Ethiopia will take a stake in the Port of Djibouti, its main gateway for trade, under a deal reached between the two countries, state media outlets said. Djibouti had been seeking investors for its port since it terminated Dubai’s state-owned DP World’s concession to run the port two months ago, citing a failure to resolve a six-year contractual dispute. The port is a key asset for Djibouti, a tiny state along the Red Sea whose location is of strategic value to countries such as the United States, China, Japan and former colonial power France, all of whom have military bases there. The size of Addis Ababa’s stake was unclear. State-owned Ethiopian News Agency said the agreement, reached at the weekend during a visit by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Djibouti, involved the joint development of facilities. In return, Djibouti would have the option of taking stakes in state-owned Ethiopian firms. “A joint committee of ministers would meet to thrash out details,” Ethiopian New Agency said. The government had previously said that the port would remain “in the hands of our country” until it found new investors. Djibouti handles roughly 95 percent of all inbound trade for landlocked Ethiopia, Africa’s second most-populous nation and an economic power in East Africa. The deal with Djibouti follows Ethiopia’s agreement to acquire a 19 percent stake in the Port of Berbera in the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland. DP World retains a 51 percent stake there, while the government holds the rest. Ethiopian state companies that Djibouti may look to invest in following the bilateral agreement could include Ethiopian Electric Power and Ethio Telecom – one of Africa’s last remaining telecoms monopolies. (Reporting by Aaron Maasho; Editing by Omar Mohammed and Susan Fenton). Source: – Reuters

Unknown gunmen shot dead on Tuesday a Somali aid worker who worked for the World Health Organization (WHO), her relatives and police said. One of the victim’s relatives named her as Maryan Abdullahi and said she had been shot while visiting. the Bakara market in the capital Mogadishu to buy items for her wedding that had been due to take place next week. Mohamud Ibrahim added that she had been shot by “unknown men armed with pistols” at the market bus stop. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear and government officials could not be reached for comment. Police said the gunmen had escaped after the shooting. A U.N. worker who asked not to be identified said the woman had been based in Baidoa, a town about 245 km (150 miles) northwest of Mogadishu. Somalia has been in a state of lawlessness since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Siad Barre and then turned on each other. Source: Reuters

Muqdisho (PP) ─ Taliska AMISOM ayaa sheegay in ciidamadooda Smalia ku sugan ay ku daaleen dagaalka ay kula jireen muddada tobanka sannadod ah ee ay Somalia ku sugan yihiin, sida uu qoray wargeyska New Vision ee kasoo baxa dalka Uganda. Hadalkan ayaa waxaa sheegay afhayeenka hawl-galka AMISOM, Col. Richard Nyabuti Omwega oo war-fidyeenka kula hadlay Muqdisho, isagoo tilmaamay inay awooddii Al-shabaab hoos u dhigeen, waa sida uu hadalka u dhigaye, wuxuuna sii raaciyay inay weli cabsi ku hayaan amniga Soomaaliya. Sidoo kale, Afhayeenka AMISOM u hadlay ayaa tilmaamay in Al-shabaab ay isticmaalaan miinooyinka iyo inay gaystaan weeraro, isla markaana ay ku yihiin caqabad weyn horumarka Somalia tan iyo markii ay ku dhex-milmeen dadka rayidka ah. Col. Richard Nyabuti Omwega wuxuu carrabka ku dhuftay inay AMISOM ku adag tahay sidii ay Kooxda Al-shabaab.kula dagaallami lahaayeen, isagoo ku daray hadalkiisa, inay adag tahay in laga adkaado Al-shabaab. Dhanka Afhayeenka u hadlay Ciidamada AMISOM ayaa ka hadlay Qorshaha daad-gureynta Ciidamada AMISOM, isgaoo xusay in waddan kasta oo ay ciiddamo ka joogaan Somalia looga baahan yahay inay tirada ciidamadooda yareeyaan sannadka marka uu yahay 2021-ka, xilligaasoo ciidanka AMISOM si kama-dambays ah looga saari doono Somalia oo dhan. Dhanka kale, Afhayeenka ayaa hadalkiisa ku daray in 1,000 ka mdi Askarta AMISOM la dhimi doono bisha Oktoobar ee sannadkan, iyadoo horey bishii December ee sannadkii hore kun Askari laga saaray Soomaaliya. Ugu dambeyn, Wuxuu Afhayeenku tilmaamay inay 21,000 oo Askari haatan hoos-tagaan hawgalka AMISOM ee Somalia, kuwaasoo ka kala socda dalalka Jabuuti, Itoobiya, Uganda, Kenya iyo Burundi iyo shaqaale kale oo ka kala yimid dalalka Masar, Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone iyo kuwo kale. PUNTLAND POST The post Taliska AMISOM oo sheegay inuu ku Adkaaday Dagaalka ay kula jiraan Ururka Al-shabaab appeared first on Puntland Post.

