Hargeisa has instructed a British lawyer to negotiate with the French group Bolloré to hammer out the details of the agreement to manage Berbera port. Meetings began about two weeks ago between representatives of Bolloré Africa Logistics and the British law practice McCue & Partners to work on an agreement for the French group to run Berbera port. In fact, several months ago the Somaliland government instructed the firm’s main partner, Jason Daniel McCue, 44, to look for funding to develop the Berbera corridor towards Ethiopia. This is a vast project including an oil pipeline, estimated to cost a total of around $2.5 billion. This mandate was attributed to the Berbera Development Company (BDC) founded by McCue in London in April 2013 to make the Somaliland port into a logistics hub for the whole region. McCue and BDC have consequently also become Bolloré’s primary contact points for Somaliland. BDC has three directors in addition to McCue, who is interested in security via his MODA Alliance Group. They are the Britons John Richard Moore, 45, who heads John Moore & Co and Ibrahim Ali Yusuf, 41, plus the Canadian Ahmed Mohamed Abokor, 48. The latter lives in Djibouti, where he is in partnership with the businessman Mohamed Said Guedi in the company Afro Shnagai-Djibouti. He is also one of the directors of Pontus Marine Ltd (ION 1359) – an industrial fishing company in Somaliland founded last year in London – alongside the British lawyer from Somaliland, Mohammed Yusef who is moreover the founder of Invicta Capital. Pontus Marine has one heavyweight as a non-executive director: the Conservative MP Henry Bellingham, a former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in charge of African affairs. Indian Ocean Newsletter

Somaliland Hails British Step Forward in Independence Bid Somaliland Hails British Step Forward in Independence Bid Somalia Captures Suspect in '09 AU Base Bombing TEXT SIZE Henry Ridgwell April 05, 2014 LONDON — A city in Britain has become the first to officially recognize Somaliland’s claim to independence. The vote -- which is purely symbolic and carries no legal weight -- is nevertheless being hailed by Somaliland leaders as a big step forward in their decades-long campaign to break away from Somalia. Somalilanders celebrated outside Sheffield city hall after the council voted Thursday to recognize the region’s right to self-determination. Thousands of people of Somaliland origin live in the northern British city. Somaliland’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Bihi Yonis attended the vote; he later told VOA of its symbolic importance. “Somaliland has the border, the population [in favor of independence], the currency, the independence, the elections, the democracy, the rule of law, the human rights record of Somaliland. And I think they have looked into all of those areas and realized that Somaliland has met the requirements of statehood.” Somaliland occupies the northern section of Somalia. The rest of the country has been plagued by lawlessness and violence since the overthrow of Somalia’s leader in 1991. Later that same year, Somalilanders voted in a referendum to become independent -- a vote that has not been recognized by any nation. Oasis of peace Mohamed Yonis calls Somaliland a relative oasis of peace. “We have a proper functioning government and institutions, while the other part of Somalia is actually burning and having a lot of difficulties as you know -- issues of piracy, terrorism, al-Shabab [islamic militants].” Somaliland did gain brief statehood upon its independence from Britain in June 1960. But its government chose to merge with Somalia. Convincing the world that Somaliland should be recognized as independent will not be easy, according to Alex Vines of London-based policy analyst group Chatham House. “Internationally, everybody says it would have to be led by Africa," said Vines. "When you talk to African leaders, it’s like, ‘Well, we might consider it, but we wouldn’t be the first.’” Somaliland authorities insist the region’s economy would support independence. Thriving economy The port of Berbera lies just west of the tip of the Horn of Africa. It’s a chaotic, dusty trade hub; camels, goats and sheep are transferred from trucks and carts into the market, to be exported across Africa and the Gulf. Agriculture is the backbone of Somaliland’s economy; Minister of Livestock Abdi Aw Dahir Ali said the industry can grow even bigger. “It does not export only livestock from Somaliland. Berbera exports livestock from Ethiopia, from Somalia, from Kenya. So it's a center of export of all livestock from the Horn.” Somaliland authorities have handed out exploration licenses to a number of foreign oil firms, to the anger of the Somali government in Mogadishu. The country also could offer an export hub for neighboring landlocked Ethiopia, said Vines. “It wouldn’t be necessarily against the interests of neighboring Ethiopia. But the precedent of recognizing Somaliland would then add complexity to Ethiopia itself,” he said. Somaliland authorities say talks with the Somali government are progressing. Observers say Mogadishu favors unity, though, and few expect any countries to follow Sheffield’s lead in the near future. http://www.voanews.com/content/somaliland-hails-british-step-forward-in-independence-bid/1886918.html?utm_source=voaafrica&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=en&utm_content=twitterfeed

Somalia maxay qabi karta sawta Ugandhees iyo burundiisku qabaan

Kenyan airlines Ethiopian airlines Al Arabiya And now Turkish airlines Its heading the right direction

Oday Somali i dont share ur views , Somaliland does not need Somalia it has proven the past 23 years , scare tactics will not work and using non existent threats and boogeyman. Somaliland is doing fine for what ever tools it has now but i can do allot better but i believe they will get there if they work hard. They need to focus on 3 things development the Military and the search for Ictraaf those 3. These 3 items should be mentioned and than Somaliland will do fine.

