Red Sea While Somaliland has had Hargeisa and Berbera as its Capitals prior to union of Somaliland and Somalia. You joined the rest of Somalia less then a week after the british left you on your own. How can you have multiple capitals in such a short time. Who was your president then, did you have a parliament or flag? Did you have a seat at the UN, any embassies or consulates? What countries recognized you, in what way? You were not by any means a seperate entity, if you were, you would never have even though of leaving all that to Join the rest of Somalia. You were alone back then and that is why you united.

Now the PIS is going around attacking parliament members :confused: That is ridiculous! These guys who targeted this man did it to cause instability! They were hoping that others would be blamed. No matter what anyone wants to believe, two many were quickly apprehended and they will face justice. If this was a more organized assassination then everyone involved will be arrested.

There is onlý Somalia and then regional states within it, as far as the world is concerned. There was Italian and British Somaliland during the colonial times. As the British and Italians began leaving our lands, "Italian" and "British" Somaliland quickly came back together, because they were no longer being forced apart from the colonial forces. This whole Somaliland name was used to call all the places that Italians and British controlled, even Mogadishu had the name Somaliland. The admin in NW Somalia tried to adopted this name as their own, even though everywhere that Somalis live is logically called Somali land. So saying their is NW Somalia and then Somalia, makes no sense. There is Somalia and only Somalia, no other country recognizes anything else. Not a single country in the world see's an admin in NW Somalia and then one in Somalia.

I am hearing (like many other news outlets are reporting) that it was 2 men from Sanaag who committed this terrible crime. They were hoping that others would be blamed for this. But the citizens of the city chased one down and the other fled in a house and was later arrested. Regardless the truth will come out in the coming days!

Look at the pictures that Riyaale has in his office of himself and how he tries to avoid answering the elections question. Video Also, why do so many video's from Hargeysa start off with a guy high on Khat with his teeth all green?

They are fellow country men, it is expected.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

Originally posted by MAXIMUS POWERS: research actually been done on this? Perhaps they should also realise and maybe do something about the high level of prostitition and rampant rates of HIV/AIDS in puntland especially in major towns. You seem to be the one that is suffering from resentment!

I agree, it is consumed across the Somali peninsula. But people have been getting high on it in NW Somalia longer then any other Somali region. It was something that was once only used by Somali's from NW of Somalia. Very small segments of society are dealing in the list that you made. Regardless, the admin and people have spoken out against Terrorism, Piracy, Human Trafficking. These problems thrive in poverty and yet no matter what people do not accept them.

Do to NW Somalia's location close to Djibouti and the military presence there, it has been able to stay away from many of the problems that you have mentioned. But one thing that the admin in NW Somalia has contributed in, is the addiction to drugs that is crippling Somalis. Their inability to combat this disgusting and life threatening drug called Khat, has destroyed so many Somali homes, as men waste away eating this drug day in and day out. This drug was introduced to the rest of Somalia via NW Somalia. The drug is in such high use and prevalent that now people try and justify it as socially acceptable and equate it to the use of alcohol in the west. The terrorism, piracy, starvation and other criminal acts you have mentioned can be combated. The use of Khat that started in NW Somalia has now infested communities living in Somalia's border with Kenya all the way to Somalia's border with Djibouti, it is in my opinion the single greatest epidemic that is destroying Somali society. In NW Somalia one of the richest families made their wealth by supplying this drug to it's people in plan view of the authorities. No where else in Somalia will you find such organized drug trade.

Okay there *Ibtisam

Looks who's talking, Maybe we should have copied three different countries. NW Somalia Italian Ghana

Originally posted by GAAROODI: do you know why its mine because my flag the red,white and green flys over it. Like I said, I didn't seen any of your flags in that video; not a single one! In the other video by this reporter, I saw the flag in Hargeysa, but none in Lascaanod. No militia, vehicles or buildings. The reporter even mentioned when Riyaale's convoy got chased out.

Very fair video. One thing I noticed is that you didn't see any NW Somali flags on any of the militia or none of the residents came out waving it. You would think that with the camera's people would come out in support. The people know that they will never see Reer Sool running for any high position if NW Somalia had an election. They see that even in Mogadishu the Foreign minister is from Sool, in Puntland the Vice President is from Sool, so for them it is quite easy to decide who they want. Habsaade like so many other warlords follows who will pay him more.

The Kenyan deputy speaker is a ethnic Somali named Farah Maalim. He most likely was paid off to make the trip or because he is from the ONLF region he may be doing this in protest against Somalia or Puntland. The Deputy speaker needs to realize that even though he is Somali, he is part of Kenya's government and should stop interfering with Somalia's affairs.

