Blackflash;956789 wrote: At the risk of sounding like an old geezer, the children's shows of today have no depth compared to the likes of Monster Rancher, Cyber-Six, Gargoyles etc. I never watched Gargoyles, the intro used to freak me out,(I had the heart of a mouse). Avatar: Legend of Aang & Legend of Korra blow everything we had as kids out of the water, Dragon Ball Z being the exception, speaking of which, there is a new movie out:

http://www.somaliaonline.com/community/showthread.php/63729-The-Somali-Navy!!?highlight=somali+navy I'm good at country-branding, that would have been my (and will be my future) position.

L00000000L @Phong, yo I forgot all their names but when you said that one, I got it immediately. I used to watch ReBoot before duqsi, and never learned my Alif Ba Ta's, because I was busy drawing those characters.

Every Saturday morning on Telekids, this was the cream of the crop, the first CGI cartoon in the world :cool: It looks dated now, but wow that show was something else. I wish they made an update.

That would hurt our kin across the border before it would impact the highlands, not an option.

Somalia has too many illiterate gingers, RIP the people the world once briefly knew as the Somalis.

^A future Somalia has many options to counter the impact of Ethiopia's plans: 1) Halt the plans through legal means via the UN 2) Entice Djibouti into an agreement. 3) Free port access, on the condition that any plans are scrapped. 4) Rain-harvesting 5) Desalination plants 6) Wind-farms along Somalia's coast = exporting surplus energy to countries around the region, and undercutting Ethiopia's destination for revenue, making any future loans and bonds-sales to foot the bill for any new dam project highly unlikely, and not worth it. 7) Military confrontation (not today, in the future), in the form of a naval blockade of Ethiopian goods. A combination of the first five options would secure Somalia's national interests, and we are lucky that we have a sizable population whose food/water security quota can be secured by 10 desalination plants, and mega storage tanks strategically positioned across the country for maximum accumulation, unlike either Egypt or Ethiopia's whose populations are becoming unsustainable. This would be a Somali energy plan totaling $15 billion in the span of 20 years, with 2 new plants constructed every four years. There are 13 thousand desal plants in operation around the world, and it takes 1/3 the time to build one compared to a dam.

If we were actually a unified country with foresight, we would entice Djibouti into an agreement through our lucrative oil-wealth whereby any Ethiopian dam that potentially threatens the flow of the Somali rivers, will result in the suspension of its access to any Somali port in the region, and hence cut off its link with the rest of the world. Djibouti would get reimbursed by the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Somalia (SWFS), similar to the Denmark - Greenland subsidies for the loss of port revenue. This is how countries secure their national interests, and which is also why this same country in question is all up in our business.

