Lol read the report. I am not going over the whole thing. Gen Abdullahi Saeed Samatar was also named but is no longer Security Minister. Puntland, NW Somalia and Southern Somalia is not like many traditional State, lets be honest. How many States use elders and peacemakers to quell problems? Usually it is the law that determines punishments and the rights of the citizens. In our country areas are dominated by certain groups and the central government doesn't have the power over the land as you would see in other Countries. That is why in your selection for president not all regions were able to get ballot boxes. Anyways, a police officer was killed in Lascaanod (AUN), and my question is - if you guys control the area, when will you do something about those responsible?

Of the whole government they mentioned only 3 people, one of which has been removed from his post. These people are not representitives of the entire state, rather they have been chosen for a 4 year term. As terrible as piracy is, the threat terrorism poses is far worse. The amounts of deaths are proof of this, my question was simple, when will NW Somalia start doing something about Lascaanod? P.S. The same UN Securtiy report on Somalia, detailed all regions including NW Somalia and it's admin!

Originally posted by Jacaylbaro: Terrorists will be dealt with sooner than later ,,, Puntland is doing it's part in fighting terrorism against Atam...when will NW Somalia do the same?

Nassir, See this is why I continuously keep bringing up Atam's Paltalk interview, because you want to pretend it never happened. Well we have the first audio Atam did after the initial battle, he clearly said the terrorist organization (Al Shabaab) was his brothers and that we are them and they are us. You can not deny that is his voice in the interview and that he said those exact words! All you can say is that he did interviews after this and tried to distance himself from those comments. Now you might hope people forget this interview or pretend it never existed. But you know very well the Puntland government is using it as a key piece of evidence. You also know the people of Western Bari have not defended Atam because of that interview. The views he expressed in that interview went against their own future aspirations of their communities. Atam is on a UN terrorist watch list and has been sited for helping a terrorist organization (Al Shabaab). They just don’t put names on a list for no reason, they must have evidence and you can be assured his Paltalk interview will be added. The question is, if Atam is fighting for resources as you say, then why are the people of these areas not coming to his defense and aren’t protecting him? He was defeated within a day and had to flee deeper into the mountains as no community was willing to give him sanctuary. We know the Puntland government does not have the military mighty to enter Gagala without local support!

Very Sad, Siad Barre could not have done this without his government officials. Many ex-regime guys are now leaders within NW Somalia's government in Hargeysa.

Puntland wouldn't have step one foot into these areas and Atam would never have had to vacate his base if the elders were on his side. The elders have chosen Ilka-Jiir as the undisputed leader of Maakhir political future according to Dhaharonline. So, since Ilka-Jiir is siding with the Puntland government, the elders/chiefs are following the person they chose to lead and this is why Puntland was able to defeat Atam so quickly. Since the elders/chiefs have not publicly come out and condemned Ilka-Jiir and state that they no longer consider him their political leader, it must mean they are obviously still following him. Even if this article is true (which I doubt), one chief means very little and it seems Puntland's success is because the people are following the man they chose.

"The President's militia instead uprooted over 700 families," Gerad Sahardiid told the BBC news anchor, Mr. Yoonis. Qaar ka mid ah dadkii kasoo barakacay degmada Galgala ee gobolka Bari oo soo gaarey Degmada Dhahar ee gobolka Haylaan. Dhahar (SPR): Dadkii kasoo barakacay dagaaladii deegaanada Galbeedka Bari ayaa waxay qaar kamid ah soo gaareen gobolka Haylaan, gaar ahaan degmada Dhahar. Dadkan ayaa qaar waxay u qaxeen deegaana ka mid ah galbeedka Bari sida Ceeldaahir iyo Af-urur, iyo waliba xarunta gobolka Bari ee magaalada Boosaaso. Degmada Galgala iyo nawaaxigeeda ayaa waxaa ka barakacay dad tiradooda gaaraya 25 kun oo qofood. Dadka soo barakacay qaar kamid ah oo idaacada lasoo xiriirey ayaa waxaa wareystey Wariyaheena qaasta ah Nimco Muuse Cilmi. Dhaharonline As General Duke has pointed out, what the actual number? Is the number 700 familes or 25,000 people? The same site has given two vastly different numbers. As well how was the government able to do this so quickly without local support?

