Rahima, they control those institutions, because they directly or indirectly benefit from the military hegemony their clansmen have in that neck of the woods. Muqdisho already was a modern, thriving city with schools, hospitals, universities and colleges. The make up of the business community and primarily the business elite of the south and in this particular case Muqdisho were not made up of people from Southern Mudug and Galguduud, not at all. But by Northeasterners and Northwesterners. These two groups are uprooted from the city and the consequent vacuüm of Muqdisho's business was exclusively filled up by the people that were associated to the USC. These post-1991 companies are Global Money Transfer, NationLink, United Bottling Company etc. (The last one is specifically interesting, because it uses all the equipment of the former Coca Cola producing company in Muqdisho, of which ironically an uncle of mine was the managing director) Assuming that even for arguments sake that this is true, it really doesn’t make a difference. Simply because your cousins have military power it does not mean you will automatically gain any sort of success based on this- a person must have the knowledge and experience to run these institutions, you can have all the military power possible and still get nowhere if you don’t have the skills of importance. What I dislike (and what many Somalis do) is for example when people say tribe X was successful in Somalia they came up with the nonsense that Maxamad Siyaad Barre gave them a break and gave them all land cruisers, when in fact as reality dictates the break was only dished out to a few folks in leading positions (which is how it usually pans out) and the average Faarax and Xaliima of that qabiil had to work for theirs. I don’t buy into any of these generalizations, nor do I buy into this nonsense of the folks of Mudug/Galgaduud have attained success in Mogadishu because they hold the people at gun point (just loved this one ). I suppose one cannot change peoples views, but the suggestion is but simple, ask about who these men who run the institutions/business are and on whose side of town folks live and is thriving (I’m on the verge of disgusting myself :rolleyes: , I almost sound like a typical backward Somali, but I state this as fact not with any foul intentions). These men are those who did not contribute to the clan wars and who mind you are themselves at war (not physically in a sense) with the warlords and their supporters. These men are the wadaado. The good for nothing moryaan spend all day sleeping and all night chewing on qaat-they are in my view insignificants bugs that will be erased with time. In the meantime, we shouldn’t be downplaying the achievements of those who have worked hard for the greater good, a few even leaving their lives in the west to contribute back home like the owner of Nationlink (a young man who got his electrical engineering degree in the US, returned home and started his now thriving business). At the end of the day regardless of whether or not they filled a vacuum (by saying this one would be inclined to think that indirectly one is saying they don’t have the ability to stack it up with those who left but it really is not an issue I care to delve into), they are doing something whilst we sit here making our lives in countries we have no right to really.

^ Something like that . Can’t you see that I almost got shot for referring to it? Dadku shaki badanaa. Hmm, I wonder if they have good enough grounds to be .

Calaacal? Very mature . I am not denying that there are moryaan which have committed many crimes and continue to do so. I've said this many times :rolleyes: . The problem with your reasoning is that you seemingly you want us to believe that many are there illegitimately and are basically nothing more than looters. Are you going to deny that most have worked hard for theirs and there are a few rotten apples in comparison? Are you going to deny that many have xalaal investments or are you to say they have all stolen? and thats why lots of somali people believe this is the reason people of Southern Mudug don't want a Central Government,and thats why they hate low and order, otherwise they have to vacate the land they accupied by force, and sometimes that makes senses. Read what you wrote and tell me you don’t see how distorted that is. What sort of generalizing is that anyway? :rolleyes: The people of Southern Mudug?? I agree if you had said the warlords and their supporters, but the people of Southern Mudug? Say what! Do you even understand for even one nanosecond what sort of connotation that has? Do you appreciate how that reads? As for diversion of the stream, dear I do believe that i was in the midst of discussion about the sufi odayaal in Mudug and you felt the need to jump in and attack me for supposedly was attacking wadaadaha. I gave you an explanation and once again you decided to jump at me for another point, now allow me to be so polite as to ask, who is diverting what discussion?

