Gen Duke, As a staunch supporter of the former Somali quisling Abdullahi Yusuf you are catching at straws and that is expected. Up until the last minute of his 15 seconds of fame, Abdullahi Yusuf and his supporters were pulling off one stunt after another. He refused to accept Nur Ade’s cabinet, refused to endorse the firing of the Mogadishu mayor, refused to accept the outcome of the Djibouti Peace Talks and went as far as to call it a gathering of one clan and in the end “fired” his Prime Minister and named another one. Until the last day of his expected official booting and fall from grace, he was making retarded illogical claims of going back to Mogadishu and working with his “new” Prime Minister. In the end, like all quislings he came back to reality and had to accept the utter reversal of fortunes, courtesy of the tactical political maneuverings of Ahmed AbdiSalan and PM Nur Ade. Still, Abdullahi Yusuf “resigned” because of health issues eh? Try challenging me on that and I will dump articles from both local and international press here with tones so poisonous that it will humiliate you just as much as your idol. ( For Example) Unlike you, I can distinguish important real concrete facts/news from fluff and deranged fantasies ( you know your fantasies about Abdullahi Yusuf resigning because of health issues and “Yusuf’s acolytes in the cabinet”) Once again, the facts are making a mockery of your claims. Abdullahi Yusuf’s sudden fall from grace and ensuing humiliation whereby he was forced to become a refugee in Yemen and the sudden rise to power by the man he called a terrorist in 2006 keeps him and his supporters in permanent emotional constipation. It is not just the infinite retarded teenagers on Somali Forums but also his base-group’s political leaders and media that can’t stop crying about Ahmed AbdiSalan and Nur Ade. But make no mistake about it, Nur Ade will either go back to his home in London and retire with grace and honor or re-join the UN and Ahmed AbdiSalan will either become the Somali ambassador to the UN or wait for his ultimate ascend to the top echelons in Somali politics in the future. He has time by his side. Ps, I am still waiting for you to tell me what power “ these many key players” have in this government. Ps, Somalia is today in the right hands and for that I am immensely proud and happy for the work done by Ahmed AbdiSalan and Nur Ade and the work that will be done by this new administration.

Gen. Duke, You need to be able to look at things at a deeper level- beyond the pretenses and the facade. The problem in Somalia emanated from warlordism and the despotic power-hungry lunatics it breeds. The good thing that has happened since the ascent of PM Nur Ade is that; Abdullahi Yusuf and his warlord allies are either completely out the picture ( Abdullahi Yusuf/Mohamed Dhere) or isolated and rendered meaningless in the greater scheme of things ( Warlord MPs in the TFG). The mere fact that the ARS has membership equal to the TFG means that it can push forth its agenda far more effectively and cripple any-one who stands in its process. This and the underlying reality that ARS members hold the most important portfolios in this administration solidify the argument that things have changed in Somalia and for the better. This means that individuals can’t hijack the agenda of the ARS and engage in personal agendas. These are all issues of great importance. By trying to label them minor you are trying desperately to trivialize their importance but no such luck. I will be very much interested to know who these “many of the key players” who have returned are and what position they hold in this government. I will also be very much interested in how an 80 years old former PM has been placed in the “dustbin of history” as a result of today’s appointment of the cabinet list. I know of a very popular man who is already in the dustbins of history. His name is Abdullahi Yusuf and he is a refugee in Yemen (of all places:)) As I already mentioned, Ahmed Abdisalan will either continue being an adviser to the President or he can pursue his professional goals. His political accomplishments in Somalia need no defense and the mere fact that his political nemesis is either in Yemen house-arrests or Ethiopian Jails is a constant reminder. ...So hopefully even you can understand something so basic.

The Cabinet is quite big and is prone to being inefficient. Somalia needs the kind of lean and mean cabinet that was functioning during PM Nur Ade’s administration. Having said this. There are some really good appointments especially in the Security, Interior, Financial and Defense portfolios. Sh Sharif has shown that he is a good strategist in making sure that his men where all in the top helms of the administration. This will help him govern more effectively and decrease any chances of mutiny within his administration in the future. It is no wonder that the AY loyalists are hell-bent on closing their eyes ignoring the cosmic shift of power in Somalia today and instead diverting the whole news by focusing on Ahmed AbdiSalan

Meiji, Thanks for the excellent thread. Here are some more pictures of African Village

It is funny how people who are disagreeing with Sh Sharif can't even list any LEGITIMATE criticism of him without relying on some very phony notions of reality/history. This proves Meiji's point 100%