I am not sure he expected (like any of us did) this decision to upset some of his supporters outside of Puntland. The Diaspora will be a crucial component to his campaign if he chooses to run for president. Yet despite this he made the right decision to take on Atam at the expense of losing some of the Diaspora support, if you see some of the sites that were his biggest supports have changed a bit. He made a tough decision that most wouldn’t have, as they would have just sided with the person closest to them. This Galgala incident has raised his stature in Puntland.

Originally posted by The Zack: ^Are you trying to appease SOLers from Maakhir when you are calling Ilka-Jir your "leader'? They are actually too angry at this moment to accept this. Faroole is your leader and Ilkajir works for him Appease SOLers from Maakhir? Are you serious, they hold a view that the people back home do not even hold. They are saying this is some sort of big war - which among many other factors is resource driven; but if it is because of this then why is Atam trying to bring his own personal form of government? My point is that SOLers on here are angry but the people back home are not and have supported the the government (primarly thanks to Ilka-Jiir), so yes he works in Faroole's government, but he is the number one reason why Atam is on the run. If the people like the elders, business community, youth didn’t support this operation, we both know the government wouldn’t have stepped one foot into Gagala. Look, Ilka-Jiir has done something that many leaders may not have done by taking on a man who comes from his area. It must be commended and acknowledged! He knows the man is in the wrong and poses a threat. We don't see leaders who are trying to fight for justice like he is doing right now. In Somalia many people aren't willing to go against their own even if they are wrong! An example being the SOLers from Maakhir! I gave Faroole credit for how he handle this situation and I forgot to give Ilka-Jiir his as well.

I have criticized some leaders in the past because I saw what I perceived as very incriminating evidence against them. However, there is one person that I shouldn't have. I might have said some stuff about Ilka-Jiir in the past because I thought that his campaigning to get pirates released from Egyptian custody was suspicious. But I now realize that maybe his intentions were good when he did that and I should not have rushed to judgment on him. I had the opportunity of meeting him once and must say he was a very humble person who unlike the other candidates didn't drive around with an unnecessary amount of body guards or criticize other candidates. He has conducted himself courageously in this Galgala affair at the expense of losing some support among the narrow minded Diaspora. He understands the threat Atam poses to the people of our region and has gotten the local populations to support him. After travelling to Puntland numerous times and seeing the problems facing the state, I can say that he definitely has the leadership qualities and other characteristics that many of the people I spoke to want. He is a man that can help not only Puntland but Somalia as a whole. This is a bit early but I cannot think of a better person to be the next president! I know there are many people that are preparing their campaigns and I hope he is as well.

I believe the ones that deserve the most credit are the unsung hero's who are defending their homes and risking their lives fighting in difficult terrain.

Atam and men like him are people who try and take advantage of a situation. His supporters who can only be found in the diaspora say he wants to defend resources. Yet, in gagala the people have realized his true motives and did not defend him when he was attacked. The man said in an interview he wanted to bring his version of a proper government,( without consulting the people). The people decided to support Interior Minister Ilka-Jiir. No matter what the fact remains, he is hiding and the people refuse to protect him. Now the question I ask is why aren't they coming to his defense if he is protecting resource's, as some say?

So now you agree he was chosen to campaign and represented these area's, ok we are making progress Nevertheless, he was oblivious to the responsibilities and leadership requirements that came with such great power. After three years in his tenure as the interior minister of Puntland, he has yet to create a viable administration in Sanaag, Haylan (Highland), and Western Bari. According to Dhaharonline, it was the elders that wanted him to take this position to make a "viable administration." We can agree that he was chosen as the top politican by the elders of these area's. We can agree he is on Puntland side right now and that Atam retreated! Cheated selection?? Tell me why the elders and Ilka-Jiir still chose to remain in Puntland if they were cheated? There are many threads where Xudeedi praised Faroole and Puntland until last month.

