Originally posted by Jacaylbaro: Priceless ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, JB we have our friendly wager on whether Riyaale will show up or not! He still has time and i'll give him credit! P.S these pictures of the vice-president can be of him anywhere!

Nassir, I read the article in which Dhahar.com attempted to reject the UN Security Council report, and used the same argument of how Eastern Sanaag is a term used by NW Somalis. Which made no sense at all! If you look at Sanaag, the place called Maakhir is on the eastern side of it. Which is also the area’s where NW Somalia ballot boxes cannot go? Sanaag may be free and vast, but it is not free for someone like Ilko-Jiir that only travelled to the eastern part of Sanaag and is barred from going to places outside of it. Just like the former Puntland Pres Cade was unable to go to the eastern part of sanaag and had to settle for Ceel Afweyne, Sanaag where control is in the hands of the NW Somalia enclave. I have no clue why you or dhahar.com is upset with the term Eastern Sanaag. Puntland is the NE part of Somalia; Secessionists are in the NW part of Somalia. The south etc...Etc. I'm thinking that you don’t like the term because it seems as if it takes away from its unity. The fact remains Maakhir made a state out of a small portion of Sanaag because they have no control on the rest of the place!

Libaahe*, Look I am responding to JB (and the usual NW Somalia crowd), who post ridiculous topics, like this one. Revolving around how they are better than all others. Yet, when confronted with a fair question about the monopoly in their enclave, they can't respond and either ignore the question or change the topic. In NW Somalia you want a separate state, and one of the reason's being is that you did not like the unfair balance of power in the past and your treatment. So you proclaim that you have made a new country! However this new country is exactly what you complained about and has an unfair balance of power for one group. You see the irony in that? That all the opposition leaders running for president come from only one side, the rest are shut out! (Again, Riyaale was made vice-pres under the president from the dominant group and took over the job when he died). Is that democracy? So should Puntland hold democratic elections like you guys have where the population cast a vote, but we make sure that the opposition leaders can only come from that "trinity gang" that Oodweyne talks about, and no one else is able to make up the opposition? As I stated before we had someone from Sanaag almost become president and lost in the third round. Also, there were a candidates from Sool, one becoming vice president.....is Puntland's system the best?? Of course not, that is why they want to bring in different parties and one day the population casting votes. But I can guarantee you when we do have one person one vote election insha'Allah, we will never have only two opposition leaders from one group! If you or anyone else thinks the international community and your beloved Brits aren't aware of the unfair make up of your elections, then you must be very naive! That's why I suspect you receive such little international press about it! It it's quite obvious that your elections are constructed in such a way to give one side the best chance of victory, while ensuring other have a Zero chance of winning.

I thought I was clear when I stated "parliamentary elections", which the parliament casted a vote and elected a leader, it is not democratic elections, however parliaments all over the world hold elections! But you are obviously avoiding the question on why the dominant group in your enclave are the only ones running for president! You obviously want to side step that question because you have no response. Neither do I, I just don't understand why there are no people from eastern sool or sanaag who are atleast running and why it is only one group! It has nothing to do with Puntland who atleast allows all to run! Ilko-Jiir almost won! This is about NW Somalia where your elections are rigged so one group has an unfair advantage and those from Sool and Sanaag have absolutely no chance of being president.

Look the Puntland Vice President is from Eastern Sool as well as other candidates for president in 2009 elections were from Sol, the person who came in second place in voting in the last parliamentary elections was from Eastern Sanaag. He actually lost to someone that had lost the elections 4 years before that. (Even though I think Ilko-Jiir harmed himself by becoming a minister in Faroole's government). But that is another debate, you have still not answered my question, how is it possible in your enclave that the dominant group are the only opposition leaders? It's one thing if people run and lose, but not even being giving the oppurtunity to hold the highest office, does that seem fair?

Can anyone from NW Somalia, JB, Oodweyne, Xaji, explain to me why all the opposition leaders hail from the seem tribe? Where is the fairness and representation in there? Where are those from the easter parts of Sanaag and Sool? The current president use to be vice-president under a man who was from the dominant group, when he died he got to be president! But why is anyone running from other groups?

