http://trueafrica.co/picture_story/somalias-photographers/

http://atophotos.tumblr.com/

we really need a change and not a return of the same corrupt ones. I think Samatar would be the right man to lead this nation. He is more experienced than macalinka dugsiga iyo assistant professorka. The continuation of the same failed ineffective policies of the current clowns is not what most Somalis want. we are turning a page and we need people with vision.

i was told that this veteran Omar Salad was against Aydid & his warlordism at the time and since aydid didn;t listen to him,..that he gave up. I liked the speech and saw it as a dardaaran. I would advise anyone who is elected to use this guy's experience and organization for something like reconciliation and mobilization.

so far there are total number of the Women MPs is 35 out of 275 = 13% (rounded) - not even have the 30% quota Here's a breakdown chart along clan lines. This chart is based on the latest released list of the MPs (255) and can change within coming days. 5th Amalgamation: women MPs = 5 --- 16% (rounded) - not bad Biibi Khaliif Maxamed Fahmo Axmed Nuur Khadiija Maxamed Diiriye Maryan Aweys Jama Saaqa Aden Mohamed D&M women MPs = 6 ---- 10% (rounded) - they could've done better than this Dr. Muumino Sh. Cumar Fadumo Nuur Maxamed Fowziya Maxamed Sheekh Luul Cabdi Aadan Maryan Macalin ***** Xabiibo Maxamed Kheyr D&M have 4 remaining seats to fill and none is expected to be for women DD Block Women MPs = 3 --- 5% (rounded) very disappointing - there are 2 remaining seats for the clan - and it is unlikely these seats would be given to women Saado Cali Warsame ( legendary and sometimes controversial singer) Sacdiya Careys Ciise ( daughter of the great Saar poet/meastro Careys Ciise Kaarshe (AUN) Sahra Jama Ali DR-Block Women MPs = 10 --- 16% (rounded) - a good start Aamino Cumar Jaamac Busharo Cabdi Diriye Caashakoos Maxamuud Cumar Cadar Abdi warsame ***** Duniya Maxamed Cali Faaduma Xasan Cali Faduma Odowa Rageh Khadra Ahmed Ibrahim Sahro C/qadir C/raxman Saynab Maxamed Caamir The clan has 4 seats to fill and it's unlikely that for women to get any. H block Women Mps = 11 --- 18% - a good start Amina Mohamed Abdi Caasha Xaaji Cilmi Jawahir Axmed Cilmi Maryan Cariif Qaasim Naciimo Maxamed Gacal Nadifo Maxamed Osman Qaali Axmed Diiriye Sacdiyo Cumar Sheegow Samira Xasan Cabdulle Ubax Tahliil Warsame Xalimo Xasan Cumar H-Block have 8 remaining seats to fill. It is expected at least 1 seat would be a women which could increase the quota within the block to 20% but would not have any significant changes on the overall women representation in the parliament. Reference: http://hiiraan.com/news/2012/Aug/war...ta27-19110.htm http://www.waagacusub.com/images/Som...mentarians.pdf