Madaxweynaha Somalia oo u Dhoofay dalka Japan oo uu kaga Qayb-galayo shir looga Hadlayo Arrimaha Soomaaliya Arbaco, May 29, 2013 (HOL) — Madaxweynaha Soomaaliya, Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud iyo wafdi uu hoggaaminayo ayaa maanta u dhoofay dalka Jabaan halkaasoo uu kaga qaybgalayo shir looga hadlayo arrimaha Soomaaliya iyo shir looga hadlayo horumarinta Qaaradda Afrika. Afhayeenka madaxtooyada Soomaaliya, Inj. Cabdiraxmaan Cumar Cismaan (Yariisow) oo la hadlay warbaahinta intii uusan wafdigu ka dhoofin garoonka diyaaradaha ee Muqdisho, isagoo sheegay in madaxweynuhu uu shirar kala duwan uga qaybgalayo dalka Jabaan. “Madaxweynuhu wuxuu caasimadda dalka Jabaan uga qaybgalayaan 31-ka bishan shir looga hadlayo arrimaha Soomaaliya, kaasoo ay shir-guddoomin doonaan isaga iyo ra’iisul wasaaraha Jabaan,” ayuu yiri Inj. Yariisow. Sidoo kale, afhayeenku wuxuu sheegay in madaxweynuhu uu bisha Juun billowgeeda uga qaybgalayo Tokiyo shir looga hadlayo horumarinta guud ee Qaaradda Afrika oo ay Soomaaliya ku jirto. Inj. Yariisow ayaa hadalkiisa ku daray in madaxweynaha laga sugayo 15-ka bisha Juun ee soo socota magaalada London oo uu kaga qaybgalayo shirka dalalka ugu dhaqaalaha badan adduunka ee G8, shirkaasoo looga hadli doono horumarinta Soomaaliya. “Caalamku wuxuu xilligan u soo jeestay ka shaqeynta horumarinta Somalia, madaxda dowladda Soomaaliya oo uu ugu horreeyo madaxweynahana waxaaa ka go’an inuu xoogga saaro sidii Soomaaliya dib loogu dhisi lahaa,” ayuu afhayeenku hadalkiisa ku daray. Wafdiga madaxweynaha ee maanta u dhoofay dalka Jabaan waxaa ka mid ah, ra’iisul wasaare ku xigeenka ahna wasiirka arrimaha dibadda Soomaaliya, Fowziyo Yuusuf Xaaji Aadan iyo xubno ka tirsan madaxtooyada. Madaxweyne Xasan Sheekh ayaa tan iyo markii xilka loo doortay wuxuu ku jiray safarro uu ku aadayo dalalka dibadda, kuwaasoo lagu sheegay inay ka mid yihiin qorshaha dowladda ay ku doonayso inay kusoo celiso xiriirkii ay Soomaaliya la lahayd caalamka intiisa kale. LINK

Best news in years, please keep an eye out for any China related news, and responses, we've got to unleash the Red Dragon through a visit to the Land of the Rising Sun. The fledgling Somali government plans to restore security by eradicating militias in two years time as it embarks on a political and economic renewal after 22 years of civil strife and political turmoil. "The government is focusing on economic recovery to create employment to make young people less attracted to joining militant group Al-shabaab," Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in a recent interview with Kyodo News in the Ethiopian capital. But to bring peace and stability, the government has to address the root causes of conflict such as poverty, lack of opportunities, hopelessness, access to arms and the spiral of revenge among clans. Although ridding extremism is a long term issue, the Somali government hopes that with support from the international community, it can strengthen its security forces, expand the economy and change people's ideology. The government now wants foreign jihadists to leave and it wants to rehabilitate the local fighters. Japan has been supporting the Somali Police Force, helping improve the security situation over the last six or seven months after the launch of the new government under President Mohamud. In the early 1990s, Japan was involved in Somalia through various sectors like telecommunications and fishery, but after the intensification of the civil war, it only engaged through the U.N. and other international programs. Somalia lost everything in the civil war and had to start again from the scratch, Mohamud said, adding the country was fragmented into various semi-autonomous regions including Somaliland, Puntland and Jubaland. But now a political process to reunite these areas back into a single unitary state is under way. "We are using dialogue to bring back one Somalia. I personally visited Puntland and now we have a delegation in Kismayu to open dialogue with people in that region," Mohamud said. This week, a forum on Somalia's recovery and reconstruction is to be held in Japan ahead of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), which will start in Yokohama on Saturday for a three-day run. "One of the areas we want Japan to support us in is development of human capital like technical training" as well as equipment assistance in telecommunications, Mohamud said. He said he will visit Japan for the first time to attend the international meetings. Somalia's attendance at the TICAD will be a first for the African nation that is striving to recover from the aftermath of the civil war that started in 1991. Sixty percent of Somalia's population are uneducated youths, and the country needs international assistance in such areas as fishery, agriculture, food production and telecommunications. "So these are some of the plans and priorities that Somalia is going to present to the government and people of Japan to support," Mohamud said. Kyodo

burahadeer;956273 wrote: Time has changed & so is the shifting alliances & clan interests of the jigsaw puzzle that's Somalia.A year ago puntlanders/ jubalanders and fake nationalists would have chased such videos,ululating how Mogadishu have risen above the ashes....and now you see deserted,no comments and no desire:D

