He is trying to take advantage of the window that has opened in the region. He is overdoing it like most of them. He seems to forget that his first and always priority should be not to create problems and not interfere with his fellow Somalis in Djibouti, Somaliland, Puntland, Shebelies and others. He has gone too far into the deep with Abiy and others that now ONLF and others are in reapproachment with Djibouti and neighboring regions in Somalia. Its all in flux.

This might have something to do with the "European army" "Gas pipeline Russia to Europe" and "Brexit" Somebody with deep pockets is behind all this yellow vests. These are not cheap plastic too some are very elaborate jackets. Globalism is gone and nationalism is back. Erdogan is one of the best positioned countries in the world to take advantage of the whole world situation. America wants Turkey on its side except for the problem that Israel doesn't. Russia wants Turkey on its side Iran wants Turkey on its side China wants Turkey on its side Germany now wants Turkey on its side Some of them are willing to pay what ever it takes like Iran and the Turkish are noble, they never disrespect Iran even when Iran is down same with Russia. France made big mistake in Syria. Now too late cannot be corrected. The British are enjoying it but very afraid of yellow vests being used on them as well.

It makes a big difference if you see it from a Somali people benefit. More Somali area is covered by Berebera or Bassaso than other ports. Not everything is political. Give economics some space.

That is correct, but some self respect is necessary. Trump is not that interested, but for Israel. The whole Balkan strategy was based on Globalism, which is already half dead project. If there is a coup in France or major regime change in Germany and Britain Globalism will be totally dead. Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Hungary are half way out of the Globalists. BTW Albania is run by kind of federation of tribal chiefs. Moslems will have better success in Macedonia than Kosovo. The British and French are already hesitating about Kosovo.

Albania was an Italian colony. Nobody comes close to Albania in untrustworthy. No wonder Turkey has more reliable and dignified friendship with Serbia than with Albania. The country cannot be EU member. EU has now given up. The corruption, Mafiosoness, human trafficking, drug traficking arms traficking...is beyond acceptable even for NATO of which Albania is one of best spots.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/resurrection-mek-albania-252417806 Honouring Bush and Trump Between 2013 and 2016, at the behest of the US, several thousand MEK members were relocated from their former base in Iraq to Albania. Now, the MEK presides over a sprawling, heavily fortified camp not far from the Albanian capital of Tirana. But why Albania? Simply put, it’s not that difficult for the global superpower to twist the arm of a small and often overlooked country that was, until the 1990s, isolated on the world stage, and that is now eager to make up for lost time by ingratiating itself with empire. Albanians look at a statue of former US President George W Bush unveiled in Fushe-Kruje on 6 July 2011 (AFP) For proof of eagerness, one need look no further than Tirana’s George W Bush Street (which I myself have had the dubious honour of visiting), the George W Bush statue in the village of Fushe-Kruje, or the Hillary Clinton statue in Sarande. The city of Kamez boasts a boulevard named after US President Donald Trump, who has also been named an honorary citizen - a totally logical move in a Muslim-majority country vis-a-vis a Muslim-banning US president. Late Israeli war criminal Shimon Peres has managed to occupy some urban Albanian space, too, with a memorial unveiled in Tirana this year. In the past, Albania also contributed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as to America’s extraordinary rendition schemes, and was described as a “dumping ground” for victims released from the US offshore penal colony known as Guantanamo Bay.

Greatest failing of Farmaajo is not using the generous support of Turkey. He really disappointed Turkey. If he simply had plaughed forward with training and arming and attracting Turkish companies in agriculture and construction he would have been way ahead of Ethiopia or Eritrea that have wasted a lot of time, 20 years in Eritrea of doing nothing, but military and security games against Ethiopia. Even now Farmaajo should go to Turkey, dedicate that he will provide Turkey with candidate soldiers for Training and arming and not rely on Eritrea which is the worst instrument against Turkey in Sudan or Red Sea. Eritrea is now openly willing to serve America, Saudi, UAE and Egypt all they want.