Garoowe (Caasimada Online)-Warqad kasoo baxday Xafiiska Hoggaamiyaha maamulka Puntland C/wali Maxamed Cali Gaas, ayaa waxaa shaqada looga eryay qaar ka mid ah Madaxda iyo shaqaale ka tirsan maamulka. Hogaamiyaha ayaa shaqaalaha ugu badan ee uu eryay waxa ay ka tirsan yihiin Wasaaradda Kalluumeysiga iyo Kheyraadka Badda Puntland. Eryinta Madaxda iyo shaqaalaha Wasaarada ayaa la sheegay inay ka danbeysay kadib markii ay ku kaceen falal lid ku ah shaqada Wasaarada. Madaxda iyo Shaqaalaha la eryay oo guud ahaa dhan 7 ayaa waxa ay kala yihiin:- 1–Maxamuud Maxamed Cali (Gabax), Wasiir ku-xigeenka Wasaarada Kalluumaysiga iyo Khayraadka Badda. 2-Cali Xirsi Faarax Maxamuud, Agaasimaha guud ee Wasaaradda Kalluumaysiga iyo Khayraadka Badda. 3-Cabdulqaadir Xaaji Yuusuf Siciid (Fay), Agaasimaha Waaxda Maamulka ee Wasaaradda Kalluumaysiga iyo Khayraadka Badda. 4-Maxamed Siciid Cartan (Balcad), Agaasimaha Waaxda Kalluumaysiga ee Wasaaradda Kalluumaysiga iyo Khayraadka Badda. 5-Cabdicasiis Axmed Jaamac, Xiriiriyaha Gobolada ee Wasaaradda Kalluumaysiga iyo Khayraadka Badda. 6-Cabdi Salaad Maxamuud (Radoofe) Fidiye Wasaarada kalluumaysiga iyo khayraadka Badda. 7-Casayr Yuusuf Maxamuud Fidiye Wasaaradda Kalluumaysiga iyo Khayraadka Badda. Madaxda qaar ee warqada lagu eryay ayaa waxaa lagu eedeeyay isdabamarin, halka qaarna ay ku kaceen falal aan raali galin maamulka ugu sareeya ee Wasaarada. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Garoowe Caasimada@live.com

Muqdisho (PP) ─ Guddoomiyaha Gobolka Banaadir ahna Duqa Muqdisho Inj. C/raxmaan Cumar Cismaan [Yariisow] ayaa sheegay inuu ka shaqeyn la’ yahay siyaasiyiin iyo mas’uuliyiin ka tirsan Dowladda. Inj. Yariisow oo muddo saddex bilood ah haya xilka guddoomiyaha gobolka Banaadir, ayaa sheegay in saddexdaas bilood ee uu xafiiska Gobolka joogay uu la tacaalayay madax ka tirsan Dowladda Soomaaliya oo ay uga adeegi la’ yihiin shacabka. Sidoo kale, wuxuu tilmaamay in rag ay saaxiibbo yihiin oo isugu jira Wasiiro, xildhibaanno iyo siyaasiyiin ay xafiiskiisa yimaadaan, iyagoo shacabkii loo shaqeyn lahaa cariiriya. “Runtii muddo saddex bilood ah ayay nagu qaatay si aan xal uga gaarno siyaasiyiin, xildhibaano iyo wasiirro danley ah oo xafiiskeyga soo buuxiya, taasoo keenay inaan u shaqeyn wayno bulshadii aan madaxda u ahaa, balse hadda xal ayaan ka gaaray oo waqti ayaan u sameeyay,” ayu yri gudoomiye Yariisow. Dhanka kale, Duqa Muqdisho ayaa ku eedeeyay xildhibaanno iyo wasiirro ay ugu yimaadaan sidii dad loogu fulin lahaa dano gaar ah taasna ay tahay mid aan xaq ahayn. UGu dabeyn, Hadalkan ayaa imaanaya iyadoo la sheegay in dhawaan uu ka joojiyay guddoomiye Yariisow lacago hotelo loogaga bixin jiray siyaasiyiin ku dhaw-dhaw madaxtooyada, haatanna lagu billaabay dacaayado wax loogu dhimayo shaqsiyadiisa, taasoo laga dareemayo shaqsiyaad aad ugu dhaw madaxda sare ee dalka. PUNTLAND POST

