Opinion pieces from websites are fine! Yet we all know there has been no official Puntland government response! The two men accused have remained silent, with no international response!! This article from wardheernews is not the Puntland government! It conveniently doesn't address why Ilko-Jiir lobbied for known pirate criminals who came from his area to be release. What leader would actually want criminals returned, what is his interest in them? As (the president's son's website) Garoweonline reported: Garoweonline Gen. Abdullahi Ahmed "Ilkajir," Puntland's interior minister, told Radio Garowe that the Puntland government requested that the eight pirates be handed over to local authorities and tried in a Puntland court. Is it fair to assume that Ilka-Jiir didn’t want the pirates to start spilling out information on his involvement??? Or why the president’s son can arrange meetings with the biggest know pirate! Attacking the source is common among supporters of this admin! Yet, they don't realize that the most damaging evidence that is presented against THEM in this report is from pro-Faroole websites or the timesUK! Which is why there has been no official government response; there's nothing for them to say! We can accuse the former admins of whatever we want....but in less than a year and a half in office Faroole's admin and Ilko-Jiir have received more international condemnation than any previous Puntland government! The whole PIS change came a day after Security Council Report was leaked!!! --- I'll say this! Lets completely change up the PIS, with a new leadership with someone from anywhere leading it! Heck, even someone from outside of Puntland I don't care!!! But if we are going to change up the PIS, we need to see changes in other places, starting especially with those that have ties with international criminals!!

Amistad, The U.S supposedly has heavy influence in the PIS, especially during the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, there was a fear that terrorists fleeing those conflicts would try and go to lawless Southern Somalia, via Puntland! The PIS was created in 2001, but when Osman Diyano took it over in 2004, their was a war with the now defunct Islamic Courts Union a few years later, that really brought a lot of funding and training to the PIS, they have made enormous changes. When I was their in 2009, I couldn't believe the changes. They have brought a lot of security! Amistad depending on who you speak to you will hear different opinions, usually based on family lines. UN SC Report I suggest you read the UN Security Council report which clearly details what is going on in Puntland under Faroole's watch. The report is neutral! Supporters of Puntland Minister of interior Ilka-Jiir who hail from Eastern Sanaag and Puntland President Faroole will say the report is bias against Puntland even though it clearly states that after "12 years of relative positive evolution in Puntland." Most important neither Ilka-Jiir nor Faroole have responded to the response officially, they have gone on Puntland media and commented, but no official government response. The Federal Somalia Government, Eritrea, WFP and others that have been (rightfully) condemned! Immediately responded to the report! However no such official response from the Puntland Government, (Garoweonline does not count.) Also, Mr. Amistad these two men Faroole and Ilka-Jiir have extensive ties with pirates, where the President Son meets with the biggest known pirate and ilka-jiir actually lobbies to get some released when foreign nations arrest them. Just read this report and remember that both the Puntland President Faroole (Australian) and Interior Minister Ilka-Jiir (U.S Citizen) can easily sue the Security Council! The problem with whether or not PIS chief Osman Diyano should go, rest more on the criminal activity that the Puntland leadership has been accused of by the UN Security Council and the rest of the Puntland population has suspected for some time, even the The Committee to Protect Journalists have said there is abuses going on! There is a lack of respect for this government, which is why the PIS chief still remains in office! Numerous Government Officials, judges have been murdered in cold blood, never in Puntland’s history has this occurred! Finally, I suggest you read this article from a former speech writer for the Puntland President Faroole. Just like the UN Report spoke about the criminal activity taking part in Eastern Sanaag, this article talks about how plane hijackers took over a plane and wanted it landed in Laasqoray, Eastern Sanaag (Interior Minister Ilko-Jiir home base) where a group of kidnappers were waiting for them. Hiiraan Faisal, the hijacker, gets on his mobile phone. From the question he asked, I knew who he was talking to: Do you see us? He was speaking to an armed gang waiting in Las Qorey to take the two German journalists as hostages, hide them in remote mountains and demand ransom worth millions of U.S. dollars Remember this is Faroole's former speech writer, and remember the UN talked about the criminal activity taking place in Eastern Sanaag! This is what the PIS has to deal with! It seems the people that want change in security apparatus in Puntland come from the area's that criminal activity is most prevalent! Yet they want to divert attention and blame others! If a Somali website claims something, they accuse it of having clan motivations and even if a foriegn agency says something critical, they will also use the clan card. It's all a ploy to avoid addressing the evidence! Like I’ve said before...If Puntland needs change, it must FIRST start from the top down!