Originally posted by Peace Action: Twisted logic, why do you want an illegal, private port owned by one individual to operate when the Mogadishu port is open. This is one of the major obstacle to pacifying Mogadishu. As long as there are Isbaaros in the sea, land and in airports no government will be able to function. Unless, of course, you are not interested in government. El Ma’an being an “illegal” port is a wishful thinking. El Ma’an sustained the entire economy of Southern Somalia during the difficult years of the 90s when no-one wanted to invest in the region and it came about as a result of the entrepreneurship drive of some noble Somalis such as Haji Omar Cadaan. Because of El Ma’an port, Mogadishu’s economy has been growing ever since its opening and this explains why Mogadishu has economically replenished itself without any major Aid by the world. It is obvious that your “legally constructed and glorious ports” couldn’t compete with it. Obviously, your glorious Puntland is not doing good enough job of educating you with reality/facts. Your opinions of El Ma’an in particular and Southern Somalia in general, superficial and poisonous as it is, are immaterial to me and to my people- we are proud of the accomplishments we have made in the face of some very intricate difficulties.

Originally posted by Emperor: ^Now come that man with the twisted logic and compares Bosaaso and Berbera to Mogadishu... Dooradu yaysan kugu qoslin.... Adeer,the use of the illegal port of El-ma'an for personal profit is the worst form of Isbaaro... Meiji, adeer what is your point, are you questioning me or simply entertaining yourself, do you think you have posed hard question? The report is there posted for all to see, trust is not the issue here, whether you like it or not its up to you... And for the last point, Yes all this are linked, this is Somali politics and hence a simple math will do. El'main is owned by Abukar Cadaani, who is closely related to Sheikh Shariif and his main financier. In Somali politics the re-opening of the port can be normally, simply and so easily linked to Shariif Ahmed in any way, shape or form, Markaa live with that and come up with some else, more original line. Surely you need to be staying around in SOL for a while to be taken seriously.... PS: Now if you pay more attention to my post I haven't actually critized Shariif Ahmed or accused him of doing such thing but I only adviced him to denounce this and distance himself from it, simple... Your views are so wonderfully simplistic that no-body can take you serious. El Ma’an port started as a result of consortium effort by leading business-people in Benadir and chief among them Haji Omar Cadaan and his Ramadan Group. So calling an entrepreneurship endeavor “ Isbaaro,” is quite laughable. Because Mogadishu people are able to create the most successful port in all of Somalia doesn’t sit well with you therefore they are "Isbaaro". What gives you the right to throw such accusations around? The idea that El Ma’an Port started off as an “ Isbaaro” initiative is a convenient historical ploy that fits a wider picture. Reality is never so simplistic that one man takes some guns and starts the most profitable port in Somalia. This myth is propagated to label every progress made by the people of Benadir as “ Isbaaro.” All progress made by the Puntland becomes noble and progressive and all similar progress made in Benadir becomes “ isbaaro” and horrendous crime. As for El Ma’an Port re-opening, debate it all you want. What matters is that it helped sustain the entire economy of Southern Somalia during the hard years of the 90s and I know it pains you to hear its re-opening and that pain keeps hurting but hey bear it as best you can.

Originally posted by General Duke: Emperor is corrcet, this is a crazy move on the part of reer Cadaan. If you want to go by this twisted version of analysis then the whole idea of Puntland is "isbaro" since it militates against the idea of Somalia and the writ of government.

Originally posted by Emperor: Mogadishu back to its old days, the days of owning illegal ports, Air strips and isbaaros, however this is different this latest action is done by the back bone and grass supporters of the Presidential hopeful, Sheikh Shariif Sheikh Ahmed... We expect more from you Sir, if you want to be serious and become the leader of this fragmented nation you must step up to the challenge and do something, denounce this action by your supporters and close kins publickly and take action immediately, and before it eats you away..... Ahhh! The hypocrisy. If Bosasso and barbera can have their own independent ports, who are you to criticize the people of Banadir in managing their affairs? It is these despicable acts of clanish mentality and zero-sum psychology that seriously hampers our efforts to move forward. On one hand you are calling Sh Sharif to "become leader of the is fragmented" nation and at the same time you call him to deny the people of Benadir their economic life-line. So despicable but not entirely unpredictable.

Originally posted by Ducaysane: Neph, Farta waxba kuma saxiixo. He graduated Hight school in 1992. It would have been nice if he gradually got to be the president. first Gudoomiyaha dagmada Jowhar, (or may be Jastice Miniter) then after 8 yrs He could run for President. Sh. Sharif is a graduate of Kordafan University in Sudan and has a degree in Islamic Jurisprudence from Libya. I would be interested in knowing how you have reached the conclusion that he is not "educated."