Source Mineral wealth raises host of questions The U.S. military has discovered "nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits" in Afghanistan, the New York Times' James Risen reports in a Monday front-page story — a development that could "alter the Afghan economy and perhaps the Afghan war itself." General David Petreaus said the realization offered "stunning potential" to change the dynamic in that country. The story has an Indiana Jones aspect: Afghan geologists protected decades-old Soviet geological surveys showing the routes to billions of dollars worth of copper, lithium, iron and gold reserves — surveys that the U.S. military recently revived in a find that could upend the war's current dynamic. But, as Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall, Foreign Policy's Blake Hounshell and others have pointed out, the story raises as many questions as it answers. Afghanistan has long been known as mineral-rich country. More than a year ago, McClatchy Newspapers reported that Afghanistan's Aynak copper mine, which is currently being developed by China, is the planet's second-largest copper deposit. The McClatchy piece also noted that "the region is thought to hold some of the world's last major untapped deposits of iron, copper, gold, uranium, precious gems and other raw materials." The Times' Risen notes that the data on which the new trillion-dollar assessment is based were collected during a 2007 survey. Last year the Pentagon conducted a study to "translate the technical data to measure the potential economic value of the mineral deposits," he reports, and came up with $1 trillion. And the Associated Press notes that just last month at a U.S. Institute of Peace event, Afghan President Hamid Karzai estimated his country's mineral wealth could total as much as $3 trillion. So why is this information coming out now? The war in Afghanistan is not going well. Just Friday, the Times' Dexter Filkins reported that Karzai himself is said to doubt that the Americans can succeed and is reportedly working on brokering his own deal with the Taliban outside the auspices of NATO. From the Pentagon's perspective, recasting old information about the country's hard-to-access mineral reserves as a potentially game-changing bounty — and then handing it to the Times — could ward off slacking resolve in the American public and create a new argument for sticking with the war. It's certainly easier to imagine a stable, democratic endgame for Afghanistan if you've got a trillion dollars in mineral wealth to play with. Of course, it would be easy for insurgents to disrupt the extraction of those minerals, and Afghanistan's Mines Ministry has a reputation as the most corrupt backwater of an extremely corrupt national bureaucracy. In January, the country suspended the granting of new mining concessions in a bid to stamp out corruption. So it's very much an open question how that mineral wealth would eventually get translated into actual revenue and jobs. The story also raises the question of why the U.S. Geological Survey and the Pentagon are spending resources to map Afghanistan's mineral wealth. The benefits are obvious, but why weren't private developers, who traditionally don't let wars and political instability get in the way of mining operations, already onto this trillion-dollar windfall? Finally, the potential $1 trillion question in all this is: Who will get the rights to these minerals? China is already operating the largest mine in Afghanistan — and has yet to produce any copper. George W. Bush's administration famously argued that oil exploitation would offset the costs of the invasion and occupation of Iraq, but American companies were largely shut out of oil concessions there. In the case of Afghanistan, the USGS has apparently invested significant resources into mapping the mineral wealth, but it's unclear whether private mining companies were involved as well — leaving open the question of whether the U.S. will get a cut of any development. — John Cook is a senior national reporter/blogger for Yahoo! News.

Originally posted by Xaji_Xunjuf: pirates just watch how a real democratic country goes to the ballot box. LOOOOOOOOOL , A real democratic country??? That holds an election two years after the presidents term had expired! Where the leader can't even campaign in all the area's they claim are part of thier country? Where one group has a monopoly on all the power and made sure both opposition leaders and the current vice president hail from their family. Where their has never been a peaceful exchange of power from one leader to another, the only time is when the former leader passed away and the vice-president took over!! Yeah, real democracy!