Peacenow, I am talking about your disgusting posts in the past, would you like me to refresh your memory? peacenowSOL The title was One in Four is a MUSLIM (Allahu Akbar). and the post you responded with said Nothing to celebrate. The less of these backwards creeps the better. Than you said: You are typical of your worthless lot. First of all. You are a failure, your society and what it stood it for. You have no right to even partake in normal society. Yes you and your female genitalition abuse and a culture that has amounted to nil. It's funny you abuse my post when you write from 'London'. It's nice living in a rich, peaceful CHRISTIAN country isn't it? Is your stomach full?? You bet. Nearly 80% of your kind there are on somekind of benefits. Paid for by Christians. Funny how you don't move to Pakistan or Saudi and live a true Shariah life. That would be too painful, wouldn't it?? Peacenow, You are not fooling anyone, your weak attempt at concealing your true motives have failed. You preach hate by trying to deceive who you are; just give it a rest!

People like Peacenow are a dime a dozen. They can be found on many forums and websites spewing their hatred attacking Islam! They usually pretend they are Muslim or former Muslims and then they attack the religion directly or indirectly. Even his location is trying to insult us! which say's " Milan, Italy. I work I don't get benefits." With the internet people like him have finally found a perfect way of promoting their messages of hate and concealing their identities.

Originally posted by Xaji_Xunjuf: What does that have to do with the topic , its kind of out of topic , even though Israel is now Busy with building new settlements in eastern Jerusalem Well you said: "I think Combating terrorism , and fighting piracy has become the first priority of Israeli Foreign policy." I am saying the first priority should be addressing the war crimes that took place and ensuring they never occur again!

What about the abuses that occured in Gaza? Where the UN and other international human rights groups said both they and Hamas committed war crimes?

Shilling, Cartoonists and others are taking shots because Faroole is giving them the ammunition! Who cares if Boyah committed the crimes in 2008 and Faroole was elected in Jan 2009! If Faroole's son can actually arrange a meeting with this guy so western journalists can interview him than he should tell the government so they can arrest him. Just because someone gives up a crime doesn't mean they should be forgiven! Is that an actual argument? Speaking against piracy means nothing, because Boyah made his millions, sending him to jail for a long time will send an even bigger message! We all heard about those pirates that were over powered by Egyptian fishermen and taken back to Egypt. Why would Ilka'Jiir actually fight to get those criminals sent back to Puntland? Why does he care so much?

Garoweonline Last time Garoweonline said that the CPJ was "embroiled in clan politics" and their intro said July 18, 2009 - To CPJ, welcome to Somalia's dirty clan politics. You have lost neutrality and therefore our respect. and this one March 2010 - One of the report's authors, Mr. Matt Bryden, has familial ties to the dominant clan in Somaliland They made it into a tribe thing all because the CPJ had said that the Faroole government had arrested jounalists without cause. Now all of a sudden they are using the clan card against the UN as well! We know who the Faroole's media advisor is! Which is exactly why we should have given a more professional person that position. Is this the best they can come back with? Saying that NW Somalia has that much power to influence the Security Council? Instead of attacking the facts, they accuse Mr. Matt Bryden of being bias. Maybe the admin should have look at how the Federal Government in Mogadishu responded, the WFP and Eritrea to this report. Instead they respond less like a government and more like High Schoolers! Making everything into a clan thing!! "The report says the individual named Boyah is a notorious pirate leader. But Boyah admitted to have quit piracy before this administration was elected [in Jan. 2009] and has campaigned with religious leaders to discourage piracy across Puntland," the president added. So the President is basically saying that when someone admits to committing numerous criminal offenses and gives it up and says he will go around with religious elders and discourage that criminal activity, he shouldn't be send to jail or face any punishment? Shilling, The offical gov't website has made to response to this UN report, or no press release's like other Governments did who disagreed with the report. It took Garoweonline 1 week to respond!

