Djibouti24 online media, a so-called independent one known for juicy gossips, has resisted ban and is covering the elections opposing sheikhs supported USN coalition against ruling UMP; was very surprised to come accross hooyo (albeit cut off too soon as usual when the RTD covers opposition meetings):

In the meantime, amidst the flurry of projects or partnerships, telecoms seems particularly interesting with the whole region, in particular Sland/Puntland, serviced locally: BringCom and Djibouti Partnership to Revitalize Djibouti Teleport Facility Offers Round-the-Clock Ku- and C-Band Connectivity and Monitoring. Sterling, VA, USA and Djibouti City, Republic of Djibouti, February 11, 2013 -- BringCom Inc., a leader in supplying innovative communications technologies to Africa, and local Djibouti partners have established a new private company, Djibouti Teleport SARL, to revitalize and manage the daily operations of the Djibouti Teleport facility. Under the agreement, BringCom becomes the managing partner of Djibouti Teleport. In addition, the partners agreed to upgrade the Djibouti Teleport with new buildings, backup power, security hardware and an iDirect hub to create a first-class teleport facility serving the African region. Djibouti Teleport will also provide competitive international connectivity through five large-capacity undersea cable systems connected to the facility. BringCom has assigned trained teleport technicians to assist the experienced Djibouti Teleport staff in providing round-the-clock teleport services. "This agreement is a significant extension of BringCom's capabilities to serve the requirements of customers in the Middle East and Africa," said Fabrice Langreney, President and CEO of BringCom. "We are very fortunate to work with an extremely forward-looking group of Djiboutian shareholders. This relationship will allow us to revitalize the Djibouti Teleport in a way that makes it well-suited to a great number of potential users." Djibouti Teleport currently provides Apstar 7 Ku-band connectivity with a 7.3 meter antenna and C-band connectivity with a 16 meter antenna. Both antennas have been refurbished and upgraded with new electronics. Additional antennas and equipment are currently being installed and should be available shortly. BringCom and Djibouti Teleport will continue to add technical functionality and personnel resources to the teleport as necessary to support the requirements of their Djiboutian, African and international commercial and government customers. The Djibouti Teleport is well suited to support terrestrial, aeronautical and maritime satellite applications owing to its unique geographical location, multiple satellite look angles and international connectivity to multiple fiber optic systems, including SEMEWE3, EIG, SEACOM, and EASSY. Bringcom.com

Ngonge, get your suits on itailor.fr, quality not too costly... I never understood why wealthy somalis seldom get stocks etc. Is lack of wealth management and international stocks etc awareness the problem (many shares are secure yet profitable, eg insulin/pharm. makers)? Even in E Africa, plenty of good start-ups or safe opp exist.

Nuune: statistics, albeit not accurate, do not account for undeclared activities, domestic roles etc but youth unemployment rates of 40-50% a la EU are forwarded People are flooding into the opposition rank, with many supporting it discreetly, growing fond of the eloquent yet sophisticated and peaceful Sheikh A Bashir who is now litterally running the show: True, investments are pouring in for a multitude of reasons and following UAE ones especially; still much to be done to reduce inequalities (core problem). Fish and marine sector, apart from IT, telecoms or tourism, is promising; Red Sea fishing has even attracted a major Algerian joint-venture in exporting, boats construction etc but yet you have qualified locals abroad and traders unable to fully capitalise on all that for some reasons, even with islamic banks amd other facilities (are people expecting too much, too soon? lack of wealth management and business expertise?)...

As the "Arab Spring" reached its shores, assertiveness and confidence has grown among the religious and other leaders against inequalities; parliamentary elections now include some proportional representation too, as opposed to "winner take all seats". Local celebrity sheikh A. Bashir join the opposition coalition, USN or union for national salvation: We are living in very exciting times; traditional strong links with Islamic countries will be maintained, so will be diversification away from France while crucial healthcare and other accords with Cuba in return for diplomatic support against the embargo (despite world unique quality education and health access) are here to stay regardless of any change... PS: hooyo now on tv news, campaigning.

Thought you were more into thinking, analysing etc and enjoy intellectual topics such as the use of suffering, economics and social goals and modelling, science epistemiology or why even scientific knowledge is relative if not misleading etc

sorry for lil randomness lol was related to the kinds of friends and how just after those posts, I discovered that potential close friends are everywhere or so easy to come/easily overlooked; the problem actually, like everything else these days, is choice or choosing the kind and level of relations you wish to have with anyone (pure fun vs goodness). Are you extraverted and how you conciliate that with your readings, reflection periods etc (if you wish to answer)?

