(CNN)When Donald Trump lashed out at people coming to the US from "shithole countries," it was a reaction to a plan to cut the number of people entering the country through the visa lottery program. Source: Hiiraan Online

Ethiopian Oromo refugees fleeing to Kenya to escape persecution say they are finding life on the streets of Nairobi no better than the insecurity they left behind, as they are targeted by bribes and harassment and forced into vast camps with few prospects or protections. Source: Hiiraan Online

Mogadishu (HOL) - A Somali military officer was shot dead on Friday by Kenya as Somali National Army and Kenya's Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) clashed in Elwak town, Somalia's border Kenya. Source: Hiiraan Online

Mogadishu (HOL) - A Somali military officer was shot dead on Friday by Kenya as Somali National Army and Kenya's Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) clashed in Elwak town, Somalia's border Kenya. Source: Hiiraan Online

Wasaarada Deegaanka, Duurjoogta iyo Dalxiiska DPL ayaa maanta biyo xireen ka dhagax dhigtay togga Hoodaal oo kuyaala duleedka magaalada Garoowe ee caasimada Puntland, Biyo xireenkan ayaa kamid ah qorshaha wasaarada Deegaanku ay ugu jirto latacaalida saamaynta isbedelka cimilada oo ay kamid tahay Biyo-yaridu, Waxaana dhagax dhiga biyo xireenka cusub ka qaybgalay madax ka socotay wasaarada Deegaanka iyo maamulka gobolka Nugaal. Agaasimaha waaxda la tacaalida isbedelka cimilada ee wasaarada Deegaanka Maxamed Ciise Maxamed oo ka hadlay dhagax dhiga biyo xireenkan cusub ayaa sheegey in biyo xireenkan la rajanayo inuu halkii marba qabto in kabadan 15Milyan oo Litir oo biyo ah kuwaas oo awal khasaari jiray, Maxamed Ciise dhanka kale wuxuu sheegey in biyo Xireenkan ay ka faa’iidaysan doonaan dadka ku dhaqan dhulka miyiga ah, barkacayaasha ka dhow deegaanka iyo dadka magaalada Garoowe iyadoo loo samayn doono qaab wanaagsan oo biyaha lagu maamuli doono. Gudoomiye kuxigeenka gobolka Nugaal Cali Salaad ayaa siwayn usoo dhaweeyey in wasaarada deegaanku ay Biyo-xireenkii Sadexaad ka dhisayso gobolka Nugaal waxaana ay sheegeen inay ilaashan doonaan Biyo Xireenka islamarkaasna ay rajaynayaan inay si wayn uga faa’iidaystaan. Agaasimaha guud ee wasaarada Deegaanka, Duurjoogta iyo Dalxiiska Mudane, Cabdicasiis Nuur Cilmi (Koor) ayaa sheegey in biyo xireenkan si degdeg ah dhismihiisa loo bilaabi doono waxaana uu sheegey in dhismaha biyo xireenkani uu waxkabadali doono nolosha dadka, xoolaha iyo Duurjoogtaba waxaana uu dadweynaha deegaanka kula dardaarmay inay ka fogaadaan waxkasta oo waxyeeli kara dhismaha biyo xireenkan, Agaasimaha wasaarada Deegaanku dhanka kale wuxuu sheegey in wasaarada deegaanku ay sii laba jibaari doonto qorshaha ay ka leedahay in bulshada biyaha loo qabto si looga boxo biyo yarida iyo oonka. Puntlandi.com

