I realise the nuance between GNP and GDP and the local remittances and household spending figures given by the local NGO were just an interesting proxy; the point is not so much about those indices but how much of the production and trades is left out and the artificiality of "official" measures or comparisons. The realistic range of $ 2-4 billions as GDP or $ 3-6 billions GNP (both roughly double those amounts if calculated in terms of PPP) leaves out not only the important informal sector but, even more crucially, the whole rural economy as if activities such as vital milk production did not matters (the absurdity of which authors such as John Drysdale noted). Which means in turn that the upper estimate PPP per capita GNP of 1000-1200 is at the very least roughly half underestimated. Of course,authorities may only tax in practice the 3-6 billions of formal economy or remittances plus the booming livestock exports (now at least $ 500 millions through Berbera alone) but there is ample room to provide some basic equality and vital services for the unprivileged even through the 10-20% lower range of taxation level, before constant gradual increases. A most interesting data is the roughly 60 millions of taxes on Telecom providers that could be readily enforced by the TFG as one of their technocrats revealed and overall telecom revenues accross Somalia/Somaliland may be between 300-600 millions. Another ideal source of taxation or nationalisation target!

Videos of some of the Djiboutian ministers's speeches about the constitutional referendum in September 1992: The son of Thomas, who was my younger brother schoolmate, offered him his Sonic 3, which combined with our Sonic & Knuckles to form almost a new game: . We only had that title as it came with our Sega MegaDrive (bought early april 1996); I was disappointed when mum took my elder bro and he came back with the Sega, as I was impressed by the earlier Super Nintendo (with Street Fighter 2 title) that dad brought from France in 94 but could not connect with local TVs. I soon was more impressed with Sonic and the mega drive as we had lots of fun up to end of 1996 (including during our stay in Hargeysa around 14 July-28 September 1996). A golden period those early 90s indeed... Becoming a minister was a dream back then too (stable and comfortable career; unlikely to run out of game titles) : D PS: President Hassan Gouled (77-99) returning from a sudden hospitalisation in France (end of 96 if I remember well), the masses are lining up the road from the airport to the Bait-Al-Wali presidential palace: .

MashaAllah bro, I'm positive the adorable girls anticipated it too, wiil hanuunsan inshallah...

Gob or jujube's flowers's nectar is used by bees, hence its prized honey (with medicinal qualities, Its flowers turn into fruits). I remember we used our baxarsaf to flavor our tea. Aloe vera or dacar is a succulent, not a cacti apparently. Locals know the properties of each plant; all those scents were incredible though...

Interesting remarks guys, thanks. Let me try and add a bit more: Miraa Miri waa geed miro yaryar oo cas ama guduud ah le, mirahaaso madoow qolofta hoosteeda oo u eeg filfisha. Gob waa "jujube" oo malab kiisu waa qaali (Sidr or jujube tree honey is a niche, very expensive product). Baxarasaaf waa geedka "eucalyptus" ayaan filayaa oo magacaana ethiopia-na waa looga yaqaan, australia laga keeney ayaan jeclahay oo waa geed biyaha aad u isticmaala oo dhib keeni kara laakin dawo iyo nafci kalena le: " (wiki) Ethiopia. Eucalyptus was introduced to Ethiopia in either 1894 or 1895, either by Emperor Menelik II's French advisor Mondon-Vidailhet or by the Englishman Captain O'Brian. Menelik II endorsed its planting around his new capital city of Addis Ababa because of the massive deforestation around the city for firewood. According to Richard R.K. Pankhurst, "The great advantage of the eucalypts was that they were fast growing, required little attention and when cut down grew up again from the roots; it could be harvested every ten years. The tree proved successful from the onset".[31] Plantations of eucalypts spread from the capital to other growing urban centres such as Debre Marqos. Pankhurst reports that the most common species found in Addis Ababa in the mid-1960s was E. globulus, although he also found E. melliodora and E. rostrata in significant numbers. David Buxton, writing of central Ethiopia in the mid-1940s, observed that eucalyptus trees "have become an integral -- and a pleasing -- element in the Shoan landscape and has largely displaced the slow-growing native 'cedar' Juniperus procera)."[32] It was commonly believed that the thirst of the Eucalyptus "tended to dry up rivers and wells", creating such opposition to the species that in 1913 a proclamation was issued ordering a partial destruction of all standing trees, and their replacement with mulberry trees. Pankhurst reports, "The proclamation however remained a dead letter; there is no evidence of eucalypts being uprooted, still less of mulberry trees being planted."[33] Eucalypts remain a defining feature of Addis Ababa". Getting into beekeeping in Somaliland (really great blog by a diaspora returnee, about Somali trees etc) ": The land of eucalyptus Although I was born and partially raised in the Somali region in Ethiopia (just across the border with Somaliland), I made my first trip to Ethiopa on 15th May 2008. I was amazed to see the beauty of the forest in Ethiopa. The dominating tree species in Ethiopia is eucalyptus, a quick growing, hard and tall tree that now has turned to be one of the backbones of the Ethiopian economy. Huge amounts of timber from this tree are exported to Somaliland, mainly for construction purpose which raises the question of why people in Somaliland do not grow this important tree instead of importing it from Ethiopia! It was Emperor Menelik II who first ordered the introduction of this species to Ethiopia in 1895 to counter the widespread fuel and construction shortage that was prevailing at that time. An estimation made at the beginning of 1980 showed that the total planted area of this tree species was 91,000 ha. Since then, continues efforts have been made to increase the plantation of the tree. An Ethiopian academic who accompanied me in journey from Harar to Addis Ababa on 6th November told me that the policy of forestation in Ethiopia stipulates that each cut tree should be replaced by planting 5 trees, mainly eucalyptus. The result is clear: A very green Ethiopia" It's ironic that trees and other natural resources, which are much more vital and less destructive than oil get little coverage. The pharmaceutical potential of native plants, some well-known and less endangered such as aloe vera, alone is literally priceless. Dhirtu waa nolosha.