We've already discussed Riyaale and his past!

Gheelle.T, Well I agree these are allegations! But look at it both men came to the country less than 2 months before the elections and came in First and Second! The report shows that these two came from the area's where piracy was most intense, it states that nowhere else was there a pirate base whether it was NW Somalia's coast or Puntland! Of course ships where attack all along the coast, even near Seychelles and Yemen and Kenya, but we are talking about a base where allowed to docked and were continuously re-supplied. But the most damaging is the fact that Ilko-Jiir intervened to get some of his kinsmen released. Why is he so concerned about criminals? Also we have all seen this pirate "Boyah" on t.v holding interviews walking around freely around Garowe! Yet even though Faroole says he has made numerous arrests, this man never has been? See that is the thing the report is saying, is that this Boyah guy has been interviewed numerous times and in some cases the President own son arranges the meeting yet he is not arrested by the authorties. Remember Boyah also admits to hijacking many ships!! Remember Ghelle we had this discussion about this Times UK article where Ina Faroole was able to arrange a meeting with the most famous pirate? Now almost a year later the UN Security council is using the same article! The evidence is right there - What leaders son can call a international criminal up so he can be interviewed for foreign reporters? With all the problems in African I highly doubt any investigation will come up, I believe us as Puntlanders should investigate this! I know it's a long shot, but still. Things look bleak! We depend so much on foreign aid, how can we expect anyone to trust our admin if it's leader is accused of this? xiinfaniin - their response came out when some of the report was leak by the new york times! They are yet to respond to all the allegations to the offical report.

Koora-Tuunshe!! ETN are you serious and want a response? So when Eritrea disputed the report, should they have gone on one of their news stations and rejected it? What about the Federal Government of Somalia should they have gone on ETN to? The Puntland government website hasn't said a word, or Garoweonline. I know no matter what you wont admit that those named in the report should be investigated!

Nassir, Of course you would say this because the report was critical of Ilko-Jiir. If this report is "bias and based on questionable findings", why has our Puntland government remained silent? These are very serious allegations brought forward, yet still no response. The Somali Federal Government, Eritrea and even the WFP have all came out with quick responses. They may still come out with something in the next few days, but atleast a small letter would have been good! I believe the reason why they haven't is because they know there is nothing they can say. Ilko-Jiir actually lobbied with Egypt to get pirates from his clan release! The relationship between the two men has since served Hanaano and his men well. Shortly after his appointment, Ilkajiir reportedly proposed Hanaano for the position of “Eastern Sanaag Coastguard Commander”. In August 2009, the Egyptian crew of the Mumtaz 1 and the Samara Ahmed revolted and overpowered their pirate captors, whom they subsequently handed over to the Egyptian authorities. Ilkajiir immediately spearheaded efforts by the Puntland authorities to have the pirates — all members of Hanaano’s militia — released, and in September 2009 This is why their has been no response, because we all heard about when Ilko-Jiir ask the Egyptian authorities to release these criminals! Who government official does that? You dont ask for criminals back unless you have a relationship with them. In Somalia, everything is done through connections, be they clan, family, or friend, and Mohamed, my interpreter, was on and off the phone for almost a week to coax his network into producing Boyah. Our meeting takes place at a virtually deserted farm 15km outside Garowe. Mohamed is the son of the newly elected president of Puntland and does not want to be seen in public cavorting with pirates. Moreover, Boyah has recently contracted tuberculosis and Mohamed insists that we meet him in an open space. timesUK I remember this article was posted on Somaliaonline and now it is used as evidence by the Security Council! Forget about why in the world Faroole's son would actually arrange a meeting with a criminal when his father is president (which he tried to defend on Garoweonline by saying he is a reporter and has a right to)! But why do you think he insisted on being an interpreter? I think we both no why and it's quite obvious - ina Faroole wanted to censor any answers the pirate gave to the reporter that he didn't like! The report is stating the facts, and it seems the admin knows they can't say anything about it!! It even mentioned in the report how the president made his son a media advisor, which I even said was a ridiculous move that will make Puntland look bad! Can you imagine even a major of some city naming his son as an advisor? In less than 1 year and a half both Faroole and Ilko-Jiir have been implicated by UN Security Council with criminal activity! The report accuses both of them of attaining significant contributions to their campaigns from Pirate money. If their is bias against Puntland, why didnt the report name the numerous other candidates that ran? Also, Why did the report say that "over the last 12 years puntland has had relative positive evolution" if it is bias? I dont think the report is bias because it is not attacking the whole state and it specifically says that UNDER Faroole Puntland is being nudged towards a criminal state! I know it is specifically mentions eastern sanaag and it upsets you; but facts are facts.