Originally posted by Abtigiis &Tolka: LG We endorsing him not because he is the best, but the only game in town. It shows maturity on our side, and a willingness to embrace what is good for Somalia. Our main issue was that Ethiopia should go out of Somalia, and we don't think Ethiopia has left becuase of Shariif. We know it is becuase of the Muqaawama. Our main issue was that Ethiopia should go out of Somalia, and we don't think Ethiopia has left becuase of Shariif. We know it is becuase of the Muqaawama. But that is one thing. Now the game is different. That we endorse him does not change our perception of him. He still is a bad leader, coward, and a pathetic flip-floper; but if he is not declared president, then Nuur cadde and others will be. We are afriad those will take orders from Ethiopia. There is nothing inconsistent or hypocratical here. Simple pramatism and politcis 101. must I repeat that when you are grappling with fast-chaging situations, you don't slam doors, you don't get glued to a chair. Instead, like a bad man who strays into the nuptial chambers of a maaried women, you sleep with this one unblinking eye firmly on the exit. ma isfahanay faanto? With all due respect, you contradict your-self there. Ethiopia left through a diplomacy-not because they were defeated militarily. Certainly, hit-and-run tactics have caused headaches to the Ethiopian regime, but to ignore and remain oblivious to the difficult political process that led to their departure is quite wrong. Sh Sharif and Nur Ade BOTH showed leadership when they put personal believes aside and showed pragmatism when they moved away from the previous ideologies and moved towards the path that was assumed to lead to peace in Somalia. Sh Sharif is not a traitor or opportunist for being rational and level-head-he is a patriot for do so.

Suldaanka, Since 2009, there is a CAFIS programme which allows people to register and get acces to this forum. Before this programme it was very difficult for people to apply for membership. So according to your reasoning everyone who appears on SOL because of the Cafis programme is A.Yusuf supporter? LOOL PS: MODS can verify this information I provided.

Waran, It is you who is engaged in clan bashing with your ''uncles and isbaaro''comments. I am only returning the favor. So when will Goodane go back to Hargeisa and blow up the buildings and significant posts of the secessionist entity? Riyaale, Warabe guy and others should be hunted for they are close to Meles Zenawi's regime. I'm in no interest in talking to one who dismisses the great sacrafice made by abumansuur and godane and others of their caliber, because of clan association. Pathetic! Arent you denying other factions like Asmara and Jabuti and the countless unaffiliated men from Mogadishu who fought against the occupation their share of the credit by your constant cheering for Alshabaab and denouncing of the other resistance factions. I bet if Goodane was in Jabuti faction you would sing a different tune. The fact remains: -Mogadishu society made a great sacrifice. Mogadishu people who witnessed the cruelty of Ethiopian occupation filled the ranks of the resistance factions. So we should be thankfull to those people who paid the price.

Waran, ICU defeated Mogadishu warlords because the people of Mogadishu were on the side of ICU. ICU brought 6 months of peace and stability, and was able to keep in control the hardcore Alshabaab for a while. Now Alshabaab is a loose cannon that only brings chaos. Mogadishu people have still their support in ICU and other pragmatic religious men. But we will fight hypocritical Goodane and Abu Mansuur, for they want to keep their backyard peacefull and wreck uncalculated chaos in Mogadishu. To return to your little secessionist entity, Men like Riyaale, Waraabe and their likes are no better then men like A.Yusuf, M.dheere, Geedi etc. They all are in the pockets of Addis Abebba and all one way or the other have aided and still aid Ethiopians plans towards Somalia. Goodane should worry more about hunting individuals who say ''children born in Addis Abebba are closer to us then those from Mogadishu'' and about blowing up to pieces convoys of Riyaale and Ethiopian targets in the secessionist entity. If you want to talk about Somalia, and enjoy the right to discuss Mogadishu affaires with me, then you must FIRST OF ALL, denounce the secessionist entity, and all its associated evil. IF you cannot do that, and you want to talk to me about my evils, then we have nothing but one-sided accusation going on here mate. I am ready to talk to you about Somalia, its capital, and all the problems facing us as ONE nation and ONE people...but I want you to do the same. Do not come here and talk about the warlords and all evil in my backyard while you sugarcoat the warlords and all evil in your backyard. PS: Mogadishu people liberated Mogadishu and Somalia from Ethiopians. We paid the heaviest price, and even the Alshabaab was majority composed of young men of Mogadishu, alongside young men of Lower Juba (who also have witnessed Ethiopian brutality in Somali Galbeed). PSS: Baidoba which was the second largest Ethiopian base (after Mogadishu) had witnessed less heavy fighting then lets say Beledweyne. Beledweyne and Mogadishu are inhabited by the same groups. Which indicates the fact that our people did the lionshare of the brave fighting and our people sacrificed the most. 1 million displaced, 18.000 dead, our main markets destroyed etc etc

Delete the clan mentioning. Lets respect the Golden Rules. --- Also, not long ago u was mocking Dayniile...now you make a whole topic about what 1 man wrote on the website as his own opinion? Its like dedicating a topic to one article on a Somali website written by one individual.