Ciidanka dowladda Soomaaliya ee ku sugan degmada Ceelwaaq ee Gobolka Gedo ayaa dagaal kala horyimid askar ka tirsan Ciidamada Kenya oo ka soo gudbay Xadka,sida ay sheegeen goobjoogayaal. Dagaal ayaa bilowday,kadib markii askar ka tirsan ciidamada La-dagaallanka Aragagixisada ee dalka Kenya oo afka soo duubtay ay ka soo tallaabeen soohdinta degmada Ceelwaaq ay la wadaagto waddanka Kenya.Ciidanka Soomaalida ah ayaa ka shakiyey kuwa kenya,sida ay wararku sheegayan. Dadka degmada Ceelwaaq ee Gobolka Gedo ayaa soo sheegay in Ciidamada kenya oo ku hubaysan saddex kamid ah gaadiidka dagaalka ay magaalada ka soo galeen dhinaca Xadka,kadibna ay rasaas is-weydaarsadeen ciidanka dowlada. Shacabka ayaa sidoo kale xaqiijiyey in Ciidamada Kenya ay wateen Calanka Al-shabaab xilliga ay ka soo tallaabayeen Xadka. Khasaare dhimasho iyo dhaawac leh ayaa dagaalka ka dhashay,inkastoo aan si rasmi ah loo ogayn,balse waxaa la xaqiijiyey in halkaasi u ku dhintay sarkaal ka tirsan Ciidanka dowladda oo magaciisa lagu sheegay Maxamed Yuusuf (Ilka Case). Dowladda Kenya oo war ka soo saartay dagaalka ayaa beenisay Ciidankeeda ay mas’uul ka yihiin dagaalkaas. PUNTLAND POST The post Dowladda Kenya oo dishay Sarkaal ka tirsan Ciidamada Xoogga dalka Soomaaliya. appeared first on Puntland Post.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — One of Ethiopia’s most prominent opposition politicians has been sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court along with three others after they sang a protest song during proceedings. Bekele Gerba, former deputy head of the Oromo Federalist Congress party, protested after the court withdrew a previous ruling requiring Ethiopia’s prime minister to appear as a defense witness. The state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate says Bekele and the other defendants “wreaked havoc.” Bekele had been arrested in December 2015 after anti-government protests erupted in parts of the East African country. He was charged with terrorism offenses that later were changed to criminal charges. He was among the opposition figures expected to be released as part of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s recent announcement to free some imprisoned politicians. AP

Since November 2015 unprecedented protests have been taking place in Ethiopia: angry and frustrated at the widespread abuse of human rights and the centralization of power in the hands of the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) tens of thousands have taken to the streets. The ruling party’s response to this democratic outpouring has been consistently violent; hundreds have been killed and beaten by security forces, tens of thousands arrested and imprisoned. In an attempt to gag the people, a highly repressive State of Emergency was imposed in August 2016. It failed, the protests continued, the movement strengthened. The regime then tried to inflame ancient ethnic differences amongst various groups by staging attacks using plain clothed security personnel. In the border region of Oromo and the Ogaden Tesfaye Robela of the Ethiopian Parliament claims that over 10,000 people have been killed. ESAT News (the sole Ethiopian independent broadcaster) quotes the findings of a parliamentary report into the ethnic clashes, which concluded that: “based on interviews with victims of the violence, squarely puts the blame on Somali Region Special Police, local police and militia for perpetrating the killings.” The Liyu Police is controlled by the Ethiopian military. Despite these attempts to extinguish the movement for change, the people of Ethiopia are continuing to demand freedom, justice and democracy; this time they will not be silenced. The minority powers within the ruling EPRDF coalition – The Oromo Peoples’ Democratic Organization (OPDO) and the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM) have been empowered by the popular uprising and there are signs that they are at last standing up to the majority TPLF members. Under pressure from the OPDO and ASDM and in a further attempt to distract attention from the protests and undermine the protestors’ claims, on 3rd January the government put out a convoluted statement relating to political prisoners. The Prime-Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said that the regime would release “some political prisoners”, prisoners that for the last 27 years they have denied even existed. ESAT News (which is based in Europe and America) reports he went on to announce that, “members of political parties and other individuals would be released to widen the political and democratic space” and that “the government would review the cases of certain individuals affiliated with political parties, including party leaders, [and] in some cases, charges would be dropped or people would be released or pardoned, depending on investigation results.” His words, which have been widely reported in mainstream media, were not only disingenuous, they were ambiguous and inconclusive. He failed to acknowledge that those imprisoned for expressing political dissent had been falsely incarcerated; repeatedly stating they were