GAAROODI, You are no where near any battle field - so give it a rest! The diaspora from every country seem to be the ones that instigate things the most! Living in the comfort of their homes half way across the world!

Originally posted by General Duke: what a nice pic, even the president looks good, oh is that Xasan Abshir at the back? Duke yes that's him, even this pic shows Hassan Abshir to!

Originally posted by Castro: quote:The report was commissioned by the Security Council as part of an effort to monitor an arms embargo on Somalia and other issues related to peace and security. In 2006, the same monitoring group said that hundreds of Somali jihadists traveled to Lebanon to fight alongside Hezbollah, a claim that was widely dismissed as fiction. Nuff said. Castro you left out the next paragraph!! However, the investigators behind that report were dismissed, and Mr. Menkhaus and Mr. Abdi, among others, said that Matt Bryden, the current coordinator of the group, had spent many years in Somalia and was a seasoned Somali hand. AfricanOwn, Riyaale refuses to hold elections because he knows he'll lose!! He's a huge crook! Former torturer!

NY Times Officials Criticize U.N. Report on Somalia By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN Published: March 16, 2010 NAIROBI, Kenya — Somalia’s president, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, blasted on Tuesday a recent United Nations report that characterized the government’s security forces as ineffective and corrupt and said that half of the food aid to the country was routinely stolen. The president said that much of the information in the report “was not trustful” and “based on people on the street, not reality.” His comments added to a growing chorus of criticism surrounding this report, mainly from the parties that have been accused of wrongdoing, including Somali politicians and businessmen and the United Nations World Food Program. The report, by the Security Council’s Monitoring Group on Somalia, made a number of stinging allegations: that officials in Somalia — one of the most violent and needy countries in the world — were collaborating with pirates; that the Somali security forces were “ineffective, disorganized and corrupt”; that United Nations contractors were helping insurgents; and that the food aid was stolen. Several independent experts on the country said that while the report may have had some minor faults, it captured the larger picture accurately. “There is broad consensus among Somali watchers that the overall findings of this report are right, though in a report of that size of course there are going to be a couple mistakes,” said Ken Menkhaus, a professor at Davidson College . Rashid Abdi, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the report “a very solid piece of work,” adding that most of the allegations were “nothing new, but things we have been hearing for some time.” Somalia can be a difficult place to find the truth. Nearly 20 years of unabated chaos have eviscerated all national institutions, and the current conflict between a weak transitional government and militant Islamists has left most of the country a no-go zone to outsiders. It has grown so dangerous that the United Nations has been forced to rely largely on Somali contractors and local aid organizations rather than expatriate staff to monitor the enormous aid operation. Some of the fiercest criticism of the report has come from United Nations officials defending the World Food Program, which is the biggest aid agency in Somalia and a lifeline to millions of Somalis. One United Nations official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said that the report overstated the amount of money the World Food Program pays to Somali transport contractors, and that it exaggerated the percentage of the transport budget that went to three businessmen in particular. The United Nations official also argued that there was “no evidence” that one of the contractors had staged a hijacking of his own food trucks in 2008, as the report said, and that the contractor nevertheless had paid back all the food that disappeared that day. The official went on to criticize several other aspects of the report, and said that a bonding system put in practice in 1997 — under which Somali contractors are required to guarantee to replace or pay for any missing food — had drastically reduced the amount of food aid that was pilfered. The report was commissioned by the Security Council as part of an effort to