Jubba Valley Initiative is a good step in the right direction By Abdi Jama (Gunna-Gunne) It was more than a year ago when the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia was formed in Nairobi, Kenya, following two years of reconciliation talks sponsored by IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) and supported by other international organizations to restore law and order to the war ravaged country. But the long awaited interim government is plagued by infighting and wrangling from within. Shortly after the conclusion of the Reconciliation Conference, a split developed between the newly elected president and Parliament. It appears that this row, between the government and parliament, has reached a crisis level and may lead to the collapse of the whole peace process. The two groups differ on a number of issues including deploying foreign peace-keepers from neighbouring countries in Somalia and where the government should be located as the president and prime minister oppose to move to Mogadishu, for security reasons, and are based in Jowhar, north of the capital, while the speaker of the parliament and some of the powerful faction leaders and members of the government are based in Mogadishu. The two sides, not only differ on those two points, but they equally differ on what strategies should be adopted to resolve remaining reconciliation issues. For instance, President Yusuf and his Prime Minister Gedi believe that reconciliation was finalized in Nairobi and the difference is between them and members of their government which can be solved internally by face to face talks .On the contrary, the speaker of the Parliament Mr. Sharif and other faction leaders prefer to involve international mediators in these talks. The international community, particular IGAD member countries, and the UN has been involved in the Somalia reconciliation process since it began and made a number of attempts to bring the two Somali groups to the negotiating table. Noticeable among these attempts was a meeting hosted by the Yemeni president, Ali Abdallah Salah to have the two sides resolve their differences. The special UN envoy to Somalia, Dr. Françoise Fall also made several trips to both Jowhar and Mogadishu to mediate the two sides. All these efforts failed to produce any tangible results. The lack of progress in these talks triggered fears that the two sides may resort to military force to settle their differences and restart a full scale civil war. At this critical juncture in which the future of our country is at the crossroads, it’s time for a courageous and patriotic leader to emerge. For this reason, the initiative undertaken by Jubba Valley Alliance in Kismanyo led by Col Barre Aden Shire aimed at bringing the two parties to the negotiating table came at the right time. It is, therefore, incumbent upon each one of us to support this initiative. Given their unique clan composition and their relationship with Mogadishu based faction leaders, Jubba Valley is well suited to play a mediating role between the parties. In addition to this, Colonel Barre has always maintained dialogue with the President and Prime Minister which has earned him the trust of both sides. In this respect, the Jubba valley initiated mediating conference is a welcome step in the right direction that may take the country out of the current political impasse. It gave the Somali people a renewed hope no matter how remote it may seem. Already, we are seeing a positive response from both wings of the Somalia government and millions of ordinary Somali citizens. As I write this article, I learned that Mogadishu wing have accepted the Jubba Valley proposal in its entirety and without condition, and Jowahar function is now studying it and expected to follow suit. The news that the two sides agreed to talk caught many people, including UN envoy to Somalia, by surprise. It was just couple of weeks ago when Mr. Fall traveled to Jowhar and Mogadishu and returned empty handed in his efforts to have the two parties resolve their disagreement through dialogue. As a matter of fact, Mr. Fall’s attempt to mediate the two sides had a polarizing impact as each group resorted to name calling and blaming the other for the failure of the Mr. Fall’s mediation. Whether this initiative succeeds or not, Barre has shown that he is a leader who is prepared to take risks for the sake of his nation. He proved to be a man with a national vision beyond the control of Jubba Land. And if his initiative succeeds in bringing the two sides resolve their differences, irrespective of the meeting venue, he may go down in Somali history not as a warlord but as a peace-lord who brought a Somali solution to the Somali problem for the first time in fifteen years of the present conflict. Abdi Jama (Gunna-Gunne) Email: Gunnaa1_2000@yahoo.com

What is the meaning of all this :confused: Suldaanka, pardon me, but you do not seem like the type to post anything that contradicts the 100% hardline "Somaliland" secessionist view, so what do you mean by this?

The biggest crime he committed is that he voluntarily left the city of Kismaayo in 1999 in order to strenghten his lost popularity. He was simply thinking to himself "f I leave the city and the enemy catches it I will defeat them and return glorious so that no-one could ever argue to replace me. Where is the comedy section?

Originally posted by Castro: quote:Originally posted by Kashanre: Either your Somalinimo is under question again or you cant read Somali! This reminds me of a christian evangelist I argued with some years ago. His favorite line to convince me Jesus was "god" would go something like this: "either Jesus was a liar, a lunatic or he is lord". That's a fallacy. It's a fallacy because Jesus could have been something other than the three options forced upon me by this evangelist. So, now that you've voluntarily walked into this trap, how do you plan to rephrase your statement above into something I can reasonably respond to. Why must I rephrase? Respond as creatively as you can. Creativity is a much sought after tool, and as you seem to be very adept at using that tool, why not employ it? BTW the statement did not call for a response, hence the exclaimation mark. If however you deemed it in need of one, by all means go ahead.