Muqdisho (Caasimadda Online)- Guddoomiyaha Gobolka Banaadir ahna Duqa Muqdisho Eng,Cabdiraxmaan Cumar Cismaan Yariisow ayaa sheegay in mudo Saddex bilood ah ay la tacaalayaan madax ka tirsan dowladda Soomaaliya oo ay uga deegi la’yihiin Shacabka. Waxa uu sheegay in rag ay saaxiibo yihiin oo isugu jira Xildhibaano,Wasiiro iyo siyaasiyiin ay Xafiiskiisa yimaadaan,iyaga oo Shacabkii loo Shaqeyn lahaa cariiriya. Eng Yarisow guddoomiyaha gobolka Banaadir oo muddo saddex bilood ah haya xilka guddoomiyaha gobolka Banaadir isbedel badana oo dhinaca horumarka ah laga dareemay mudadii uu xilka hayay ayaa sheegay in saddexdaa bilood ee uu xilka hayay uu la tacaalayay madax ka tirsan dowladda Soomaaliya oo ay uga adeegi la’ yihiin Shacabka. Yariisow ma uusan carabaabin ragga uu sheegay inay saaxiibada yihiin oo isugu jira Xildhibaano,Wasiiro iyo siyaasiyiin kuwaas oo uu ku eedeyey inay Xafiiskiisa yimaadaan,iyaga oo Shacabkii loo Shaqeyn lahaa cariiriya, waxaana muuqato inuu jiro loolan cusub oo ku aadan kursiga Guddoomiyaha Gobolka Banaadir. “Runtii muddo saddex bilood ah ayay nagu qaatay si aan xal uga gaarno siyaasiyiin,Xildhibaano iyo Wasiiro danley ah oo xafiiskeyga soo buux dhaafiyey una shaqeyn waayey bulshadii aan madaxda u ahaa laakin hadda xal ayaan ka gaaray oo waqti ayaan u sameeyey ayuu yri guddoomiye Yariisow.”ayuu yiri duqa magaalada Muqdisho. Sidoo kale duqa magaalada Muqdisho ayaa waxa uu ku eedeeyay xildhibaano iyo wasiiro ay ugu yimaadaan sidii dad loogu fulin lahaa dano gaar ah taasna ay tahay mid aan xaq ahayn. Hadalka Guddoomiyaha Gobolka Banaadir ayaa ku soo aadaya xilli ay aad u adag tahay in Shacabka adeegyada uga baahda Xarunta Maamulka gobolka Banaadir in ay galaan.

Two Androscoggin County residents accused of receiving more than $27,000 in kickbacks for medical referrals and of overbilling MaineCare for interpreter services pleaded not guilty Tuesday to health fraud charges in U.S. District Court in Portland. Source: Hiiraan Online

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — It’s a program that has been in a schools for almost three decades. You may even remember taking it yourself – D.A.R.E. Or maybe you have a fourth- or fifth-grader who is going through the program right now. Source: Hiiraan Online