monitor an arms embargo on Somalia and other issues related to peace and security. In 2006, the same monitoring group said that hundreds of Somali jihadists traveled to Lebanon to fight alongside Hezbollah, a claim that was widely dismissed as fiction. However, the investigators behind that report were dismissed, and Mr. Menkhaus and Mr. Abdi, among others, said that Matt Bryden, the current coordinator of the group, had spent many years in Somalia and was a seasoned Somali hand. Mr. Bryden defended the report this week in a series of emails. He said that some of the material provided to the group about the theft of food supplies “involves inconsistencies” and that his team “received different answers at different times” from the parties involved. He also dismissed the complaints from officials with the World Food Program, also known as the W.F.P. “The figures we have used in the report concerning the value of contracts and the percentage awarded to the three named contractors were provided to the Monitoring Group by W.F.P. officials. W.F.P. would therefore appear to be contradicting itself.” Earlier this week, Somali officials from Puntland, a pirate-infested swath of northern Somalia, denied the allegations that they were collaborating with pirates and called the report ``a feeble attempt to defame” the Puntland president. Mohamed Ibrahim contributed reporting from Mogadishu, Somalia

Koora-Tuunshe, When ever Faroole's government and their supporters are criticized they attacked the source....think tanks are bias, horseednet is tribal politics and now the Security Council is corrupt. They love blaming it on who ever they want! When you read this whole report than we can discuss it! But like I said, Faroole put himself in this position!

General Duke thanks for the compliments, but I am not a young man! You may believe this is an attack on the state, but I do not. They said "After 12 years of relatively positive evolution in Puntland." We can blame it on Walid Abdalla, but lets look at the facts here! That Faroole son's even admit to! Do you realize what this report is using as evidence? They are using the Goverments(Faroole adn son's) own words against them!!! For instance: In Faroole contacted a pirate leader so foreign reporters could interview them!! Why would he do that??? Then the reporter writes that the pirate leader walk freely around Garowe! Than Ina Faroole defends this on Garoweonline by saying that he is a reporter and can conduct interviews with who ever he want. This admin gave the security council the evidence that is being used now! Pirates went on international media stations and sat infront of camera's and were never arrested!!! The Puntland diaspora must take immediate action!

More from Security Report: Probably the most notorious pirate leader in Puntland goes by the name Abshir Abdillahi “Boyah”, who is approximately 44 years old and originally from the coastal town of Eyl. 68 In previous reports, the Monitoring Group has identified Boyah as a principal organizer and financier of pirate activity in 2008. Independent and intelligence reports received by the Monitoring Group have confirmed his involvement in piracy. Boyah himself has publicly admitted to being the commander of a maritime militia consisting of approximately 500 pirates. By Boyah’s own account, his militia is responsible for hijacking between 25 and 60 shipping vessels since the mid-1990s, including the Japanese-owned chemical tanker Golden Nori The Puntland leaders not only are well aware of Boyah’s activities but also tolerate them. In April 2009, two foreign journalists separately interviewed Boyah, one of whom acknowledged the assistance of President Faroole’s son Mohamed (now the President’s media adviser) in arranging the meeting.69 For the other interview, Boyah was obliged to “cut right through a crowd of Puntland soldiers” in order to enter a local restaurant.70 In an interview in August 2008 with Garooweonline, a website affiliated with the current Puntland administration, Boyah claimed that Puntland leaders were complicit in piracy and received 30 per cent of ransom payments. In May 2009, Boyah attended a ceremony with local government officials in Eyl, where he claimed that, together with 180 of his militia, he had realized that piracy was unlawful and had ceased his activities. The Puntland authorities have since made no move to apprehend him and declined to respond to a Monitoring Group request for information concerning measures taken to curb his activities.