Even MMA joins the club of bragging with Ethiopian support muscle. The sign of the times. Some are nationalist only when Ethiopia is seemingly with the other side. Don't bet on anything. In Ethiopia things are still in flux. Economy is biggest problem of Ethiopia and it should tell you that Berebera is more preferred and more helpful than Assab or Mogadishu or Kismayu any day.

What it means to be democrat for a Somali? Even the Americans have dropped that democracy rule of law...shenanigan. Ghelleh has never done anything that is long lasting or deep conflict and hate against anyone even when pushed and pressured to do so. He never forgets blood is thicker than water. Just ask Sudan what Isayas is ready to do for America to his neighbor and good will the Sudanese did to Eritreans through half a century. Isayas has more prisoners than his country's army which is biggest in east Africa.

Qatar to withdraw from OPEC as of January Qatar says the withdrawal has no political reasons home > economy, todays headlines, middle east 03.12.2018 DOHA Qatar will withdraw from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as of January, the country’s energy minister announced on Monday. Speaking at a press conference, Saad al-Kaabi said the decision comes after Qatar reviewed ways in which it could improve its global standing and plan its long-term strategy. Qatar has been an OPEC member since 1961. The Gulf state produces 650,000 barrels of oil per day and comes as the world’s number-one exporter of liquefied natural gas. “The decision to withdraw from OPEC is purely technical and strategic and has nothing to do with political reasons,” al-Kaabi said, in reference to a Saudi-led blockade on Qatar. In June of last year, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain collectively severed ties with Doha and imposed an embargo -- by air land and sea -- on the Gulf state. The Saudi-led axis accuses Doha of supporting terrorist groups in the region -- allegations Qatar strenuously denies. Reporting by Mohammad Abdullah:Writing by Mahmoud Barakat

That is true, but this will seriously weaken UAE. UAE is in a hurry to close the Yemen file. It has been a total disaster and is only getting worst. This will be a bonanza for you folks. Berbera increases in value with the next round that is going to happen. All this shows is that the Saudi are for some reason forced to reduce their enmity to Qatar. Will never trust each other but will be respecting enemies.

What are all of you who were thinking this small conflict will go for ever going to do now? Amazingly most SOLers understand the Arabs and Africans well, did not go all the way to choose a camp. I did not care much for the billions UAE was throwing around, where ever side the Turkish are have staying power. ___________________________________________________________________ Saudi king invites Qatari emir to attend GCC summit GCC secretary general delivers invitation letter to Qatar’s state minister for foreign affairs home > todays headlines, middle east 04.12.2018 Ankara Saudi Arabia's King Salman Bin Abdulaziz (R) meets Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (L) By Serdar Bitmez and Safiye Karabacak DOHA Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz on Tuesday invited Qatari Emir Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to attend 39th Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Dec. 9. According to Qatar’s state-run news agency QNA, the emir received an official invitation from the Saudi king. The invitation letter was delivered by GCC Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayyani to Qatar’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Soltan bin Saad al-Muraikhi, the news agency said. A six-nation bloc of oil-rich Arab Gulf states, the GCC is composed of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar. In June of last year, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain collectively severed ties with Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorism, a charge Qatar denies.

Somalis who admire late Barre and British who admire Sir Winston Churchill have the same wrong mountain they look. These two men took their empires to so many meaningless big projects/wars left each in tatters. But empty pride about past that killed the future at the time. Of course each at different levels, but the way EU and Tramp treat Britain and Ethiopia and Kenya treat Somalia is the same. For Somaliland Britain has Scotland and for Puntland Britain has Wales.

Where is Djibouti in Somalia? It will be one of the questions Isayas has asked.

Some people have a long life to see so many 180 degree changes in one life time.. Gen. Morgan was the one who first contacted the Tigray when they were just mostly rebels (setting up a government). They provided some help. USC was chasing Late Barre et all at the time. But soon disagreements came as someone burned grain storage and farms and the Tigray commander was so mad he was recalled, he had arrested few folks from Morgans.

