Very timely, Norf; I could not agree more that "religious" figures in the mosques too should focus on ethics/manners. It's not the same tragedy when you witness the routine fights/animal behavior in restaurants and mosques; can you believe many in my local mosque are so rude/uncivilised that even punching by staff members was not uncoomon (against a teacher or even a teen)? Recently only and after much lobbying, fighting has finally been banned (real consequences for agressing someone). Of course, it's also about the Imam backbiting the sheikh or another colleague and vice versa, ie routine envy and slander against others; I discovered long after the fact that I was myself rumored to be an "undercover agent" like others and so on and so forth (I stopped going there like many others and confronted them for not being upfront despite the long years, mutual services rendered etc). Anyway, the head of trustees himself seems universally hated for rudeness precisely by totally unrelated people and talks as a royalty ordering around servants (maybe thinking his PHD or "professor" title entitles him to do so). How could you teach people the appropriate behavior and ethics when those in charge seems ruthless, even against each other, and at best more focused on their bottom line (finances and relationships)?

^True Ngonge; but last time I was delivering mails & parcels, dealing with bottles, nude cards etc made me overstressed even though the outdoors/physical side etc was really great . It's maddening that few occupations have fully ethical implications (not to mention when things are based mostly on nepotism as in Africa); I was very curious about people dealing with say financial dealings, wasteful constructions or buildings that will have questionable uses (entairtainement etc) and other contradictions (such as this acquaintance wadaad delivering The Sun etc). Can you work for big companies while not being much worried about ethics, outside healthcare and teaching?

Told to "join other relatives recruited on preferential salaries" at Djibouti Telecom, I'm wondering on how people can train in a sector solely for financial stability. If I see through the initial training I suppose I could spend the days blogging on SOL laters. More generally, if only I could force myself to train in logistics, telecoms or finance... all my prefered subjects (biology, arabic or geography) hardly pay off similarly even on the long-term, not to mention their lower status.

Of course, contrary to the common misconception, not all intelligent persons, high achievers, or academically credentialed people who become experts in one field or another are intellectuals. Unlike the segment often referred to as experts and technocrats whose function is often focused on the micro level of structure and governance, intellectuals, by and large, focus on the macro. They produce ideas that influence powers that be and shape history by moving societies towards one direction or another Spot on as usual by our hero Abukar Arman; if Somalis could be taught to think, explore and read for themselves rather than follow someone just because he holds a PHD holder or "injineer" title etc, that would be progress itself. It would cut the grass under the feet of those self-serving "professors", "Doctors" or "Engineers" who thrive on people lacking self-confidence and assertiveness, yet are visionless, clueless and confused themselves. As absurd as it may seems, you will see lots of title holders, some educated in the West, unable to think coherently and clueless of many important issues, with limited horizons; actually, they may not even read publications in their own fields even when their english is on the decent side... It's as if titles mattered more than having broad knowledge, interests, mind and thinking ability; which is not sometimes that could be taught or gathered in a few years but rather a state of mind and habits: curiosity, open-mindedness, and constant exploring, critical reading and questioning. With enough of such people focusing the local discourse on the real issues such as ethics and equality, transparency, healthcare or environment, things would be much more civilised at the Somali scale with much less mental space or focus on unimportant issues and conflicts...

Actually, Islam encourages humankind brotherhood and cooperation unlike the superficial understanding so common; compassion, wishing well and praying for non-muslims is even recommended as the prophet did. You would be surprised at the level of evil (envy, backbiting or character assasination etc) and greed shown by many "wadads" and even some "sheikhs" are not the kind of people you would want to deal with...though they are overall more moral than the rest. The truth is that people are born and raised with some level of ethics and self-control, that could be enhanced via religion (high intellect and being well-read helps too greatly), but being religious at least assists in avoiding the most patent red lines and having some coherent ethical system.

Petitions, letters to MPs/Senators/journalists, Sit-ins in prominent places etc; no stone should be left unturned to at least attract attention towards such scandal...

Following warnings by "Medecins sans frontieres" and other groups, a Newsnight investigation presents damning evidence: -"The West turning a blind aid to systematic human rights abuses"; -Millions prevented from emergency food aid; -Satellite images reveals dozen of burned down villages; -Widespread rapes and atrocities -Mass starvation adding to the trauma: Video: Newsnight investigation: Billions of dollars used as a tool of political repression in Ethiopia Caution: interviews of abused pregnant Somali women's are heart wrenching and may shock.