It wasn't Somalis, I'm fine fellas, violence is routine here and I should have known better this time. The gun may have been a bluff but how to tell for sure. lol Stoic, bro fillin a report with them on appointment at home as they said was pointless unless you are in for the long haul or provide physical descriptions etc (and there was nothing that valuable anyway). Glad they don't shoot as much as in the States though...

Have been mugged this night under gun threat, lost little money and the thugs threw my mobile while not noticing my hidden bank card etc. The worst part is the nearby police station telling me that they dont have a team or patrols tonight so I should come back tomorrow (not even fingerprints taken). Thugs on drugs or alcohol have plenty of time and room to operate; no wonder walking at night or entire areas are no-go zone...

I do not think close relatives or friends in a wedding would actually worry about eating or seats in general; actually in similar circumstances I'm more than happy to help and cater for guests and others who attend (mind you not of all those invited do come). Back home, even the TV set was shared with the neighbours (let alone the distant relatives settling with you); it is not so much "open doors" and generosity but the acquired taste for luxuries and costly weddings that is the problem in general...

Some elite that live in an altogether different world than that of the impoverished locals and for whom cost is of no concern (It is incredible that detailed plans are available on AXEarchitectes alongside their regular projects):

The Deputy mayor Sheikh Cali Qaari is fluent in the 7 Qiraa'as and a well-known veteran teacher even in pre-war Xamar; I was impressed by his collection of Arabic & Islamic book when he was a local acquaintance and he used to lead prayers. A very humble yet focused man of learning, exactely the kind of leader which is desperately needed... Somalina;804569 wrote: Deputy Mayor of Mogadishu and Deputy Governor of Benadir Region Honorable Ali Ahmed Gure met with the Mayor of Municipality of Toronto Honorable Rob Ford March 15, 2012 - QOL - In the effort of Outreach program of Rehabilitation the capital City of Somalia. The Mayor of the Municipality of Toronto Honorable Rob Ford receive today at his office the Deputy Mayor of Mogadishu and Deputy Governor of Benadir Region Honorable Ali Ahmed Gure to renew a cordial friendship and solidarity with the people of Mogadishu Somalia and to promote cooperation and support for the International Effort for the Stabilization program that is under way through improving security and rehabilitation the infrastructure of War Torn Mogadishu. The visit it was cordial with the presence of Counsellor Vince Crisanti Elected Counsellor, from Etobicoke North, Walter McIntyre and Leaders of the Somali Community in Toronto.

Archmedos, isn't that first video of rain and 2 girls in Hargeysa from Jigjiga Yar neighborhood (near the roads, down the hill)? The author of that youtube video even filmed Arabsiyo outside Hargeysa, a kind of resort town and a "famillial hometown" of mine. Let's hope it does not turn into a "concrete jungle" indeed and the construction extravagance & environmental degradation are controlled.

C/cassia Maxamed Samaale waxa* loo magacaabay Wasiirka Wasaaradda Maaliyadda The parliament deputy speaker is a paternal relative, I saw him around 2003 when he visited us in Djibouti and had to order from a family relation posh restaurant. All I knew about him before was that he was trusted with edo's villa construction besides hotel mansour. It was inspiring to see him challenge the government from the opposition and could not understand why edo resented or was worried about his political engagement (at least someone willing to stand for principles I said to myself). I think he was educated in Yemen and had some petrol station and construction business, he was with London's Silaanyo delegation back in 2010 praying at the local mosque. I just come accross his Facebook profile through relatives and added him too. He is a wadaad, honest and principled politician similar to M. Hashi he just replaced so the anti-corruption drive will not waver... PS: He declined ministerial positions on several occasions as this could interferes with his presidential ambitions.