What makes a nation is recognition, you cannot be a country without it! As long as the world only recognizes Somalia and it's borders with Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia, then the country is not dismembered. I can build a fence around my house and say I am a seperate country all I want, it will mean nothing! Anyways, This might be a bold statement but I truly believe that what K'naan did was probably the most uplifting event to happen to Somalia since the civil war, whether those living in the country or the diaspora. It cut through so many ridiculous differences that have haunted us! Especially if you look at other events, nothing was seen by so many on a global scale. If not the most uplifting event definitely one of them!

This is certainly a monumental performance, it will be remember for generations. I don't think people really grasp how big the World Cup is and the billions that must have watch the performance. K'naan single handedly made everyone forget about the turmoil that has faced us and the breaking up of the nation along different factions. He is a true Somali Hero, who's unwavering love of our nation will not go unrecognized! I'm certain those in Boorama, NW Somalia who have so many Blue flags and wave them proudly must have felt the nationalism! Less then a year ago in Boorama pics:

Originally posted by Xaji_Xunjuf: So you think this sheikh attam guy is behind it he hides Upon the hills of galgala, How big is his Militia and do you really think xisbal xasuuq has a sleeping cell inside Bossaaso. Any way i think Maybe the Pis is behind it This is coming from Xaji, who's enclave of NW Somalia just said they conducted a raid in Burco againsts Al Shabaab who had taken over a house that had a stash of weapons including bomb making materials in order to cause chaos, supposedly the police had the house under surveillance for a while, but only decided to attack the home exactly two weeks before the elections. Then you have the nerve to ask who is behind the attack today in Puntland and that you think it is an internal Puntland issue and that the PIS "maybe is behind it!" Al Shabaab has to cross Puntland to get to NW Somalia, so if you blame them for your internal issues then it would only be common sense that they must be doing it in Puntland to. But of course you only want to use the outside terrorist card when it suits you and your enclaves elections!

Hey, JB is the one that said it is good publicity!

Originally posted by Jacaylbaro: Everything the try to do to undermine the elections comes out to be a good publicity for Somaliland and the elections ......... Now they must be confused of what they will do next ,, I agree, it was conveniently good publicity! That's what I was trying to tell Oodweyne! Nothing like arresting terrorists before an election! Just like Faroole arrested Boyah just before he went to the meeting in Turkey! It's all for show!

Cowke has a valid point! Reer Sool and Sanaag can blame Puntland for everything, but it all comes down to who is more unified and who is not! Because those that have more unity will definitely have the more control, those who do not will have the affairs of their lands dictated by people who have no business doing so! Remeber to that Reer Sool gave all their votes to Faroole in the last elections! They are a house divided! I'm starting to think that maybe the most unified people are those that made rebel groups in order to fight Siad Barre, and the unity they developed has carried on to this day!

As Xaji posted in another thread! What does Hall Mark of trouble makers mean! I'm pretty sure if they are going to attack somewhere they are more then trouble makers. Well done NW Somalia in getting some publicity for the elections. Written by AFP Jun 11, 2010 at 07:51 AM Hargeysa,(QRN) - Somaliland police arrested 11 people in possession of firearms and explosives on Thursday in the breakaway republic but lost one officer killed in the raid, a spokesperson said. "They had explosives and other materials that are used for bomb making. There were seven men and four women with the hallmark of trouble makers," the spokesperson for the police force in Burao where the raid took place told journalists. "The material was for suicide attacks; some of the arrested are suspected to be potential suicide bombers," he said, adding that police "were following the group after tips from local people". Those arrested attempted to resist when police launched their raid. An exchange of gunfire ensued in which one police officer was killed and two others wounded, the spokesperson said. Burao is the second-largest city in Somaliland, which broke away from the rest of Somalia in May 1991 but has not yet been recognised by the outside world. Somaliland has scheduled June 26 as the date for presidential elections, already postponed three times since 2008. A recent internal UN report, a copy of which was seen by AFP, said there was a risk of suicide attacks on hotels or other buildings housing international observers monitoring the June 26 elections. The report also spoke of the recent arrival in Somaliland of nine young men trained by the Shebaab to carry out suicide attacks. In October 2008, 24 people, including UN staff, were killed in Hargeysa in a suicide attack for which the Shebaab claimed responsibility. - AFP