Gloomy raining so running etc yet again cancelled, cappucino, cakes & viennoiseries may turn into an habit; baths to relax too. Let me find out things, election campaign etc through googlecalls.

lol done, way i sigatay, PM noti is almost too discreet...

salaan sare Sxb, actually qoraxdu is great for bidaar and everything , but weather is coolest now, most heat is in June/July/Aug; there are fans, AC etc anyway but check a mini flat to rent/host if you plan to stay long as this will help save most costs. Of course, one of the cousins will be glad to show you around too if I'm not there a la misma vez. If you are into cars, car servicing (electronics) or pharmacy/drugs etc then I can connect you with those with same plan, unless you found more lucrative import/export things .

I'm introverted and was uncomfortable with this bro overnight stay invitation; used to know his uncle, accompany him to Dr visit etc so maybe that explains the mother kind call, funny how small this world is. A sincere brother with no xisd or backbiting, pious and very kind, polite, I trust him more than almost anyone and like him too; the thing is that he is actually serious and going through his Ipad kutub recordings, asking usual islamic quizz. Yet I felt uneasy as not having lately quite the same levels of Eemaan and focus so I felt both inadequate and blessed to have him. Fun it was anyway with the "xaasid" cat poo-ing on the mattress and his ever agreable, smart nephew "so you speak French?...they were captured by frenchs?" , as he was assisted with Qur'aan etc by his good uncle.

Asc, Ain't life short, this young chap just got killed in Xamar on his way home; prayers and relaxed fun, besides bills; not worth much worrying. waran wyre sxb, beach volley maa laga yaqaan dhankiina, you guys have great, warm sea nearby, play and pick-nick is awesome. you get to see Norf too

Underdog nailed it with not caring about others opinion; how do you get along with others so different though? If a friendship is not providing you with some model, wisdom or insight and instead divert you away to lesser things, is this relation even worth it? Was thinking lately about overall assesment and my own relations, I'm so glad to have maturated beyond mere approval seeking or following the herd...with only few close friends if at all beyond family but plenty of acquaintance and potential great friends. Social chit chat and hanging taxes me beyond few ones and is extremely boring if I'm not learning new things, with someone ecclectic/smarter or if unable to help or advise; however, I do make efforts to connect with and learn a lot of wisdom from the older and wadaad ones; they are also the most down-to-earth with suggestions for dilemmas (fun get you only so far).

Ibti, ignoring human nature and biology is never helpful, trust is good but no temptation is even better; it's awkward too no. So the wife is well rounded and can discuss varied subjects well; even more dangerous if you ask me , what's next, let's exchange facebooks to carry on (the new scandal pipeline, hees ay u qaadeen)

Asc, even if Norf was ok with it, how would a friend feel at ease chatting and having tea with the wife. It's less awkward if it's business dealing and others are around (typical somali home back home). I see even Ngonge joins an ex sega megadrive fan in conservatism

How perspicacious sxb unlike this guy here; when people were cool, not much stressed and life was as simple as working on your Arabic sarf, chemistry redox or maths equation, french litterature...little that poor thing imagined that even that moment would come accross as pure bliss

Are you not pudic in public sxb? I always get disgusted when talks of human waste, genitals, fluids etc are done matter-of-factly instead of allusions or with a need, for scientific accuracy etc. Of course, between friends anything goes and it's ok once in a while if specific, but some even discuss colors when talking about those things, which is extremely off-putting (lack of civility). Back to coming of age, I always subscribed to the Islamic clear cut watershed, thus for me I was adult by circa 13 or 12 if more accurate (learnt not long ago that it is actually pubic hair that determines it). Disturbing it was, since for a start your bad/good deeds are counted as well as salat/sawm became compulsory (always heard "dambigaaga la qorayaa at 15"); it was also so because it signified innocence has drawn to an end. No more innocent pranks/jokes about adult things or endless sega megadrive without shame or accountability, loss of innocent playfulness was quite depressing at beginning and lingering for a while as those things became less enjoyable (I used to be very fun and pranks loving). For full adulthood, I deem marriage and the responsibility it entails as a key defining moment in general; then again, things depend on each individual case and a mature character is even more crucial instead of milestones. Seeing people settling makes me realise I may be on a Peter Pan path, but this needs sorting out my priorities in life, belonging, place etc before tying the knot.

Asc AB and akhyaartaa, AB I was always actually looking forward to meet you bro and yes some of your posts are real informative; bright you are with effortless writing which I admire. They like you here so don't take adeer Ngonge at heart; ideas in here are seldom original and, if realistic I'd have sought your expertise, don't read too much into stress release exercises and banter. I'm sure you are doing more important and interesting than I can. Just posted by an old, generous friend, our Lake Assal high school geology trip, Djibouti circa end of 1999. Lots of interesting facts, social learning too, fond memories of really cool people. How could time pass so rapidly, seemed just an hour ago...

the OLD Somalia passport and Djibouti will pay the same as the British Who proposed such as joke? So all the Somalis that own residences and businesses will be considered as foreign as the one from Patagonia and get soaked up every other month. Let's start by taxing Dahabshiil, Telsom and other traders, diaspora or elite a minimum (20% plus licences; serious regular levies on villas and cars etc) as done everywhere; nobody will soon be left without essential care or basic infrastructure. But then again, politicians are paid just not to do that and divert attention to other nonsenses... PS private management of Ports, customs etc make a lot of sense when fighting corruption, khat and other local ills as Dubai did with Djibouti port (unpopular discipline, khat ban, dismissals etc but world leading productivity and better revenues).