ElPunto;956500 wrote: Not sure it's good longterm for Somalis. Next they may damn the Juba and Shabelle - they already have a small dam on the latter. And unlike Egypt/Sudan - there is no agreement with Somalia. ^The only individual here that understands what's at stake here. Its in our interest that Ethiopia's dam adventures fail, and being part of their power grid is to invite a situation similar to Russia and Eastern Europe, with regards to energy supplies, i.e dependency.

I hope this will eventually again lead to Somali agricultural products having access to lucrative European markets. The EU will accept the request of the Federal Republic of Somalia to accede to the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement ("Cotonou Agreement"), was decided at the last foreign affairs Council of the European Union the Union, held on 27-28 May in Brussels.This will be the position to be presented by the EU at the the upcoming ACP-EU Council of Ministers to be held in Brussels on 6/7 June. Until now, Somalia was not a signatory of the Cotonou Agreement, as it did not have the necessary functioning institutions to sign and ratify it. In this conditions, access to resources for development finance cooperation under the 10th European Development Fund (period 2008-2013) has been granted to Somalia by the ACP-EU Council of Ministers1 under article 93.6 of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, which provides with support that concerned especially institution-building and economic and social development activities. The Cotonou Agreement was signed in Cotonou on 23 June and revised in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005. It is the most comprehensive partnership agreement between developing countries and the EU. Source: Council of the EU

Apophis;956074 wrote: To me, they're separate but I digress. One cannot flourish and benefit the people without the other. You're trying very hard to appear neutral but the mask keeps slipping. What mask, I have always been a national government supporter above regional interests, nothing is slipping here. Jubbaland does not seek legitimacy from the SFG or its leaders but rather through the constitution, the final arbiter. The Constitution is in the hands of the SFG, the legitimacy for each regional state comes through the recognition provided by the Federal government, especially new federal states. You're putting the cart before the horse. The state will soon secure its region (with the help of its allies) and will get its rightful share of resources, as guaranteed by the constitution whether Hassan Sheick agrees or not. The mandate of these "allies" is to answer to Mogadishu who gave them permission to be in the country in the first place, and pressure is currently being applied to make the rehatted KDF fall in line, quite successfully I might add. And if anyone is running out of time then it's surely the current leadership in Mogadishu, with only 3 yrs left of its mandate. Considering the political victories the SFG has achieved in just 8 months, 3 years are more than enough to get the job done, not to mention prepare for re-election. Jubbaland suffers no such constraints. We'll see, in-fact I will bump this topic in a few month's time and see whether your still as confident. The reconciliation you're speaking of has already happened, the community in those regions spent considerable resources making it happen and it cannot so easily be pushed aside because you or the SFG (for reason which we can only guess) do not like its outcome. No clans were marginalised, no clans were robbed, everyone from a village in Jubbaland was given his fair share. You going up against the SFG, IGAD and local actors, putting your fingers in your ears and yelling "all was fair" will not get you anywhere. Of course some, due to the natural clan distributions, got more than others but that is as expected and it's something that will happen in other regions (where there's majority/minority clans) and it is how the current SFG is constituted, with the minority clans getting less than the majority clans. It's the law of the land. And lastly, what you and many others seem to not understand is that Jubbaland is much bigger than one individual. It's not about Ahmed Madoobe and whether or not he's accepted in Mogadishu, he's merely a figurehead for a much larger political entity which cannot be bought with cheap trinkets. Its not bigger than the Somali Federal government, or the country of Somalia, its only one part, which is still majoritely under the yoke of Al-Shabaab, including its claimed population, towns and cities, and there is the readily available option to liberate these areas with different forces currently at the disposal of the Federal government, or being trained as we speak. Genuine dialogue with the SFG is infinitely better than the alternative currently in progress.