My point to you is that things are a little to early to come to conclusions, especially when you allege that 7 people are arrested and being interrogated! It is also very easy to blame all problems on groups that are based outside the region!I.e. Al Shabaab taking over a home and making a base in Burco the heart of the secessionists dream! Also not once did I say that Al Shabaab never attacked in the north, maybe you need to review what i said, of course they have committed cowardly suicide bombings and assasination. But to set up a home with gunmen and bombs as you say in the middle of Burco is quite bold!! P.S The more I start reading into this, the more I get this feeling that it is in the realm of possibility that this whole event was fabricated to gain more attention about the imaginary plight NW Somalia's government is facing! You came to a conclusion about the events way to quickly!! But - it's hust a conspiracy theory!

Oodweyne, the fact that you have this much information about what happened and JB's immediate finger pointing at Al Shabaab, coupled with the fact that this just happen a very short time ago, indicates to me that it is easy for you to blame this on religious fanatics and divert it from an internal conflict! I agree with you that we must wait and see what new information comes out. Plus, don't get me wrong, the TFG, Puntland and many other places usual lay their own internal problems with outside forces, this is nothing new. Even if this is Al Shabaab, they have never carried out such a daring attacking in the north of the country! They usual do hit and run tactics and as I said earlier i.e. cowardly suicide bombings and assasinations, yet the fact that gunmen attack in the enclaves heartland is even more bold. You and I both no that the number of wounded, captured and killed will be manipulated by both sides in the propaganda war as well as the motives! We will wait to get more news and see who claims responsibilty.

Seem's there is trouble in the Berbera, Hargeysa, burco triangle! This is the heartland and the strong hold of secessionists dream state! Blaming it on Al Shabaab like JB did immediately after the news broke! Was too quick and shows that it is more then likely a method to blame it on an outside force, but to actually launch an attack so deep in doesn't make much sense. There must be some sort of anger relating to the elections, I think every knows Riyaale will win again! Regardless, for a group of gunmen to launch such a brazen attack show's that the fake state facade is beginning to crack! The men had little regard for the security forces, they did not target certain places in the cover of night and run away or cowardly suidice bombings. They did it in one of the must secure places in the enclave! Doesn't seem like Al Shabaab's modus operandi! More of an internal enclave struggle!

Oodweyne, you can think up your own beliefs, but I am using logic here. If Puntland says it is a state under the TFG, than of course you give funding to the highest government or else be prepared to pay ever enclave! No Puntland government has ever received it's allocated money directly! Faroole was trying to change that! But of course you need to put your secessionist spin to everything!

Che, have you ever supported any Puntland government or leader?

xiinfaniin, show me a government article that talks about this?? The government never officially responded to this 'group', the TFG, Eritrea immediately did! Yet Puntland did, why's that? Boyah, Eyl, Faroole son as media advisor, Ilk-Jiir lobbying guys to get released, was just too strong evidence!

Come on!! Everyone knows Faroole tried to get the funds directly, that was common knowledge. But it wasn't because of this report that he was rejected, it was because you can't be giving funds to every single regional government that is under the TFG! It just does not make any sense - even you should know that! But as the article I posted shows you, NW Somalia's government in Hargeysa is a special case gets it's assistance through the the EU's cooperation with Somalia.