No doubt you girls are truly Somali! I am so conservative it is beyond ridiculous. My wardrobe is full of safe colours, colourful for me is a pastel colour, pastel green, pink, and in small doses. Even with the shoes, very safe, safe in colour and safe in heel height. I can’t ever imagine wearing the shoes posted by Zeph, good God :eek: . Aside from the fact I could never pull off those colours (even in the midst of Summer), the height is a hazard to both health and safety. The brightest I ever get is at Somali weddings with the duruuc . As for jeans, dumped them years ago thank-god ! I can’t imagine having to search forever for a flattering pair. Araweelo, Skirt number 1 with the sequences is my kind of thing , but the long part is often very very deceiving don't you find? How many times have I entered a shop, supposedly it is a “long†skirt, I go to try it out and it is a three-quarter length skirt :mad: (on me anyway). Go for the longer skirts and the waist size is ridiculously too large. You just can't win with these white people and the indha yar are even worse with their miniture size clothing. Down under those are our only well-priced choices, the somali shops are just too bright for my liking and the well fiting clothes for us east Africans are very expensive (not something you can indulge in all the time). Oh well :cool:

^ :confused: I think the brother was just being friendly .

^Oh yes silly me. :rolleyes: Of course all the folks or at the very least most from Southern Mudug live illegitimately in Southern Somalia. I mean how absurd of me to even think that perhaps most are peace-loving Somalis who live legit lives down South. How could I be so misguided, they are after all all a bunch of good-for-nothing looters who live on stolen property and stolen wealth. Here I was thinking that every tribe has the good and the bad and here I was thinking that the tribe of Southern Mudug is like the rest of the Somali tribes. What was I thinking? How dare I look at the fact that this group controls most of the institutions (be they schools, universities or hospitals) down south, along with many businesses instead of knowing that that does not matter because a few men from this group want to set up isbaaro all the way to afgooye. Must be a deficiency in me, please accept my apology dear Ali Baba . I shall recant such backward and out of touch mentality. Now I see what the wonders of the tribe mentality can do ! I have submitted to this wisdom. General, The traditional wadaado's have loads of power in southern Mudug and have been a roadblock to many initiatives to start viable projects in the area. These imbeciles need to be dealt with more fiercely. Wadaadaha have avoided confronting them because they speak no other language but the gun, instead they have resorted to fighting the war where the booty is the minds and hearts of the people hence it takes much longer. They have won the war in Mogadishu (in that they are almost at the point of being shunned by the public) and now they are turning to Mudug which will no doubt be more difficult but by the will of Allah they shall be victorious. Another dilema facing south Mudug is how to address the brain drain that has occured, the brightest and the best have moved elsewehere some are like any other clan in the diaspora majority have put their efforts in Mogadishu.. True, but I can’t see that happening. Most are thinking of their own lives and that of their families, hence Mudug as they see it does not hold a torch to the lifestyles they have set up for themselves in Mogadishu. Life is cushier for them in Mogadishu, it is where they have all their wealth, homes and comfortable lifestyle. Very few are willing to go up North to deal with it, selfish? Perhaps, but understandable- Mudug is a tough terrain.

My Dad swears that the house will burn down one of these days, all thanks to me! My mother has begun making duca for me . Rahima, Do you add salt to the Tea and sugar to the SUUGO?, hehehe God no! Add salt to Shaah? :eek: That is sacrilegious, especially for an addict such as myself. My problem is not mixing of ingredients or the actual cooking. I’m fine so long as I STAY in the kitchen, the minute I leave it to answer the phone or do another job, I somehow manage to forget something was on the stove, because you only leave for example after you’ve added everything to the suugo and you just want it to cook for a while so that the ingredients can soften. For me I can’t seem to get back to TURN OFF the stove :confused: . And Rahima my dear would never succumb to loofe :rolleyes: . I don’t know what it is, but not loofe, probably a chemical imbalance triggered by cooking :confused: . Zeph, Try telling that to my family, selective my a*ss (excuse the expression folks) would be their answer . I’ve gotta come up with a physiological reason very soon.