Safferz;953329 wrote: The Crackstarter campaign is at $105k now, in under four days! Six days to go... I must be the only one who feels sad for this guy, the man is finished, all those years of career construction up in smoke.

Apophis;956041 wrote: 1: There was no suggestion that Jubbaland will be looking into negotiations with other countries. That's a red herring. This was clearly a reference to its close ties with Kenya, which is well documented by both Wiki-links, and recent reports. 2: Reducing the whole of Jubbaland to the acceptance of Ahmed Madoobe is dangerous and unacceptable. Such a move would weaken the state and allow its detractors to pick off the leading politicians of the region one by one. The state must be accept as whole, fullstop. 3: The army present in Jubbaland should not be wholly incorporated into the SAF commanded from Mogadishu as that would essentially emasculate the nascent state. Much better would be to turn the military there into local state forces that will be commanded by Jubbaland with limited loyalty to the FG. This is unjustified paranoia, the Federal government has never committed a war-crime, or went against the ultimate wishes of any specific region in Somalia, regardless of the constitution debates, or disagreements on how to set-up a federal state. This is their damn national government we're are discussing they need closer ties with, not Nazi Germany.

You guys are focusing on the wrong bits.

Apophis;956032 wrote: Lets put the potential economic benefits aside, as that interests me little and lets focus on the politics. Politics and economics are different sides of the same coin, but since you insist. You suggest the FG recognise Ahmed Madoobe and in return he must forfeit his armies and disown his VP (and what that stands for). To me, this can only lead to conflict between the different communities who agreed to form Jubbaland and would mean the destruction of the state as it currently stands. Politically, your plan would offer nothing to the current admin, besides Madoobe being "recognised" and it would leave the region at the mercy of the current leadership in Mogadishu. As I said, your plan offers nothing to J/L and everything to Mogadishu on a platter. 1) The recognition is important, as he will become a legitimate stakeholder equal to the other regional states. That is a major political gain, that nobody but the SFG can provide him with. The alternative is that Madoobe's team which does not control the region it claims will be undermined by an entity i.e the SFG, which has more political clout, access to serious funds and is in the process of building its army. The latter has all the time in the world, the former doesn't. If there are worries on the part of Madoobe that he would be replaced, an agreement could be signed, overlooked by the British UN envoy to Somalia and IGAD that stipulates Madoobe will be president of the region, before liberation and after, for the mandated duration of his office. 2) A new reconciliation conference has to happen, its something the IC has agreed to and aligned itself with the SFG on that point. The vacant seat of the VP would feature as one of the attractions to unite the communities, which is clearly not the case today. A reconciliation conference where the two top positions are already reserved is not a true reconciliation effort. 3) The forces of Madoobe will one way or another come under the jurisdiction of the Federal military, the days of random paramilitaries roaming in Somalia is coming to an end. That the SFG will train these commanders and upgrade them with knowledge and higher ranks, is something that should be commended, not opposed. The SFG will not impose itself on the parts of Jubbaland Madoobe currently controls through the KDF, not with the help of Amisom, nor a reconstituted SAF. This issue will be handled through dialogue, and real-politicking, that will either result into a compromise or see Madoobe deemed a spoiler, and his influence steadily decline. The SFG is vastly more important to the international community than a single figure/admin in Somalia, to claim otherwise is to be out of touch with the political victory after political victory on the part of the SFG, and through the support of the IC.

