The mysterious appearance of strange aliases has begun. no need for aliases and I've been a SOL member for years...you wouldn't be a racist would you? I'm pretty certain i've done more good in this world than you have but keep up the propaganda...it keeps me amused Ü

Pls introduce yourself to the Nomads and Sr. Nomads b4 you commit to negative energy by bashing others. LOL, that's the pot calling the kettle black...you've negative about everything that's not Maakhir ..try being a little more consistent with your support and you might salvage some credibility also don't be so niave, you should be Thankful (lol)that I am investing in a company that is trying to better your country...oh I forgot, you only care about "your people" and "your region"

Originally posted by Som@li: Axmed Guure Adam spoke of the truth, Thanks Xudeedi LMAO...maybe we should ask the former puntland tea lady for her opinion

Somaliland: Recognition Will Never Come 18 Sep 18, 2010 - 2:12:50 PM By: Cali Caraale Somalilanders are an optimistic lot. They have been waiting for recognition from the international community for almost twenty years without success yet not once have they doubted that their holy grail is just round the corner; that Africa, America, Britain Ethiopia or perhaps even Israel will see the justice of their cause and award them the recognition they believe they richly deserve. Watching Europe and America recognise over twenty new nations in Europe and Eurasia during the same period they were struggling for the same right does not seem to dim their cheery expectation that their day will come too. Being resolutely ignored and on occasion deliberately humiliated by all regional and international institutions is dismissed as mere temporary impediments on their historic journey to ultimate glory. One can only admire their naïve convictions but there is a terrible truth Somalilanders must one day wake up and face: they are not going to be recognised any time soon and perhaps never will be. Not by Europe loth to have yet another begging-bowl stretching African non-state calling on their recession depleted foreign aid packages. Not by America whose African policy is currently shaped by a cabal of African-Americans brought up on the romantic notions of Negritude and Pan-Africanism and who consider any further breaking up of `big village mother Africa’ as tantamount to racial treachery. And they are certainly not going to be recognised by dictatorial Arab nations viscerally opposed to any form of geopolitical change in their region lest it gives their restless populations unwanted ideas. Somalilanders dillydallying with that tiresome Western stuff called democracy does not help matters at all. And forget the AU members, unless, perhaps, Somalilanders could muster a slush fund to grease the palms of those eager, smiley lawmakers across the continent who are open to negotiations on all affairs, for the right price. Somaliland has no access to such wealth at this stage; partially because they are forced by lack of recognition to spend most of their meagre resources on maintaining an oversize army in order to survive in this bad neighbourhood. Analysts in Hargeisa, the capital like to point out if Somalia were to attack Somaliland tomorrow as it did in the late 80s it will not be seen as a foreign invasion but as a civil war or even, incredibly, a Nation State justifiably ‘pacifying’ a rogue region. And finally to kill off any chance of this desert entity ever getting on a world map, they have managed to accumulate an extraordinarily diverse collection of enemies determined to smother the place to death before it gets born. Egypt is one such enemy. Cairo believes that a strong, united Somalia is essential element in its biblical, existential struggle with Ethiopia over the life-giving waters of the Nile. Cairo is completely deluded as usual (Modern Egypt has a history of bad analysis, planning and strategy on regional matters) because Somaliland will never be part of Somalia again but the Mubarak regime still issues telling statements about ‘the sovereignty…and territorial integrity’ of Somalia every time the issue of Somaliland is raised by sympathisers in the AU, UN or the Arab League. Saudi Arabia is equally hostile to the very idea of a free, democratic, secular little new nation across its red sea waters. The UN bureaucracy is so hostile to the place it even refuses to mention its name. All of this rule out any chance of recognition unless there are tectonic, miraculous political sea changes in the area. Somalilanders may still hope but miracles only occur in ancient religious tales not in cold, modern-day political realities. They need to face this awful truth not matter how painful and spend their energies on ways of living without recognition rather than hankering after its mirage. http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Opinion_20/Somaliland_Recognition_Will_Never_Come.shtml