My take on politicians (in very simple terms), is that they are either evil to begin with and continue to do so with their political aspirations; were good people to begin with but are tarnished by the evil nature of politics and end up being evil; were good people to begin with, have good intentions, make good actions but because of the evil nature of politics they are ousted and never last because politics is for the dirty and wicked; or they were good people, remain good but play the game wisely and somehow still remain (extremely rare breed if they even exist). Can anyone think of a good Somali Politician? living or dead? If there are any currently, they aren’t very well known. As for the dead, it all depends on who you ask. Some will say hebel hebel was a good politician, others will disagree (as they say one mans freedom fighter is another mans terrorist, here we could say one mans good politician is another mans bad politician), but so far looking back in Somali politics it seems like Aden Cadde was a good man and politician who truly cared for his people. I watched him on a documentary of Somalia once, he impressed me and I have yet to see any person say anything negative about him.

Going by the first post alone, one would be prone to thinking that Khayr was disgusted at the fact that it was a sister smoking, but after his explanation, the brother is right people, no need to attack him. When you wear the Islamic attire, be you male or female, you are whether or not you like it representing Islam and Islam is being judged by your actions. This should not be the case, but it is, hence be careful of your actions, if not because of your fear of Allah at least, do so so as to not tarnish the image of the faith you subscribe to. As for the rest of us who have disagreed with Khayr, this is not the only example and we all do it in different ways. We are more disgusted with a police officer or judge who is caught drink driving than say a factory worker, or a doctor who smokes like a chimney than a lawyer. How are we then to take this police officer seriously when he is trying to enforce the law, or the doctor who is advising me to quiet smoking while his own lungs are deteriorating. It all comes to a basic principle which we all agree on-practice what you preach . We might not all do it some of the time and we might not be shocked when a person does not do so (because we don’t all do it), but it still doesn’t change the point that it is wrong and we should try to avoid it.

Bugs Bunny! You scored 42 Aggression, 85 Sophistication, and 71 Optimism! You have all the sophistication and charm one would expect from such a high-class hare. Very upbeat and generally laid-back, you are remarkably calm and peaceful even in the midst of the most stressful of situations. On those rare occasions that your anger is aroused, your retaliation usually results in embarrassing the aggressor and laying-bare how foolish he or she really is -- rather than doing any real harm. You likely have many friends and more than a few admirers and would make an excellent leader, if you had any interest in being one. But, being a leader would require hard work and attention to detail, both qualities you are lacking in. In fact, if you are not careful, your laid-back attitude will often lead you to drift through life completely oblivious to the changes happening around you. You also tend to have a horrible sense of direction. My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 24% on Aggression You scored higher than 80% on Sophistication You scored higher than 58% on Optimism

I only develop the memory of a goldfish when I am cooking and I leave the kitchen. Outside of that my memory is fine, which is why I am confused about my cooking dilemma :confused: .

^Although i meant by 'inclined' leaning towards based on interest not height , to answer your question, let's just say my height is considered above average. Foxy-Brown, Honestly, i despise gyms with a passion now. Never will i ever sign up again, mainly because I’m more interested in playing actual sports then running on a treadmill or doing s-t-u-p-i-d weights which bore me to death :rolleyes: , but also because of the horrifying experience i had to endure. Every month they ate $80.00 out of my account ($960 for the year) and i wasn't even using their stinking facilities. I get even more irritated :mad: when i think of what i could of have done with that money. Your suggestion is a little too late dear , why weren't you around when i was being ripped off

I’ve spent the last couple of years (as a result of an alliance between my mother and GP) trying to get my weight up to healthy and my iron levels to sufficient :cool: . Now all I have to do is to concentrate on getting in some exercise and getting my vitamin D levels up. I joined the gym last year, but it was so boring I quite (although the buggers continued to take my money for the whole year :mad: ). I have to find a different form of exercise now, I’m inclined to basketball again-how I enjoyed that back in high school.