Its happening :cool:: NAIROBI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Somalia opened its first investment conference in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Tuesday to showcase opportunities that exist in the Horn of Africa nation. Participants at the conference said Somalia will be the next frontier for rapid investments across all sectors of the economy as the Horn of Africa state enjoys relative peace and stability after two decades of turmoil. Somali Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohamed Omar said his country's rebirth has created investments opportunities in strategic sectors of the economy including agriculture, transport, energy and fisheries. "Resumption of peace, stability and democratic governance has opened new business opportunities in Somalia. We have invited the Somali Diaspora and foreigners to come and be part of the nation's rebirth," Omar told investors in Nairobi. He told the Somali reconstruction and investment conference that economic growth is the current focus of the new government in Mogadishu to ensure stability and cohesion is entrenched across the wider society. The minister noted that lately, foreign direct investments in Somalia have surged against a backdrop of security and establishment of a business friendly legal and policy framework. "We have strengthened two way trade with Ethiopia while Djibouti has invested heavily in Somalia. Foreign direct investment from Turkey, Egypt, China and United Arab Emirates are at an all time high," Omar said. He added that new investors have expressed keen interest in livestock, fisheries and hydrocarbons. "We have signed agreements with foreign companies to explore oil and natural gas in Somalia," Omar said. The new Somalia government has prioritized infrastructure development and establishment of a conducive regulatory environment to attract domestic and foreign investors. "Reconstruction will focus on roads, ports, schools and hospitals while new infrastructure like fiber optic cable will be implemented to revitalize business," said Omar. He revealed that plans are afoot to build new tanneries across Somalia alongside expand basic services like water and health. Somalia is ready for an economic revival after the resumption of peace and rule of law in the country. The Somalia Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mohamud Ahmed Hassan, stressed that there are boundless investment opportunities in the country. "Private sector has a critical role to play in Somalia reconstruction," Hassan said. "We also have one of the largest coastlines in Africa, two big rivers, huge tracts of land as well as unexplored natural gas and oil resources," he said. Hassan noted that livestock products constitute the largest export segment while machinery and food products are main imports. Hassan disclosed that the government made changes to the foreign investments law. "We are only waiting for approval of the national assembly," he said. British High Commissioner to Somalia Matt Baugh said that the conference marks a new chapter for Somalia and the region. "It will provide an impetus for the Somalia government to establish effective structures that are required for a thriving business environment," he said. Baugh said that following the end of the decade long transition, investors' appetite for Somalia has increased. "We hope that reconstruction efforts will promote inclusive economic growth that will provide jobs opportunities for Somalis," he said. "This will go a long way in providing an alternative to taking arms," he said. The British envoy added that international financial institutions could provide large scale finance required to build basic infrastructure. "It will reduce the cost of doing business in Somalia, so that it improves competitiveness," he said. He noted that piracy has reduced by 80 percent since its peak following concerted international military efforts. Somalia Ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Americo said that by holding the conference in Nairobi, the Somali government reaffirmed Kenya's critical role in his country's reconstruction. "Most of ambassadors sent to Somalia as well as United Nations agencies and investors are based in Kenya," Americo said, adding that over 50 companies have expressed interest in exploring investment opportunities. Americo noted that the security is not 100 percent but has improved tremendously compared to few years ago. - LINK

Excellent line up. The June 17 conference is going to be the really interesting one.

Apophis - It offers federal recognition, it offers opportunities for multi-nationals to invest in the region, it offers international recognition of the new federal state as part of Somalia. It offers the continuation of Ahmed Madoobe as the leader of this project, to say it provides nothing, is seriously disingeneous, when compared to the current situation that will literally lead to nothing for the dream of Jubbaland. The wave and interests that is sustaining the Federal government are trillion dollar countries, not poor African republics. Xiin - I have no relations, but I agree to a certain extent, though Madoobe's team are as much to be blamed with regards to the current situation. The knee-jerk policies aren't helping anyone.

