You will be missed, but remember your country and people want your contribution and involvement, both financial and intellectual, online and offline.

^ I don't know. The term Ham is a biblical term. How can we believe in biblical terms to identify our ethnicity? Worse yet, the Bible writes that Ham race was cursed by prophet Noah and his color transformed into darkness. Whereas Muslims believe in that Ham and his descendents were obliterated from the earth by tragic events, that none of them survived.

Abtigiis, My real objective of posting the above article was to underline the striking difference between the separatist ONLF and the separatist Somaliland. The separatist ONLF has more legitimacy than the latter for the glaring fact that the Somalis in the O.... region are ethnically distinct, has different culture, language and profess their own religion. This was one of the reasons why Prof. Shamsaddin eloquently stated that Somaliland can not bring one single reason why it should be separate from Somalia. International law and politics are both against the splitting of ethnic group or nation into several countries. So what makes Abu-Geljire resents my position that seeks to dissect the fundamental problems of the liberation movement (ONLF), or why am I motivated by the quest for discovering the road to peace and greater international cooperation? First, using comparative method of Somalia vs the O case, one would be moved beyond the critique of traditional biases in order to stay focused on events that shape the current crisis of Somalia. Somalia’s problem is nothing but various clans vying for political power against an elected government. TFG had initially avoided at all cost to stumble into a war with this group and that many of our neighbors have done all they can to offer to mediate for the sake of their country. So for an internationally recognized government that is, however, threatened, would definitely seek deterrence and protection configured in her best interest. The reason is clear since the TFG was led ineluctably into war in a country that is plagued by a long line of warlords and anarchy, a country washed up with weapons and all types of covert groups. I think they are there already. Abtigiis, If I were you, I would have distanced myself from being lured into the bait of Al-Shabab phenomena. This inference could be rightly or wrongly taken as though ONLF is affiliated with the Al-Shayaadiin or that the elements of ONLF are now based in MOgadishu and outskirts fighting alongside with this brutal, globally Jihadist front. In fact Senior military officers of ONLF distance themselves from the Islamist youth network. Being a devout supporter of ONLF and its political activities, I am under the impression that you fall along that line of thinking professed by the leaders of the organization. The group's aims have varied over time from increased autonomy in Ethiopia to outright independence to joining a "Greater Somalia". Al-Jazeera This seems to place another layer of complexity as to the direction of the organization, which I said requires a new structure and revamped mode of thinking and communication. Good luck!!

"If Kant were dug up tomorrow and asked about the Palestinians, he would probably answer: "Give them what you think should be given to everybody, and don't wake me up again to ask silly questions." Amusing finish.

