Berbera Economic Zone is coming along nicely. The first factories are taking shape. India's Astra Avaiation, a cargo company, will be basing its Africa Operations in BEZ. DP World Berbera Economic Zone WWW.DPWORLD.COM An integrated maritime, logistics and industrial hub in the horn of Africa.

A sizeable number of South Somalia Elite are alcoholics. Both the last two Foreign Affairs Ministers in Mogadishu are alcoholics. The former Police Chief in Mogadishu was alcoholic. But I am not making any argument saying the unrest and instability in South Somalia is caused by alcoholic leaders.

You've made an argument regarding Mogadishu's pace of development vs Hargeisa and you claimed what is holding back Hargeisa is the import of Khat. Regardless of Galbeedi argument of North Elite vs Southern fringes. That still doesn't save South any less hard-currency than Hargeisa's. In fact, Hargeisa gets its fix on trucks, whereas South Somalia get their fix via Expensive Air Cargo. In terms of dollar figure, both Hargeisa and Mogadishu spend substantial amount of hard-currency to import Khat from Ethiopia and Kenya respectively. Both the Hararge farmers in Ethiopia and the Meru County farmers in Kenya are making heaps of money. So the question is, what makes the hard-currency that Hararge Farmers get more pronounced and counted vs Meru Farmers?

Like I said, back up your claims, otherwise get lost.

You are nothing but a troll. If you are going to make a claim, back it up. Otherwise S*T*F*U. You made the claim that Mogadishu was developing fast. 80% of money going around in Mogadishu's economy is slush-funds and corruption. Think about what happened to the 10m USD Cash that the UAE donated to the Droughts? 6 months on, no one knows where it ended up. I can tell you where it went, it went in the back pockets.

Khat is a Somali problem, whether they are in Djibouti, in Somaliland or Somalia. Or even Kenya, Ethiopia and North America/ Europe etc. There is no questions about it being a huge social and economic problem. That is not what @Abdi90is talking about. He is trying to make a case that South Somalia Khat consumption is lower - therefore it is not causing them an economic issue. Which I find ludicrous to say the least. When someone make a claim like that, I need evidence. Somaliland imports exclusively from Ethiopia and the dollar figure of this was last estimated to be around $200m dollars a year. Whereas for South Somalia, both Ethiopia and Kenya supply Khat to their market. I can't find hard data but reports from Kenya say that Kenya exported 220 million Kenyan Shillings of Khat to Mogadishu market, in the first four days when it resumed trade. That is close to 2m USD worth. This obviously doesn't include Khat export to Puntland, Jubaland or South West. Also doesn't include Khat imported from Ethiopia. I am asking @Abdi90to provide supporting evidence to his claims. He brought his family to this debate. kkk If half of his family are Khat addicts, then I can say the other half are Alcoholics, as the majority of Alcoholics in my city are from South Somalia. Miraa Exports to Somalia Earn Kenya KSh221 Million in 4 Days - Kenyan Wallstreet KENYANWALLSTREET.COM Kenya's miraa exports to Somalia earned a whopping KSh221 million to Mogadishu in four days following the reopening of its border with Somalia.

Cremia is now cut off from main-land Russia. The Cremia Bridge was the lifeline for this area and everything from Fuel, to power, to water came through it. The Russians are cut off from both sides of the Cremia.

In dollar terms these run in the billions of USDs. For example a single Sokhoi SU 34 costs 30 - 40 Million USD. A T90 Tank costs around 4 Million dollars.

What does this mean for Somalia's offshore oil/gas hopes? It is a very expensive undertaking to look for oil in the ocean. And Gas is got the added expense of establishing highly electric-intensive compression plant to turn Gas into Liquid before it can be exported.

Kenya fails to strike oil in area claimed by Somalia WWW.BUSINESSDAILYAFRICA.COM Kenya has failed to strike oil and gas deposits in the coastal strip that has for years been at the centre of an international border dispute with neighbouring Somalia.

Ship carrying almost 30,000 tons of Wheat from Ukraine has docked in Berbera. This shipment is owned by Al-Waddaniya Flour Mill, one of two flour mills in Somaliland.

The thing is, anyone can make a claim without evidence backing what they are saying. The other day @maakhiri1claimed that Bay & Bakool are more prone to starvation because **according to him** these regions are the most densely populated. When I asked for evidence, he went AWOL. Come back with supporting evidence and in comparison to South Somalia's trade balance sheet.