A referendummust include all Somali people, not part of the Somali people. Must the final nail be placed on the secessionist camp's coffin!

http://www.gedonet.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1714

Originally posted by Xoogsade: You are right, I am the one who misunderstood you then. Honestly, I should be on bed sleeping to make up for the lost sleep instead. Take care now. I wanted a big fat paycheck and decided to work the holiday when the rest took off and my brain is mixing the signals for lack of enough sleep. Bye Now. Lol..! Hakuna Matata.

^No I'm sure you can do it for the both of us. Anyways sxb, misunderstand maahee hadalka si uusan u dhignayn baad u dhigeysaa. For the last time sxb, you do not say "wa-calayka" to a believer and "wa-calaykum" to a non-believer, it is quite the opposite. So you cannot greet a believer with "calayka" as you have done to my person. Hadalka intaas haku ekaado, faahfaahin iyo muran kale uma baahno.

^You do stand corrected sxb, because "wa-calayka" not "wa-calaykum" is the response given to a gaal who greets you in the Islamic greeting. I am not a gaal. "Salaamulaahi calayka"na waligay ma aanan maqlin.

So are you getting in touch with your sensitive side?

Sweet with a stiff back! I recieved the message loud and clear, ma'am.

You’re so innocent HA. Castro invented the whole movement of saqajaanimo just like his ancestor discovered camels. It’s a family tradition of discoveries Bare with me Rahima! Bare with me. You know I'm new to this area of law and order. Castro, Either your Somalinimo is under question again or you cant read Somali! The "bun" intent was not as hidden as you believed.

Seattle is not even very cold at the moment. Quite temperate really. Nice breeze, a bit grayish, comfortable, minus heavy rain= a very "Seattle" day. It's a very, very Seattle day today.

^Why did you have to ignore my other post sxb! I was looking forward to an interesting rebuttal, but fair enough, waa ku daayay. :cool:

Kashanre, Out of curiousity, what is the meaning of your username? If you are brother Horn, salaamullahi Calayka as well. You have the same quote at the bottom as he did and I wasn't around lately to be aware of the name change. Hope I don't sound too intrusive. Waar gaal maahi ee "Calayka" halkee ka timi! Yes, sxb indeed I am Horn and you aren't sounding the least bit intrusive; hakuna matata. It's not that I was really questioning Castro's logic, but that it provided an excuse to ask a question I have wanted to ask. I didn't want to sound too intrusive, so I just waited untill a good opportunity provided itself to ask him my question. :cool:

^I have never seen so much flip flopping in one post! Ninyahow, I'm 100% sure you have an expert's guide to conspiracy theories or something! Right? Can I ask you one question though? Just one plz o.k? Do you still believe a boogeyman will come out from under your bed at night?

Why that's an easy question! Don't tell me you couldn't figure it out. Well, Duh, Morgan represents Morgan.

^^Why is that, "atheer"?

^I always wanted to ask this; sxb are you Somali? The fact that I am questioning your "Somalinimo" should tell you a thing or two about what others perceive of your character too.

Originally posted by Castro: (and the "bun" is intended!) :cool: Kan saqajaansanaa. Aside from male "bonding", what is the need for a Men's section? I thought the sports and politics were enough?

^Aah Rahima good to see you walaashiis. Don't mind me, I'm just being a quuqle as always.

After all the trouble gone through by our Somaliland brothers, this was the response they got: Originally posted by Lui: Northerner, excellent side! Thank you very much for blog. So, they are informations which interest me. I am grateful for you. Somalia this very exotic country for me. I have images beautiful about Somalia from books and internet. I have hope that once I will compare my image with reality… I read books: “Desert Flowers†and “Nomadów Daughter†- Waris Dirie, “Tear on sand’ –Nura Abdi You read it? In Polish books about Somalia I read that: “… in Somalia it does not have government, it does not have president is anarchy ….†Is this truth? Now this is a more believable response then hogwash stories!

^lol

I have got to learn Af-May.

Waryaahe Brown, sxb diversity comes in abundance, Wordette is quite the weirdo though. Bishaaro, hehe Ils avaient l'opinion pareille , laakiin bon voir que vous pensez au Faarax chinois. Sheheraze, don't worry Wordette has much more weird stories to tell then any sane person can stomach.