Zeylac-Lughaya State President Injineer Mahad Habib arrives in London It seems like this newest State is making strides and connecting with other groups (inviting Banadir state etc). Zeylac is indeed a very historical town and they include the area from the strategic Loyada up to Bulaxaar (though it is inhabited by another clan, my paternal grandfather was said to be born around there). This clan that settles in Zeylac-Lughaya has been one of the calmest during the civil war though; very pro-unity too (he's praising the TFG in the video and seems quite nationalist before ending with Allahu Akbar). This very clearly illustrates the need for inter-Somali dialogue as Carafat always says here and that unilateral secession risks creating other secessions within the secession... PS: I'm not connected to and from the same clan as the organisers.

The Hermet, socialism economically means putting equality as the main economic goal. Of course, there are all sorts of connotations but these are irrelevant for Muslims and even Islam strongly encourage economic socialism (equality, giving up all surplus etc). We just need to ensure everyone has all the basics and the elite's spending, even when honestly and transparently earned, is put only to the service of the common good (creating jobs and safeguarding the environment). Besides, economic dirigism, nationalisations and social ownership of firms are partly adopted in the most productive, innovative and solvent big economies such as Sweden, Germany or France (though not to the same extent and consistently arguably). PS: the USSR made formidable leaps in heavy industries and defence industries production but also in terms of equality; its main major flaws economically was just that big sovkhozes farms were not as productive as their small, individual plots while customer goods were not diversified and of insufficient quantity or quality (they needed to lease farms and introduce some market incentives though consumerism is very destructive for all sorts of reasons). And they had to operate with formidable internal challenges (wide distances and diversities, climate etc). Of course, that is in the purely economic sphere even though the rest may be objectionable; but we should not take what we read or hear at face value and countries such as Cuba are cited as models in terms of equality, healthcare or education (despite very little resources or environmental damage).

^Land should not only be nationalised but also rationed; this ideology of unbridled capitalism is fallacious as far as people's well-being matters (not to mention the environment). Farming plots should likewise be state's property as in some other countries with small farms and businesses protected (just like any activity which is labor intensive and environmentally neutral unlike most big farms, hotels or stores). Nobody should cares about growth, investments, GDP etc if it fails to protect the environment and underprivileged (to avoid the same fate as in countless other countries).

The land and estate inflation is out of hand; I hardly believed when my mother told me 4 years ago that her plot in central Hargeysa was morth $ 80 000 (it may be much more now) as she bought it for roughly $3500 in 92/93. The only realistic way nowadays to settle in the centre or desirable areas for almost anyone is either to rent or build/live on a relative's plot (unless of course one is rich enough to not have nothing better to do with cash). Again, with this artificial economy of foreign exchange influx and improductive use of assets, locals bear the brunt; hence why it is all the more urgent to have a controlled economy that put savings into creating jobs and care more about the poorest than the elite. The self reliant Eritreans that reject foreign aid and have zero debt have much better healthcare, public services and patriotism than Somalis yet even the very clean Asmara is much more affordable than cities in Sland/Somalia (Eritrea is actually cited as an example for similar African countries). It has indeed more to do with putting the common good and unprivileged before anything else than inviting foreign banks with destructive records in African countries where they were present for more than a century...

Actually, half of countries such as France or Vietnam actively cooperated with their ennemies or colonisers; thus, whether some youth switch over or not is pure irrelevance. Now, the supreme irony when it comes to Ethiopia is that you have more and more international medias, groups or experts interested by the massive scale of rights violation up there while some Somalis dismiss it because of a "rival clan" or a "State" project. I was just meeting perchance Phil Rees who came across as quite familiar with the Oga-den issue and we had even the BBC recently joins Aljazeera and other courageous professionals (eg, the arrested Swedishs) in covering atrocities and deliberate starvation in prime time (not to mention the New York time prominent reportage). Of course, we are a long way from the unity displayed by Eritreans even across religious lines as well as their diligent patriotism, with professionals offering free lessons, masses building roads etc; however, this colonial anachronism too needs to build awareness (firstly among Somalis who must know the region and its history in detail). That will hopefully dilute the mistrust which is the prime obstacle as highlighted to me by this experienced French army officer, a Somali acquaintance well versed into regional affairs and well connected (a divisiveness which even limits peaceful lobbying)...