Ngonge, "criminalisation" is all relative; you may even walk out free within two years after stabbing someone here. I'm sure most of them would join their friends renting sports halls instead etc. Khat nowadays is altogether another beast. And the real criminals are always those who practice "let live" liberalism yet spare no expense to insulate their relative in rehabilitation, offer their children travels or tuitions, avoid TVs at home etc precisely to divert them from all those "free choices" . Many of them would not even dare eating the junk common in our homes but see no problem in their Mc Do franchise milking deprived ghettos. PS: I'd be eager for myself to be banned of many things and is very grateful for much of past strict rules....

Some surprising, counter-intuitive results: http://pewforum.org/executive-summary-islam-and-christianity-in-sub-saharan-africa.aspx

Agreed ElPunto, the powdered form in Canada limits its appeal unlike in my area where you would think Mafrishs are opening in every other building, full of youngsters on fresh potent leaves. What those "studies" fail to mention is that khat is also a gateway for many other things, including heavy drinking, routinely used for "mirqan jabis" or against chewing hangover, to enable continuous chewing (many even alternate between those two plus cannabis etc). With many women now addicted, those khat or drinking places often double as underground brothels too accross Somali communities, TB epidemy incubators and so on and so forth...

Amin bro; I know how hard family events touch us. IED? Kenya is now even more of a wild place...

Looks like even solar energy is now getting very competitive and the region has a potential of up to 5-6 kw by meter square (as calculated in Djibouti where some buildings are solar powered, in conjunction with storage batteries). That means the average home need much less than one meter square of panels; it's thus an excellent investment (the Djib central bank director second home in Hargeysa is solar powere too): http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2011/dec/indias-solar-power-bid-prices-sink-to-record.html As for wind, major desalination schemes have already started: http://www.comesaria.org/site/en/opportunities_details.php?chaine=desalination-of-sea-water&id_opportunities=126&id_article=133

What we often do not realize is that you can only gradually realize all your potential and a degree is just a beginning; you can start medicine straight away or get a degree in envirobnmental/renewable energy and then work or get an internship before enroling for graduate medicine later. Many people start a graduate or undergraduate medical course later; it is very important to choose something that will get you respect and social standing while earning a decent living honestly (engineering, health sciences etc). Likewise, if you are passionate about say Mathematics, Physics or any other somewhat serious or technical field, it is easy or doable to switch to a graduate engineering course and career. Some even switch from say an English or geography degree to computing or renewable engineering; hence why it's important to have those Maths or sciences A-levels etc; Mathematics, especially, is really the foundation. When you get some financial/career safety and comfort as well as social credibility, nothing stops you from writing as much as you like and you will get plenty of time or years to travel. More importantly you will have better social capital and networks, which are even more invaluable. PS: If you are both good with memorizing and enjoy people and kids, seriously consider health or medical related courses, it's awfully varied and a huge sector; you could be a good pediatrician and it's well worth to work harder few years than to struggle later. Research, early preparation and talking to those involved is the key...

Looks like a momentum turn, though the name should maybe be revised; what are the positions of local scholars such as Sh Abdillahi Guelleh who was imam in Djibouti? A practical agenda towards equality should also be the focus: putting the economy as a means towards meeting basics and jobs needs for all, limits on farm/land size and big corporations, environmental conservation and open urban spaces etc.

It has long been observed that a culture centred on learning and delayed gratification alongside tight knit solidarity has afforded the Jewish community relatively much more succes than other groups, despite barriers and modest origins. Starting with the study of the Thorah, children are already litterate in different scripts and langages, while books are cherished and foster early a culture of reading and intellectual stimulation (upper-class homes have often no TV). In similar ways, it has long been observed that practising Muslims (or Christians), eg among Blacks Muslim organisation in the USA etc, are more focused and better citizens, with a strong sense of identity. This strong identity and sense of purpose that protect the uprooted refugees, combined with a premium on learning is also a potent force among Somalis from families with strong religious background. It was long known too that by first memorising the Qur'aan and mastering Arabic basis smoothed a kid progression into school and learning other langages. At the practical and local level, it's refreshing to constate that wherever an organised mosque, Islamic schools and tutoring circles are established, alongside some role models, the aspirations of local youths in disenfranchised areas are raised, with gradually increasing levels of Biology graduates, medical students and aspiring professionals. What is stunning is that such change is not widely reported and encouraged. I have personally always encouraged teens and others to read, not to watch TV, take profit of all the free resources in libraries where one could learn almost anything and even teach himself (at the very least a decent English); there is no reason too to not aim high instead of hanging with low ambitions youngsters. After all, even a young Somali straight from Mogadishu managed to get into medicine at Oxford; it's not that demanding to achieve excellent grades in biology or chemistry. In this small world, helping each other means plenty of positive consequences, if not for us directly, then for our children or those related to us; assistance and service extended to others is thus one of our best investment and hence why we should worry about others children, our wider community. Today, at any rate, I could no longer countenance my euphory at witnessing yet another of my young acquaintances studying science and Maths A-levels, preparing confidently entry into medical school (I can't count local aspiring or studying future doctors even in this most deprived neighborhood known for all the wrong reasons). But just how much more could be achieved if we united to mentor struggling families with less strong ethos, those not closely linked to the mosques which function as community centre too, while focusing on promoting reading (there is now a very popular campaign of pupils tutoring on reading)?