Brussels (Caasimadda Online)- Soomaaliya waa inay dedejisaa isbeddalada ay ku sameyneyso ciidamadeeda, waxaa sidaas maanta yiri dalalka deeq bixiyayaasha kadib wada-hadal ay ka yeesheen horumarka gaaban ee laga sameynayo in ciidamada laga dhigo kuwo awood u leh inay la dagaalamaan kooxda Al-Shabaab. Sida ay qortay wakaaladda wararka Reuters, Hadalkan kasoo baxay shir madaxeedka Brussels ayaa ku boorinaya dowladda Soomaaliya inay si deg deg ah uga shaqeyso wax ka qabashada arrimaha lagu cayimay warbixintii sanadkii tagey ay soo saareen dowladda, QM iyo Midowga Afrika. Warbixintaas ayaa ciidamada xoogga Soomaaliyeed ku sheegtay “kuwa jilicsan oo leh talis iyo maamul tabar darran”, waxaana ay timid ayada oo ciidamada Amisom ay isku diyaarinayaan inay Soomaaliya ka baxaan sanadda 2020, amniga dalkana ku wareejiyaan kuwa Soomaalida. Ciidamada Afrikan ah ayaa la billaabay in la dhimo sanaddii tagtay, waana kuwa inta badan la dagaalama maleeshiyada Al-Shabaab ee weerarada ku haya Muqdisho iyo magaalooyinka kale. Kuwa taxliiliya arrimaha amniga ayaa ka digaya in ciidamo xoogga oo Soomaali ah la’aantood ay Shabaab dib usoo noolaan karaan. Deeq bixiyayaasha ayaa sheegay in loo baahan yahay in ciidamada Soomaalida lagu diiwaan geliyo habka faraha la iska qaado, loona sameeyo mushaar bixin ku dhisan habka elektorooniga. “Ciidamada Soomaaliya waa inay waqti kooban ku sameeyaan horumar weyn, sababtoo ah waxay dib uga sii dhacayaan, oo ay uga sii dhacayaan waqtigii loo gooyey sanadidi tagtey inay guul ku muujiyaan” waxaa sidaas yiri Joshua Meserev oo ka tirsan machadka daraasaadka Heritage Foundation ee Washington. Hay’adda lacaga adduunka ee IMF ayaa ka shaqeyneysay in la sameeyo hab maamul wanaagsan oo maaliyaded, waxayna qirtay in dowladda Soomaaliya ay sameyneyso isbeddelo la isku raacay oo dusha lagala socdo. Dowladda Soomaaliya ayaa billowday hal account oo lacagta dadweynaha ah, si looga hortago xatooyada, waxayna canshuurta iibka kusoo rogtay dekedda Muqdisho iyo shirkadaha isgaarsiinta, sida uu sheegay wasiirka maaliyadda Cabdiraxmaan Ducaale Beyleh. Daqliga dowladda ayaa afar laabmay, tan iyo sanaddii 2012. Dowladda ayaa dhowaan geli doonta barnamaij IMF ah oo socon doona 12 bilood, kaasi oo ay rajeyneyso inuu noqdo kii ugu dambeeyey, dhabbahana u xaari doona in dib loo qaabeeyo deymaha shanta bilyan ee dollar ah ee lagu leeyahay Soomaaliya. “Diyaar ayaan u nahay in kormeer na lagu smaeeyo, IMF waxaan u furnay xisaabaadkeena” ayuu yiri Beyleh oo intaas ku daray “Waxaan sameyneynaa waxa loo baahan yahay inaan sameyno. IMF ayaa sanadkan Soomaaliya u yaaboohi karta lacagtii ugu horreysay muddo 25 sano ah, taasi oo dowladda ay kaga kaaftoomi karto lacagaha kaga yimaada dalalka kale ee shuruudaha siyaasadeed wata. Xigasho: VOA

I hadn’t thought to book anywhere for our meeting; neither had my interviewee’s handler. The three of us spent an awkward ten minutes trailing from packed pub to crowded cafe, before deciding that time was short and we might as well just get on with it. Source: Hiiraan Online

The UAE (United Arab Emirates) stands accused of trying to buy Somali political support for its business interests. The current crises began when UAE was recently accused of trying bring in enough cash to bribe Somali politicians who would then support UAE goals. The UAE has been a major supplier of foreign aid to Somalia, providing nearly half a billion dollars’ worth since 1993. The UAE supports a united Somalia, with Puntland and Somaliland rejoining Somalia. The Somali parliament opposed a 2017 UAE effort to build and control a new port in Somaliland. The UAE has been trying to change minds in the Somali parliament but denies the bribery changes. The UAE is also trying to get Somalia to take sides in the Qatar dispute. Source: Hiiraan Online

Ethiopia will take a stake in the Port of Djibouti, its main gateway for trade, under a deal reached between the two countries, state media outlets said. Source: Hiiraan Online