nuune;801441 wrote: It wasn't Kaniif that they said, but Kalliif, and it was a riwaayad Jabuuti I heard that, kalliifka aaba jikada loogu yeeraa, reer Jabuuti qac iyo nus waaye, waa markey dooro kalliifkeed i nacsiiyeen. Actually: Kaniif or baytalme= toilets (arabic bayt al maa) Madbakh= kitchen (same in arabic) Makhadad= cushion Naalo or Bayd= eggs (arabic bayd) So the Djibouti dialect is actually Northern dialect with maybe more usage of the Arabic words and few French words instead of English/Hindi equivalents (we never had any sense of real dialect change when in hargeysa/borama etc and families spread accross the border anyway). We are not talking about ciyaal xaafad lingo words that change all the time but adult or regular langage (there is slight variation accross clans though). Of course, Galbeed Somali is the same as in rural Sland and again families spread accross hawd/hargeysa up to even dhagaxbuur. Now, Southern dialects tend to be puzzling with quite noticeable differences for all those folks and even in formal langage, though the extent varies... PS: I understand urban or elite Djiboutians may come as "different", just like sujus, ex ciyaal xamar etc but the vast majority are just regular Somalis exactely as those in Dire-Dawa, Jigjiga or even Dhagaxbuur.

Detailed analysis and costing of the Berbera-Ethiopia Corridor, wider regional trades and infrastructures in Somaliland (mapping of Hargeysa); Quite informative about the local economy/infrastructure/capacity in particular: Pre-Feasibility Study of the Regional Transport Sector in the Berbera Corridor Final Pre-Feasibility Report

Though I'm not an OG, the ONLF & co struggle is the only one I thoroughly admire of all Somali obssesions; the easy argument of "let them accept peace" would be more credible if we had a system that remotely accepted basic representation and rights. You wonder if most of the critics had even seriously read on Ethopian history, are acquainted with the relevant basics or even follow routine reports by rights advocates; what we have is a ruthless marxist minority regime that allow not even basic freedom to trade for the masses, appoint regional governors and interfere in local affairs through their security forces and has been described by groups such as MSF as deliberately creating the world's worst humanitarian crisis. In short, the country function as a giant marxist concentration camp where people are kept destitute on purpose and food aid, fertilizers etc are used as political control weapons, particularly against other ethnic groups (who heavily subsidise Mekele and its hinterland). One can not be against colonialism or appartheid yet accept it's worst form ever because, after all, "the main fighting group is largely from a rival clan"; a chauvinistic and racist criminal group is no less worse for being dark skinned (it's actually much worse than any similar group and makes no secret of holding Somalis in the lowest inferior stratum as Muslim nomads)... PS: the military side of the debate changes nothing fundamentally as rebel groups are still largely able to obstruct large scale migrations or resources exploitations and hold a bargaining as well as medias PR power that prevents total acculturation (many Somalis are already in the process of assimilation, losing their langage and culture). Are people going to change their views anyway if Somalia proper start exporting oil and allow the ONLF a free pass to link with their allies abroad?

You are right sis Aaliyah, but people back home tend to be less complicated and more appreciative of blessings in general (not to mention the sheer numbers). Only having the same plans and priorities should matters though. We already have enough complications within the family or relatives these days, so simplicity is more precious than anything (stronger sense of home and identity, being happy with the minimum etc)...

It has a genetic component and could be accelerated by stress; a healthy lifestyle helps anyway. I always had hairs with a very slight pattern but I noticed at around 20 that hairs were entrapped in my bedding so it became too obvious; nothing to get much worked over though...

Well, relatives and acquaintances usually make suggestions. If you want a decent one, one should come accross likewise; there are plenty of brothers from Holland etc that get hitched in Leicester when they start to be regulars at the local mosque (though learning and practising you basics is far more invaluable in itself). For marriage to work, both should be having the same priorities and plans; come to think about it, I need to rush myself to Hargeysa before hitting that "deadline"...

Those DC3 are proven and quite rugged planes that can fly with one engine and take much damage yet land; it could thus be extremely safer than trucks or cars and it's cheap to operate. I think a few of those would find a ready market in Sland/Somalia and make for a good investment along a hired pilot/mechanic; training is very quick as it's a propeller and fly by day etc so it could even be a one man business. I Think they could even halve current prices or open new routes yet make profits; the Daallo Djibouti-hargeysa/borama line etc is just an overpriced version that rely on leasing plane plus pilote (when that sort of new plane cost around 150 000$ and a pilot could be trained in few months for those conditions).

nuune;800000 wrote: Ngonge, I can assure you, that you will not pay more than 650 euro(£540), or to be crazy not more than 595 euro(£495) for return trip to Xamar, the secret, you don't book from London-Xamar, but book from London to Istanbul 200(£166), then Istanbul to Xamar 426 euro(£355), so you are only paying £500 pound from London to Xamar, two tickets there The journey is the same as if you book the whole journey in one ticket, you only do the 2 hour transit or so but have two tickets instead of one, same thing. Thanks for confirming Nuune; Now, we just need the prices for the 3thd ticket Xamar-Hargeysa (Berbera or Djibouti) to compare the package. Looks great indeed, plus the adventure and flight over Somalia/Galbeed.