ISTANBUL- Somaliland Minister of Aviation Hon. Mohamud Hashi Abdi who is on working visit to Turkey met with his Turkish counterpart and Turkish Airline officials where they discussed on ways that the country’s air carrier begin flights to Somaliland. According to press statement issued by the spokesperson of Aviation ministry Mr. Sadam Mohamed Ahmed on Friday stated that the Somaliland Aviation Minister is accompanied by two experts from the ministry are on working visit to Turkey and met with Turkish Transport and Telecommunication Minister Mr. Lutfi Elvan. The two ministers held talks on wide range of issues be it the talks between Somali and Somaliland. They also discussed on the best possible way to reach final agreement over the air space control row between the two authorities. Somaliland Aviation Minister Hon. Mohamud briefed his counterpart Mr. Lutfi Elvan about the key role that Turkey can play when it comes to the airport in th country. On the other hand, Mr. Mohamud has met with the CEO of Turkish Airlines Dr Temel kotil and spoke on that the Turkish Air Carrier kick off flights in Somaliland. It is agreed and officially announced that the Turkish carrier will commence flights to Somaliland in June 2014. Mr. Mohamud Hashi Abdi arrived in Ankara on Friday and met there with Assistant Manager of Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency Mr. Sureyya Polat. Mr. Sureyya Polat gave cordial reception to Somaliland Aviation Minister and submitted the manager of number of projects intended to develop Somaliland airports where Turkey can play huge role. Mr. Sureyya Polat has promised that they will survey the projects and further pledged to donate firefighter vehicle to Egal Airport in April. The Minister of Aviation stated that the airport was badly in need of the vehicle that their Turkish brothers will donate and thanked for their generosity.

Surely yes

Fighting for your peoples rightful place on the world stage is insanity while allowing your country being occupied by 3rd world mercenaries is sanity , allow alleh

for a non somali u speak very good Somali:D

^^ You are not even Somali lol

Ofcourse nation states Kenya uganda are protecting their interest its just sad that Some Somalis think the Ugandans are their brothers lol . Somalis used to be arrogant but no more.

Its going to be very interesting in the next coming months with the formation of South Western state Ethiopia really supports this state since the Ethiopian troops are stationed there. But since some of the elites in baydhabo want the six state, where will the compromise come will gedo be added to south western state and Lower shabelle. In order to solve the issue. President hassan is between a rock and a hard place , if he supports the six state he will alienate Jubba state and his own constituency particularly the lower shabelle is also contested. If he supports the 3 states he will put the people of baydhabo against each other, what will he do.

^^ Lol the pirates are desperate president siilaanyo in 1991 wrote a well drafted constitution and a power sharing formula between the SNM and the USC, this is not a secret. This speech of president siilaanyo was in the United states Cabdilahi Yusuf accused Siilaanyo and the SNM that they always wanted separation. Siilaanyo corrected Yey and told him that SNM was not about independence and that they wanted a union.And this was the truth the Borama editors are playing and playing it out of context. Siilaanyo is the elected SL president and he defends the nation. Any way i dont even know why i am telling you this.

The Sheikh talks about a Somali union not the racist greater Somalia , he even mentioned Kilil Somali NFD and Djibouti. If he wants that type of Union it has to be a union of equality justice and mutual respect, not a Union where every one eats cambuulo and invites African union troops and does Niiko for foreign delegates. The last genuine Unionist was Professor samatar and he left the Koonfurians and who can forget Yusrar Abrarr, who could not work with them. Believing in Somalinimo is not inviting AU troops in your back yard and allow Social rejects religious zealots in your back yards. Nothing Somalia does is Somalinimo they have ruined what Somalinimo stood for. Since 1991 u gave Hollywood two movies Black Hawk down and Captain Philips the image of Somalis is ruined , now every one thinks Somalis are pirates with horse mouths.

The Bantu nations in Somalia are living the dream. These Countries Uganda burundi and Kenya have no interest of leaving also Ethiopia has no interest of leaving. I will not be surprised if they sell some of the arms to Shabaab , they drive shabaab out from a few villages, but than allow Shabaab to move in another village or go under ground and allow Shabaab to carry out attacks. Where does Alshabab get its explosives and its arms. One would say that 30.000 troops can annihilate 2000 militia from Somalia. The 2 groups need each other The Europeans keeps the payment every month on time and the Bantu states remain in Somalia.

Reer Borama we are the defenders and the founders of the Somaliland republic in 1993 SHirki borama 1993 where the Elites of Borama laid the foundation of the Somaliland republic. long live Sheikh Maxamamd dhere and Sheikh Cali jawarhar AUN and his grands children , their legacy lives on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gPq_j6OhDA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twn76UafhfI

I am reer Borama how can i hate reer borama when i am from there.

Good news he will milk the Koonfurians and retire in SL eventually when they sack him As for the Pirates they are not happy with this man Puntland rising what do you think of this http://www.shacabkamedia.com/warka/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4829:-safiirkii-3-aad-ee-isaaq-lagu-sasabo-oo-maleeysiya-loo-magacaabay-halka-looma-ooyaanka-puntland-oo-dawladda-federaalka-ka-tirsan-meel-cidlo-ah-looga-tagay-&catid=1:warka-gudaha&Itemid=3

^^ Why are you not against Somaliland independence bid?