Somaliland and Ethiopian forces clash with ONLF rebels BORAMA (Somalilandpress) — According to local eyewitnesses a heavy war erupted between the Ethiopian troops and ONLF rebels near the Somaliland border on Tuesday and has displaced many in near by towns and villages. An eyewitness told Somalilandpress that the clashes began midday in the Mar-mar mountains in Awdal region close to the Ethiopian border after the militants were surrounded. They added the Somaliland army have also arrived in the region and is backing the Ethiopian army – each army is said to be shelling the militants from its side of the border. No casualties have been reported but Ethiopia and Somaliland have vowed to eliminate the group from their regions. According to the Interior Minister, Dr. Mohamed Abdi Gabose two boats carrying an estimated 240-300 fighters arrived in the ancient coastal town of Zeila last Friday. The men were then smuggled across Somaliland by three lorries pretending to be carrying food products. He added the Somaliland police captured five men who separated from the group and seized weapons, Eritrean money, communication equipment and training manuals that were in Somali and Amharic. Dr Gabose added the men, who belong to the ****** National Liberation Front (ONLF) received their training in Eritrea and were on their way to the Somali region of Ethiopia to battle the Ethiopian military. Ethiopia has since moved heavily armed battalions near the Somaliland border and the two sides are exchanging information of where about the the militants are. The militants have since separated into three different groups and one is already been trapped with heavy artillery from the Ethiopian forces. Eyewitnesses say, local people have also fled to the Somaliland side and are making their way to near by towns. It’s unclear how long the war will last but Somaliland’s commander of the armed forces said the conflict will be concluded within two-three days. This embarrassment for Somaliland comes weeks after Ethiopia expressed concern about a number of cabinet ministers whom Ethiopia suspects are linked to Somalia’s hard-line al-Shabab. This latest hick-up will further strain relations between Addis Ababa and the new administration in Hargeisa. People in Somaliland can not understand how such a large force could easily land inside Somaliland’s territory. This is now a major security blow for the regime.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010 Somaliland: Eritrean Trained ONLF Rebels Surrounded HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) — Somaliland’s top generals said on Tuesday they have surrounded up to 300 rebel forces from neighboring Ethiopia who recently arrived in Somaliland from Eritrea. Gen. Elmi Robleh Furrur, the general of Somaliland’s armed forces and police Commissioner Nouh Ismail Taani held a press conference in Hargeisa in which they showcased different types of weapons, military training manuals and large sums of cash that they said was seized from the ****** National Liberation Front. They said the group has entered the country from Northwestern shores, near the seaport towns of Zeila and Lughaya. The two official estimated the numbers of the militia close to 250 men. General Elmi Robel Furr said that the Somaliland armed forces are surrounding the militia in Maar-maar Mountains in Awdal Region. Although, it is not independently confirmed but the Somaliland secret and armed services believe the men are part of the Ogadan National Liberation Front. The ONLF has been engaged in brutal war against the Ethiopian government since 1984. The ONLF and the Ethiopia government have been accused of committing human right violation in the Eastern part of the country, which inhabited by Somali majority. The ONLF has been fighting to liberate Ogadan Region (Eastern part of Ethiopia) also to join the Somalia. “A group of armed men entered Somaliland from Bulle-Adde, which is situated between the towns of Zeila and Lughaya in the North West of the country. Our information confirms that they entered the country on 10th of September. We estimated their numbers be between 250-300 men. Three large trucks were waiting for them. The group was transported in the trucks, pretending to be carrying shipments of salt. The trucks were able to pass through security checkpoints, because they were familiar to the Somaliland police in that rout in Jidh.” Chief of Police added that:“Somaliland security services received news of abandoned artillery and ammunition found outside of Abdulqadir town near the Ethiopian borders. The army and police were able to act quickly and track the men to Maar-maar Mountains. Some of the things we recovered include 62 bazookas, chemical materials, cash (Eritrean Nakfa), communication equipments, and military training manuals in Somali and Amharic languages.” “The militants were trying to cross into Ethiopia near the town of Abdoulqadir, however, they are surrounded in Maar-maar and Libahalaye mountains, on the western border with Ethiopia. The Ethiopia army received this information early. They were able to prevent the group from crossing into Ethiopia. We are working closely with the Ethiopian army. So the militia is now trapped between Ethiopia and Somaliland,” he revealed. The General of armed forces, Gen. Elmi Robleh Furr said, “this is not the first time that Somaliland police captured individuals illegally entering Ethiopia through Somaliland. But this is the first time we have confronted this large number of militants, who are fully armed.” The General added that Somaliland coast is long and vast, and Somaliland armed services and Navy cannot patrol it 100 percent. We have limited resources. “In previous raids, we captured smuggled goods, gasoline, electronic and untaxed products; we have also captured weapons and illegal materials. We will continue our efforts to secure our borders, but as it now, we are under resourced.” Somaliland army sent reinforcement to Abdulqadir town to captured the armed men. The General confirmed that all the evidences point to ONFL. The two officials discounted public speculations that the armed men are part of local Somaliland militia from Awdal Regions. The newly elected Somaliland government is unpopular in Awdal Province. There were number of protests in the region after President Mohamed Ahmed Mohamoud ‘Silanyo’ announced his cabinet. Local leaders in the region were unhappy with the representation they received in the cabinet. The Ethiopian and Somaliland government have close military and security cooperation. In previous incidents the Somaliland government handed over members of ONLF and Islamists activities wanted by the Ethiopian government. In 2008 Human Rights Watch accused the Ethiopian soldiers of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during a counterinsurgency campaign in its Eastern Somali region. In May of this year, the Ethiopian government entered Somaliland borders to crush SSC militia and other Islamist militia. The SSC (Sool, Saanag and Cyan) is fighting Sin ool and Snaag Regions against the Somaliland government. They are backed by pro-Somalia elements and other militants in the region such as ONLF. Ethiopia has accused groups like the ONLF, al-Shabab and SSC to be proxy for Eritrea, the regional and historic enemy of Ethiopia. Many analysts have accused both countries to play a proxy war in Somalia. Eritrea supports number of anti-Ethiopian militant group like ONLF and al Shabab, whereas the Ethiopian government supports the weak Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu. Both government have openly supported opposing political sides inside Somalia. The two countries have a long history of border dispute. Written by Abdiqani Baynah and Mohamed Gulaid