Nuune you are right that this may be too much for students and other groups (waiver needed) but in general anything that target the elite and raise revenue is badly needed. You realise we pay $50 dollars for visa if on foreign passports each time we come back to Djib; taxation is way too low in Sland against big traders and diaspora and misspent on politicians/security when revenue is badly needed for essential drugs or infrastructure.

We started google OBI100 based VOIP within the family, it's neat and free for US/CA/30 countries or so, the central subscriber has to pay for all calls though; straightforward save the few tools to send to each home/central set-up (the gvt is no worry/hassle). More sophisticated system may be good for business dealing with Dubai, France etc but only bigger ones may justifies costs over $50-100/month (our unique subscription costs roughly 40 plus the paying calls; mobile calls are the core costs problem). Very interesting indeed if you have full data. Solar panels/ efficient ACs are the next ideal solution with almost immediate recovered costs given local conditions, it's mostly delivered by japanese/Koreans etc to projects but it would suit greatly businesses/individuals since air cooling or power represent their main expense. It seems there is always such a gap between what can be done and when people realise it; thought that with ever cheaper panels, solar would have been widespread by now.

Tidyness was never a priority to me but now I realised how vital it was in every way (thought that washed hands and clean is enough); the problem was getting everything done by others so ironing, ordering around etc when more on your own was strange. This trick from restaurants: pour soap and hot water and fill one sink; put plates, cups etc stand in the hot, soapy water; just rinse after a short while in the other sink.

Voip via google OBi100 or with computers via skype is gaining growth and work perfect, I think even the OBi100 is not as much as a threat given Djib Telecom recent drastic tariff cuts. They just prefer not to open too much Djib Telecom to direct phone concurrence however but individuals etc do as they please, esp with the high speed optic fiber internet. Yes, there is a dearth of aviation management skills training now albeit needs will increase with tourism and airports boom. Tourism aviation is promising as tourism is a national focus now taking off (world unique geology, islands etc). The elite, those whose kids study in Malaysia etc (at a cost of $3-5000/year and more), may be 5-10% or 45000-100 000 people very roughly without going through statistics etc (roughly 3 times more may be ok, esp. with current drastic change). Ain't really experienced in it bro, just curious and relevant sources. Was just wondering whether cheap local flights and training may make sense and how many students is the minimum, costs etc (I just know bare minimum of $30-50 000 for ab-initio pilot training and thousands euros for ppl); I'm sure Guelleh is always pro-investments (he even lets Sland bottled water into the local market) but others may not be as welcoming without shares/bribes but that is putting the cart before the horse since if the ideas are viable there is always a way. Ps one of the few overall accurate article by Fellow Africans about the drastic change and demand in the sector: DJIBOUTI: Investing in the knowledge economy of Djibouti (save for stating that there was no higher education before 2000, there was actually few degree courses credited by French unis; of course now the education budget is soon geared towards $200 millions, there are high schools everywhere, uni and full research with the CERD that distinguished itself in Somali & linguistics resources, applied sciences or local projects etc).

Exactely, we will get serious when this is roughly doubled/quadrupled at the very least and with less than 20% going to administration, discretionary budgets, security or presidence (solely healthcare, training and infrastructure). This, because budget figures in themselves are meaningless if spent outside vital basics. Good progress though and kudos to decent men like Mr Samale.

Well, if you can ace physical chemistry or abstract algebra...my other siblings are great in science/maths/IT but not fully ecclectic and similarly effortless accross all subjects (the elder was congratuled by his Uni and was early into programming, using our Ti83 in high school for games coding; the younger one is more curious though; scientifically ever gifted he's got 2 masters with Enac in Toulouse). I had a shot at eng. prepa classes too but then switched into uni, moved back and stayed in Africa etc...in retrospect, it's a kind of mixed blessing even though there is much more to life and choices than intellectual curiosity, ability or even intelligence however defined. There are many gifted people of all ages actually, some even ignoring it, some genius mechanically (great at engineering/cars etc without any formal education...at times noticed by experts to be sent to Japan or MIT etc like this old Somali chap of mine or a kid on TV in Sierra Leone). One thing is certain though, those are not guarantees for fulfillment...I think we will need to have a cuppa together in E. Africa a day