An Israeli writer with inspiring viewpoints on liberation struggles Tibet and Palestine By URI AVNERY April 7, 08 CounterPunch "Hey! Take your hands off me! Not you! You!!!"--the voice of a young woman in the darkened cinema, an old joke. "Hey! Take your hands off Tibet!" the international chorus is crying out, "But not from Chechnya! Not from the Basque homeland! And certainly not from Palestine!" And that is not a joke. * * * LIKE EVERYBODY else, I support the right of the Tibetan people to independence, or at least autonomy. Like everybody else, I condemn the actions of the Chinese government there. But unlike everybody else, I am not ready to join in the demonstrations. Why? Because I have an uneasy feeling that somebody is washing my brain, that what is going on is an exercise in hypocrisy. I don't mind a bit of manipulation. After all, it is not by accident that the riots started in Tibet on the eve of the Olympic Games in Beijing. That's alright. A people fighting for their freedom have the right to use any opportunity that presents itself to further their struggle. I support the Tibetans in spite of it being obvious that the Americans are exploiting the struggle for their own purposes. Clearly, the CIA has planned and organized the riots, and the American media are leading the world-wide campaign. It is a part of the hidden struggle between the US, the reigning super-power, and China, the rising super-power - a new version of the "Great Game" that was played in central Asia in the 19th century by the British Empire and Russia. Tibet is a token in this game. I am even ready to ignore the fact that the gentle Tibetans have carried out a murderous pogrom against innocent Chinese, killing women and men and burning homes and shops. Such detestable excesses do happen during a liberation struggle. No, what is really bugging me is the hypocrisy of the world media. They storm and thunder about Tibet. In thousands of editorials and talk-shows they heap curses and invective on the evil China. It seems as if the Tibetans are the only people on earth whose right to independence is being denied by brutal force, that if only Beijing would take its dirty hands off the saffron-robed monks, everything would be alright in this, the best of all possible worlds. * * * THERE IS no doubt that the Tibetan people are entitled to rule their own country, to nurture their unique culture, to promote their religious institutions and to prevent foreign settlers from submerging them. But are not the Kurds in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria entitled to the same? The inhabitants of Western Sahara, whose territory is occupied by Morocco? The Basques in Spain? The Corsicans off the coast of France? And the list is long. Why do the world's media adopt one independence struggle, but often cynically ignore another independence struggle? What makes the blood of one Tibetan redder than the blood of a thousand Africans in East Congo? Again and again I try to find a satisfactory answer to this enigma. In vain. Immanuel Kant demanded of us: "Act as if the principle by which you act were about to be turned into a universal law of nature." (Being a German philosopher, he expressed it in much more convoluted language.) Does the attitude towards the Tibetan problem conform to this rule? Does it reflect our attitude towards the struggle for independence of all other oppressed peoples? Not at all. * * * WHAT, THEN, causes the international media to discriminate between the various liberation struggles that are going on throughout the world? Here are some of the relevant considerations: - Do the people seeking independence have an especially exotic culture? - Are they an attractive people, i.e. "sexy" in the view of the media? - Is the struggle headed by a charismatic personality who is liked by the media? - It the oppressing government disliked by the media? - Does the oppressing government belong to the pro-American camp? This is an important factor, since the United States dominates a large part of the international media, and its news agencies and TV networks largely define the agenda and the terminology of the news coverage. - Are economic interests involved in the conflict? - Does the oppressed people have gifted spokespersons, who are able to attract attention and manipulate the media? * * * FROM THESE points of view, there is nobody like the Tibetans. They enjoy ideal conditions. Fringed by the Himalayas, they are located in one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth. For centuries, just to get there was an adventure. Their unique religion arouses curiosity and sympathy. Its non-violence is very attractive and elastic enough to cover even the ugliest atrocities, like the recent pogrom. The exiled leader, the Dalai Lama, is a romantic figure, a media rock-star. The Chinese regime is hated by many - by capitalists because it is a Communist dictatorship, by Communists because it has become capitalist. It promotes a crass and ugly materialism, the very opposite of the spiritual Buddhist monks, who spend their time in prayer and meditation. When China builds a railway to the Tibetan capital over a thousand inhospitable kilometers, the West does not admire the engineering feat, but sees (quite rightly) an iron monster that brings hundreds of thousands of Han-Chinese settlers to the occupied territory. And of course, China is a rising power, whose economic success threatens America's hegemony in the world. A large part of the ailing American economy already belongs directly or indirectly to China. The huge American Empire is sinking hopelessly into debt, and China may soon be the biggest lender. American manufacturing industry is moving to China, taking millions of jobs with it. Compared to these factors, what have the Basques, for example, to offer? Like the Tibetans, they inhabit a contiguous territory, most of it in Spain, some of it in France. They, too, are an ancient people with their own language and culture. But these are not exotic and do not attract special notice. No prayer wheels. No robed monks. The Basques do not have a romantic leader, like Nelson Mandela or the Dalai Lama. The Spanish state, which arose from the ruins of Franco's detested dictatorship, enjoys great popularity around the world. Spain belongs to the European Union, which is more or less in the American camp, sometimes more, sometimes less. The armed struggle of the Basque underground is abhorred by many and is considered "terrorism", especially after Spain has accorded the Basques a far-reaching autonomy. In these circumstances, the Basques have no chance at all of gaining world support for independence. The Chechnyans should have been in a better position. They, too, are a separate people, who have for a long time been oppressed by the Czars of the Russian Empire, including Stalin and Putin. But alas, they are Muslims - and in the Western world, Islamophobia now occupies the place that had for centuries been reserved for anti-Semitism. Islam has turned into a synonym for terrorism, it is seen as a religion of blood and murder. Soon it will be revealed that Muslims slaughter Christian children and use their blood for baking Pitta. (In reality it is, of course, the religion of dozens of vastly different peoples, from Indonesia to Morocco and from Kosova to Zanzibar. The US does not fear Moscow as it fears Beijing. Unlike China, Russia does not look like a country that could dominate the 21st century. The West has no interest in renewing the Cold War, as it has in renewing the Crusades against Islam. The poor Chechnyans, who have no charismatic leader or outstanding spokespersons, have been banished from the headlines. For all the world cares, Putin can hit them as much as he wants, kill thousands and obliterate whole towns. That does not prevent Putin from supporting the demands of Abkhazia and South Ossetia for separation from Georgia, a country which infuriates Russia. * * * IF IMMANUEL KANT knew what's going on in Kosova, he would be scratching his head. The province demanded its independence from Serbia, and I, for one, supported that with all my heart. This is a separate people, with a different culture (Albanian) and its own religion (Islam). After the popular Serbian leader, Slobodan Milosevic, tried to drive them out of their country, the world rose and provided moral and material support for their struggle for independence. The Albanian Kosovars make up 90% of the citizens of the new state, which has a population of two million. The other 10% are Serbs, who want no part of the new Kosova. They want the areas they live in to be annexed to Serbia. According to Kant's maxim, are they entitled to this? I would propose a pragmatic moral principle: Every population that inhabits a defined territory and has a clear national character is entitled to independence. A state that wants to keep such a population must see to it that they feel comfortable, that they receive their full rights, enjoy equality and have an autonomy that satisfies their aspirations. In short: that they have no reason to desire separation. That applies to the French in Canada, the Scots in Britain, the Kurds in Turkey and elsewhere, the various ethnic groups in Africa, the indigenous peoples in Latin America, the Tamils in Sri Lanka and many others. Each has a right to choose between full equality, autonomy and independence. * * * THIS LEADS us, of course, to the Palestinian issue. In the competition for the sympathy of the world media, the Palestinians are unlucky. According to all the objective standards, they have a right to full independence, exactly like the Tibetans. They inhabit a defined territory, they are a specific nation, a clear border exists between them and Israel. One must really have a crooked mind to deny these facts. But the Palestinians are suffering from several cruel strokes of fate: The people that oppress them claim for themselves the crown of ultimate victimhood. The whole world sympathizes with the Israelis because the Jews were the victims of the most horrific crime of the Western world. That creates a strange situation: the oppressor is more popular than the victim. Anyone who supports the Palestinians is automatically suspected of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial. Also, the great majority of the Palestinians are Muslims (nobody pays attention to the Palestinian Christians). Since Islam arouses fear and abhorrence in the West, the Palestinian struggle has automatically become a part of that shapeless, sinister threat, "international terrorism". And since the murders of Yasser Arafat and Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the Palestinians have no particularly impressive leader - neither in Fatah nor in Hamas. The world media are shedding tears for the Tibetan people, whose land is taken from them by Chinese settlers. Who cares about the Palestinians, whose land is taken from them by our settlers? In the world-wide tumult about Tibet, the Israeli spokespersons compare themselves - strange as it sounds - to the poor Tibetans, not to the evil Chinese. Many think this quite logical. If Kant were dug up tomorrow and asked about the Palestinians, he would probably answer: "Give them what you think should be given to everybody, and don't wake me up again to ask silly questions." Uri Avnery is an Israeli writer and peace activist with Gush Shalom. He is o a contributor to CounterPunch's book The Politics of Anti-Semitism.