Originally posted by Oodweyne: ^^^ quote:But it is also a reflection of the complicity of senior figures in the Puntland administration. Several candidates in the leadership contest of January 2009, which saw Abdirahman Faroole accede to the Puntland presidency, accepted significant campaign contributions from pirate leaders. Several notorious pirate leaders remain at liberty in Puntland, and senior officials have at times intervened to secure the liberty of kinsmen detained during the course of counter-piracy operations". This monitoring report, really put the cat amongst the pigeons, in so far as the Pirate-land's agenda of winning international donor fund, directly, is concern... And, that is the reason, that the EU and to lesser extend, the USAID, completely stop all of their "developmental assistance" that was "earmarked" to go directly to puntland. Hence, the reason that Mr. Faroole was forced to eat "Humble-pie" and come to the table, in-order to grovel at the feet of Sh. Hotel. Since, he realised the only fund that he is likely to get at all will be the ones that comes through the good offices of the UNPOS, in which the departing Mr. Abdallah was responsible for it, and Sh. Hotel seemed to have a say in it's "disbursement", indeed... Consequently, what that meant was that the chance to get her share of funding, like Somaliland does, directly from the EU and USAID, without going through the said TFG, was completely scuppered in here by this damning report, indeed. Oodweyne, you make comments that are quite bold, and than you later try and pretend to have no clue what the person responding to your comments are talking about! This has to do with piracy, yet you are talking about Faroole and his inability to get funds from the EU, and what I am saying is that he chooses to keep Puntland (rightfully so), within the Somalia union, therefore he will not be getting any aid directly sent to him! It will go through the government that is above him i.e. TFG!!! If they gave Puntland direct assistance than they would have to give every other enclave assitance that fall under the TFG! The report is damaging no doubt about that and the lack of an official government reaction is bad as well! But of course Puntland wont get direct assistance, it only makes sense! Anyways, for future notice, if you write one of your posts, be prepared to back up everything that you state! Like this thread, where you veered off and starting taking shots at Puntland about how NW Somalia has a direct links with the EU and that Faroole failed when he tried to! I believe it has to do more with the fact that we remain in the union!

AFROL Somaliland asks for replacement of EU rep Misanet / IRIN, 3 November - The European Union (EU) expressed concern on Thursday over a decision by authorities in the self-declared republic of Somaliland to expel one of the organisation's officials from the territory. The EU official is accused of unethical operations. Richard Hands, the European Commission's operations manager for Somalia, said authorities in Hargeysa, Somaliland's capital, had asked for the replacement of one of the commission's officers. In a letter to the EU office, Somaliland's national planning minister, Ahmed Haji Dahir Elmi, ordered the EU liaison officer in the territory, Ahmed Muhammed Mahamud, better known as Ahmed "Washington", to leave Somaliland within 48 hours. "The EU liaison officer [in Hargeysa] Ahmed Mohamed has been declared persona non grata and he should, with immediate effect, stop his operation here and leave Somaliland within 48 hours," Mr Elmi said in the letter. The EU had no advance warning and had received the letter "with considerable surprise and concern," Mr Hands said. "The EC will seek clarification from the Somaliland authorities," he explained. "We are hopeful that there will be a satisfactory resolution to this." Authorities in Hargeysa claimed that Mohamud was involved in activities that were "contrary to his code of ethics." Mr Elmi alleged that the liaison officer had interfered in Somaliland internal affairs. The decision to expel the EU official was condemned by the leaders of Somaliland's two principal opposition parties - Ahmed Mohamed of the Kulmiye (Solidarity) party and Faisal Ali Warabe of the Justice and Welfare party. "We don't believe at all that there is a strong reason to warrant the expulsion. We see that the decision taken by the government was mainly influenced by a personal vendetta rather than a threat to the national interest," said Mr Warabe. "We therefore call on the government to unconditionally rescind its decision by considering the enormous support the country has been receiving from the EU," he added. The EU is Somalia's largest donor, and through its Somalia cooperation, it is currently supporting several programmes in Somaliland. The projects involve health, education, capacity-building and democracy. While not recognising Somaliland as an independent state, the EU cooperates with Hargeisa authorities in practical recognition of it being the government of the territory it administers. By UN media IRIN © Misanet / IRIN

Also, you might want to add Oodwenye that NW Somalia has lost a lot of momentum because of it's leader who refused to hold elections when his term had expired, (even though he was elected in!) As well, both opposition candidates are from the same clan, where no one else is running from other groups that inhabit area's such as sool and sanaag! Also, of course they will not go directly to Puntland, becase we have made it clear that we are still part of Somalia and do not seek indepedence!