behind bars because they were guilty of breaking the law. Whilst the release of any political prisoners at all would be a move in the right direction, in its present form the policy, if indeed it is a policy and not simply a public relations exercise aimed at international benefactors, is an insult to the thousands languishing in prison for no other reason than they disagree with the ruling TPLF. The statement is inadequate and needs clarification: who will be considered for release and when? Does it include opposition politicians charged with fictitious terrorist offences under the universally condemned Anti-Terrorist Proclamation of 2009? Will this long-overdue gesture mean that politicians who have been forced to live in exile for fear of arrest and imprisonment can safely return home? These and other pressing questions need to be raised by opposition groups and human rights organizations, and indeed Ethiopia’s major donors — America, Britain and the European Parliament, all of which have allowed the TPLF to trample on human rights and the people for decades. Intense pressure must be applied on the government to articulate its intentions and, for once in their tyrannical reign, do the right thing and release all political prisoners, including journalists, bloggers, protestors and activists of all kinds. It was also announced by the PM that Maekelewi prison in Addis Ababa, which has been used as a torture chamber by the TPLF for years, will be closed down, and rather bizarrely, turned into a modern museum, unless common sense prevails and it is demolished. This is a positive development but is again short on detail. There has been no mention of what will happen to the inmates. All political prisoners held there should be released unconditionally, and an independent international monitoring group established to oversee the release and or transfer of all other detainees. The current of change Despite being enshrined as rights within Ethiopia’s liberally worded constitution, for over two decades all forms of freedom of speech and political dissent have been virtually outlawed. Anyone who openly disagrees with or questions the ruling party is seen as a threat, and persecuted, arrested, imprisoned and, commonly, tortured. The Anti-Terrorism Act, together with The Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSP), both passed in 2009, are the primary tools of suppression within the regime’s Arsenal of Control. Both laws have been widely criticized by Human Rights groups; responding to the CSP in 2012 Amnesty International said that, “The law has had a devastating impact on human rights work, both in terms of the practical obstacles it creates for human rights defenders, and in exacerbating the climate of fear in which they operate.” This is, of course, precisely what it was intended to do. Commenting on the Anti-Terrorist Proclamation when it was drafted, Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that it provided “the Ethiopian government with a potent instrument to crack down on political dissent, including peaceful political demonstrations…It would permit [indeed has facilitated] long-term imprisonment and even the death penalty for ‘crimes’ that bear no resemblance, under any credible definition, to terrorism.” For 27 years the TPLF group within the coalition have dominated all life in the country and like all such tyrannical regimes they have ruled through violence and fear. But we are living in new times; the days of tyrannical regimes are all but over, those that persist are sustained by the polluted energies of the past and are on their death bed. The people of Ethiopia sense that this is their time, that change is not only possible, but is coming. The government’s half-baked move to release a few political leaders will not appease anyone, but should embolden many. It reveals a crack in the democratic facade presented by the regime, which must be split open under the force of sustained political activism, civil disobedience and public protest. The minority members of the coalition — the OPDO and ANDM — now have an opportunity, indeed a responsibility, to act boldly, to stand up and take a lead. As representatives of the two largest ethnic groups in the country they are in a position to do a number of things: demand The Anti-Terrorism Act, and The Charities and Societies Proclamation be immediately repealed, compile a comprehensive list of all political prisoners (working in cooperation with Amnesty International or The Ethiopia Human Rights Project), and vigorously press for their immediate release. Then, providing opposition politicians are released and political groups outside the country — including Ginbot 7 — are allowed to operate freely, work vigorously to campaign for fair and open elections (such a thing has never taken place in Ethiopia) to be held sometime in late 2019. This is a moment of significance in the country. There is an unstoppable force for justice and freedom sweeping across the world and Ethiopia is firmly within that current of change. Graham Peebles is a freelance writer. He can be reached at: graham@thecreatetrust.org.