An Israeli writer with inspiring viewpoints on liberation struggles Tibet and Palestine By URI AVNERY April 7, 08 CounterPunch "Hey! Take your hands off me! Not you! You!!!"--the voice of a young woman in the darkened cinema, an old joke. "Hey! Take your hands off Tibet!" the international chorus is crying out, "But not from Chechnya! Not from the Basque homeland! And certainly not from Palestine!" And that is not a joke. * * * LIKE EVERYBODY else, I support the right of the Tibetan people to independence, or at least autonomy. Like everybody else, I condemn the actions of the Chinese government there. But unlike everybody else, I am not ready to join in the demonstrations. Why? Because I have an uneasy feeling that somebody is washing my brain, that what is going on is an exercise in hypocrisy. I don't mind a bit of manipulation. After all, it is not by accident that the riots started in Tibet on the eve of the Olympic Games in Beijing. That's alright. A people fighting for their freedom have the right to use any opportunity that presents itself to further their struggle. I support the Tibetans in spite of it being obvious that the Americans are exploiting the struggle for their own purposes. Clearly, the CIA has planned and organized the riots, and the American media are leading the world-wide campaign. It is a part of the hidden struggle between the US, the reigning super-power, and China, the rising super-power - a new version of the "Great Game" that was played in central Asia in the 19th century by the British Empire and Russia. Tibet is a token in this game. I am even ready to ignore the fact that the gentle Tibetans have carried out a murderous pogrom against innocent Chinese, killing women and men and burning homes and shops. Such detestable excesses do happen during a liberation struggle. No, what is really bugging me is the hypocrisy of the world media. They storm and thunder about Tibet. In thousands of editorials and talk-shows they heap curses and invective on the evil China. It seems as if the Tibetans are the only people on earth whose right to independence is being denied by brutal force, that if only Beijing would take its dirty hands off the saffron-robed monks, everything would be alright in this, the best of all possible worlds. * * * THERE IS no doubt that the Tibetan people are entitled to rule their own country, to nurture their unique culture, to promote their religious institutions and to prevent foreign settlers from submerging them. But are not the Kurds in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria entitled to the same? The inhabitants of Western Sahara, whose territory is occupied by Morocco? The Basques in Spain? The Corsicans off the coast of France? And the list is long. Why do the world's media adopt one independence struggle, but often cynically ignore another independence struggle? What makes the blood of one Tibetan redder than the blood of a thousand Africans in East Congo? Again and again I try to find a satisfactory answer to this enigma. In vain. Immanuel Kant demanded of us: "Act as if the principle by which you act were about to be turned into a universal law of nature." (Being a German philosopher, he expressed it in much more convoluted language.) Does the attitude towards the Tibetan problem conform to this rule? Does it reflect our attitude towards the struggle for independence of all other oppressed peoples? Not at all. * * * WHAT, THEN, causes the international media to discriminate between the various liberation struggles that are going on throughout the world? Here are some of the relevant considerations: - Do the people seeking independence have an especially exotic culture? - Are they an attractive people, i.e. "sexy" in the view of the media? - Is the struggle headed by a charismatic personality who is liked by the media? - It the oppressing government disliked by the media? - Does the oppressing government belong to the pro-American camp? This is an important factor, since the United States dominates a large part of the international media, and its news agencies and TV networks largely define the agenda and the terminology of the news coverage. - Are economic interests involved in the conflict? - Does the oppressed people have gifted spokespersons, who are able to attract attention and manipulate the media? * * * FROM THESE points of view, there is nobody like the Tibetans. They enjoy ideal conditions. Fringed by the Himalayas, they are located in one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth. For centuries, just to get there was an adventure. Their unique religion arouses curiosity and sympathy. Its non-violence is very attractive and elastic enough to cover even the ugliest atrocities, like the recent pogrom. The exiled leader, the Dalai Lama, is a romantic figure, a media rock-star. The Chinese regime is hated by many - by capitalists because it is a Communist dictatorship, by Communists because it has become capitalist. It promotes a crass and ugly materialism, the very opposite of the spiritual Buddhist monks, who spend their time in prayer and meditation. When China builds a railway to the Tibetan capital over a thousand inhospitable kilometers, the West does not admire the engineering feat, but sees (quite rightly) an iron monster that brings hundreds of thousands of Han-Chinese settlers to the occupied territory. And of course, China is a rising power, whose economic success threatens America's hegemony in the world. A large part of the ailing American economy already belongs directly or indirectly to China. The huge American Empire is sinking hopelessly into debt, and China may soon be the biggest lender. American manufacturing industry is moving to China, taking millions of jobs with it. Compared to these factors, what have the Basques, for example, to offer? Like the Tibetans, they inhabit a contiguous territory, most of it in Spain, some of it in France. They, too, are an ancient people with their own language and culture. But these are not exotic and do not attract special notice. No prayer wheels. No robed monks. The Basques do not have a romantic leader, like Nelson Mandela or the Dalai Lama. The Spanish state, which arose from the ruins of Franco's detested dictatorship, enjoys great popularity around the world. Spain belongs to the European Union, which is more or less in the American camp, sometimes more, sometimes less. The armed struggle of the Basque underground is abhorred by many and is considered "terrorism", especially after Spain has accorded the Basques a far-reaching autonomy. In these circumstances, the Basques have no chance at all of gaining world support for independence. The Chechnyans should have been in a better position. They, too, are a separate people, who have for a long time been oppressed by the Czars of the Russian Empire, including Stalin and Putin. But alas, they are Muslims - and in the Western world, Islamophobia now occupies the place that had for centuries been reserved for anti-Semitism. Islam has turned into a synonym for terrorism, it is seen as a religion of blood and murder. Soon it will be revealed that Muslims slaughter Christian children and use their blood for baking Pitta. (In reality it is, of course, the religion of dozens of vastly different peoples, from Indonesia to Morocco and from Kosova to Zanzibar. The US does not fear Moscow as it fears Beijing. Unlike China, Russia does not look like a country that could dominate the 21st century. The West has no interest in renewing the Cold War, as it has in renewing the Crusades against Islam. The poor Chechnyans, who have no charismatic leader or outstanding spokespersons, have been banished from the headlines. For all the world cares, Putin can hit them as much as he wants, kill thousands and obliterate whole towns. That does not prevent Putin from supporting the demands of Abkhazia and South Ossetia for separation from Georgia, a country which infuriates Russia. * * * IF IMMANUEL KANT knew what's going on in Kosova, he would be scratching his head. The province demanded its independence from Serbia, and I, for one, supported that with all my heart. This is a separate people, with a different culture (Albanian) and its own religion (Islam). After the popular Serbian leader, Slobodan Milosevic, tried to drive them out of their country, the world rose and provided moral and material support for their struggle for independence. The Albanian Kosovars make up 90% of the citizens of the new state, which has a population of two million. The other 10% are Serbs, who want no part of the new Kosova. They want the areas they live in to be annexed to Serbia. According to Kant's maxim, are they entitled to this? I would propose a pragmatic moral principle: Every population that inhabits a defined territory and has a clear national character is entitled to independence. A state that wants to keep such a population must see to it that they feel comfortable, that they receive their full rights, enjoy equality and have an autonomy that satisfies their aspirations. In short: that they have no reason to desire separation. That applies to the French in Canada, the Scots in Britain, the Kurds in Turkey and elsewhere, the various ethnic groups in Africa, the indigenous peoples in Latin America, the Tamils in Sri Lanka and many others. Each has a right to choose between full equality, autonomy and independence. * * * THIS LEADS us, of course, to the Palestinian issue. In the competition for the sympathy of the world media, the Palestinians are unlucky. According to all the objective standards, they have a right to full independence, exactly like the Tibetans. They inhabit a defined territory, they are a specific nation, a clear border exists between them and Israel. One must really have a crooked mind to deny these facts. But the Palestinians are suffering from several cruel strokes of fate: The people that oppress them claim for themselves the crown of ultimate victimhood. The whole world sympathizes with the Israelis because the Jews were the victims of the most horrific crime of the Western world. That creates a strange situation: the oppressor is more popular than the victim. Anyone who supports the Palestinians is automatically suspected of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial. Also, the great majority of the Palestinians are Muslims (nobody pays attention to the Palestinian Christians). Since Islam arouses fear and abhorrence in the West, the Palestinian struggle has automatically become a part of that shapeless, sinister threat, "international terrorism". And since the murders of Yasser Arafat and Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the Palestinians have no particularly impressive leader - neither in Fatah nor in Hamas. The world media are shedding tears for the Tibetan people, whose land is taken from them by Chinese settlers. Who cares about the Palestinians, whose land is taken from them by our settlers? In the world-wide tumult about Tibet, the Israeli spokespersons compare themselves - strange as it sounds - to the poor Tibetans, not to the evil Chinese. Many think this quite logical. If Kant were dug up tomorrow and asked about the Palestinians, he would probably answer: "Give them what you think should be given to everybody, and don't wake me up again to ask silly questions." Uri Avnery is an Israeli writer and peace activist with Gush Shalom. He is o a contributor to CounterPunch's book The Politics of Anti-Semitism.