Very factual and accurate, not without some humor; the blogging grandmother come accross as a "humanist" patriot defending both jews and disaffected nations, but losing patience with zionist embrace of his country (interesting take on other crucial topics too): [...] Penny Pritzker – Obama’s National Finance Chair during the election cycle; she is a billionaire heiress of the Pritzker family fortune. Like most billionaires (in my opinion) the Pritzker’s are wealthy for a very good reason, and it doesn’t have much to do with honest hard work. Have a look at one of the Pritzker’s previous businesses, Superior Bank. Apparently, the Pritzker’s are so money-hungry they’ve even cheated their own family members out of money.. Yet, they remain close associates of Obama. Of course, similar to all other U.S. politicians, Obama has no choice. If you don’t kiss up to Jews and Israel, your political career won’t last too long. This is a fact that every single politician in Washington realizes, but very few are willing to admit publicly. [...] http://whitewraithe.wordpress.com/category/political-parasitism/

The 'Kerala Model' of Development: Development and Sustainability in the Third World There are no secrets about the Kerala model, a poor state even by Indian standards: just focus on equality (small-holders farming, limits on land size, rationed-subsidised food stores etc) and a new well-fed, empowered generation will be better positioned to educate itself and advocate for environmental conservation; very little resources or ecological damage are needed but a firm commitment towards equality (the strenght of communists/socialists in building the Cuba or Kerala Model). Now, we must absolutely realise that diverting discussions and focus towards "clans threats" or other petty issues simply means much less accomplished on what really matters, ie your community well-being or levels of suffering. In contrast to those who waste common energy and attention and are therefore criminals both directly and indirectly, any group or person that advocate for equality, prioritise issues such as pregnant women and infants nutrition or urban open spaces, as green and open spaces very significantly lower criminality (just like modern, processed diet alter the brain and favorise violence), is indeed contributing directly and indirectly towards tremendous, incalculable public good. "...if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people...." (Qur'an 5:32).

Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar;763669 wrote: Leicester tuulo ma'aha, umana dhawo. Have you been to it? I have and it was magaalo iska quiet ah with a large university. Soomaalida degana badankooda Yurubta kale kasoo guureen. Qamri duli ayaa cabo iyo wax isnacay. Gabdhahaas walaalaheena haku tusaale qaataan in qamri qeyr lahayn, oo dad isnacay oo wax ma fasho ah bas cabo. It has 2 universities, 300 000 residents with huge Asian share; St Matthews in the centre, if you went there, is filled up with Hijabis, Mosques and almost only Somalis, a little Xamar (annual Somali mu'tamar). The dugsi/Islamic schools and quicker council houses made it a haven for families all over the EU; yet, even such tight knit place is not safe from substances and parents have often mixed priorities or little awareness themselves of pressing issues. "Khamri" seems sadly now almost universal in Holland, London etc just like Indians in reserves and other excluded groups everywhere are entrenched in addictions (drugs omnipresence, youngsters drinking like there is no tomorrow, middle aged men and women numbing painful existences etc)... PS: It's not usually those addicted to drugs etc or drinking who are the most to blame; some are even very human or honest; the whole system and community is perverted and to add insult to injury, they often boycott those addicted or vulnerable (an addict is just like a patient and can not stop without serious consequences, without long-term support)...