Give Atam a break, he was only selling arms to Al Shabaab to buy farming equipment He's just a confused soul, Al Shabaab brother one day..Saviour the next lol

Somalia: Somaliland interior minister 'worried' about Galgala militants 8 Sep 8, 2010 - 2:56:45 PM A Cabinet minister in Somalia's separatist region of Somaliland has expressed his worries about a group of militants fighting against Puntland government, Radio Garowe reports. Dr. Mohamed Abdi Gabose, Somaliland's interior minister, told a press conference Tuesday in Hargeisa that the security situation in Somaliland is stable and that security forces are aware of all movements. Dr. Gabose was asked by Hargeisa journalists what the Somaliland government thinks of the Galgala militants allied to Al Shabaab, who are led by a man named Mohamed Said Atom. "They [Galgala militants] are a threat to Somaliland if they are defeated by Puntland or not," Somaliland Interior Minister Dr. Gabose responded to the reporter's question. He explained that if the Galgala militants are not defeated, they are a serious threat to Somaliland security "because they are an armed force," adding: "If they are defeated, their remnants can commit acts of terrorism inside Somaliland." Dr. Gabose stated that Somaliland's administration "does not have a clear strategy" to face off the Galgala militants but indicated that the administration was "very worried" about developments in Golis mountain range that connect Somaliland and Puntland. Atom and the Galgala militants have hidden in the Golis mountain range and are being hunted down by Puntland troops, according to government officials in Puntland. Puntland troops have seized all three facilities used by the Galgala militants, who have pledged their allegiance to Al Shabaab. Puntland accuses the Galgala militants of assassinations and bombings inside Puntland and government troops have seized facilities including training camps. Separately, Somaliland's interior minister Dr. Gabose denied media reports that relations between Somaliland and Ethiopia have gotten worse since the June election of President Ahmed Silanyo in Somaliland. Somaliland, located in northwest Somalia, unilaterally declared independence in 1991 but has not been recognized internationally.

LMAO...you should go on the road with your comedy routine...hilarious Ü

^You keep listening to him, but honestly I didn't even bother to listen, Why would I listen to Faroole Spokesman? Ignorance is bliss

nice try Universal jurisdiction or universality principle is a principle in public international law (as opposed to private international law) whereby states claim criminal jurisdiction over persons whose alleged crimes were committed outside the boundaries of the prosecuting state, regardless of nationality, country of residence, or any other relation with the prosecuting country. The state backs its claim on the grounds that the crime committed is considered a crime against all, which any state is authorized to punish, as it is too serious to tolerate jurisdictional arbitrage. The concept of universal jurisdiction is therefore closely linked to the idea that certain international norms are erga omnes, or owed to the entire world community, as well as the concept of jus cogens - that certain international law obligations are binding on all states and cannot be modified by treaty. Maritime piracy, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982, consists of any criminal acts of violence, detention, rape, or depredation committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or aircraft that is directed on the high seas against another ship, aircraft, or against persons or property on board a ship or aircraft. Piracy can also be committed against a ship, aircraft, persons, or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any state, IN FACT PIRACY HAS BEEN THE FIRST EXAMPLE OF UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION

Originally posted by Land_Soldier: Burn Notice, Are you aware that explotation of natural resources in conflict areas, is likely to fuel the conflict? And hasnt this been the case in Puntland, where many died because of the conflict on natural resources? Land Soldier With the exception of the Galgala conflict, Puntland has been a peaceful region of Somalia...the company is honouring its agreements with the government elected by the people to explore for resources...nothing sinister as some on here profess Do you want foreign investment in Somaliland? I never realised "development" was a dirty world..someone needs to tell China to stop producing and utilising the worlds resources I find the continual killing on innocent people by Al Shabab more despicable than anything Africa Oil could ever do

BurnNotice, since you are a shareholder of Africa Oil, why is the company so determined to exploit conflict-prone areas of Africa. Does greed overtake respect for human lives. How many people have died or displaced thus fact since the company's board decided to go ahead with the murky deal in a lawless Somalia? On the contrary Rothschild, I would hope that the economic development of Puntlands natural resources would help the state/country grow and prosper...that's how it works for the rest of the world...perhaps you would prefer that Puntland wait for handouts from the international community?? It's naïve thinking like yours that has held the country back ... the agreements have been endorsed by both PL govts, the TFG and welcomed by the people of Puntland Ade Muse should be commended for taking these initiatives and having the foresight to better his people

Duke, Atom and his clan seem to be in the way of the oil. What to do about him and his clan? The oil targets are no where near Galgala...the only prospects around there were mineral resources which takes years and millions in infrastructure to develop so Atom better get cracking with his pick and shovel Ü the oil targets are MASSIVE so I doubt uncle sam will let a two-bit terrorist get in the way but we'll see won't we

Lol Thankful It's all about timing with these guys..or should I say it's dependent on which way the wind blows

"foreign looters (African Oil)" LMAO.....comedy Gold Xudeedi

Nice post Samafal..thank you you're too cool for school Rudy....keep focusing on the physical features of people and you will go far in life...and just in case you can't work it out for your self I was being sarcastic

Puntland is the only forward thinking state The rest are stuck in the past and hence will never move forward as a state or as a community If puntland can prevail, they will be the blueprint for the rest of Somalia..otherwise Somalia will suffer for another 20 years

the terrorist supporters on this thread are a disgrace to the human race

"Why did Maakhir under Atam fight Cade Muuse couple of years back?" because the company was merely taking samples for mineral exploration..as The Duke pointed out the hydrocarbon targets are in Nugaal and Ufain Bari Economic growth in Angola, Mauritania and Malawi to name just a few were a result of exploration and development of their natural resources for the betterment of these nations....so why do some somalis see these contracts as "illegal" and exploitative?...because they are not part of it. Fortunately Pres Cade Muse thought otherwise and had the foresight to attract investment in Puntland when no other companies dared. The $250,000 donated for the Garowe Airport upgrade wll be chicken feed when Africa Oil strike oil in its Maroodi targets later this year

Puntland v Al Kebab..Terrorist v politician ..ever since Bush raided Iraq looking for imaginary WMD's the line between the 2 became grey Ü I'm tipping the truth will come out eventually and the one seeking to develop and grow rather than kill & destroy will be revealed...but I forgot Atom never said Al Shabaab were his brothers lol

LOL the unbiased Dhahar Online Very quick to turn on your own...so much for loyalty

I think Sanaag should seek independence just like Somaliland ..who needs the systems & govt institutions puntland is trying to implement...let Al Shabab set up shop in Sanaag and cut peoples hands off for watching football...that sounds like a great place to live divide and conquer i say...who wants a united Somalia, let lawlessness continue & prevail...I'm sure those regions will become economic powerhouses selling dates and goats ...Atam the robin hood of Somalia Ü

"It was back in 2006" LOL...at a time when Faroole was against everything the previous admin had achieved...funny how the agreements are no longer "illegal" according to GO I wouldn't be surprised if Ashley is Faroole's son lol...u guys crack me up

Lol Thankful, as they say never let the facts get in the way of a good story ..Atam must be a modern day Robin Hood Ü