Other pictures I didn't look up included, making a speech and UN, participating in the Arab Summits, meeting with the Germany Leader etc etc. This is what President Faroole has to look forward to if he wanted to run for President of a the nation. It's that international recognition that you get. Former President Abdullahi Yusuf had a passion for decades to become president and finally realized it. He is now in Yemen for one reason and one reason only, the international community knew that if he was in Puntland, he would be seen as a barrier to President Sharif, and would easily get back Lascaaanod like he did last time. Just look at what he did last time to Riyaale and there was no response for that side. Also, He didn't pick Yemen for no reason, he's still very close by. Anyways, the Federal Presidency has way more pros then cons. Former President Abdullahi Yusuf maximized the foreign relation aspect of the Presidents positiion like no other since Siad Barre. To me it seems that the Puntlands President Faroole is like so many others and is vying for the highest politicial position. After all the violence, turmoil, famine and the other enormous problems facing Somalia. It's the only government that is interational recognized. Puntland, NW Somalia might meet with officials from other countries but not with western Presidents.

I have heard rumours that President Farooles highest ambitions is to become President of the whole nation. The more and more I look at it, it seems that this is true. Nothing wrong with this, I just think he is rallying support for bigger aspirations.

This is identical to how the children in Garoowe dress, you'll see dozens and dozens of them walking around with their books after school. I guess NW Somalia dresses the same way.

I'm not pointing fingers, Puntland has made some impressive gains and needs a lot of work. I'm addressing people from your region on NW Somalia, that would actually call Puntland a trinity, when the main group in your enclave are the only ones running as the opposition. This hyporacy must stop!!!

Exactly Mr. Red Sea! The vice president, and the only two opposition leaders are all from the same family. So no matter what that family will have heavy influence. Where as Sool and Sanaag have no one running! Don't bash Puntland when your enclave made sure the dominant group will come out a winner!!

Answer the last question and didn't the opposition claim those elections were fraudulent but conceded for the sake of peace? If you want to talk about Puntland and some trinity, then lets look at the make up of your enclave.

Ok, the two and only opposition leaders and the current vice president are they not all from the same clan? Is there any one from Sool and Sanaag running for pres?

Hence, he always measures other people with the same "reduced yard" that he himself and his ilk, were reduced to be equal to, at least by the emusculating action of the "political elites" of the "trinity" gang, which seemed to run the show in "pirate-land", indeed. This is coming from a enclave that the vice president, and both opposition leaders are from the same family, so no matter what, whoever takes over the main group will have a high position. The current leader was put there by the now deceased President who wanted to appease the minority group and make it seem like it wasn't run by one group. However, no one from reer sool and reer sanaag are running from the top job. Hypocracy. How can the opposition parties be headed by the same dominant family in the enclave?

Hargeisa, Somaliland (Somaliland Globe)The Somaliland government is using food aid provided by WFP to shape the outcome of the upcoming presidential election planned for 27 September, sources close to the presidential palace told The Somaliland Globe. The government is distributing the food aid in selected urban and rural areas, in which the ruling party, United Peoples’ Democratic Party known by its Somali acronym UDUB, was losing the strong support it used to enjoy, in order to woo back the electorate to vote for UDUB. The failed rainy season led to a drought situation in the inland pastoral zones of Somaliland, affecting particularly those who do not receive remittances from abroad and are dependent solely for their livelihoods either on livestock or rain-fed agriculture. The opposition parties are crying foul that the government should not be distributing food but should “let independent aid agencies feed people” and the government, in turn, is demonising the opposition as a bunch of troublemakers, hurling as many accusations as possible, in hopes that some or all of them will stick, even if they’re patently contradictory. In a propoganda war like this, the government has always the upper hand because the opposition parties are deprived of free access to state TV and radio. Kulmiye party officials are expected to issue a press statement of some sort tomorrow.

This is a higher then average amount of NW Somalia propaganda. It looks like the members that hail from there are on a cooridinated effort today to try and ruin the July 1st celebrations. By either writing more about their enclave or bashing other parts of the nation. Come on guys, you can join the party!

Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland. Yet one of them calls them selves Somaliland! How can they truly expect to be taken seriously by a single country in the world with a name like that???? That's why the U.S invites them with everyone else, it's only logical if you have trouble with Somalis to invite a place with that name!!! The Italian and British were to tell you who was in control, the Somaliland ment to say who they were colonizing. The whole area was Somaliland Italian and British from top to bottom. Hilarious!!! They want to be seperate but with a name like that, they have linked themselves to Somalia. Can one person tell me why they chose that name?

Sarcarsm not fitting for you chaps! Foreign investment is fine but of bunch brokers running around to make a quick buck Give me a break come on this is not 1950s chaps. Somalia has large number of its sons and daughters who are in M&A, VC, PE and HF. We know what Range Resources is. It is nothing but a broking shop that is originating deals and then selling to the highest shady bidder at the expense of PL!. The couple 100 bucks you guys have invested is mostly like down the frying pan. Don't worry that is the nature of "frontier markets". Good luck. S. The current seems to be doing good things; time will tell. Insha Allah, that we have ratified the constitution, the people will elect their leaders soon. Sophist, The current admin is in meetings with the exact same company that you claim are in business at the expense of Puntland. They obviously don't feel the way you do if this admin is preparing the exploration. When the former admin was in meetings with this group everyone said it was corruption. But I believe that President Faroole who campaigned on a platform of anti-corruption has proven that this company is not corrupt or he would not be meeting with them.