Originally posted by Buuxo: The ONLF's efforts will only be effective when they gain public support and when all the Somalis in that region band-together. Instead of alienating the other B- Y clans and assuming only they know what’s best .At the end of the day, Somalis whereever they are,qabiil is a major issue , and thus we can not underestimate the impact of a name. Like koora said they should be building support from a grass-roots level. Because many of them are wondering what will happen if they gain independence , how will it be any different?, ama in ey imaaneeyso " Kobtaan ka kac” Wale magacaaga iyo caqligaaga waa isku qalmaan. Great point.

Abtigiis, that is a good question. I guess they are realists rather than idealists. How about Western Somaliland or as Rudy said, Western Somalia.

"Mr. Yusuf oo la waydiiyey in mucaaradka rumeysan yihiin in hadii dib-u-hehsiisiin la galayo in waxkasta miiska la saaro ama laga wada hadlo ayaa ku jawaabey " dib u heshiisiinta dowladan ayaa ku dhisan, Power sharing iyo axdigiina waa lagu heshiiyey, Power sharing waa 4.5 formula la yiraahdo ayuu ku dhisan yahay, qolo aan qaybteeda haysan Power-ka ma jirto, dee qoladii dooneysa in ay iyadu badalato dadka Barlamanka uga jira oo kuwa kale soo gashato hadee iyaga ayay u taal mase ah in argagixiso Barlamanka soo gasho." Horta waa run wadaadadu dad baey ka dhasheen oo cid baa metesha, laakin for the sake of peace, let them have more seats than everyone else. Once our coutnry settles down, we should be getting to debate constitutinoally issues of Porportionate representation

These two guys, Nur and Sharif, will be our heroes. Their work is about to bear some fruits.