Interesting how the AJE journalist was focused and articulate, pointing out the central fact that the government originates from foreign interventions but also the issues of frontier states troops, the newcomers in Somali affairs, credibility and corruption. The PM could have pointed out too that the Djibouti agreement was much more positive than the initial agreement between warlords on foreign payroll in Kenya, compensating some of its flaws (half of the new MPs were pro-Sharif, coming from the civil society). Still, ruthless crooks and criminals amidst the TFG and its foreign flavor means that negociations with the likes of Al Shabab are a must as the PM recognised. Although a good hearted man and a capable technocrat, the PM comes accross as a bit out of phase with the tragic struggles and routines of the locals; he takes economic theories rehearsed in US faculties a bit too seriously too (eg, talks of "public choice"). A real leader would have emphasised a bold vision and shown independence of thought, talking about small scale farming and youth employment schemes, equality and internal autonomy (much more crucial for local well-being than any partner or donor). Economic theories are nothing but ideologies masquerading as science; what really matters is a focus on true equality and its necessary pre-requisites such as internal-market orientated farming or labor intensive industries and, crucially, state institutions free of foreign interferences and corruption. It may well be argued that nationalisation and even rationing are crucial to common well-being in many cases, while protecting the environment and enforcing frugality (merely promoting it has a rather limited impact); all that contradict directly liberal economic prescriptions and narratives that would view the monopoly on land tenure by a single company or multinational as "progress" with, of course, the former farmers and rurals considered as "inefficient", mere pool of labor reserve exposed to and adding to the vices and exploitations of urban life...

In the Muslim regions of Spain, the use of Arabic quickly spread. By the tenth century, elementary education was commonplace throughout Arab Spain. With the exception of the very poor, all boys and girls attended school. Unlike the Christian parts of Spain and the countries of northern Europe, the vast majority of people in the Arab controlled areas were literate. Arabic, the language of this literate population, reached dazzling heights In less than a century, even the Christians living under Muslim rule became so proficient in Arabic that they neglected their own tongues. R. Dozy in Spanish Islam explains how the Christians were captivated by the glamour of Arabic literature and that men of taste despised Latin authors, and wrote only in the language of their conquerors. He cites Alvaro de Córdoba, a contemporary writer of the 9th century, who deplores this fact with these words: “'My fellow-Christians,' he says, 'delight in the poems and romances of the Arabs; they study the works of Mohammedan theologians and philosophers, not in order to refute them, but to acquire a correct and elegant Arabic style. Where today can a layman be found who reads the Latin Commentaries on Holy Scriptures? Who is there that studies the Gospels, the Prophets, the Apostles? Alas! The young Christians who are most conspicuous for their talents have no knowledge of any literature or language save the Arabic; they read and study with avidity Arabian books; they amass whole libraries of them at a vast cost, and they everywhere sing the praises of Arabian lore. On the other hand, at the mention of Christian books they disdainfully protest that such works are unworthy of their notice. The pity of it! Christians have forgotten their own tongue, and scarce one in a thousand can be found able to compose in fair Latin a letter to a friend! But when it comes to writing Arabic, how many there are who can express themselves in that language with the greatest elegance, and even compose verses which surpass in formal correctness those of the Arabs themselves!'” The fact that the non-Muslim inhabitants preferred Arabic to their own language made it inevitable that the impact of Arabic on Spanish would be tremendous. Arabic words began to move into Spanish dialects, especially in the scientific and technical fields. This borrowing did not enter the Spanish and later European languages only by chance or due to an enchantment with the Arabic tongue, but as a result of European Christians trying to emulate Arabic culture which represented scholasticism in almost every discipline, including the arts. Year after year the borrowing of these words gathered momentum until the Reconquista stemmed the tide. From the tenth century onwards, Arabic words and terms entered the Romance dialects in the Iberian Peninsula on a massive scale. This rich vocabulary of Arabic words was a great stimulant in the evolution of European thought. When, in Toledo, after its re-conquest by the Christians, Arabic works were translated into the European languages, Christian thinking was revolutionized and Europe was put on the path to advancement. There is no doubt that many Arabic words entered numerous European languages after these translations. Even though many Western historians have, through the centuries, been reluctant to admit this great role the Arabs had in the evolution of Christian Europe, Arabic words in European languages are the evidence of this tremendous contribution. Even when the Spaniards attempted after the Re-conquest to cleanse Arabic words from their language, today there are perhaps 8,000 words and some 2,300 place-names of Arab origin. It will surprise many to know that after Latin, Arabic has made the greatest contribution to the Spanish tongue. Besides Spanish, Arabic contributed to the vocabularies of all the European idioms and saturated many of the languages in the Muslim countries, e.g. 57% Pushto, 42% in Urdu, and 30% of Persian are made up of Arabic words and terms. However, of all the languages in the world outside the Muslim lands, it is Spanish, which includes the greatest number of Arabic borrowing. In this language's vocabulary Arabic words are to be found under every letter of the alphabet. In addition to thousands of others, an examination of a Spanish etymological dictionary will reveal that a vast number of words beginning with al are of Arabic origin. Many, although not common in the everyday tongue, are still used to some extent. Perhaps there is no better way to appreciate the great impact Arabic has had on Spanish than to visit the Spain of today. http://www.alhewar.net/Basket/Habeeb_Salloum_Spanish_Language.htm