Continued: The Tanzanian professor Shivji made an interesting point in the above article: "that after Somalia, which has been destroyed, Tanzania has the longest shoreline on the Indian Ocean." This is an interesting point, countries in the region base their geopolitical importance and advantages on the current situation of Somalia, be it Ethiopia and its cries of terrorism, or Kenya and the refugee issue, Djibouti and its unchallenged regional Port, or Uganda and Burundi for the first time in their history being treated as equal partners at UN summits because of their contribution to Amisom, the stepping stone has been Somalia, and indirectly they have benefited from its current misery. That is the reality of today, I will not deny it, its a painful fact. However there is a flip-side to this, and if the above 12 points policy is put into motion by the Federal government and the regional administrations find the foresight to agree upon it. The political deadlocks would unravel, the various regions for the first time in 22 years would open up for investment and allow coordinated advances against Al-Shabaab. The refugees would return, and the camps in Kenya would disappear along with the geopolitical status this situation currently accords to Kenya in the eyes of the International Community, at no expense to her own coffers. The 12 point policy would end the foreign presence in Somalia, and in turn degrade the importance of Uganda and Burundi in the eyes of the West. The 12 point policy would revitalize the many deepsea ports of Somalia, and in turn take away business from Doraleh and Mombasa. The 12 point policy would cement strong relationships with all the important powers of the world in a way that is competitive and beneficial to Somalia, and degrade the relationships of neighbouring countries and major powers solely based on countering threats from Somalia. The 12 point policy would cut through the political knot in the name of economy and progress, it would regain the lost political capital of the country, it would re-energize fertile regions and the coastal belts of the country. There is absolutely no reason for us to be in this pathetic situation, geopolitically, economically and domestically. Somalia does not have to have a military presence in a neighbouring/distant warzone to be courted by the likes of Turkey, Britain, Qatar and the US. They will reach out by default once the house is in order. Somalia does not have to advertise itself to the international business community, their binoculars have never left the country, and they will throw themselves at the feet of your leaders once they smell the scent of stability. Somalia does not have to construct major ports to attract investment, they are already there. Somalia does not have to teach the world about its strategic locations, the world already knows, since 50% of their goods travel past the country's sea-lanes. The ball is in our hands, so forget about personalities for a moment, and keep your eye on the goal, if we blow this chance, no amount of advantages the country is blessed with will save Somalia, or all that lives within its internationally recognized borders.