As a democratically elected government, Somaliland’s government cannot allow itself to be perceived as one of the parties in Somalia’s conflict, because such behavior is unacceptable to Somaliland’s people who consider their country as sovereign country, not part of Somalia. Is this a joke?? Riyaale had no problems holding elections when he wanted to be elected, but now NUMEROUS elections have been cancelled and pushed back. He has remained president more then a year and a half after his term expired. There is no democracy. Mr. Payne is fully aware of this as are others!!!!

Fuss? If it is an issue between two governments, then why won't they invite that government. Why are they just inviting local admims under the Somalia. The whole issue here is that they refuse to acknowledge NW Somalia.

HAAA Sometimes I just want to forget about NW Somalia and let them choose what they want. But then these threads come up, that are just so ridiculous. Like US has an interest in breaking up Somalia, so there's another African country they need to pour aid into. It's almost as ridiculous as Oodweyne saying that Mr. Payne would have lunch with the ambassador of NW Somalia and staighten out their problems. the invitation of both Somaliland and Puntland to the latest congressional hearing is a somewhat tacit admission of the failure of the previous approach of focusing US policy only on the TFG, but the fact that the US is still insisting on a “unified response” even at this late stage of the game, shows that the US is still attached to the previous policy though with some modification The second problem is that of peace. Clearly there is no peace in Somalia. So if the US says it is interested in bringing peace to Somalia, it is a rational even admirable thing. But the question that US policymakers have to answer is if they are really interested in establishing an enduring peace among Somalis, why they have not helped strengthen the peace in Somaliland by extending development aid to Somaliland and thereby showing all Somalis that indeed there is a peace dividend for those who take the path of peace instead of the path of the war? So basically they want to be seperate from Somalia, but want the US to use their region an example to peace to other Somalis. Aren't they doing that with Djibouti already? Aren't they using Djbouti to fight terrorism, piracy and anything else?

Has Riyaale returned to Lascaanod since he was chased out 8 years ago or so?

He questioned NW Somalia's dedication to peace with fellow Somalis and said that all three regions must work together.

The news is always involving some sort of blood shed from the supports of Al Shabaab. It's rarely something that was built or opened, hospital or something else productive that will help the vulnerable. For them peace is when a town falls without a gun fight! Even the news about expired food involves gun men with covered faces. A hand and foot being severed, I wonder if they actually think this is good news!

Very powerful picture, the U.S seems to be meeting with more regions in Somalia. I think they are realizing that there are area's taking care of their own affairs. Even the smallest amount of help will benefit the Puntland Admin. They can even organize the diaspora during this trip and motivate them to take charge! Good pictures!

There reasoning is that they are doing what special forces or swat teams do, even though it is unheard of in Somalia until they've started this. I just don't believe they are worried of being arrested by the Federal Government. No other group in Somalia does this. I'm pretty sure they are not very popular amoung the people, and don't want to be recognized or their loved ones either. This is why when it comes to something as simple as enforcing a rule on expired food, they need to use the gunmen.

Somaliland appeals to international community for urgent emergency assistance This is precisely why no country will recognize NW Somalia. No one wants another poor African country dependant on aid. They already have enough of those and would rather not have to allocate more money to another country. This is why the AU won’t even consider it. There is no benefit to them by recognizing it. They’ll just have to end up supporting another impoverished nation. I pray for the people who are suffering and insha’Allah things will get better for them. The international community would rather keep the headache that is Somalia together then seperate it and have to dish out money to more governments.

Duke is there video of his speech?

Who this good man???

Kashafa, You are letting history repeat itself kind sir! The more the forces you support spread out the weaker you become. Baby steps!! I thought the speed in which the ICU was defeated would atleast of humbled you. They were on the verge of spreading to unheard of distances and with in days were crushed. Losing the capital and it's leaders fleeing never to return until Ethiopia was long gone. The major area's of the capital Aiport, Sea Port, Presidential Palace, still out of your hands. Don't make the same mistake again!!! The suicide bombings and dressing as civilians tactics will turn against you! Eritrea doesn't have your best interests.

But, other than that I can't think of any other way to say to you that perhaps the best thing to do from your end will be to start worrying about what manner of price did that “despicable criminality”, as well as the latest “high-seas robbery” of the “pirate-land”, have cost you, particularly in the eyes of the international community, indeed... In the eyes of the international community it has cost ALL of Somalia a lot. That is why the WHOLE nation was invited to this meeting, including the admin in Hargeysa NW Somalia. If it was only Puntland, then they would have just invited them. When the International Community reads about SOMALI Pirates, it will only paint a region named SOMALILAND in a bad light to!!!