Rayaale kahin is a problem himself as well as Puntland leadership, they will be dealt with in different manner Insha allah. in a different manner? So no suicide operations with more then 15 deaths? No uncalculated chaos with many people been displaced? You want peacefull settlement and cautious approach when it comes to your backyard but are hellbent on supporting destructive forces in other regions? Hypocricy with no boundary. One cannot support a secessionist entity and call for peacefull settlement in their own backyard while they propagate for Patriotic struggle against invaders of Somali soil and chaos as a way to clean the mess in other regions inhabited by other people, in this case the people of Mogadishu. Explain that contradiction.

This includes amisom, the warlords whom are all an obstacle to long lasting peace in somalia. Waran, Riyaale is a warlord. Warabe guy is a warlord. All are pushing ahead a secessionist agenda, which makes them nothing different then other warlords pushing for agenda's that go against Somalia. Now blow up some buildings in Hargeisa. Most importantly the Ethiopian embassy, University and The Offices of British and Irish Intelligence agencies.

Duke, Dont worry, Mogadishu society has witnessed all kinds of things. Alshabaab is our frankenstein. We will rehabilitate our young men who have been posoined by their ideology, and send back men like Goodane to Hargeisa where he can conduct suicide operations against Ethiopian targets and secessionist buildings. Men like Abu Mansuur can go back to Baay and Bakool and engage the Ethiopians who think those two provinces are part of their country. Everyone should conduct their struggle from their backyard first before moving to others.

Originally posted by Caamir: Israel was unable to eradicate Hamas though it wreaked unprecedented damage on its infrastructure at the cost a huge # of innocent lives. To think of the word "eradicate" is to assume the act of genocide. Al-shabaab can be absorbed but not with leaders like those stationed in D-jibouti. The thing is: Somalia is not Israel, nor is Alshababa Hamas. Alshabaab is a frankenstein people of Mogadishu created. Abu Ceyrow created this youth club in which he and Aweys (as spiritual leader) recruited young men from Mogadishu who were disillisioned, gave them purpose to live and die for, and trained them. After having engaged in many conflicts, the group radicalized more and more. Since the death of Ceyrow and the major influx of other Somalis from all corners into the organization it has gone over the edge. They have zero consideration for Mogadishu society, and seem to be inconsistent in their struggle. Mogadishu in chaos other regions peacefull?? We created this frankenstein, and we can eradicate it. We shall see.

Insha allah we will await more news of this tragic day.

Originally posted by Resistance: this is further prove that the presence of foreign forces only gives some a reason to continue the violence. If these forces were not there in the 1st place they would not be attacked and hence this foreigners would not retialte. and to those who say that the troubles always existed when frogeiners where not there i say they did but the fight was between two or warlords and the civialian deaths was always minimal to what we are seeing today. Untrue. Foreigner soldiers were in Baidoba too, still we did not witness the mass displacement of the people and the mass destruction of the city. So why didnt the presence of Ethiopian soldiers not lead to mass fighting like in Mogadishu? --- Also, When UNISOM was in Mogadishu people fought them, and after they were defeated they left. But never did the militia's back then apply such unorthodox tactics like suicide operations in highly dense juntions. Alshabaab has claimed this coward attack, and it is clear that they have foreign tactics like suice operations. This shall not be tolerated by Mogadishu society.

Abu, Asmara group is pragmatic, and has not yet alienated themselves from the masses. They may believe in the eventual exit of foreign troops from Somalia, but they will approach it with caution, and will set their priorities right. First let Mogadishu society recover from the tremendous effect of the Ethiopian occupation. Then we will work on the foreign troops and their easiest way to get out. But let chaos reign in Mogadishu and our backyard be safe will not be tolerated. Ethiopians were still in Baidoba and Bakool and we dont see suicide operations in highly dense districts in Baidoba, now do we?