STOIC;762630 wrote: ^^^A close friend of mine (former classmate in undergrad) recently returned from a trip back home in Djibouti.He was disappointed at how things were run in his home country.How the man you are blessing is a dictator-a man driven by meglomania.I was not familiar with that tiny country till my friend explained it to me how corrupt his birth country has become.The man have exploited the state through corruption and nepotism.My friend was disappointed how the country didn't insure its citizens a broader range of personal freedom unless you are from the inner circle of the president entourage.I was shocked to learn that the internet and all communication is monopolized by the government.A country with no guarantee opportunities for discussions or deliberations of free and open press shouldn't be praised.Among desirable qualities we all want to see in any leader is honesty,courage and fairness..MY friend din't witness this in his birthplace..He was really disappointed and had many positive things to say about that unrecognized tiny place called Somaliland than Djibouti.... Nepotism and corruption are products of the general dilution of values, acculturation brought by colonialism and consumerism. I'm sure you would find much more shocking forms of discriminations and abuses in Hargeysa though (especially against the groups outside established clans). It seems we are often much less critical of our ancestral regions, I wouldn't be surprised that your friend is from there too (in terms of origins). The French favored elite has destryed hope all accross Africa but I like Guelleh sensible role in Somalia though, just like the diminishing French influence (he's more arabophile)... PS: many of the corrupt ones are critical once they fall out of favor or go abroad, sometimes with the loot...

Oodweyne is the brain, Jacayl the organizer and NGONGE is the mouth. The soldiers are many but Ayoub and Suldan stand out. Ibti was sent to Hargeysa because she could not be trusted in London where she intermingles with Somaliweyn folks. Red Sea, with origins in small town called Bali Gubadle, has finally been bought by the ideals of Alshabaab. I don't know where Qudhac is anymore but some of the minions speak like him. War wuxu naf ma leh, except North and Lady Blessed, the two are the best Hargeysa has thus far offered to this forum. Ilaahow noo daa Norf miyuu ka towbad keeney? It is possible that the spiritual journey induced the same feeling of Ummah unity and racial harmony that moved Malcolm X during his trip to Mecca. Ngonge is still sending bad vibe his way though. Isaga iyo JB casrkoogii wuu dhamaanayaa laakiin. As for Ayub, one of those exotic xamar cadcad may do the trick. Stick and carrots all the way... [expecting imminent attacks of: you are moved by ancestral hatred and whatnot, as if...]