The tribalistic officials and surrogates of Puntland Administration of Somalia routinely claim in the media that Somaliland Borders are “Colonial Borders”. This blind, habitual denial of Somaliland Republic borders indicates that these individuals are either ignorant of the historical origin of the current borders of African states or intentionally mislead listeners (For being hypocrites) for obsessively pursuing unattainable clan-based statehood that does not exist in Africa or elsewhere. The United Nations, African Union, or African States did not draw or make the current borders of African States. All the borders of African independent states had been drawn by the colonial powers of Europe at the end of the 19th century, mainly during The Partition of Africa held in Berlin in 1884. The statehood, independence, and diplomatic recognition of each African State are based on its own colonial borders. Likewise, all the borders of the Arab World, Asia, and South America also emerged from colonial borders drawn mainly by Britain , France and Spain. Similarly, the statehood, independence, and the expected diplomatic recognition of Somaliland Republic are based on its own colonial borders drawn during British Somaliland Protectorate era. In the East, Somaliland border runs along Growe and Bosaso. In the West, it runs along Lowya’addo. In the South, Somaliland shares border with Ethiopia, and in the North, Somaliland border runs along the Red Sea. The borders of Somalia, Somaliland, and Djibouti have the same international status and legitimacy because they were all drawn by European Colonial powers. Anyone who opposes the legitimacy of Somaliland borders, its statehood, its independence, and its diplomatic recognition is challenging the borders and sovereignty of all African independent states (54 states) whose borders rose from their colonial borders or demarcations. African borders are not based on lineage or clans but are based on land only. There are no tribal borders or tribal states in Africa or anywhere else in this world, and there will never be one. There are only national borders of states whose nations make-up consists of many tribes or clans that share common borders and sovereignty. The following African Tribes clearly show of how same African clans are distributed over different countries. The inhabitance or residence of some African clans is as follows: – Fulani Tribe: This tribe inhabits in Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon etc. – Tuareg Tribe : This tribe has inhabitance in Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, Niger etc. – Lunda Tribe: This tribe inhabits in Congo, Zambia, and Angola. – Yoruba Tribe: This tribe has inhabitance in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. – Maasai Tribe: This tribe resides in Kenya, and Tanzania. – Afar Tribe: This tribe inhabits in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti. – Berber Tribe: This tribe has inhabitance in Morroco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria. – Isaaq Tribe: This tribe inhabits in Somaliland, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti. – Samaroon Tribe: This tribe inhabits in Somaliland, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. – Hawiye Tribe: This tribe inhabits in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. – Darood Tribe: This tribe inhabits in Somalia, Somaliland, Kenya, Ethiopia. – Rahanwein Tribe: This tribe has inhabitance in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. – Essa Tribe: This tribe inhabits in Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somaliland. – Gabooye Tribe: This tribe inhabits in Somaliland, Somalia, Ethiopia. All other continents have also tribes and clans similar to Africa who have inhabitance in different countries. The internal security and peace of Africa rest on respecting, recognizing, and implementing its current borders that rose from colonial borders. If an African country would claim the tribe and its land located in another African Country, the continent would fall to endless devastating, bloody clan wars, violence and anarchy. The African continent would not exist as we know it today. The peace and stability of African states (or Asia and South America) depend on respecting and recognizing colonial borders. Some people confuse Somaliland Republic with Puntland Region of Somalia for either not knowing the history of Somalis or for irrational political reasons. Puntland is an integral, inseparable part of Somalia because it is located within Somalia’s historical borders with which Somalia achieved independence on July 1st, 1960 from Italy while Somaliland Republic emerged from British Somaliland Protectorate and achieved separately its independence from Britain on June 26, 1960. Somaliland Republic has undeniable rights to claim independence, statehood, and diplomatic recognition based on its own unique colonial borders like any other African country while Puntland can not have such rights because it is part of Somalia and shares colonial borders and nationhood with it. Somaliland and Somalia are not the first two countries in this world whose union ceased to exist. The Soviet Union that had 15 Socialist Republics created by the Bolshevik Revolution led by Lenin in 1917 broke up after social upheavals and political discontent ended its existence peacefully in 1989 with new countries emerging from it such as Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia etc. They are all recognized by the UN and international community on the basis of their original borders existing before the union. The federation of former Republic of Yugoslavia that had 8 countries broke up too after bloody civil wars between 1991-1995 and new countries such as Serbia, Croatia , Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo etc emerged from its ashes. All are recognized diplomatically too for their original borders existing before the federation. This shows that the unity among countries that share a union is not sacred anymore if they disagree. Some Somalis believe that Somaliland can not withdraw from the union with Somalia or even be recognized claiming that Somalis share same language, religion, color, and culture. If this claim were true for achieving union, the Arab World which has nearly 17 independent countries such as Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Sudan, and that also share same language, religion, culture, and color would not have separate independent sates. They do not have any federal or union for disagreeing to share one. Independent Republic of Somaliland was the first to pioneer the unification between Somaliland and Somalia on July 1, 1960 in quest for Greater Somalia in the Horn of Africa. The union was doomed after Somalia hijacked the governments for the thirty years of its existence (1960-1990) and then committed atrocities against Somaliland people when they rebelled against injustices and humiliation perpetrated against them. Only justice and fair power-sharing are the most important factors for a union to survive and that is what Somalia failed to understand in the years of the union. The idea of “Greater Somalia” emerged in the middle of the Second World War [1939-1945] and the main objective was to liberate the five Somali Territories and bring them together under the same banner and government in the Horn of Africa. That idea of “Greater Somalia” (Somaliweyn) is as elusive as “Greater Arab” today and no one knows when it will come true. Only Somaliland and Somalia do not constitute “Greater Somalia” while excluding the other three ( 3 ) Somali territories. The tribalist dictatorial regime of Siyad Barre buried the hope for “Greater Somalia” for committing unforeseen atrocities and human rights abuses in Somaliland and turning native tribes against one another. Siyad’s brutal military tribalistic regime is solely responsible for the pains and disasters that Somalis face in the Horn of Africa and around the world. Many who were responsible for the atrocities in Somaliland are calling today for the restoration of the failed union that they ruined just for opportunistic, tribalistic reasons. Somaliland people will not be deceived again with false umbrella of “Greater Somalia” to restore the doomed union. Non-existent “Greater Somalia” will not be used again to have Somaliland people victimized again by refugees and Southerners who want to rule their land at expense of its own people. Somaliland belongs to Somalilanders only and will remain so forever. The Federal Government of Somalia and Puntland Administration of Somalia are strongly advised that peace and good neighborly relations between Somaliland Republic and Somalia will only depend on respecting, recognizing, and implementing the border between Somaliland and Somalia. Somaliland will stay independent of Somalia, and Somaliland people will not throw their destiny away again but will defend it. Somaliland Borders are unalterable as any African Borders are. Ibrahim Hassan Gagale