"If the French forces failed to arrest the criminals who hijacked their ship, then we will not allow our innocent sons to be used as scapegoat." Is it possible that the accused detainees were innocent that the French military operation mistook them as pirates?

Ending conflicts must remain priority for UN and African Union 16 April 2008 – Preventing and resolving conflicts peacefully must remain high on the shared agenda of the United Nations and the African Union, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a high-level Security Council meeting today at UN Headquarters, calling for deeper cooperation between the two institutions. In a speech to a meeting on peace and security in Africa, attended by many heads of State and other high-level figures, Mr. Ban said he would “spare no effort” in making the partnership between the UN and the AU complementary, effective and inclusive. The Secretary-General said the two bodies have already started taking concrete steps to work more closely together on peace and security issues, from deploying good offices and mediation on border issues to developing early warning strategies and building operational capacity on conflict prevention. “We have established a dedicated team to help operationalize the concept of an African Stand-by Force, which would build on the valiant and pioneering efforts of the African Union’s missions in Burundi, in Somalia, in Sudan,” he said. “Today, the DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] team develops training, operational capacity and technical advice, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the sub-regional organizations and donors.” Mr. Ban said that given the importance he attached to preventing and resolving conflicts, he welcomed the recent announcement of a new Government in Kenya, which has been torn by deadly ethnic violence since disputed elections were held at the end of last year. “Now that the immediate power-sharing issues have been addressed, I urge all sides to stay committed to resolving the longer-term causes of the recent unrest.” But he voiced deep concern at the uncertainty in Zimbabwe, where the results of the presidential election on 29 March have still not been released. “Absent a transparent solution to the impasse, the situation could deteriorate further with serious implications for the people of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean authorities and the countries of the region have insisted that these matters are for the region to resolve, but the international community continues to watch and wait for decisive action. “The credibility of the democratic process in Africa could be at stake here. If there is a second round of elections, they must be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, with international observers. I urge the leaders of the Southern African Development Community to continue their efforts.” The Secretary-General also called for accelerated efforts to achieve “desperately needed progress” to the crises in Sudan’s Darfur region and to Somalia, both beset by deadly violence, massive displacement and humanitarian suffering. Under-Secretary-General B. Lynn Pascoe also addressed the open Council meeting, presenting two reports from Mr. Ban regarding UN cooperation with regional organizations and on conflict prevention, especially in Africa. He was followed by more than 40 other speakers. Later, Council members unanimously adopted a resolution that called for measures to strengthen the relationship between the UN and regional organizations, including the AU, on peace and security issues. Regional and subregional organizations should be encouraged to play a role in settling disputes and to promoting regional dialogue as a way of preventing disputes from emerging, the resolution stated. The Council also called for the AU and other groups to strengthen their peacekeeping capacity on the African continent and to develop an early-warning system on conflicts and an enhanced mediation capacity.

Somalia wants multinational force to help peace process New York, April 15, 2008 (DPA) - Somalia called Tuesday for the deployment of a multinational force to assist its work in ending the decades-long civil war and carrying out national reconciliation and institutional building. Somalia's transitional government's President Abdullah Yussuf Ahmed will attend a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday with counterparts from South Africa, the current chair of the council, Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo. South African President Thabo Mbeki will be on hand to preside over the meeting, which was called by his country to discuss the working relationship between the UN and African Union. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi also will be present. Other attendees include AU chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare and delegations to be headed by deputy ministers or their ambassadors at the UN. Somalia's Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Jama told reporters on Tuesday that his president will pitch for a multinational force and for the 15-nation council to assume its role as keeper of peace and security around the world. "We want to ask the Security Council to take over security and deploy an international force to Somalia," said Jama. "We think the Security Council should assume its responsibility in Somalia." Jama was calling for the deployment of several more battalions of troops in addition to the two battalions from Uganda already in Somalia. The UN has been hesitant to agree to send a peacekeeping operation to Somalia because of the lack of a peace process in that country. But the idea has been backed by South Africa. The meeting has been dubbed a summit to strengthen ties with and seek resources to support the AU's peacekeeping role in the African continent. South African UN Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo said the council meeting is expected to adopt a resolution to reinforce the UN-AU relationship and to back a decision by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a panel to study ways to support AU peacekeeping efforts in Africa. The AU's most recent involvement was in Sudan's Darfur, where its 7,000 troops were unable to stop the ethnic conflict, hampered by the lack of logistics, war equipment and money to do their work. Those troops have been merged into a joint UN-AU peacekeeping operations in Darfur, which when fully deployed would reach 30,000 military and civilian personnel, the largest UN operation in the world. A draft resolution to be adopted by the council on Wednesday calls for further enhancing the UN-AU relationship and to strengthen the AU's peacekeeping capacity in Africa. It would also welcome the cooperation between the AU and other organizations like the European Union aimed at building up AU capacities. --- Story from DPA