How much does one has to hate somebody to do the same thing he/she was accusing others of doing? wow that is amazing. For sure Sahabab will now be different and maybe negotiate between them and Farmaajo.

Absolutely. What is democracy other than some formulae agreed by the people. Having been the most advanced Somali society of having a kingdom in the past centuries also comes into play and helps.

Farmaajo has given up on fixing Mogadishu or winning the provinces. He is now totally committed to fight them by using outside forces. What he forgets is that Djibouti and Kenya are closer to Somalia than Eritrea in every sense of the word geography, ethnicity, faith... Even if he achieves something in the short term, it will only be a bad seed for next round.

There is more Tigray power in Eritrea than there ever was/is in Ethiopia. In Eritrea: Tigrina is official language of the country everything small to big works in that language. In Ethiopia only one kilil Every region governor even small administrator in Eritrea are Tigray In the name of Unitary other languages, cultures, even religion is all suppressed. Just ask Eritreans what they think will happen after Isayas...you will have your answer from blank (never thought about) by his supporters to disaster by opposition.

Eritrea has 3 objectives in Somalia: 1. A personal one is to get rid of Ethiopia (Tigray) from Bay area 2. A personal one to damage, weaken..Puntland (Remember the exchange by Isayas and Ade Muse in 2006) 3. Have satellite and bring UAE into the mix These are personal as well for Isayas. Isayas had felt humiliated in 2006 and later. War lords of those days watch out.

There is only one chair so whether in Britain, America or anywhere there is no system where all opinions can be at the top at one time. But what you have a really superior method is that example: A school is priority of a village or a water well..They might be promised by every candidate for this, but they know who will do what he promised at least the rep/elder knows this. The elder will choose one that will do this and by that he also cements his being rep/elder for ever... In the scheme of things this is actually more representative, very close to the people and relies on influencing both the people and the rep/elder at the same time. Its quite good. It also connects the tradition and modernism at the same time. Its a system that works for a professor from Harvard and a nomad from Qandala.

The VP will be frozen after the election. No president of Puntland wants less Federalism, which means head on collusion with Farmaajo. Even those who want or have ambition in Mogadishu understand that strong and autonomous Puntland is their guarantee to get respect in Mogadishu.

There is a book an English woman wrote of why Ethiopia Tigray and Eritrea Tigray quarreled. The title of the book is: "I did not do it for you". Farmaajo is avoiding sitting with his own people at home and talking straight on the basic issues. Looking big on outsiders does not make one big at home.

Sad to say it, but in politics this is a wife choosing a husband and not sure whether he will have second wife later or not. So Farmaajo wants to do away with States. Lets leave aside others and say what he will do about Puntland? Not much in reality. All Puntland wants is restore Somalia, but we manage our local affairs. Farmaajo will say we restore Somalia, but we have to manage your local affairs. What will Farmaajo do if Somaliland and Puntland refuse to fight against each other. He is done no game for him. And we are not moved yet to Bay area. We are not talking Qatar UAE yet. For some of you it means the destiny or even process of Somalia is determined by Ethiopia. There is one fact any Ethiopian government Abiy or not will not allow. Northerneres in Somalia to fight to an extent that will force Ethiopia to take sides. Every Ethiopian knows the troubles are in kililka the next day. Puntland happens to be also only port where Ethiopia can import special staff that they don't need eyes of Turkey, Egypt, Europeans or even Arabs. Its very sad when a head of state would say that he complained about behavior of his provinces to uncle Ethiopia.

As long as he is not with the Other Tigray its OK if one is with Eritrea Tigray. I can't see why they released or made the picture the way three of them are sitting. First of all head of states or governments don't sit that way. Even when Putin and Merkel sat on a park bench were seated two ends. This looks like high school students chit chat.