^ You alright mate? I think you're a tad confused there . Blame wadaado? Where? Which of my posts did I blame the wadaado. Dude believe you me I am all for wadaadaha (any person who reads my posts would know this)-in fact if you had read properly and comprehended even a little you would of have seen that I gave credit of any progress to wadaadaha. Then again, who knows, you might consider them qaad chewing good-for-nothing backward and tribalistic odayaal as wadaado. If this is the case, then yes we do disagree, not on this discussion per se, but the definition of a wadaad. In terms of the discussion Sky and I were having, the problem lies with these odayaal. This is a fact dear not something that i decided to conjure up . As for the migration issue, this is nothing new. Before the civil war many from all clans migrated down south to Mogadishu (hence not a concept invented by the people of southern Mudug) because it is the capital and as people saw it had greater opportunities for them. It just so happens that due to animosity created by the civil war and circumstances resulting from it, folks have gone where they believe they can go-hence for some it meant going back to their regions and others migrating still to Mogadishu because they still believe there is greater opportunity there for them. I personally would love to see them build their own regions instead of just pouring everything down south. At the end of the day though, it is about personal choice. If people wish to live anywhere legitimately they should be allowed to do so, if they abuse this anywhere they should be shunned. I don’t understand why someone should be restricted because their clan lives in Region X or Country X. I personally would invest where i felt was most beneficial and could bring about the best returns for me, likewise i'd live in an area i felt most comfortable with and that for me is certainly not Mudug, not because i believe it to be cursed but i see other areas as having greater potential and a more comfortable lifestyle. If the clan of Northern Mudug can live and invest in Bossaaso (like Sky highlighted), why can’t the tribe of Southern Mudug do the same in Mogadishu? If the tribe of Burco can live and invest and Hargeysa, why can’t the tribe of Southern Mudug do the same in Mogadishu? Unfortunately Somalia has become divided even more so on tribe, the folks of SL share a tribe, as do those of PL and finnally as do those ranging from Southern Mudug all the way to Mogadishu. If one builds their region and the other neglects theirs, it’s their choice and perhaps bad luck, but it is their choice and it is for them to decide to do something about, not for any of us to make it grounds to attack them. If we however look at it from the perspective of the results of the Somali civil war, if it had been different, I guarantee you then the folks of Southern Mudug would of have been forced to build their own region leaving Mogadishu for others, however this is not the case and they have options which they obviously see as more viable and fruitful. If the civil war had not occured we can almost guarantee that no tribe would be building their regions-they do so because of the civil war. To this extent, i suppose some good came out of the disaster-it is ridiculous for a whole people to pour almost all their wealth into one city. Overall I do believe that sooner rather than later, they will turn their efforts on their own regions, but it is for them to decide.

I disagree Rahima, those responsible are the remnants of the USC/SNA of Caydiid. Former Lieutenants or soldiers based in Gaalkacyo. They are the ones who call the shots in Baraxley. The wadaads are probably the only light os society nowadays; running private schools, successful business and building mosques and learning centres throughout the country. Only 20 miles north of Gaalkacyo there is an intriguing looking town called Heema . Founded by a well-known Sheikh who returned to his tribal homeland and set up a Xero in the middle of nowhere. Now its an Islamic learning centre where boys are turned into Wadaad men. They live like monks and when they come out after a few years; they marry. I think you misunderstood me. I did not say wadaadaha, I said the sufi odayaal-trust me these men are far from religious. These are the men who among other things call for the tribal wars, who sit around all night long chewing on qaat while they chant, who are anti-xijaab and who believe that secular education is unnecessary. The wadaado like you said on the other hand are making progress and they are the ones taking up the struggle to educate the masses and provide the necessary services be it healthcare education or housing. There is a major clash between these two groups in Southern Mudug. Wadaadaha erect schools and educational foundations, the sufi odayaal call for their closure because ‘Al-itixaad’ built them. This fear of Al-itixaad is shared all across the region, but is more evident down South. Basically wadaadaha and the sufi ‘sheikhs’ are on different ends of the struggle, alxamdullilah by the will of the Almighty the war is being won gradually. More and more people are beginning to see the backward thinking of these men. As for Gaalkacyo, it seems you have more hope than I. I think everyone hopes for unification simply because there isn’t a person who has roots in that town and who does not have family from both sides, however the hurdle is far too high me thinks. Peace has been achieved because of interest, not because they have a true want for it, for this reason there aren’t in my opinion good enough intentions for there to be unification.