This intervention is it not likely to get bogged down? It should be avoided. When they got here a few days ago the Chief of Staff and the Kenyan foreign minister, I advised them to limit their incursion into a buffer zone of one hundred kilometers and not seek to occupy the port Kismayo. Kenya trained and equipped for over two years a force of about three thousand Somali expected to form the backbone of the new security administration. It is up to this force to penetrate deeper into Shebab area. My partners have also agreed. Otherwise, the integration of the Kenyan contingent in AMISOM is a good perspective. The Somali transitional government that you support has reputation for being inefficient and corrupt. This does not bother you? Corrupted with what? They have nothing. Attempt to establish its authority over a country at war, no income, to be constantly asked, harassed by people who suffer, it is not easy. Instead, you should pity them ... Djibouti is it affected by the phenomenon of piracy? Of course, even if the pirates have not struck off our coasts. Many boats refuse to come here and prefer to unload their cargo in Jeddah or Hodeidah. Insurance premiums continue to escalate. I repeat: the solution to this problem is not at sea, it is down. It is essential to help the authorities of Somaliland and Puntland to develop units that prevent pirates boarding. If the international community does not, why would you want this activity, which has already generated more than $ 100 million (approximately EUR 74 million) just for the ransoms, to stop? Where is your border dispute with Eritrea? To a standstill. Qatar is pursuing his mediation, and the situation in Ras Doumeira is frozen, our respective troops being separated by a small force Qatari buffer. And then there is the problem of prisoners of war. We granted the International Committee of the Red Cross permission to visit the Eritrean soldiers held here. But the government in Asmara refuses to recognize our own. We know that a score of Djiboutians are locked in solitary confinement, north of Asmara, in appalling conditions. Why do you appeal to strengthen international sanctions against the Eritrean regime? Because with a character like Issayas Afewerki purely diplomatic sanctions have no effect, it must hit the purse. They tax their diaspora 2% of its revenue: you have to freeze these transfers. They say they have discovered large deposits of gold at home: do not allow any foreign investor to come and exploit them. Djibouti is a casualty of the aggressive policy that leads Eritrea against Ethiopia, this is not tolerable. The Kenyan authorities accused Asmara of arming Somali Shebab clandestinely. Is it also your opinion? I confirm. Nairobi has sent me the evidence of at least three very recent flights of Antonov cargo planes laden with arms and ammunition on the airport in Baidoa. President Afewerki has just lost an ally in the person of Muammar Gaddafi ... Yes. And it's not us, Djibouti, who will cry on Gaddafi. He did everything to punish us for hosting military Western bases on our soil. However, the image of his body tortured shocked me. I thought he would die sword in hand, as he had announced. But it was out of a tunnel, and he humbled himself by begging Misrata rebels to spare him because he could have been their father. He did not die a hero. Your friend, Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh, he may witness the same fate? I had the President Saleh by telephone on November 7, the day of Eid. He said, "everything you see on television on Yemen, everything you read in the papers, take a 30% or 40%. The rest is propaganda. "I told him that 40% was already a lot. In fact, the Yemeni problem is more complex than wat the media is saying, who see a revolution like the other Arab states. It's basically a competition between people of the same clan in the background with the project of a disputed succession dynamics between the president and his son. If you add to that the tribes, Al Qaeda and the latent tensions between North and South, we are far from the simplistic image of any democratic spring. That is why this situation has persisted and why President Saleh gave the impression to make a step forward and one step back. The other day he told a delegation of the opposition: "Okay, I'm going. But know that tomorrow, Yemen will be cut in half. So what do you suggest?" The opponents have not answered. Does it worries you? Of course. We had a first wave of refugees in Yemen in 1968, then a second in 1994. These are households who do not seek assistance. The risk, it is the settling of scores, the export of violence. Now that Southern Sudan gained its independence, is it not the turn of your neighbor Somaliland? It is not entirely comparable. South Sudan has reached this result after a long and difficult dialogue with the North. The Somaliland conducted things the opposite way, and I fear they have put the cart before the horse. They hoisted their flag, unilaterally declared independence and that they no longer discuss. I respect, I accept their passports and their representation in Djibouti. But I can not go further. They were too hurried, I told them. Among the guests at your inauguration last May, was included Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. He went to Djibouti and of course you did not stop him while your state signed the Rome Statute, the founder of the court. Why this contradiction? I consulted my conscience because I believe he does not deserve to be dragged before the ICC. I'm sorry, but Bashir is not what is said. He is the only Sudanese leader to have had the courage to negotiate with the South, up to accept the amputation of his country in the name of peace. Remember how his opponents today, starting with Sadek el-Mahdi, calling the southern Sudanese slaves! So, of course, in the case of Darfur, he was trapped through inventing the specter of a pseudo genocide, a story concocted by the lobbies and pro-Israel evangelicals. Yes, Djibouti is a signatory of the Statute of the ICC. But that does not stop me to say that the practice of this court, which is only interested in Africans is political and in final analysis unjust. French and Americans, each have a base in Djibouti and they will pay an annual rent for it, 30 million euro for first, $ 30 million for the latter. Is it enough? In total, this represents just under 12% of our budget revenue. But I'm not asking for an increase. Paris and Washington have their financial problems, we understand. However, you are in full renegotiation with France ... Exact. But rather than money, we want Paris to help us build the capacity of the Djibouti army, with the objective that we are able to defend ourselves alone. When Eritrea attacked us, the question of the interpretation of our defense agreements arose, and I can admit that the French soldiers do not want to die for Ras Doumeira. The French presence here must be primarily a deterrent. Otherwise, all is well with Paris? More court records under the table? No, nothing. All is well. The possibility of an election of François Holland in May 2012 Are you concerned about it? ... This is a French issue. However, your sympathies are not particularly on the part of socialists ... My sympathies are not supposed to prevent me from being pragmatic. You have four and a half years in office. What will you have accomplished on April 2016 on the economic and social development fronts? Djibouti has reached the threshold of energy self-sufficiency, with the commissioning of four geothermal power plants - for which funding is completed - and the completion of a wind farm. Djibouti has almost solved the problem of water supply with the construction of two desalination plants, one by the French financed by OPEC-Kuwait Fund, the other by the Chinese. Djibouti has significantly increased its port capacity, with the extension of the container terminal in the capital, the construction of those in Doraleh and Tadjourah. Djibouti is more than ever the hub for the Ethiopian economy in full growth, with the modernization of the railway Addis-Djibouti and the completion of the Tadjourah-Mekele line. Djibouti will finally be one of the beneficiaries of the road being built between the South Sudan border and the Ethiopian network with which we are connected, allowing us to meet the demand for import-export of this new country that is the Southern Sudan. And youth employment? This is another struggle of my last term. The public service corps is not scalable, so I want the maximum support for a vibrant private sector. I created a Ministry of SME, a development fund and guarantees and credit lines for investment, I signed training agreements with Indian universities specializing in the fields of the sea. I explain tirelessly to young graduates that they can not forever aspire to become civil servants. And I tell them that if they share my dream of Djibouti who stand up without help or crutches, they have to help me achieve it (Adi.dj, translation)