ABu, No!, neither Asmara faction nor Jabuti faction nor Mogadishu society said they would continue the war. We are not IGNORANT. We have 800.000 people waiting in refugee camps, we have 17.000 deads, our main markets and house districts levelled to the ground. We are not IGNORANT. We will take the time to work out this mess, time to relieve from our immense sacrifice for Somalia and our dignity. We will take the time to regroup, rebuild, and restore our strenght. Then we will move ahead. BUT we will not be MISLEAD by entities that are there to harm our interest and our people. It was only Raas Kamboni, Jabhad Islamiya and Alshabaab who said they would continue? The difference between them? Well, the other three organizations have no support from MOgadishu masses simply because we have seen their hypocricy. Let Mogadishu burn and our own backyard be safe. We ALL SEE THIS HYPOCRICY, and we will fight it to the death.

It is now clear for Mogadishu society that we have an extremist entity that has gone mad! In 2006, it was Alshabaab which was the hardcore faction, that pushed within ICU for the war against Ethiopians and their puppets (TFG). Since the EThiopian occupation of Mogadishu/Somalia, Alshabaab was one of the many factions that fought this occupation. Other factions, like the ICU-Jabuti, ICU-Asmara, Ras Kambooni, Jabhad Islamiya, clan factions from Mogadishu, many young men who were unaffilitiated etc, all have fought and have now decided to wait for things to settle and to see what the masses of Mogadishu now want. Of these factions, Alshabaab has become so radical that they have lost touch with the concept of pragmatism and caution approach. This is normal, for in many countries we had groups that became so radicalized by the struggle they were engaged in that they lost sight of everything and became so one-dimensional that they alienated themselves from the masses to the point that the masses deposed them and threw them in the dustpin of history. This is the situation Alshabaab is in now. In 2006 to 2008, its ranks were filled by young men from Mogadishu who witnessed their sisters, mothers and sometimes their own wives to be raped. Their own families to be massacred by the shells the enemy was firing indiscriminately. If they were lucky they witnessed the displacement of their families, and their slow, long suffering in refugee camps in which they faced constant threat of famine and new conflict. It was these young men that were the majority in Alshabaab and any other faction fighting the Ethiopian occupation then. Since 2008, when it was clear to all that the Ethiopians were defeated and were packing to leave, Alshabaab saw a dramatic decrease in their ranks and support from the masses of Mogadishu, simply for the fact that the war is about to end and their is no need more to support such entities. It was also around 2008, that Alshabaab began to be filled by people from outside Mogadishu with all their own agenda's. All have one thing in common: they are radicalized and want to cause havoc in Mogadishu while forgetting the fact that they should start in their own backyard. Now we have men from Hargeisa and his supporters who want to cause havoc in Mogadishu and other regions to bring back the Republic of Somalia, while in their own backyard (Hargeisa-Berbera-Burco) an entity exists that is diamatrecially opposed to Somalia and is pro Ethiopia. Now we have men from Bosaso-Garowe and Northeastern regions and their supporters who want to cause havoc in Mogadishu and other Southern regions while their own backyards are peacefull and have supported in money, men, and moral support the Ethiopian occupation. Now we have men from Kismanyo-Jubboyinka-Gedo and their supporters who want to cause havoc in Mogadishu and other Southern regions while their own backyards are threatened by Ethiopian-backed warlords. Now we have men from Baidoba-Buur Hakaba-Bakool and their supporters who want to cause havoc in Mogadishu and other affiliated regions while Ethiopians are stil roaming the lands where those men hail from. The result of this: Mogadishu in chaos,and politics is approached by either this or that. This creates a climate in which some of the young naive men of Mogadishu fall victim to the poisonous agenda of Alshabaab while not knowing that it is time for the organization to either expand the chaos to all corners of Somalia or drop this hypocritical agenda of lets Mogadishu burn and other regions be safe. Mogadishu society has learned many lessons, and today Mogadishu people are all united in one thing: Peace and Stability. Since 1991, Mogadishu society has suffered, and since 2006 Mogadishu society paid the ultimate price of all segments in Somalia in the resistance against the Ethiopian occupation. While other segments of Somalia and their cities/lands were enjoying relative peace we were there fighting the Ethiopian occupation by ALL means necessary. We defeated them by ALL means necessary, whether it was by the gun, the pen, the mouth, it doesn;t matter because the goal was the defeat of the Ethiopian occupation by ALL means necessary. Mission accomplished, now lets move against the extremist entity and their hyprocrical supporters. We either have to fight this entity to the point they become extinguished or to the point the men inside that organization go back to their own regions and start their struggle from their own backyards.