I cant remember what the Ad was about!!! Do you @ Rahima? You cheeky bugger. Of course you remember it , you just want me to say it. I'm not going to

Gelle, You were not in my analysis . Sky, Both schools named after the clan's respective historic heroes. Now the school in Baraxley is still closed, while not only Cumar Samatar has been opened, rehabilitated by UNDP, counts 600 students and the orphans relocated, but the amount of secondary schools in the north is up to 10 or more, such as Xaaji Cali Biixi secondary school with a whopping 1500 students. Not to mention the PSU in Garoowe and the EAU in Bosasso opening new faculties in the north of Gaalkacyo. The USC/SNA in Gaalkacyo is responsible for the crooked development of Gaalkacyo. If this poor leadership continues it will have disastrous consequences for Baraxley. This problem of the schooling lies not at the feet of the USC as such, but rather those good-for-nothing sufi/xerta odayaal. The problem although is too much to get into here is very deep rooted and alxamdullilah steps are been taken to tackle them, their backward thinking and the hold they have on the people of Southern Mudug in general. The clansmen of the people of Southern Mudug run the best teaching institutions in Mogadishu (from Imam Shafici, Imam Nawawi, Banadir University, SIMAD...) and whilst I was in Somalia, along with well-known businessmen/women they were at the planning stage of taking marked steps to alleviate this problem. At the moment, all the folks of Southern Mudug who want their children to receive an education send them off to Mogadishu-it would be much better if they could receive that right in their home town rather then trekking across the country and obviously paying what is for the average family considerable amounts of money. As for the unification of Gaalkacyo-I can’t see that happening. No doubt Gaalkacyo is a volatile town-arguably the most volatile in the country. I personally think that people should learn from their past, these two tribes were at each others throats even before the war; they never leave each other alone. I believe that the best solution lies in their separation.

CLAP CLAP Wonderful boys. Why don’t we just bury the concept of Somalia while we are ahead? I mean here we have one individual attacking a certain city because it is occupied by Clan X which he despises; another shooting two birds with the one stone (i.e. this topic)- attacking Administration X with one stroke (funnily enough using one of the sickening Somali media outlets as supposed ‘proof’-yet I’m sure they are bad when against his own clan) then going on to attack Clan W by basically stating that they contributed absolutely nothing to development and building of Somalia because Clan Z built the whole country; and finally we have a young man trying extremely hard to sound just and unbiased by first refuting the points raised by the initial poster (which is fine) yet somehow goes on stating the obvious of Gaalkacyo in a way which degrades Clan Y whilst uplifting Clan X (without even acknowledging differential circumstances and achievements in different cities). Yep, Wonderful boys. Who needs warlords now? We can destroy our country all by ourselves. Now, now, don’t fight over the AK47s, there is plenty for everyone, otherwise learn to share.

Mashallah and inshallah i'll be making duca for the little girl. May Allah make the operation successful and give her a speedy recovery.

Hibo i think you'll make a very pleasing wife. You are the Somali mans dream wife

Girls-leave the sister alone, we don't allow for bullying on SOL

Rahima When I talk about the house chores being the duty of the women, the implication is dat the man works outside and she is a stay at home. Nonetheless, if its like it in the West, mind you alot of women in UAE work as well, then the house chores is a shared responsibility. I would never let my husband, sit around at home while I did the same work he did outside. Never. But if I was a stay at home wife, then surely I would have everything ready before he even got there. I hope its clear now. It is and mahadsanid for the clarification-your first post was not as explanatory and I suppose many of us took it in another way. What you’ve stated and what many of us believe is only but common sense. It only but makes sense for me to do the household chores if I am staying at home and he going to work, however if we both venture out for work then logic and human decency would dictate that the chores are shared. If he chooses to watch me burn myself out after we have both arrived from work, me running from one chore to another and he sitting on his lazy behind, then I suppose we have bigger issues then household duties- I’d be living with a man who basically is saying I don’t give a rats a*s*s about you, your body or feelings. And then as Rain said, adios mate, to you is your way and to me is mine. Contrary to popular myth, divorce ain’t the end of the world-not that I’m advocating for it lightly but I’d never stay in the marriages so many of our women do-perhaps they are more patient than I. I’d exhaust all other avenues first, try to save the marriage as best as possible but if I am seeing it is to no avail, then I’m gone. By the way, in Islam, a muslim woman should never leave the house without her husband with her, What? Where did you get this from? Perhaps in some Arab countries but this certainly is not Islam, Arab culture maybe but not Islam. Could you clarify this and more precisely tell us where you got it from? Xafsa , I blame our culture for the way the household unit is, i blame our culture for all the screw ups basically and mostly i blame the women for the way the men are! Reason is we women are the first teachers of the child, we teach our boys to be incompetent, we teach them this thinking of household chores are a womans job, we make their sisters do everything for them at a young age therefore it then becomes our fault when they get married and expect the same from their wives. If we begin to teach our sons otherwise, inshallah things will change-at least for the next generation of girls. In the meantime i pray to Allah that i end up with a man who sees the ills of this backward thinking and who actually cares about me beyond seeing me as a child bearing vessel that was created to serve his every need and want.