Head of State, Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh, has recently granted a long interview with the weekly Jeune Afrique. When asked by our famous colleague François Sudan, President of the Republic said bluntly that he would not stand in 2016 and he was doing was his third and final term. Ismail Omar Guelleh also mentioned during the interview subjects as diverse as domestic politics, press freedom, or the problems of the region and Somalia in particular. We reproduce in full the interview the President. Jeune Afrique: - The high winds of Spring Arabic blew up to Djibouti? Ismail Omar Guelleh: - The Holy Qur'an speaks of the "trip of the summer and winter." The concept of spring is not among the Arabs. Talking about revolution, if that suits you best. You know, last February, your batch of events, which called for departure. Did you feel the wind pass the ball? No. This was the expression of a purely social unrest, some tenors of the opposition wanted to turn into a revolution, without success. They collected five to six hundred young and very quickly all this has degenerated into looting. One policeman was killed, another seriously injured. Ethiopian trucks loaded with grain were burned, windows broken. It was a little event, much smaller, the equivalent of what happened in London in early August. Except that there, if we are to believe the media, the British police would only restore order to face urban riots, whereas here we would brutally repressed peaceful demonstrations. It's pretty ridiculous. Djibouti does not tolerate disorder, but Djibouti is a country open to dialogue and to discussions The opposition parties tell and print what they want, including the most defamatory rumors. Try place Menelik and listen: everyone can say everything and anything. Yet there is no TV or home independent radio and the press hostile to you comes down to a stapled few pages... This is not an issue of censorship, but about money. There are no investors in Djibouti or advertisers in this area, and the potential readership is very small. Here, we prefer to talk heartily. We ourselves have had the greatest difficulty to get our newspaper, The Nation, running on a regular basis. The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) released in early November a long statement denouncing the "all-out repression" and the existence of political prisoners in the jails of Djibouti. Your reaction? I'm shocked, but I am not surprised. FIDH feeds on the drip of a local NGO (the Djibouti League of Human Rights, Jean-Paul Noël Abdi, Ed) who has no credibility in our eyes. Hence the fabric of nonsense. There are no political prisoners in Djibouti, and then all the thugs convicted in London after the riots were also politicians! The four people arrested in May while trying to go underground in Eritrea, with which we are in conflict, to fetch support on order of their leader, Aden Robleh Awaleh, they are not political prisoners. It is a matter for the security of the state. And sixty people arrested Sept. 16 at Ali Sabieh for shouting "death to dictatorship" during the passage of your procession? Lies! It did not happen that day Ali Sabieh. Neither event nor slogan nor arrests. Nothing, it's nonsense. Regional elections will take place early 2012 and a year later legislative ones. The opposition will take part ? I hope. I invite to participate in the electoral commission. But I have no great illusion. Why? Because of the Djiboutian conception of democracy What these gentlemen are about is this: either we head or seeks to overthrow the leader. They have neither the will nor the patience to do the rest, which is nevertheless essential: build real party, convince people with real programs, etc.. in fact, I almost want to publish an ad: desperately looking opponents responsible. If they exist - and I believe they exist - I ask nothing better than to listen. The others, those who sabotage the democratic principle and boycotting the elections, it is always the same. Most have at one time or another, worked with you. Aden Robleh Awaleh was your advisor and was one of your deputies ... Can not talk to him! He only got insult and violence in his mouths. Moreover, he gets along with nobody. Ismail Gedi Ared was your colleague during the term of your predecessor, Hassan Gouled Aptidon ... He's the most reasonable, the most moderate of them. Abdourahman Boreh was your financial consultant and you have placed him as the head of the port of Djibouti ... And I regret it! His