Nations have no permanent friends or allies, they only have permanent interests - Lord Palmerston A serious political earthquake has happened in East Africa not seen since the collapse of the central government of Somalia in 1991. The recent change has shifted the world's policies towards this region, especially with regards to each country's geopolitical importance. The one time favourite, Kenya has been on a downward spiral since 2008, in terms of political capital. This has worsened with the election that ushered in two politicians accused of being war-criminals in the eyes of the ICC in The Hague. One can see the stark difference of this new geopolitical reality in the country of Tanzania, a former socialist republic, which in the past had weak ties with the West, ties much weaker than those of the erstwhile governments of Somalia. Yet today, its leaving the rest of the region in a cloud of dust as its being courted not just by their traditional allies, the East, but also the West. Tanzania has provided these two blocs with a stable and dependable partner, with whom they can do business. Xi Jinping visits Tanzania In June, US President Barack Obama will embark on the second leg of his African Tour, and one of the destinations is Tanzania. A country he has no personal ties with, nor any family living there. He will arrive with an entourage of 1200 people, 500 of them business people, and will inject close to a billion dollars into the economy of Tanzania. You ask, why is all this relevant, well anyone that has followed Obama's rise, knows his closest link with Africa is in the form of Kenya, where he has family, and which he visited as a senator. Yet as a President, during his African Tour he and his advisers have opted for the second time to bypass Kenya, despite visiting a neighbouring country in the process. This is clearly due to who is in power in Kenya, but also highlights that countries can be discarded very easily if you do not synchronize yourself in a way that makes it comfortable for the world powers to do business with you. President Barack Obama will on his second leg visit South Africa, and Tanzania, but not Kenya. Here comes the part that is relevant to Somalia, in terms of natural resources, agricultural potential and strategic location, Somalia beats anyone in the region hands down, It's myopic politics on the part of Somali leaders, both on a regional and national level that has rendered these clear-cut advantages obsolete,and irrelevant for decades. However there is a silver-lining here, Somalia remains an extremely attractive country for investors, at the Somalia London Conference, 200 business people threw themselves at the feet of the Somali President. There are also two very important business and investment conferences scheduled in Nairobi, that will draw in hundreds of entrepreneurs and multi-nationals. However, everything on the ground seems to point to a terrible collision, that will either permanently destroy a nascent regional state, or significantly weaken the capacity of the Federal Government. The losers here will be the Somali people, regardless of what petty clan your from. This is what I propose to not only increase the geopolitical importance of Somalia, but create a stable country: 1) The Federal Government recognizes the election of Ahmed Madoobe, on the condition that the Raskamboni Brigade are incorporated into the SAF immediately, and their commanders sent to Mogadishu and Ankara for training. Ahmed Madoobe will have not engage a dialogue with any neighbouring/distant country that is not sanctioned and approved by the Federal Government 2) The Jubbaland administration agrees to a reconciliation conference in Mogadishu, with the Vice-President seat remaining vacant. 3) The Constitution is revised transparently and with daily/weekly reports on progress transmitted through the national tv and radio-stations. 4) The Federal Government has to reach out to China, and cut out the middleman. The summit that Somalia and Japan will co-chair tomorrow in Tokyo, surely will irk and bring out the Red Dragon from its slumber, and to our benefit. 5) Establish a Federal resource-sharing agreement with the important stake-holders of the country that will open the way for massive investments that are welcomed and protected by all parties, including Somaliland. 6) The Federal Government replaces the presence of Kenyan troops with a neutral presence, or has them demoted to a secondary position. This should be done in January 2014, when the arms-embargo is permanently lifted, the militias have been upgraded into regular soldiers by Turkey and EUTM and Al-Shabaab has been all but defeated/degraded to an ineffective force. 7) An end to the AU presence in Somalia has to be agreed upon in that same year. 8) The planned permanent Human Rights Commission must include an office for the return of looted properties & wealth to make the capital the multi-clan and cosmopolitan city it once was. 9) Repatriate the refugees in Northern Kenya and Yemen back to their regions in Somalia. The Federal Government must take out a loan of one billion dollars for this purpose alone, with the objective to create jobs, rebuild homes and provide services for these returnees that will allow them to stand on their own two feet once more. 10) A separate 2 billion dollars has to be injected into the country school system, health-sectors and coastal communities by 2016. 11) Provide a base for China in Kismayo, and a base for the US in either Mogadishu or Berbera. This will significantly boost the geopolitical importance of Somalia at the expense of its neighbours in the eyes of the superpowers. 12) Sign deals and joint-ventures with important great powers such as Britain, South Korea, Japan and Turkey that will benefit the infrastructure network of Somalia, and its economic output. There are more points, but these are the most important ones for the near future, and could result in Somalia being a significantly stronger and more respected country than it currently is. There is a clear advantage in the fact that unlike Kenya, Somalia does not have leaders chased by the ICC. There is also a clear advantage in the fact that the leaders of Britain and the US are more comfortable in being seen with the leaders of Somalia, than the leaders of Kenya. Despite its terrible ordeal in the last two decades, Somalia remains a beautiful Cindarella in the eyes of the world, and one that could eventually rise to become a Queen.

Shht is all F'd up sxb, my Pax Somalica sentiments are surfacing again, what's the point?

^Somalis spend Djibouti's nominal GDP on Jaad, they spend Comoros GDP on electronics and telecommunications, they annually import goods worth the nominal GDP of Liberia. Their export volume is the size of Burundi's nominal GDP, their remittances industry equals the nominal GDP of Eritrea. There is tons of money circulating in Mogadishu, Bosaso and Hargeisa, and the surrounding regions, tons of money and this is nothing compared to what the purchasing power will be in less than 5 years time. Forget what you know about Somalia's economy, the international stats are 20 years behind.