Mogadishu is a battle-ravaged capital, the epicenter of the over two-decade civil war that scattered millions of Somalis across the world. Once a beautiful seaside city, its lone cathedral, ancient mosques, luxury hotels and government offices now remain empty shells hosting internally displaced people. Source: Hiiraan Online

The role of water crises in conflicts in places like Syria, Nigeria and Iran often feature in media and policy outlets. Many believe that climate change could spark future conflicts. But research shows that most conflicts are driven by factors other than the effects of climate change. Source: Hiiraan Online

Bosaso[Puntland Post]-Madaxweynaha Puntland ayaa shaqadii ka eryay qaar ka mid ah shaqaalaha wasaaradda kalluumeysiga iyo kheyraadka badda Puntland, kadib wareegto ka soo baxday xafiiskiisa. Waxaa shaqadii laga eryey Madaxda iyo shaqaalaha hoos ku qoran:- 1. Maxamuud Maxamed Cali (gabax) Wasiir ku-xigeenka Wasaarada Kalluumaysiga iyo khayraadka badda 2. Cali Xirsi Faarax Maxamuud Agaasimaha guud ee Wasaaradda Kalluumaysiga iyo Khayraadka Badda. 3. Cabdulqaadir Xaaji Yuusuf Siciid Fay Agaasimaha waaxda maamulka ee Wasaarada kalluumaysiga iyo khayraadka badda 4. Maxamed Siciid Cartan (Balcad) Agaasimaha waaxda Kalluumaysiga ee Wasaarada kalluumaysiga iyo khayraadka badda 5. Cabdicasiis Axmed Jaamac Xiriiriyaha Gobolada ee Wasaarada kalluumaysiga iyo khayraadka badda 6. Cabdi Salaad Maxamuud (Radoofe) Fidiye Wasaarada kalluumaysiga iyo khayraadka badda. 7. Casayr Yuusuf Maxamuud Fidiye Wasaarada kalluumaysiga iyo khayraadka badda. 2. Xeerkani wuxuu dhaqan gelayaa markuu Madaxweynuhu saxiixo, wuuna saxeexay madaxweynuhu -DHAMMAAD- Cabdiqani Boos Puntland Post -Bosaso The post Madaxweyne Gaas oo shaqadii ka eryay qaar ka mid ah madaxdii wasaaradda kalluumeysiga appeared first on Puntland Post.

Brussels (PP) ─ Shir looga hadlayo amniga Soomaaliya oo uu shir gudoominayo Ra’iisul Wasaaraha Xukuumadda Federaalka Soomaaliya, Mudane Xasan Cali Kheyre, ayaa waxa uu ka bilaawday magaalada Brussels ee dalka Belgium. Shirka oo ay ka qeyb gelayaan qaar kamid ah madax dowladaha taageera Soomaaliya, ayaa waxaa looga hadlayaa ammaanka Soomaaliya, tayeynta ciidanka iyo hanaanka ugu haboon ee ciidanka Soomaaliyeed ay amaanka dalka ugala wareegi karaan ciidanka AMISOM. Safiirka Somalia ee Midowga Yurub, Cali Saciid Fiqi, oo ka mid ah xubnaha madasha shirka kusugan ayaa waxa uu sheegay in shirka looga hadlayo guud ahaan hanaanka amaanka dalka, iyada oo si gaar ah diiradda loo saari doono dhismaha Ciidanka difaaca dalka si amaanka dalka ay ula wareegaan. “Kulankan waxaa looga hadlayaa ajandaha bixitaanka ciidamada AMISOM iyo sidii ay ciidamada Somalia ula wareegi lahaa amniga dalka, waxaana uu qorshahan socon doonaa muddo fog, mana ahan mid si dhaqso loo fulinayo,” ayuu yiri Cali Siciid Fiqi. Dhanka kale, Ra’iisul Wasaare Xasan Cali Kheye ayaa isla maanta la kulmay madaxweyne ku-xigeenka Midawga Yurub, Federica Mogherini oo ay ka wada-hadleen xaaladda amni ee dalka iyo sidii Midawga Yurub ay gacan uga geysan lahaayeen qaabka Ciidanka Soomaaliyeed ay amaanka ugala wareegi lahaayeen Ciidanka AMISOM. Ugu dambeyn, shirkan ayaa wuxuu imaanayaa xilli dhawaan ay AMISOM ku dhawaaqday in ciidamadeeda ay si tartiib-tartiib ah uga baxayaan Somalia, isla markaana ay awoodda amni ee dalka ku wareejin doonaan ciidammada Somalia. PUNTLADN POST The post Shir looga Hadlayo Amaanka Soomaaliya oo ka Billowday Maanta Magaalada Brussels appeared first on Puntland Post.