problem is the business. His opposition is not about politics. It is alimentary. I deprived him of his cash cow. Only the former journalist Farah escapes this very personal reading. He is very active. But he lives in Europe. For years he has not set foot in Djibouti. This can be seen, and some of his friends in the opposition do not miss to remind him of that. For all these people are shooting themselves in the legs, of course. Why do you elicit such hostility? Ibn Khaldun said that there are two ways of governing the Arabs with the sword or by the Prophet. I am neither a prophet nor a dictator, but President-elect. It is a category that clearly still escapes the understanding of some of my compatriots. You have been re-elected in April last with just over 80% of the vote ... Score politically incorrect, I agree. But, alas for my detractors, fully consistent with the truth of the polls. Re-elected for five years, so until 2016, for a final term, do you swear, can we believe it? Absolutely, I will not change my views this time. This last term, I did not want it. It is a mandate forced by the people who felt that is was not ready. So you will enjoy this five-year period to prepare the sucession. Yes, I'll try, discreetly, with the help of individuals chosen for their wisdom, their patriotism and disinterestedness, to identify who can best fulfill this difficult task. I think I taught how to live together in Djibouti and how to defend a country that was somehow born to die. I will continue to do so. But I'll be careful, because once a person is perceived as my successor, I know she will become a target. Have you an idea? Yes, approximately. But I will not tell you of course. The profile will appear gradually. Will it be a family member? Not in any case. I can swear In this regard, a major French regional daily newspaper has been the echo at the end of October, of reports that your wife and your children have left to seek refuge in Saudi Arabia or Ethiopia. What? How dare you ask me this question? My children are here, and my wife, you crossed her. I find it pathetic, and if not racist, the ease with which it allows itself to print any gossip when it comes to Africa. After your departure from power, do not you risk to hamper your successor by intervening when he will decide on what you do not agree with? This is a trend against which, fortunately, I'm vaccinated. I knew this because my predecessor, President Gouled Aptidon. I had to accompany him, without the face, with respect, so that they understand that it was him, and I was me. Once the transfer of power made, I will go, especially the first two years. Will you be on call? No. Certainly not. A battalion of Djibouti is preparing to join the African Union forces in Somalia, AMISOM. Why do you work with your neighbor? Because the Somali Transitional Federal Government urged us. And because I do not want people to say one day that Djibouti has sat idly by while soldiers of Uganda, Burundi, Kenyans gave their lives for peace to return to our Somali brothers. Do you not fear that Islamist insurgents Shebab retaliated by exporting terrorism to you? Fifty thousand Somali refugees living in Djibouti, and Yemen has become a sieve ... It's a risk I do not rule out. We are very vigilant. On the other hand, I do not overestimate the destructive capacity of Shehab. From their stronghold of Baidoa until there, it is 2000 km. They have already hit in Kenya. It's very different. There are six hundred thousand Somalis in Kenya, and Shebab are very established. They control the area of ​​remittances, they have their madrasas, their trade, manufacture of false documents, their physicians. Kenya, it is their support base. For this reason, the Nairobi government had to react. The Kenyan authorities have they informed the countries in the region of the outbreak of military operation in southern Somalia, a month and a half ago? No. But they have consulted the TFG in Mogadishu. Again, I understand them: the Shebab multiplied armed incursions for over three years and they lived in Kenya like fish in water. This could not last.

^The whole division "secessionists"/"nationalists" is nonsensical. What really matters is to foster more ethics, less small-mindedness and ignorance everywhere. I'm much more worried by many so-called "nationalists" in here than the "secessionists" (of which many are quite reasonable); Are they really genuine and expecting to attract people back to unity this way? PS: Che is one of the more genuine.