Somaliland is assuming its leadership in religious and Islamic learning. Back in the medieval years, the centre of the Islamic teaching was the town of Sheikh where the revered Dariqa Islamic madarasah were based. Other notable religious places include Aw Barkhadleh which was the base for the Somali scholar Sheikh Yousuf AlKawnayn. Sheikh Yousuf AlKawnayn is credited for Somalisation of the Arabic Hijaiyah (Fat-ha, Kesrah, Dummah ..) into Somali words "Alif La Kor*****, Alif La Hoos *****, Ali Laa Gooday" and also the Somalisation of many other Islamic teachings into everyday Somali. Halkuu Xaajigii Xamaanta dhigtayiyo, Xajj keenu xidhinta weeyaan. Today Hargeisa is reviving that old tradition of being the centre of learning, teaching and advancing Islamic studies.

Russian defences collapsing faster than Ukrainians can fill in given their current strategy.

This is Dubai Airport in 1950s, which was commissioned just before Hargeisa's Airport. You can see each decade the changing face and progress. Whereas for Hargeisa, comparing 1980s and 1950s. I would choose 1950s hands down. It is one measurement of how disastrous the Union of 1960s was to Somaliland. Dubai 1950s After Independence 1970s, 1980s, Today

Nothing summarises Somaliland's recent history than the Hargeisa Airport. Here I will capture some pictures which show each of the periods that Somaliland went through, from British Somaliland Protectorate, to the failed Union, to the newly found state and the current state of affairs. Hargeisa Airport in British Somaliland, 1950s. 1960 - 1991 - The lost years and lost hope. Hargeisa Airport during the failed Union with Somalia. Photo taken in 1989 with Rhodesian mercenaries that were hired to destroy the city of Hargeisa, in the background a derelict building. Renewed hope, mid 1990s President Dahir Rayaale added a new departure terminal in 2005 President Siilaanyo added new Arrival terminal and facelifted Dahir Rayaale's building in 2014. Future Hargeisa needs a new and modern Airport, which includes its historic buildings intact but modernised and centralised.

When I said this, I wasn't even thinking about what I just came across below. This, if true, will be a game changer in the South Somalia civil wars. The Bantu Community along with other Looma-ooyaans make up a majority in the key farming lands of Shabeelooyinka and Jubo riverine. If they are armed, organised and equipped, it is game-over for Cagdheers, Gedo-boys, And **********s. The chickens are coming home to roost.

The days when centralised single source propaganda machine ruled the world is long gone. These days, upto the second updates and information can be had direct from the ground. This is the stuff of nightmares for despots like Putin who cannot hide from either the ever monitoring satellites or from the citizen media. I will not be surprised if Putin is toppled from within Moscow in the next few months. Once the despot is removed, a new modern Russia which is at peace with its neighbors and within itself (Chechnya/Dagistan etc) will emerge. The US's goal to encircle China will be completed.

Typical mentality of of those who consume too much social media. Reality on the ground is polar opposite on what is said on social media. Don't read too much into Somaliland's cut-throat politics. Those who are going at each other on Social Media are the same folks who are sipping tea the next minute. We roll difference sxb.

It is the only option as far as the reality on the ground is concerned. Putin has no other option. Of course, he can delay a Ukrainian victory but at what cost?

You cannot compare Farmaajo's fluke 2 year extension of which he had no idea even if he got 2 years how he could hold an election given the FMS opposing him. It was a very desparate acrobatic move which backfired on his face spectacularly. The extension approved by Guurti is a technical extension - the elections will take place - just needs time to get all the ducks lined up. Besides, there is no one that is able to force Somaliland to change its course. Somaliland doesn't take orders from anyone. Even the World Bank have found that out after we rejected their money.

The election issue is done and dusted. Everyone will get into line sooner or later. In fact, rumour has it that Waddani Party is onboard. It makes sense for Cirro as Faysal was a spoiler in the last Presidential elections. A single candidate for West Burco/South Hargeisa is a win. Faysal needs to look for other postings, he could make a good chairman of the Guurti as Saleebaan recently indicated that he would step down as soon as the current political instability settled down. All in all, the extension is a technical extension will not even be 2 years. As the Electoral Commission put forward, they need 9 months to get everything ready.

The batch of land that Russia gained at great cost and effort is being undone by the Ukrainians at lightening speed. Russia is now waking up to the technological advance of the West against their dated scrap-yard metal they call tanks and what not. Having lost the conventional warfare, Putin is now threatening the last resort "Nuke Option". This is how desperate and reckless the despot has become. I predicted this eventuality 1 week into his adventures. Ukraine war: Russian troops forced out of eastern town Lyman WWW.BBC.COM The retreat came amid fears thousands of soldiers would be encircled in Lyman, and is seen as a significant blow.

Arming the clans or even organising clan-based melitia is a double-edged sword, if it is not handled properly it will haunt HSM in the longer term. A short-term win and a long-term pain. My opinion. LOL dreams are free.

They were drilling for Water in South Hargeisa but they hit Crude Oil instead.