Originally posted by TheParagon: Invaded? Are you a fool? Damn yes! By who? Oh don't be silly now! Ofcourse by PL and its hired help! a man who represented E.Sanaag and W. Bari in the last elections? Liar! Elected? Lol. You mean, as opposed to be 'selected' but then tricked? Oh yes. Him. Reminder: there is no democracy in PL. Don't you know? No electoral voters but...yeah, you can guess it. The supposed election was for what mandate? Which he, might you, lost! Everything after that was his making. Now, have I made it simpler for you, I mean, to the nearest to simplicity it could get? ....Please don't bring up the Diaspora into it again. It's a non-starter! So basically you are saying Puntland is powerful enough to invade the land and kick Atam out in one day without local support? Man, I don’t even think that highly of our armed forces. I'm lying about Ilka-Jiir being a representative in the last election? May I remind you that it impossible to delete history! So now Ilka-Jiir was not the one and only representative from E.Sanaag and W.Bari right? All other area's had numerous people running. But not Ilka-Jiir home base, the area he toured made sure he was the one and only person running. Remember the massive reception he received when he toured the area's before the election? There are many more pictures from W.Bari and Eastern Sanaag of his huge welcoming I can post to help with your memory. a man who represented E.Sanaag and W. Bari in the last elections? Liar! So you say I am lying?? Well according to the Dhaharonline: Following that unceremonious electoral defeat, Makhir elders held a closed session in Garowe and unanimously came up with a final verdict that crowned the general as the supreme political leader of the entire Makhir community. It was the right decision and the perfect time for the general to create a vision, a long-term goal and a governing model which will help his people track the progress of their regions, not to mention the uplifting spirit that would result from such a dream. I think you are the one that is mistaken! But the radical diaspora(couldn't help it), has a history of denial denial denial! These pictures and the support it shows that he has is the reason that Atam cannot compete with Ilka-Jiir for popular support and why Puntland chased away Atam.

Invaded?? By who? Ilka-Jiir? A man who represented E.Sanaag and W. Bari in the last elections? If they are being invaded then why is it Atam that retreated and is hiding in the mountains? Why isn't the "invaded" defending themselves against someone from their region? I am certain if they were against this operation they could easily defeat the government! If you went to Somalia and said this is clan vs. clan they would probably think you are crazy, since it is Ilka-Jiir and his men who are the ones in charge of this operation vs. terrorist Atam who is of the same tribe as him. Just use common sense and logic! How was the government led by ilka-jiir able to make ATam retreat if the people weren't on their side?