In early April, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stopped its capacity building support for security institutions and humanitarian aid to Somalia. This was due to growing diplomatic disputes between the two countries. The move comes at a time when the international community, in the form of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), is considering its exit by 2020/21. Source: Hiiraan Online

In early April, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stopped its capacity building support for security institutions and humanitarian aid to Somalia. This was due to growing diplomatic disputes between the two countries. The move comes at a time when the international community, in the form of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), is considering its exit by 2020/21. Source: Hiiraan Online

MOGADISHU, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has appealed to the international community to support efforts to help 500,000 people affected by the floods that has displaced close to 175,000 from their homes. Source: Hiiraan Online

Brussels-(Caasimadda Online)-Ra’iisul wasaaraha Soomaaliya Xasan Cali khayre ayaa la kulmay Wakiilka Midowga Europe uqaabilsan Arrimaha Dibada iyo Amaanka Federica Mogherini isagoo ka qayb galaya shir looga hadlaayo Amaaanka Soomaaliya. Kulankan ayaa looga hadlay xaalada amniga dalka iyo sida Midowga Yurub gacan uga geysan karo qaabka dhismaha Ciidanka Soomaaliyeed ee la qorsheynayo in ammaanka dalka ugala wareegaan Ciidamada AMISOM. labada dhinac ayaa kulankooda diiradda ku saaray arrimaha siyaasadda, dib u habeynta iyo qaab dhismeedka Amniga, hanaanka doorashada Soomaaliya ee 2020. Midowga Yurub ayaa ah taageeraha ugu weyn ee howl galka Midowga Afrika ee Soomaaliya, waxaana uu sanadkii ku bixiyaa mallaayiin dollar. Shirka looga hadlayo Amniga Somaaliya ee lagu qabanayo Brussels waxaa soo qaban-qaabiyay Midowga Europe gaar ahaan waaxda ay Madaxda ka atahay Federica Mogherini ee Arrimaha Dibadda iyo Amniga. Shirka waxaa ka qaybagalaya Ergo uu dhiana Soomaaliya Hugaaminayo Ra’iisul wasaaare khayre, Midowga Europe, QM, AMISOM, Midowga Africa, iyo Wadamadda Qaybta ka ah howlgalka AMISOM ee Soomaaliya. Ra’iisul Wasaaraha ayaa maanta kaga qeyb galay xarunta Midowga Yurub ee Brussels shir looga hadlayay ammaanka iyo qorshaha kala guurka AMISOM oo la filayo in ciidanka Soomaaliyeed ammaanka dalka ula wareegi lahaayeen. Bishii December ee Sanadkii tagay ayaa Soomaaliya waxaa ka baxay 1000 Askari oo ka Tirsanaa AMSOM, waxay bilow u ahaayeen qorsha AMISOM ay dalka uga baxayaan. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho Caasimada@live.com

Mogadishu (HOL) - The African Union has hailed the peaceful election of new Lower House speaker, Mohamed Mursal Sheikh, a former Somali Defense Minister. Source: Hiiraan Online