But what is the long-term effect on the overall country since, as Marxists argue and it is true by the way, that people's consciousness are shaped by the socio-economic condition they live in. If we let Somalia fester in prolonged absence of state, we would live to witness horrific actions with long-term ramifications beyond our borders. We have only seen the smaller of the bigger consequences to come. Telecoms Flourish In Strife-Torn Somalia Mogadishu, Somalia, April 15, 2008 (APA) - Telecommunications is one of the rare business successes in strife-torn Somalia, with three major phone companies. The major companies are Hormuud, Nationlink and Telecom, which compete in the field of mobile and landline phones. Two new phone companies providing mobile telephony, Somfone and Awale, have recently been introduced and are providing the established companies with stiff competition by offering lower charges for international calls. "We charge only 50 US cents for international calls per minute and local calls are free for a monthly fee of just $10 only" Yasin Sharif Hassan, a manager for Hormuud told APA. In Somalia it takes only a couple of days for a landline company and only hours for a mobile service to be launched, whereas it takes several months if not years in neighbouring countries. It is easier to set up a telecommunications business in Somali because there is no need to get a license and there is no state-run monopoly which hinders new competitors from entering the market. Additionally, there are no taxes and hence the low charges. "Telecoms and post services were a monopoly managed by the government before the civil war, but after the regime was toppled, everybody who has money can take part in such businesses," Lutfi Sheriff Mohammed, an economist, told APA. "There is massive demand for telecoms services because of the large numbers of Somalis in the diaspora who still have families and relatives living in Somalia,” he added. Since there is no reliable law and order and a functional court system, bills are paid and contracts are enforced by relying on the traditional clan based system. Somalia’s telecommunication companies are looking forward to even a brighter future with the support of a functioning government. --- Story from Cellular News

Somalia: Eleven Dead As Diarrhoea Hits Sanaag Region UN Integrated Regional Information Networks 17 April 2008 Nairobi At least 11 people have died in Dhahar district in the Sanaag region of northern Somalia, after an outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), medical sources said. "I can confirm 11 have died in Dhahar hospital since the outbreak," Abdulkadir Isse, a doctor at the hospital, said. At least 750 cases have been recorded since 10 March. "Today [17 April], we have 400 patients in the hospital," he said. "We had 42 cases on 13 April, which was the highest for one day." Most affected, apart from Dahar itself, were the villages of Barkadaha Qol, Bali Busle, Buran and Boda all in the same district. However, Bashir Mohamed, country director for the NGO Horn Relief, said the situation had stabilised in the past few days. "We have been collecting people from the outlying areas for treatment," he added. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA-Somalia) in a report last week said AWD was spreading to rural and pastoral settlements in the district. Health staff, it added, were not able to deal with increasing cases due to a limited capacity of only one doctor and two nurses. Isse said the Somaliland administration and Horn Relief had sent medicines and fuel. Eastern Sanaag is claimed by both the self-declared republic of Somaliland and the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland. The outbreak, according to Isse, started after people used water that had been standing a long time and was probably contaminated. The only borehole in the town had broken down earlier. "The movement of pastoralists looking for water and pasture for their livestock during the current drought may also have contributed to the spread of the AWD," he added. Meanwhile, the UN Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, said he was encouraged by the latest positive political developments taking place regarding Somalia. "I am particularly encouraged that President [Abdullahi] Yusuf emphasised that he is willing to do whatever it takes to promote peace and stability and former Speaker Sharif Hasan Shaykh Adan declared that the Somali problem cannot be solved militarily," Ould-Abdallah said in a statement on 16 April.

Somalia: Emergency food aid donated to Dhahar district have raised heightened suspicion Sanaag, Apri 14, 2008 (DhaharOnline)-Reports coming from Dhahar district indicate that the emergency food donated to the rural inhabitants just prior to the outbreak of the Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) contained significant laxative ingredients. Some of the local physicians in the town of Dhahar have also scientifically confirmed in an examination conducted at the main laboratory of Dhahar Hospital that the food donated by Aid organizations in the region were heavily laced with laxatives to cause the diarrhea epidemic. Just prior to the outbreak of AWD, the elders of Sanaag were delegated to the management, coordination, and distribution of the food aid, according to news reports from the region on April 4, 2008. The food aid first arrived in Dhahar via Garowe, the capital of Puntland. On the same day, dozens of people mostly from the rural settlements of Dhahar had died of AWD. Over 500 cases are recorded as of now in the district and the surrounding villages, according to the Office for the Coordination and Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Medical team from Almanhal Al-Islami, a charity organization based in Kuwait, arrived in Dhahar yesterday. They were given access to health care facilities where most patients were admitted. Al-Manhal was also reported to have provided life-saving medicines and promised to increase the capacities of the healthy system in the region. Source: Dhahar.com

Isseh, Walaahi I am very sincere in my comments. I have no ill-will for my people. Waxaan rajeynayaa Soomaaloo is raacdo Waxaan rajaynayaa Riyadeedoo rumowdo Waxaan rajeynayaa nabad iyo raaxo.