Originally posted by Koora-Tuunshe: Thankful: Adeer Diana ayaad ku waalatey. No one is waging war against Diana. Waar ninkan ina adeerkii ayaa lagu badalay (there is nothing holy about Diana, you know that), Biinge seems more qualified, you should give him a chance). Mideeda kale ma aha in aad state dhan burcad badeed ku sheegtid. Teeda kale, aqri C/laahi Siciid Samatarka aad leedahay waa la weerarey, reportka wuu ku jiraa Raga la leeyahay waa burcad badeed. RIIX . These are baseless and blunt accusations and you are quick to credit the incredible. I haven't mentioned PIS or Diyaano once on this thread, stop changing the topic! I have never defeneded Abdullahi Said Samatar when he was let go! I am not calling for him to resign because he is already out of the government, he is a moot case!!! This thread has nothing to do with the PIS, Diyaano...I WILL NOT comment on them, if you want make a thread somewhere else!! But the issue will not be diverted!! This has to do with Faroole, and Ilko-Jiir who have been accused of criminal activity by the UN Security Council!!! There is no bigger body than this! Baseless accusations? All three men: Faroole (Australian), Ilko-Jiir(American), Abdullahi Siad Samater(British).....they all come from countries with comprehensive libel laws, if these report is lies and baseless we can expect a lawsuit by them disputing the evidence, if they don't sue then there is a reason for why they will not!!!

I love Puntland a lot, I've travelled their several times and enjoyed every second! I agree with you that supporters will defend them tooth and nail, that is because they are family. When the UN Security Council blasts our state with factual things, us as the diaspora must take action. To investigate Faroole. We can cloud the issue as much as we want, but there is evidence that the head of our state is involved in piracy. There is significant evidence out there. Do you know what some of the most blantant evidence is? Those numerous reporters who went to capital Garowe and interviewed Pirate leaders who admitted to hijacking numerous ships and were walking freely around without fear of being arrested, just sitting down for interviews.

I'm not sure what you are alluding to! But Anyways, this topic will not be divert to something else! I believe we can expect Faroole and sons to come out and try and blast this report! They will complain that no one was sent here to investigate their staged prisoners in jail! They will blame previous admins and blame everyone but themselves! Regardless, this is the UN Security Council, you dont get bigger than this. It is not some little think tank....Puntlanders WE must take action!

Also how do we save the state, by waging clan war with the like sof Dayano or Samatar? I'm sorry I don't understand this part, what do you mean? What's this have to do with clans?

General Duke brother, as you see this report makes it clear that "after 12 years of positive evolution in Puntland!!!" This is not an attack on the state, it's an attack on criminal activity perpetrated by these two men. If we remain silent the state will deteriorate! I have said it and believe me everyone in Puntland knows, where the centre of Piracy is! We all know Faroole benefited from it! He is now reaping what he sowed!! So please, if we are going to save the state we must take action. The evidence is out there!!!

The relationship between the two men has since served Hanaanoand his men well. Shortly after his appointment, Ilkajiir reportedly proposed Hanaano for the position of “Eastern Sanaag Coastguard Commander”. In August 2009, the Egyptian crew of the Mumtaz 1 and the Samara Ahmed revolted and overpowered their pirate captors, whom they subsequently handed over to the Egyptian authorities. Ilkajiir immediately spearheaded efforts by the Puntland authorities to have the pirates — all members of Hanaano’s militia — released, and in September 2009 the Government of Egypt repatriated the prisoners to Puntland.