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A Somali military officer says one Somali soldier has been killed in brief clashes between Somali and Kenyan troops in a border town. Mohamed Ahmed says the Somali soldiers fought Friday morning with Kenyan soldiers on patrol in Elwak, a town near the Kenyan border. He says the Kenyan soldiers mistook the Somali soldiers for al-Shabab extremists and that the clashes lasted more than 20 minutes. The Somalia-based al-Shabab has carried out numerous deadly attacks inside Kenya in recent months. Kenya is one of several regional countries contributing troops to an African Union force in Somalia fighting al-Shabab. AP

Ahmed Yusuf. ®HornCable TV The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned about the dangerous escalation of attacks on freedom of the media in Somalia after the authorities have tightened the noose on freedom of expression following imprisonment and reckless attacks on journalists during the past week. On 4 January 2018, Ahmed Yusuf Suleman, reporter of Horn Cable Television, survived an attempted murder, after men armed with pistols who are believed to be plainclothes security officials fired four shots towards him, chased and caught him, and pointed a pistol at his head. The police reportedly intervened to release the journalist from the plainclothes officials though Suleman sustained wounds on both hands, legs, shoulders and hips. On 7 January 2018, journalists Ahmed Dirie Iltire and Mohamed Abdullahi Hussein of xeegonews.com were accused by Somaliland prosecutors in Borame in the Awdal region and sentenced to 2 years in prison. The prosecutors indicted the two journalists for “spreading propaganda against the nation, degrading the nation, and disgracing national flag and symbol of a foreign country”. “We condemn this brazen assault on journalists in the strongest possible terms”, said IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger. “Gun touting men cannot be allowed to commit violence and cause bodily harm with impunity in Somalia. The Somali Government must demonstrate the required political will and show full commitment in its fight against impunity.” The IFJ is deeply troubled about the continued imprisonment of journalists in Somaliland for expressing their right to freedom of expression. “The last few months have seen a sharp escalation in attacks by the Somaliland authorities through the judiciary on journalists and the media in general in a bid to silence dissent. This is a chilling setback for freedom of expression in Somaliland,” said Bellanger. The IFJ reiterates its support to its Somalia affiliate, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), for its adamant stance to defend media freedom and journalists’ rights in the face of renewed and unwarranted attacks against Somali journalists and their union which is engineered by the Ministry of Information of Somali government. “Somali leaders must not allow perpetrators of these attacks go unpunished,” added Bellanger. IFJ

UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia (SRSG), Michael Keating, speaks alongside Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Saad Ali Shire, at a press conference in Hargeisa, Somaliland, on January 10, 2018. UN Photo / Tobin Jones 11 January 2018 – The top United Nations envoy for Somalia has called for calm and dialogue amid reports of clashes between security forces from ‘Somaliland’ and neighbouring Puntland. “Our position is to try and reduce tensions [and] to increase dialogue very quickly between both sides, so that if there are misunderstandings, these are clarified,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Michael Keating, while in Hargeisa, the capital of ‘Somaliland.’ “If there are genuine differences, then they have to be subject to immediate discussion,” he added. “But resorting to military solutions and to violence is not the way to resolve these problems.” The UN envoy was speaking at a joint press encounter yesterday with ‘Somaliland’s’ Foreign Minister, Saad Ali Shire, after having met with ‘Somaliland’s’ President Muse Bihi Abdi – their first meeting since the latter was elected late last year. Earlier this week, there were reports of clashes between security forces in the Sool region, part of a disputed area claimed by both ‘Somaliland’ and Puntland, located on the north-eastern tip of the Horn of Africa. In their meeting, Mr. Keating and Mr. Bihi Abdi discussed the new government’s priorities, as well as the latest security issues. “I was very impressed by and grateful to the President for his commitment, borne from his many decades of personal experience, of the importance of finding peaceful solutions to problems, “ he said, “and that a priority must be to try and prevent violence of any kind, whether in ‘Somaliland,’ or, indeed, between ‘Somaliland’ and others.” While in Hargeisa, the UN envoy also met with several cabinet ministers to discuss various topics, including education, health, security, the impact of drought and employment, and how the United Nations can best provide support in addressing humanitarian and development challenges in these areas. Similar meetings were subsequently held with civil society representatives. Part of the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) – which Mr. Keating also heads and which has an office in Hargeisa – is to support ‘Somaliland’ efforts towards a politically stable and democratic system that adheres to the principles of good governance. A local guide shows the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Michael Keating, some of the ancient rock art at Laas Geel, located near the capital of Hargeisa, Somaliland. UN Photo/Tobin Jones UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Michael Keating (right), meets with President of Somaliland, Muse Bidi Abdi and others at the start of a meeting in his offices in Hargeisa, Somaliland. UN Photo/Tobin Jones N Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Michael Keating, walks with representatives of the Somaliland government on his way to meet with the Minister of Interior, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, in Hargeisa. UN Photo/Tobin Jones UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Michael Keating, attends a meeting with cabinet ministers at the office of the Somaliland’s Minister of Interior, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, in Hargeisa, Somaliland,. UN Photo/Tobin Jones UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Michael Keating, views some of the ancient rock art at Laas Geel, located near the capital of Hargeisa, Somaliland. The paintings are estimated to date from somewhere between 3,000 and 9,000 BC and are some of the earliest cave paintings to have been found in the Horn of Africa. UN Photo/Tobin Jones A close-up of the Neolithic paintings at the Laas Geel rock art site, located some 50km outside of Hargeisa in Somaliland, The paintings are estimated to date from somewhere between 3,000 and 9,000 BC and are some of the earliest cave paintings to have been found in the Horn of Africa.UN Photo/Tobin Jones Visit to Laas Geel highlights rich heritage and economic potential The Special Representative also visited the Laas Geel rock shelters, located an hour north-east of Hargesia, and the location of Neolithic paintings dating back several thousands of years. “One of the reasons I wanted to come here is because it’s good to be reminded that [while] the image of this part of the world is about conflict and so much despair and suffering, and yet it’s also one of the cradles of civilization,” Mr. Keating said. “So while it’s a resource for the world, it’s also very important for Somalis to know that they are living in a land with great history and traditions and that is changing and is dynamic,” he added. French researchers came across the site during an archaeological survey of the area in 2002, and it is considered to be one of the oldest rock art sites in Africa and the most important ancient site in ‘Somaliland.’ The paintings depict wild animals, decorated cattle and herders. According to local authorities, up to 200 hundred visitors, from the region and abroad, make the trek to the site each month, despite access difficulties and concerns over security. “That would suggest that the potential is indeed enormous, and not just limited to rock caves, “ said Mr. Keating. “There’s the natural environment, the coast and the beaches are incredible, the potential for tourism is enormous.” There have been concerns over recent years that the site’s paintings are under threat of serious deterioration from their exposure to the elements as well as local animals. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) sent a team to review the site in 2016. It has made recommendations on how to best safeguard it, and is working with local authorities on putting those measures in place. UN.Org

Turkey has warned its citizens to revise their travel plans to the US or act with caution if they go ahead with a trip, according to a statement by the foreign ministry. A statement on Friday cited risks or terrorist attacks as well as arbitrary arrests in Turkey’s Western ally. “It is observed that there is a recent increase in terrorist and violent attacks in the US,” the statement said, referring to several deadly incidents over the past few months. “Attacks by vehicles being driven on crowds, in addition to bomb and gun attacks, are likely to continue to target city centres, cultural events, subway stations, state buildings, places of warship and school campuses,” the statement said, adding that there is also a risk of arbitrary arrest for Turkish citizens travelling to the US. The move came after the US announced a new travel advisory on Wednesday and named Turkey as a country with an “increased security risk” along with Sudan, Pakistan and Guatemala. Turkey summoned senior US diplomat Philip Kosnett to the foreign affairs in Ankara on Thursday over Washington’s support for Syrian Kurdish fighters. SOURCE: AL JAZEERA NEWS

Askari Soomaali ah ayaa u dhintay dhaawac ka soo gaaray rasaas ay isku weydaarsadeen magaalada Ceel-waaq ciidamada Soomaalida iyo kuwa Kenya . Sida uu ku waramayo weriyaha Goobjoog News ee deegaankaasi isku dhaca labada ciidan waxaa uu imaanayaa kadib markii ciidamo hubeysan oo Kenyaan ah ay aroortii hore ee saaka ka soo dhaqaaqeen Ceel-waaq Kenya una soo gudbeen Ceel-waaq Soomaaliya taasina ay keentay in ay kala shakiyaan labada ciidan, halkaasina uu dagaal ku dhex-maray. Ciidamada Kenya oo hubeysan waxaa ay lug ku soo socdeen 15 KM, dagaal kadibna isla waddadii ay dib ugu noqdeen. Lama sheegin, ujeedka ay lahaayeen ciidamada Kenyaanka, wixii ku soo kordha la soco, wararkeenna dambe. Goobjoog News Source