This is a dangerous development. They (Range Resources Inc and Africa Oil Corp) are using the same underhanded tactics some Oil Co's once employed against the people of Ecuador who once rejected the exploitation of their country's resources. Aid Organizations in collusion with oil companies have been alleged to distribute food aid laced with laxatives in order to create the cholera epidemic. Oil Giants – NGOs involvement in Maakhir – Somalia? Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis April 15, 2008 In the easternmost confines of Maakhir (the recently self-declared autonomous state of Somalia), and more particularly in the city of Dhahar, an abhorrent Crime against the Mankind is about to be revealed. The new pro-unitary autonomous state remains unrecognized by the Transitional Federal Government which is the officially recognized, yet deeply unrepresentative, Somali institution. Most of the territory of Maakhir corresponds to the Sanaag province, and is inhabited by the Warsangeli Somalis. In the area of Sanaag, Puntland, Somaliland and Maakhir entered repeatedly into various conflicts. The collapse of the environmental conditions is one of the reasons of the strife, notably between the environmentally conscious and sensitive authorities of Maakhir and the treacherous merchants of self-destruction, who are based at Garowe, the purported capital of the unrecognized Puntland. We will quote at this point an excerpt taken from the wikipedia: "A severe drought in the region in the early part of the 21st century caused an 80% or greater loss of livestock, though two good rainy seasons in 2004–2005 helped restore the area. Over a 15-year period of analysis, from 1988–2003, there was a 52% loss of forest and a 40% loss of grassland, and a 370% increase in bare land. Soil erosion due to weather and human activities and clearing of wood and brush for such uses as charcoal and fuel are issues leading to a degradation of the environment"(1). It becomes clear in this regard that the insistence of the Puntland pseudo-authorities and monstrous merchants on the charcoal trade means grave natural and national destruction for the entire Horn of Africa region. More on this subject one can find in a special photo-gallery that highlights the Maakhir authorities´ commitment to environmental protection and law enforcement: This situation had triggered rightful questions as regards the secret targets of some centers of global power that so determinedly and so mercilessly intend to totally obliterate from Somalia any sources, forms and aspects of life. As the questions about the perseverance of the enemies of Somalia keep minds on the alert, a new development that occurred over the past 10 days in Dhahar was interpreted as able to reconfirm the deepest suspicions with respect to plans of mass extermination of the Somali Nation, and complete destruction of the environmental parameters of the Horn of Africa area. Dozens of Dead Because of Food Donations Containing Laxative Ingredients Yesterday, the leading Somali portal Dhahar.com published a first report on the issue, revealing that emergency food donated caused Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) and even the death of dozens of innocent Somalis. No less than 500 cases have been identified and recorded by the UN Office for the Coordination and Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). A Kuwaiti medical team arrived the day before yesterday only to reconfirm the tragic event. The Hidden Perpetrators Revealing the identity of the true perpetrators may be an easy task, if we do scrupulously monitor the international press and constantly identify critical developments of which little is published. Two Somali engineers and specialists revealed before precisely two (2) years the existence of a – monstrous and illegal – concession agreement signed between the totally unrepresentative authorities of the TFG and the ´state´ of Puntland with Consort Private Ltd, an obscure company that subsequently sold 50.1% of their shares to Range Resources Ltd, a small Australian firm, which announced on 21 April 2006 that it secured a letter of intent from Korean National Oil Corporation (KNOC) to buy 75% of the land covered by Range´s concession. The unprecedented document covers an incredibly vast area, almost 90% of the territory under Puntland authorities´ control (more than 200000 km2). It seems that the Somali soil contains a real lake of Oil, and perhaps the expectations posted in the KNOC website for the company return and net profit over the next 7 years reflect the estimates about the early stages of Oil exploitation in Somalia. The best way to evacuate the legitimate inhabitants from most of the coastal regions of Puntland is to decimate them first, and it seems that for 16 consecutive years, wars and conflicts did not prove to be enough. By controlling several Aid organizations that deliver emergency food to those who managed to survive from starvation, an Oil giant can achieve the Somali population evacuation project without even creating protestations. The dead do not protest. At this point, we suggest every concerned individual to go through the well written and informative articles of the two aforementioned Somali engineers, Omar Abdi and Salah Fatah, under the title ´Puntland Oil & Mining Deal: The Offspring of an Affair between Greed and Incompetence. We will however expand further in the future. Note Picture: the tremendously valuable natural environment of Somalia is in danger because of the illegitimate representatives of the divided nation, and the Oil exploitation plans of the world´s Oil Cartel

The Somali Crisis Ali H. Abdulla April 15 , 2008 “For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.” John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy uttered these words eight months after the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, when the two then super powers nearly annihilated each other with weapons of mass destruction. One can’t help but wonder how the crisis would have evolved if the current trigger-happy president of the United States were in the driving seat and calling the shots at that time. The leadership qualities of Kennedy and his brother Robert contributed to moving the United States from a DEFCON 2 situation that could have led to a DEFCON 1 situation – a point of no return - to a normal DEFCON 5 situation. Kennedy went against the advice of the military establishment to take out the missiles and invade Cuba. To avert a devastating nuclear war between the two giants, Kennedy used his leadership qualities, courage and ability to compromise; qualities that only good leaders with vision are endowed with. He first ordered a complete naval blockade of Cuba which prompted Khurshev, the then Russian President, to blink and turn around his fleet. Kennedy then adopted a give-and-take approach to dismantle the nuclear missiles the Soviets managed to assemble in Cuba before the blockade. The approach contributed to Russia agreeing to dismantle the missiles in return for an agreement from the US not to invade Cuba. In another secret agreement the US also agreed to dismantle its nuclear missiles in Turkey. The key words here are foresight, vision, courage and compromise. As Somalis, we do not only breathe the same air, cherish our children’s future and are all mortal but we also share a common language, a common religion, a common country, a common color and a common physique. Despite all these shared characteristics, we have failed miserably to recover from a protracted civil war that has destroyed our country and threatens our future generations. Our current leaders have failed miserably to emulate great men like Kennedy in order to step back from the abyss that we are sliding into at a steady and determined pace. Somalis say “‘rag waa raggii hore, hadalna waa intuu yidhi”. This proverb teaches Somalis to learn from great men before us. We are not the only people who have gone through a devastating civil war. We differ from others by not being able or willing to learn from the past and to emulate the actions of great leaders like Kennedy. Somalis also say “Sidee bay xeegana xeega u noqota ilkana u nabad galaan”. This proverb teaches Somalis to compromise and find alternatives to difficult situations. Foreigners always wonder how it is that Somalis manage to compose wise proverbs but fail to use them to solve their problems. Since Somalis have failed to solve their problems over the last 17 years, it is about time that the World community intervenes to save us from ourselves. The way things are going, there is no hope in sight and the situation can only get worse. We cannot afford to wait another 17 years in search of leaders who can extricate us from the quagmire we are in. Our people are dying in the thousands; our environment is degrading rapidly; our sovereignty is in danger; we are about to disintegrate into numerous clan enclaves that can eventually go to war against each other over scarce natural resources and imaginary borders. It is in the interest of the International Community to pay close attention to our problem and start worrying about our anarchy. This anarchy can spread and affect many countries in the region, thus destabilizing the whole of East Africa; this anarchy poses a real threat to international shipping lanes after Somalia has become a breeding ground for dangerous pirates and ruthless killers; this anarchy can make Somalia a save haven for all kinds of terror organizations; this anarchy can transform Somalia into a major producer of drugs Ala Afghanistan. The International Community must act sooner than later by assembling a determined multinational force to put Somalia under Trusteeship for no less than 20 years; by that time most of the warlords would have either become too old or simply perished; by that time a new breed of leaders would have emerged to steer Somalia back into the fold of the International Community. It is a drastic course of action but the situation demands it. The crisis in Somalia is worse than Darfur. If the International Community is ready to challenge a sovereign State like the Sudan to save the people of Darfur, what prevents them from challenging a bunch of thugs to save a whole nation from itself? The International Community cannot rely on a country like Ethiopia to pacify the Somali people. Ethiopia is part of the problem and is home to millions of Somalis who are struggling to free themselves from its brutal rule. The New York Times and Aljazeera have lately paid close attention to Ethiopia and the manner that this country deals with its own people. Ethiopia also played an important role in the collapse of the Somali State in the late 1980’s and fueled the subsequent civil war by arming the different factions. In the name of the thousands of refugees who live in squalor or continue to perish in the Arabian Sea running away from the madness we call upon the International Community to intervene and put an end to this human misery of epic proportions. * The writer is a freelance contributor to wardheerNews.com. He can be reached at: E-mail: aliegeh@gmail.com