The daily newspaper Sydney Morning Herald reported on April 21, 2006 a bloody conflict between the clan militias of Sheikh Mohamed Said Atam and the former governor of Puntland, Mohamed Muse Hiris (Adde) over the mineral exploration rights that Puntland had granted to Range Resources. The article also informed the investors of the desperate hunt for oil and minerals in conflict zone areas of Africa. The actors of both conflicts are of the same men but the arena in which it has been played has changed as well as the outcome. The Morning Herald stated, “”In a sign of just how desperate oil companies are becoming to replace reserves, a mystery "oil major" has signed a letter of intent with Range Resources. Range has the rights to 50.1 per cent of the oil and minerals in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland in Somalia - a place that oil majors like Houston's Conoco abandoned in the face of civil war 15 years ago.The civil war is over in that part of Somalia. But the ********** clan is upset at the Puntland Government's handling of the Range deal and Somali sources report 10 people have died in clashes with the president's militia in thee lasst month. Fyi Nassir, if you want to use Somali sources, then let’s see what the same news outlet says about the current situation and not what happened over 4 years ago (like the article you posted)! Remember Atam has been singled out by the neutral UN. So if you are defending Atam and saying the conflict is about resources, then you are defending a man that is on a watch list for terrorist activities and a man that said an international wanted terrorist group was his brothers. You can't just selectively choose what articles you agree with and then ignore the others! Sydney Morning Herald Fears of a new Tora Bora in Somalia Mustafa Haji Abdinur July 22, 2010 .AFP A notorious warlord and arms dealer is training Islamist fighters in the remote mountains of northern Somalia and setting up what local officials fear could become a new Tora Bora. Mohamed Said Atom, one of a handful of men singled out by the UN Security Council as violating an arms embargo on Somalia, has established bases in the Sanaag mountains straddling Puntland and Somaliland, a senior security official said. The al Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgent group has been mainly active in southern and central Somalia in recent years, focusing its military efforts on trying to topple the western-backed government in Mogadishu. But the July 11 bombings in Kampala claimed by the Shebab have signalled the group's expanding reach, and activity by Atom's men in Sanaag has stirred concern that the rebels were now poised to destablise the two breakaway states. "Atom has links with al-Qaeda and represents the Shebab in the region," said Colonel Mohamed Jama, a senior security official from the semi-autonomous state of Puntland. "We are receiving information that he has mobilised hundreds of Islamist militants in the villages around Sanaag Bari," Jama said. "Our security forces are now fully prepared to launch an offensive against those terrorists who are establishing a safe haven in the region and want to disrupt our stability," he added. Puntland and the self-proclaimed state of Somaliland, to the east, have been more stable than central and southern Somalia in recent years but they have been wary of late that the Shebab might seek to open up new fronts. Residents in eastern Puntland's Galgala said that at least 400 fighters were mobilised and trained recently across the region and added that the Shebab's black flag was flying in some villages. "The number of Islamist militants gathered by Atom in the region has increased dramatically. We see some of them on pickups with heavy machine guns and RPGs, proselytising," said Hussein Sahal, a Galgala elder. "They have several military camps in the mountains where they train young men, most of them from the region. It will be very difficult for any army to fight against them," Abdi Haji Sugule, another elder, said. The Golis mountain range marking the unrecognised border between Puntland and Somaliland is arid, honeycombed with caves and very difficult to access, a terrain officials fear could become the ideal hideout for al-Qaeda in Somalia. "Atom is a local but has old connections with a number of Islamist networks worldwide," said Bile Mohamoud, a security official in Puntland's economic capital Bosasso. Atom, from the ********** clan, was born in Galgala around 1966 and has led his local militia since at least 2006. The UN group monitoring the arms embargo describes him as an arms trafficker and key supplier of weapons to the Shebab. "We believe he wants to turn this place, the most impenetrable mountains in Somalia, into an al-Qaeda hideout," Mohamoud said. "This part of the country is very strategic and important for men like him who are on the run. You cannot flush out a trained army from those mountains unless you have hi-tech military hardware." "It's like Tora Bora in Afghanistan," he said, in reference to the cave complex where Osama bin Laden and top Taliban leaders were believed to be hiding in the country's eastern mountains when US forces attacked in 2001. Abdi Saleban, a Somaliland security official based in Erigavo, the largest town in the area, also acknowledged that Atom was gaining strength but insisted that his forces were ready to face him. "We know about the movements of this al-Qaeda-linked militant in the mountains but our forces are ready and on high alert," he said.

nice try - I see it is easy to give advice for other people issues, but not your own!

"There were maybe 100 foreigners last year but now our estimate is up to 450," said Ismail Haji Noor , a former Somali security official who has established a secular militia bent on rooting out the Shebab and their foreign allies. Noor said the foreign jihadists come from the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia and often enter the country on regular airlines from the northern semi-autonomous state of Somaliland. Most of them are concentrated in Garowe, in the northern breakaway state of Puntland, and the southern towns of Baidoa, Merka and Kismayo. All your articles base their information on a ridiculous and bias source, in this case it’s a character called Ismail Haji Noor - who claims to be an anti-piracy advisor for the TFG under Sharif, that is why he named area's that are not under the TFG control as the places where foreign fighters are. Why didn’t he mention Mogadishu, didn't we hear of some dying a few days ago in a bombing??? This article is from 2009. This is also the year you were a big supporter the Puntland government. If you like I can show the links where you praised Faroole and Ilka-jiir as being educated men.

JB what are your thoughts on the SSC and their constant attacks on your militia. You seem so opinionated on issue outside your enclave.