Somaliland’s chief diplomat comes to London. I hadn’t thought to book anywhere for our meeting; neither had my interviewee’s handler. The three of us spent an awkward ten minutes trailing from packed pub to crowded cafe, before deciding that time was short and we might as well just get on with it. So it was that I ended up interviewing the foreign minister of Somaliland by the fridge in the corner of a Westminster sandwich shop. This is not the normal place to find a chief diplomat – but Dr Saad Ali Shire seemed content enough. “If we were officially recognised, I’d be surrounded by security and so forth,” he pointed out. “I wouldn’t be free.” But then, Somaliland (estimated population 3.5 million) is not like most countries. Officially, indeed, it isn’t a country at all. There are half a dozen territories around the world – Palestine, Turkish North Cyprus, Western Sahara and so forth – whose independence is not universally recognised, or is recognised only by other equally unrecognised states. But Somaliland is unique: the only territory whose independence is recognised by no other state, yet which functions as one all the same. It exists de facto, just not de jure. Somaliland was briefly recognised once before: for five days in June 1960, what had been the British Somaliland Protectorate became a sovereign state. On 1 July, however, it joined with Italian Somalia, to its south and east, to form the Somali Republic, a hairpin-shaped territory along the coast of the Horn of Africa. Officially, that state still exists. But in 1991, as the southern half of the country descended into civil war, the northern half broke away. Today, the former British protectorate styles itself as Somaliand, and is, Dr Shire claims, “exceptional in the region. It has maintained peace and security and a democratic process that is unique in that part of world.” It’s so far held three presidential elections, each largely peaceful, and each of which has brought a new president to power. In 2003, the runner-up ultimately conceded despite losing by just 80 votes – albeit after a quick trip to the country’s supreme court. (The country is far from perfect, of course: a poet was recently jailed for “anti-national activity”). Why has democracy taken hold in Somaliland, when it’s struggled in so much of Africa? Shire credits tradition: its nomadic tribes “are very democratic. There’s a culture in which people accept the authority of their elders”. He suggests another reason, too. The fledgling state spent the first decade of its existence focusing on internal reconciliation, rather than moving immediately to hold an election. Its unrecognised status meant it had to do all this without international aid – though Shire suggests this had its upside. “There’s no free money,” he says. “Once you take money, there’s a timetable: three months, six months… We said no: we’re going to stay here until it’s finished.” The most recent election was held last November, and saw President Muse Bihi Abdi elected with 55 per cent of the vote. At time of our meeting, he’d already met leaders in neighbouring Djibouti and Ethiopia, and was planning a broader tour of Africa. But the country’s lack of official status remains a problem, his foreign minister told me. Somaliland’s passports are not recognised, which “makes life very difficult for our business people”. (Shire, having lived in London for many years, travels on a British passport.) It also makes it harder to attract both international aid and risk-averse private investment. That in turn holds back the country’s economy. “In most developing countries,” Shire notes, “infrastructure is financed through soft credit from institutions like the World Bank. Because we can’t access this, we can’t build.” Much of Shire’s business in London the week we met was concerned with raising the country’s profile. He did several interviews with the BBC and other broadcasters, and met with the Somalian all-party parliamentary group at Westminster, too. (Britain has had a Somali population since the 19th century, though the vast majority has arrived since the civil war that began in 1991.) “Basically, it’s my job to sell Somaliland.” But recognition, he adds, is always an objective. “We’re climbing the ladder towards statehood. I think the international community is sympathetic.” The British government has hinted that it’s willing to support the cause – but it doesn’t want to be first out the gate, for fear it’ll be accused of re-colonising its former territory. Shire clearly finds this frustrating. “Our position is that you shouldn’t make decisions on the basis of what people will say, but by what’s right or wrong.” For the moment, though, the difficulty the territory seems to face is, paradoxically, that it’s currently doing OK. In a world with no shortage of conflict, an unrecognised but functional state just isn’t at the top of anyone’s to do list. “We don’t get attention because we’re peaceful,” Shire jokes. “Perhaps we should cause a crisis.” BY JONN ELLEDGE Statesman

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Somalia should accelerate reforms of its army, its main foreign backers said on Wednesday after discussing slow progress in transforming the graft-ridden force into one capable of fighting al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants. Source: Hiiraan Online

The chairman of the opposition National Party (Wadani) Mr. Abdirahman Mohammed Abdillahi (Irro) has called for the senate chairman Hon. Suleiman Mohamud Adam to retire. He then recommended Sheikh Adam Mohamud Hirey (Adan Siiro) to be chosen to become the new Upper House, Parliament speaker so that transparency and accountability can thrive again. Hon. Irro was speaking to the press in Burao town where he had gone yesterday evening. The opposition chief also talked about the imprisonment of traditional chieftain King Osman Aw Mohamud Burmadow revealing that his incarceration is politically motivated. Here are his words “Hon.Suleiman, the Guurti speaker, has worked for this nation for a while and now the time has come for him to retire and hand the mantle of the Upper House of Representative to another person who shall take from where he left. It‘s my opinion and suggestion that the fire brand mullah cum politician Sheikh Adam Mohamud Hirey (Adam Siiro) should be elected to become the next Guurti chairman so that transparency and accountability could become the norm again. Pertaining the jailing of traditional elder King Osman Aw Mohamud Burmadow Hon.Irro said “I don’t agree with the hasty imprisonment of a traditional leader of King Osman caliber to be treated the way he was treated. He wasn’t given time to defend himself, furthermore his incarceration is politically motivated. The King was not jailed because he attended a traditional coronation ceremony in Puntland. The powers that be locked him because of his outspokenness concerning the chairmanship of the ruling party Kulmiye. King Osman wanted President Musa Bihi to hand over the party baton of leadership to his clan.”

