resume. - In October 2012, the government of Somaliland has called companies to which blocks were attributed before 1991, BP, Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, to negotiate return to resume their activities. Geological layers are comparable to those of Yemen, and the first surveys give hope large reserves of crude oil and gas, "potentially the most important in the region," according to Genel Energy (Anglo-Turkish) group. Ophir (England) launched a survey in the area of ​​Berbera and other companies.

Analysis of Macro-Economic Situation in Somaliland Somaliland Statistical Bulletin Interestingly, there were some notable successes throughout Somalia as illustrated by the manufacturing sector rapid expansion in the past (sadly stopped by the liberation War effort against Ethiopia): "Exports of manufactured goods were negligible when the 1969 coup occurred; by the mid-1970s, manufactured goods constituted 20 percent of total exports. ("Somalia, a country study"; Federal Research Division)". Actually, Somalia as a whole has economic output comparable to that of regional economies, even surpassing them by miles in key sectors such as Telecoms (but also in remittances, livestock export recently resumed, trading etc). This clearly illustrates the potential for rapid growth in canned meat, fish processing, hides and other forms of small-scale manufacturing alongside the renewal of the Berbera cement complex and other basic industries in high demand or with locally strong natural advantages.