Dowladda federaalka ah ee Soomaaliya ayaa sheegeysa in maxkamadda ciidamada qalabka sida ay xarun ka furan-doono magaalada Galkacyo ee gobolka Mudug. Sida uu warbaahinta dowladda u sheegay G/sare Xasan Cali Nuur Shuute oo ah gudoomiyaha Maxkamadda D.1-aad ee Ciidmada Qalabka Sida, Ciidama ka tirsan xoogga dalka Soomaaliyeed oo ka madax baxnaan Ururuda 21-aad iyo 54-aad ee ka howlgala Maamulada Galmudug iyo Puntland ayaa lagu wareejiyay amniga magaalada iyagoo wixii ay u baahdaan ee deeg ah eey ka heli doonaan dowladda dhexe ee Soomaaliya isla markaana eey hadda heleen gunnooyin iyo agab ciidan oo ay dowladda dhexe ee Soomaaliya ku wareejisay sida uu u sheegay. Nuur Shuute waxaa uu intaasi ku daray in Maxkamad Ciidan oo heer dowladda dhexe ah kana madax banaan maamuladaasi ayaa laga hirgeliyay magaalada taasi oo la shaqeyn doonto ciidamada isku dhafka ah ee u madax banaan howlahooda waxa ayna maxkamaddaasi qaadi doonto dacwad kasta oo hubeysan oo lid ku ah amniga magaalada Cutubyadii ugu horreeyay ee Ciidama ka tirsan xoogga dalka Soomaaliyeed ayaa la geeyay Magaaalada Galkacyo si ay u soo afjaraan isku dhacyo maleeshiyo beeleedyo halkaasi ku dagaalamayey muddo aad u dheer. Goobjoog News Source

Madaxweynaha Soomaaliya Maxammed Cabdullaahi Maxammed(Farmaajo) oo shalay gaaray magaalada Boosaaso ayaa Maanta la kulmaya qaybaha kala duwan ee bulshada oo ay ku jiraan ardayda jaamacadaha sidoo kalena wuxuu booqan doona xarumo muhiim ah oo magaaladaasi ku yaalla. Madaxweyne Farmaajo ayaa warbixinno ka dhegaysan doona mas’uuliyiinta goobaha uu booqan doono,waxaana la filayaa in uu hadal ka jeediyo xarumaha uu soo kormeerayo,inkastoo aan la ogayn qodobada uu si gaar ah uga hadli doono. Dhanka kale Iyadoo Mudane.Farmaajo uu weli ku guda jiro booqasho uu ku tagayo degaannada kala duwan oo ay kamid tahay Puntland,ayaa waxaa lafilayaa in uu maalmaha soo soo socda diyaarad u raaco dhinaca magaalada Gaalkacyo ee xarunta Gobolka Mudug,isagoo uga sii gudbi doona dhinaca degmada Cadaado ee Galmudug. Qaban qaabo ku aadan soo dhoweynta wefdiga Madaxweynaha Soomaaliya ayaa laga dareemayaa magaalooyinka Gaalkacyo iyo Cadaado,waxaana waddooyinka lagu xardhay sawiradiisa iyo Calanka Soomaaliya. Ammaanka magaalooyinka Gaalkacyo iyo Cadaado oo uu booqan doono madaxweynaha ayaa siweyn loo adkeeyey,iyadoo ciidamada ammaanku ay heegan ballaaran ku jiraan PUNTLANDPOST The post Madaxweyne Farmaajo oo Maanta la kulmaya Bulshada Boosaaso. appeared first on Puntland Post.

Abwaan Cali Diiriye(cali Gaab) oo ka tisanaa rugcaddaaga abwaannada Soomaaliyeed ayaa shalay gelinkii dambe ku geeriyooday magaalada Jabuuti,sida ay xaqiijiyeen xubno ka tirsan qoyskiisa iyo Golaha Abwaanada Soomaaliyeed. Marxuum Cali Gaab ayaa si weyn loogu xasuustaa Riwaayadii cajiibka aheyd ee”If iyo Akhiro”,oo uu hal abuurkeeda lahaa.Sidoo kale heesaha aadka loogu xasuusto ayaa waxaa kamid ah Heestii Sabir ee uu la qaadi jiray Saynab Xaaji Cali(Baxsan). Golaha Abwaanada Qaranka Soomaaliyeed oo la hadlay Warbaahinta dowladda ayaa tacsi u diray dhamaan bulshada Soomaaliyeed ee uu ka baxay Cali Gaab,gaar ahaanna qoyskiisii iyo qaraabadiisi. Halkaan ka daawo hees u macaan oo uu la qaado Saynab Xaaji Cali Baxsan. PUNTLAND POST The post Abwaankii weynaa ee Cali Gaab oo geeriyooday. appeared first on Puntland Post.