Abu-Geeljira, just look our poems. They have lots of Arabic terms.

Shariif is a man who deserves our most heartfelt praise.

Abtigiis, you have my support. However, Years and years of division and unprecedented suffering must inspire a change of direction and strategy. Northerners' advice and alike would only prolong the agony of this segment of Somalis. I am sure it's exclusively targeted by Ethiopian army with the help of other collaborating clans in the region. One more thing I would add to my earlier set of advices is to build grass-roots programs. Since the O forms majority, undertaking in social enterprises such as public services like Hamas would win the heart of the people and have a long-term and positive impact on all Somalis in the region, fostering a great sense of awareness and mutual cooperation for a common interest . Understand that it is the best interest of the current regime of Ethiopia to plant the seeds of discord and division and the name itself is one of the seeds of division. It is disingenuous of some of us, if not complete dishonesty, to make it desirable the course of the status quo.

^ Good point. It is a hiararchical racial system that had had negative impact on our us socially and politically. We are close to Oromos and then comes the Arabs.

Abtigiis, sidee u taageeraa Urur aan Somalida baddankeedisku raacsaneyn. Bal horta dadka degaanka kula degan haku taageeran. Try to win their hearts. I will eludicate two case examples that might be helpful to the leaders of ONLF. Implementing either model might be workable but would bring in different outcome. Take an example of the history of Eritrean Liberation Front.(1961-1980) The organization had struggled on how to put a powerful resistance front together. Initially the ELF structure was weakened by ethnic based political mobilization and divisions and it continued to have minimal impact on its people , so it failed to draw a large and popular support. Then by 1970, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) was formed to end the discontent with the military activities and structure of ELF. By 1980, the two went into major conflict. ELF lost to EPLF militarily but subsequent mediations between them finally led to the two merging to form a strong front. EPLF thus embarked on a political campaign to change their war strategy and the structure of the organization. Sorting out their division and differences and increasing their capacity to self-reliance, EPLF became a strong force to be reckoned with. The EPLF consequently boosted the morale of their struggle by disciplining its forces ensuring they stand ready for a protracted armed insurrection against the Ethiopian regime. What also aided immensely was that they distanced themselves from Middle Eastern politics. My brothers, it is not easy to defeat a powerful country like Ethiopia having no reliable network of military assistance in par with Sudanese People’s Liberation Army, for instance. It might be interesting to note that southerners in Sudan has a lesser population than Somalis in the Ethiopia, but what greatly helped them is their colonial legacy when Britain formed the Equatorial Corps as a countervailing balance to the Northern army. Colonial Britain feared that the Northern army had elements of Mahdist extremists and non-commissioned officers that would undermine her interest. After the country got its independence from Britain, the southerners rejected to celebrate with Khartoum citing uneven economic distribution and potential domination by the Arabs. Like ONLF, Their protracted resistance had as well entrenched obstacles as to what directions to take, what political name should the resistance front be given, a name that would appeal to the majority of population and with far-reaching effect on the success of the resistance. They also sought, not secession from Sudan, but a solution based on a secular, democratic, and federal political system. This appealed to the many countries to come to their aid and to politically pressure the central government to come to terms with the Insurgency. This finally came to be known as the two phases of Nairobi and Addis Ababa Agreements, and John Grang’ final deal with Khartoum. The latter deal clearly charted the future of his people and country. In Sudan, you have a Muslim dominated government and a Christian minority. Leadership and strategy is what is missing in this struggle.

I am sure the incompetent TFG would accept huge loans to back up the intrinsic value of the new currency. The loan would be given as part of the aid package.