I admire one thing about you secessionists and it's the diversity in which you display the pride you have for you enclave. JB has the Somalia flag and his flag, (even though he doesn't think Somalia exists). You have someone with pics of Siad Era military equiptment. Then there is you Ngonge, who has a deep seated hatred for Puntland and especially Abdullahi Yusuf, but now you are saying you actually liked him. I'll tell you what; I will consider you a part of the Gagala issue if you tell me what country you consider yourself from.

Ngonge, you are a secessionist! It is in your interest to see this matter prolong and grow. You do not see Puntland in a positive light or a single one of it leaders. What you are doing is trying to back up the Atam supporters so they don't realize how foolish they are for supporting him. Focus on the enclave that you claim is an independent country.

Originally posted by Nassir: Fyi, Dhahar is the sister online publication of Somali Public Radio. Its staff have a first hand knowledge of what is going on in the native-land of Makhiris. For instance, SPR was the first to report yesterday the armed clash near Galgala before the likes of Duke dismissed it as a false news while haphazardly rushing to open a new thread with a self-defeating title (www). SPR Nassir, This is what brother Xudeedi posted from SPR, now I want your honest opinion, do you believe it? Wednesday, August 25 2010 Kadib markii ay ciidamada PIS tu lagala wareegay magaalada Galgala ayaa waxaa kasoo baxay magaalada Boosaaso ciidama badan oo uu wato Gen. Ilka Jiir ayaa waxay gaareen Galgala iyagoo aan khadka telefoonka la beegsaney ayuu wuxuu noo sheegay Genenku in ay magaalada sii galayaan, haseyeeshee ay xalay dagaalo ku qabsadeen maqribkii shalay kooxda Sh. Atam.

Originally posted by Nassir: Duke, Xudeedi and Thankful, I think it's time to drop the blame game and the familiar politicking. It's time to promote peace, unity and reconcliation. Without stirring further incitement or painting the whole Galgala issue with one broad brush, We can simply turn to peaceful channels. Look at the bigger picture, that is the overall peace within PL's borders and the political and economic leverage it has maintained over SL and other entities. Nassir, If this is still your stance than I completely agree with you. I understand that you may feel that people from your area are being marginalized and it is definitely something the state must take into account. Like I have said, I think the state is improving and Ilka-Jiir’s near win of the presidency is proof, but nonetheless I agree it may be moving too slow in reforming. Ilka-Jiir is by far the most respected politician from your region and was chosen as the only candidate for president (which says something). Puntland’s ability to take over Atam’s base is a direct result of Ilka-Jiir. Please do not fabricate the news, because when you say that “SPR was the first to report yesterday the armed clash near Galgala”. The truth is that what “brother” Xudeedi said was that Atam’s men actually took over Gagala and held it, until Puntland forces took it back; this is completely different then what you are saying now. All Puntland said there was a clash, and I think that is reasonable to assume, but SPR puts its own spin and says that Puntland forces were defeated for a time being and the place was captured by Atam’s men. But like I said, as long as you want to see Puntland reformed and succeed, we hold a common goal. P.S I try and always been neutral and fair when I discuss something. Even if I may not hold the opinion that everyone else does. Atam's Paltalk interview sealed the deal for me!

Please, besides Faroole, the rest didn't make website while they were living abroad, making up news. They want to ignite a clan war, while they stay in the safety of their western country. The individuals you mentioned were Diaspora, but not radical. Ilka-Jiir came and ran for pres, so did Cade. They didn't just stay back and trying to orchestrate a war. There is Diaspora that goes back and tries and helps their people, and there are some that make up news about conflict and war, i.e. fake communiqué. I will admit through that it is a matter of opinion! You may think someone is radical and I may think they are not. In this situation, with Galaga, anyone that says it is a clan war must be a radical looking for a clan war! Ilka-Jiir is on the gov’t side and we know if the clan did give the ok to the government to seek out Atam, the government would never have entered.

Lol, Puntland is not mine, but when Ilka-Jiir was running for pres he was singing a different tune. When all the problems were facing Puntland he use to defend it and remained silent in criticizing it! In less then a month he is now saying Puntland isn't his! Just wait until the next elections we will come back to these threads!