Madaxweyne Maxamed Cabdullahi Farmaajo iyo wafdigiisa ayaa xalay baryey Boosaaso ee xarunta gobolka Bari iyaga oo halkaasi kula kulmay bulshada qeybaheeda kala duwan, kana shageystay baahidooda. Madaxweyne Farmaajo waxaa galabta lagu wadaa in uu u kicitimmo Galkacyo halkaasi oo uga si gudbi-doono Dhuusa-mareeb iyo deegaanno kale. Magaalada Galkacyo waxaa ay ka mid tahay goobaha ay dagaallada sokeeye uga dhacaan sida joogtada ah, waxaana la filayaa in Farmaajo uu la kulmay odoyaasha iyo bulshada labada dhinac. Safarkan oo loogu magac-daray “Safarka Nabadda” waa markii ugu horeysay ee madaxweynaha isku soo maro tan iyo markii la doortay February 8, 2017. Weriyaha Goobjoog News ee la socda wafdiga madaxweynaha waxaa uu soo sheegayaa in safarki Dhulka ahaa ee Garoowe illaa Boosaaso ay ku arkeen sida dadka tuulooyinka jooga ugu farxeen aragtida madaxweynaha. Goobjoog News Source

Wararka ka imaanaya degmada Kaaraan ee gobolka Banaadir ayaa sheegaya in xalay uu qarax ka dhacay guri ku yaalla degmadaasi. Mas’uuliyiinta Amniga ayaa laga soo xigtay in qaraxan lagu diyaarinayey guriga uu ka dhacay,islamarkaana halkaasi laga qabtay nin looga shakinsanyahay in uu qaraxaasi diyaarinayey. Ciidamada Amniga dowladda Soomaaliya ayaa la wareegay guriga,waxaana haatan ka socda baaritaan lagu ogaanayo wixii halkaasi ka socday,sida ay soo werisay warbaahinta Maxalliga ah. Wixii ka soo kordha kala soco:Puntlandpost.net The post Qarax ka dhacay magaalada Muqdisho. appeared first on Puntland Post.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned about the dangerous escalation of attacks on freedom of the media in Somalia after the authorities have tightened the noose on freedom of expression following imprisonment and reckless attacks on journalists during the past week. Source: Hiiraan Online

The US State Department announced on Wednesday that it is scrapping its travel warnings for specific countries, instead launching a four-level "travel advisory programme." Source: Hiiraan Online

Hay’adda qaxootiga ee Qaramada Midoobay(UNHCR), ayaa sheegtay Khamiistii in ay si iskood ah dib ugu celisay 110,913 qaxooti Soomaali ah oo ka kala yimid lix waddan tan iyo markii uu bilowday Qorshaha dib u celinta bishii December ee sannadkii 2014. Warbixinta hay’adda ayaa lagu sheegay in bishii December ee sannadkii tegay 75,297 qaxooti Soomaali ah ay ka soo laabteen dalka Kenya,halka waddanka Yemen ay ka soo noqdeen 34,990 qaxooti Soomaali ah. Sidoo kale 626 qaxooti Soomaali ah ayaa ka soo laabtay dalalka ay kamid yihiin;Djibouti, Eritrea,iyo Tunisia,sida warbixinta lagu xusay. PUNTLAND POST The post Qaxooti ka soo laabtay lix dal oo Soomaaliya dib ugu noqday. appeared first on Puntland Post.

I was at a restaurant in Mogadishu in 2014 when a man approached me and unexpectedly confessed to having been part of the gang that attacked my home in Mogadishu in 1992 in which my 18-month-old daughter, Yasmin, was brutally killed. Source: Hiiraan Online

Pirates seldom dominate our thoughts beyond movie myths and Halloween costumes, but real pirates still threaten danger for the unwary. Source: Hiiraan Online

When President Donald Trump announced his “Muslim ban” - a law that would keep citizens from six predominately Muslim states from entering the US - around this time last year, the country witnessed a wave of Islamophobia. The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) found that 2017 was one of the worst years for Muslims in America, with attacks on community members increasing by 44 percent from the year before. Source: Hiiraan Online