Hibo I still don't think its the man's work to do the house chores.. but I think its his duty to do that when his wife is ill or pregnant. Or if he just wants to help when she is tired... but I believe there is no need for a law to decide the private affairs. How about if you also work outside the home just like he. So are you then expected to come home and do all the household chores? Life in the west sister is not like in the UAE (I’m sure you know that) hence what you are saying does not hold ground. We do not all stay home, we do not have maids to help us cook and clean. Many of us must work, bear children, cook and clean. It is only but natural that if a woman is a stay at home wife, then she take care of the majority of the household duties for he is working outside to make a living, but then what would you say if this was the case and both are outside the home? The point and the responsibilities change then and in that circumstance it would be very unfair to put all the work on the shoulders of the woman for she too comes home tired after a hard day. We too are human beigns and we too get tired. Men even without laws being imposed on them should be thoughtful and caring because by marrying this woman they supposedly attesting to loving her, so why would he sit on his behind and watch her slave away and get more and more tired over the years? It’s heartless to say the least and a man who does that to me does not deserve my respect or love- I’d be better without him. It’s not even about the actual household chores; it’s about caring for what some term your significant other. Xafsa no matter how much we want the men to help us around the house...it most likely won´t happen,,,siiba the somali men its like they were porgrammed to sit around coffee shops and gossip. I think it depends on the man- I know of a few “new age†brothers who help out at home. They were all iskaabulo at one time hence they didn’t always have a mother or sister running after them-they learnt how to cook and clean hence once they got married their wives didn’t spoil them and they learnt to help out around the home. I personally believe it’s what you teach a man. Many sisters get perfectly good house-trained men, yet they turn them into complete novices by running after them for the first year and when baby 1, 2 3 come she begins to yell that he never helps her-well duh woman! You taught him to be so incompetent and hence wuu kibray.

I've seen houses that look like a 3 year-old designed it. Exactly what my brother said when he saw some of the homes- let's just say the poor boy had a shocking dose of colour . I personally prefer the plain colours or the blue and white homes- exquisite. Even in the small town of Bacaadweyn 40 miles north of Gaalkacyo has prices of vente-per-trente (20-30) for at least $6.000 USD. That’s because the land size you quote is 600 m2, whereas homes in Mogadishu for example are on average 20 by 15 which is only 300m2 (I know the new homes in Gaalkacyo are about the same size-unless you buy two plots of land). If you want a home that large (600m2) for example in Mogadishu, you’re looking at a price of say at least $16,000 USD for the land alone (because like I said two plots of land are needed). Gaalkacyo and Boosaaso would most definitely be more expensive than $6000 for that land size, so we are right to think that the prices quoted up top are not indicative of the actual prices-they seem ridiculously too low :confused: . Recently some men from London came to Australia on a selling expedition of homes in NorthEast Somalia, places like Garowe and Bossasso-the selling price for these homes (20 by 20= 400m2) was approximately $25000 USD, and although these men are taking a commission you can still imagine what the land price would be-certainly not $2000 or $3000- it is considerably dearer and getting more so every year. I think we should be thinking of buying homes before they get more and more expensive and who knows probably out of the reach of many of us. Some have even made business out of buying homes, fixing them up and then selling them for double the price. I met this one guy, an engineer from the US (a real one- i made sure to ask after i found that somalis have this fascination with the title engineer) who basically makes a living out of this. Whilst we were there he was completing the fixing of a home he had bought for $20,000USD and ended up selling it for $40,000 USD. Real estate sure is a viable option of business. I'm working to buy my first plot now

As always wonderful post and analysis-if only those with SHM Syndrome would take heed