Very Good Article! I hope to contribute in any way! Bosasso is booming!

You can say what you like but it's fact that there was a battle that took place between the 2000 or so Buntland militia If Puntland is capable of sending 2000 troops to Lascaanod, after it sent a considerable amount of it's troops and weapons to Mogadishu, then we must have one of the biggest army's in Africa. I dont even think a single country in the AU has sent that many troops to Mogadishu. Everyone knows that their is always some stationed in Gaalkayo, but in 2007, there were many in Mogadishu, and according to you 2000 in Lascaanod also. But you only lost 5 guys right? Stop throwing numbers around! I hope Habsaade switches sides, then you will see what i'm talking about.

Red Sea, I am not mixing up anything. The battle was fought using reer Lascaanod. There was no battles between Puntland or Somaliland as you allege. The proof is that nothing happened after Riyaale was attack and everything changed when Habsaade was fired. Secondly, Buntland forces after they were beaten burned down the police head querters and ordered some kids to burn tires etc.. You want me to believe that a fleeing Puntland forced ordered kids to make this video, block the roads and voice their disgust at NW Somalia's militia? I have no clue why you produced the political motivated riots that occurred in no other city then Garoowe. There was no riots in the biggest city of Bosasso and Gaalkayo. Still linking it, is pointless has nothing to do with Lascaanood, it's like me showing the riots after Riyaale extended his term or the fighting in Parliament. I think the video I produced is more powerful and finally I will end with this.

Admit it Red Sea, it is impressive, show's that their is only one true Government in Somalia in the worlds eyes! Whether it be Obama who the foreign minister Jangali earlier in the year or it is someone on a completely different spectrum President Ahmadinejad. No matter how many governments come and go and are ineffective, the one in Mogadishu is the only recognized one.

Mr. Red Sea, I think it's fair to say that both of us support different sides. Believe me though, in Lascaanod every incident of fighting was fought by the locals of the city. Both sides stay outside the city as the local milita fought and then when the dust was settled the other region entered the city. So as much as you want to make it seem like it was your forces that did the chasing, reer Lascaanod would never allow someone else to come in and fight a war near their homes. Somaliland waited for the right moment and they got just the man, Xaabsade. He switched sides and convinced the people that SL was better alternative. Once that was sealed, all that remained was getting rid of Buntland militia. If he convinced the "people", tell me why they rioted and made it clear through public displays of anger that they were against what they termed a tribal take over?? The only people that Habsaade convinced was his milita fighters. Maybe in the past you can put your spin on things, but with the internet the truth is getting out. Look at the video again, at 5:30m and you will see they are try to block the road so your milita can't enter. Is that something that people who have been convinced do? So like I said, Habasaade chased Riyaale out and becomes a Puntland minister. There is no response from Riyaale and Laascaanod remains in Puntlands control. Then Habsaade is fired as minister and within a weeks Laascaanod switches sides again!

Red Sea, Lets be Honest here. Riyaale was chased out in 2001 and you came back to in 2007. So why did it take you so long to a mass your finest, 6 years later? I'll tell you exactly what happened both times when Puntland took over and then NW Somalia. It was Habsaade that changed sides. When he was fired from Puntland within weeks Lascaanod went back to NW Somalia. It has nothing to do with any forces massing. Even after Riyaale was chased out in 2001, Puntland issued a statement that said "this could never had happened without the support of the local population." This has nothing to do with any force from Puntland or NW Somalia, it's whoever is willing to Pay Habsaade what he wants and when they do, he will tell his militia to kick the other side out! Riyaale made that mistake last time and learned his lesson, he'll make sure Habsaade's pockets are fat.

For half this decade Lascaanod was in Puntlands control, Riyaale after he was chased out has never returned. Yet you are bragging about having Habsaade on your side?

Red Sea, whats up with the Somali flag?? Or am I seeing things?

With this decade coming to an end shortly, I think it is fair to say that NW Somalia's admin in Hargeysa has accomplished nothing towards their quest for recognition. They had potential when they held democratic elections, but the first man ever elected has turned around and refuses to step down years after his term expired. As Duke mentioned, not a single country has recognized them. With the U.S State Department making it clear they will not do so, and that the AU was a better forum. Which everyone know's the AU supports a united Somalia 100%. With good reason....A Nation that shares the same religion, language, ethnicity, culture can't possible be allowed to seperate, because one dominant family wants to break away. In Africa we have nations with multiple religions and languages co-existing, how can you rationalize letting Somalia which is arguably the most homogenous country in the world, let alone Africa, break up?

Only JB would post a couple paragraphs and purposely hide anything that would indicate the source. Dayniile But when we post something from their own enclave (i.e NWSomalia.org) he will dismisses it.