By John Fox When I tell people that I am off to Somalia or Somaliland in the morning they usually offer some kind of commiseration. But they needn’t. A trip there is never boring, especially when you know that you will be catching a plane back in a few days’ time. Anyway, I enjoy a little shot of adrenaline now and again. Mind you, they are right to be solicitous about the time you have to get up to get to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson for the flight out — the worst time of day, which is the middle of the night. And is it some kind of punishment for being such unruly neighbours that all planes to Somalia or Somaliland take off at such an ungodly hour? Last week I was scheduled to fly to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, via Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. But when we got to Mogadishu we were told to get off the plane and wait in transit for four or five hours — that turned out to be six hours. They told us, as they usually do, that the problem was a technical one. There were three of us thus stranded. But our shared irritation was dissipated somewhat when the Airways ground staff somehow managed to wangle us into the VIP lounge, where we could settle on comfy chairs and help ourselves to coffee, cakes and the internet. Looking around, I was surprised to see how egalitarian the VIP lounge was. The few VIP-looking men in suits and ties were well outnumbered by guys in open-necked shirts — some even sporting baseball caps. I guess this is in tune with the fiercely democratic spirit of Somalis – a spirit strongly asserted in a poem by the popular poet, Yam Yam: No-one who breathes oppresses me. Because I believe in equality no-one is placed above me. When you come to visit mesee no half-hearted hospitality. I AM SOMALI Meanwhile, my Somali colleague was on the long and rough road from Garowe, the capital of Puntland, to meet up with me at the Maan-Soor Hotel in Hargeisa. His passport had run out, so he couldn’t fly — not that there are many flights between Garowe and Hargeisa. When I told him in an email that I had never done that safari and I fancied the idea of joining him, he wrote back: “My friend John, you continue to surprise me. No mzungu has done that road trip for at least 25 years”. By that I assumed he was telling me that it wasn’t a good idea. When I reflected on the tensions that occasionally flare up about the disputed border between Puntland and Somaliland I had to agree with him. Eventually, the three of us ensconced in the VIP lounge were told we could board the plane again. (By then we had found out that the real reason for our delay was that some proper VIPs — a group of MPs — had finished with their conference in Garowe and needed to be transported back to Mogadishu. So “our” plane had been diverted to do that.) NOT THE WORST OF OUR TROUBLES However, that wasn’t the worst of our troubles that day. Over Hargeisa there was a rain storm; the clouds were low and dark. The pilot began his descent, but he was obviously having difficulty finding the runway. Three times he circled, and three times he overflew the runway. In another of my lives I was a pilot, and that was no comfort. I’m glad I didn’t understand the message I’m told that our pilot gave out to passengers — telling us that he didn’t have enough fuel to return to Mogadishu and assuring us he would be able to land. Anyway, despite the clouds and the pouring rain, he did make the landing. Meanwhile, my colleague from Garowe was stranded by a flash flood only 30 kilometres from Hargeisa. I made the Maan-Soor Hotel for a late afternoon tea; he made it for a very late supper. The Maan-Soor is a lively and cheerful hotel. It is a place where you can meet old friends — and that I did, even as I was checking in. When we found free time from our daily rounds of interviews and group discussions, we took a taxi drive around the city. It has grown and prospered since I was first there in the mid-1990s. When I landed then, they were still clearing mines alongside the runway. Now, there are office blocks and supermarkets rising above the clutter of dukas and tea shops. In the middle of the city there is a monument, a reminder of a painful history. It is a MIG 17 fighter-bomber mounted on a plinth — one of the planes that dropped bombs on the city in 1988 during the civil war. It must be a memory that is still sharp for those Somalilanders who are so determined to maintain their county’s independence.