There are 35 women MPs (out of 275) in the new Somali Parliament which makes women representation a disappointing 13% ... not even half of the 30% quota women were supposed to get. Here's a breakdown chart along clan lines. This chart is based on the latest released list of the MPs (255) and can change within coming days. 5th Amalgamation: women MPs = 5 --- 16% (rounded) - not bad Biibi Khaliif Maxamed Fahmo Axmed Nuur Khadiija Maxamed Diiriye Maryan Aweys Jama Saaqa Aden Mohamed D&M women MPs = 6 ---- 10% (rounded) - they could've done better than this Dr. Muumino Sh. Cumar Fadumo Nuur Maxamed Fowziya Maxamed Sheekh Luul Cabdi Aadan Maryan Macalin ***** Xabiibo Maxamed Kheyr D&M have 4 remaining seats to fill and none is expected to be for women DD Block Women MPs = 3 --- 5% (rounded) very disappointing - there are 2 remaining seats for the clan - and it is unlikely these seats would be given to women Saado Cali Warsame ( legendary and sometimes controversial singer) Sacdiya Careys Ciise ( daughter of the great Saar poet/meastro Careys Ciise Kaarshe (AUN) Sahra Jama Ali DR-Block Women MPs = 10 --- 16% (rounded) - a good start Aamino Cumar Jaamac Busharo Cabdi Diriye Caashakoos Maxamuud Cumar Cadar Abdi warsame ***** Duniya Maxamed Cali Faaduma Xasan Cali Faduma Odowa Rageh Khadra Ahmed Ibrahim Sahro C/qadir C/raxman Saynab Maxamed Caamir The clan has 4 seats to fill and it's unlikely that for women to get any. H block Women Mps = 11 --- 18% - a good start Amina Mohamed Abdi Caasha Xaaji Cilmi Jawahir Axmed Cilmi Maryan Cariif Qaasim Naciimo Maxamed Gacal Nadifo Maxamed Osman Qaali Axmed Diiriye Sacdiyo Cumar Sheegow Samira Xasan Cabdulle Ubax Tahliil Warsame Xalimo Xasan Cumar H-Block have 8 remaining seats to fill. It is expected at least 1 seat would be a women which could increase the quota within the block to 20% but would not have any significant changes on the overall women representation in the parliament. Reference: http://hiiraan.com/news/2012/Aug/wararka_maanta27-19110.htm http://www.waagacusub.com/images/Somalia%27s%20New%20Parliamentarians.pdf

Mourning and eulogizing has become part of our daily life these days. Everyday we hear the killing and shooting of someone so dear to us by ruthless murderers. The victims are usually journalists, activists, athletes, artists, musicians, comedians, teachers, doctors, engineers, and intellectuals. The murderers' mission is to obliterate the crop of the cream of society. The goal is to have a blind deaf and dumb society devoid of culture, learning and thinking. The thugs are against enlightenment, progress, modernity and want us to live in dark ages. They want to have uneducated obedient masses to rule, indoctrinate and subjugate. That is the reason why they target the educated and cultured individuals within the society. The murder of an artist, athlete, activist or intellectual, makes you think about the immediacy of death and the unpredictability of life in Somalia. It makes you appreciate the courage these artists, athletes, activists and intellectuals are making to uplift and bring hope into people's life. You begin to realize how difficult it is to work and sacrifice life to not let hope and humanity die. Lately, the murderers' unforgiving bullets are taking the lives and bodies of many great legends and icons. Why are they being targeted and their lives is in danger all the time? The artists, athletes, activists and intellectuals are not that different from the common folks; they pursue their daily lives the same way, live in the midst of ordinary people, have the same concerns as most folks do. However, their spirit and soul combined with artistic vision and intellectual interpretation of life distinguishes them from most. They enlighten us from the depth of their soul. They make us think and invite us to once go with them into a different world where there is peace, calmness, civility, love and happiness. They know that is what we aspire for and so they inspire us. That is the reason behind the unrelenting ruthless assassinations of the thugs. The fanatics don't want us to be inspired and enlightened. The thugs want us to abandon our inspirational and awesome culture to embrace an alien and regressive heresy. We must remind the thugs and fanatics that Somalia has a deep-rooted and multi-dimensional rich culture where poetry, music, arts, comedy, storytelling, sports, theater and plays are indestructible and eternal. Our whole nation teems up with artists, poets, comedians, storytellers, musicians, entertainers, athletes and actors. The killing of one journalist or comedian is not going to wipe out that colossal patrimony and civilization. We must remind the thugs that killing is an act against God and that we will forever immortalize the legends and fallen cultural icons deep in our hearts and minds. They will be here with us through verse, act, play and scene. Despite the systematic cowardly attempt of the thugs to destroy our culture and take advantage of the chaos and tyranny of the past two decades, we must remind ourselves that we are people with rich cultural heritage, who are decent and dignified and know right from wrong. Somalis will always side with the wronged and not the aggressor. Somali people will always support their artists, athletes and intellectuals and encourage them to keep doing what they do best: to compose poetry, sing melodic songs, make us all laugh and enjoy music, play and watch sports, keep us informed and entertained. We implore our artists, athletes, activists and intellectuals to never give up and to continue their effort to heal our wounded souls, to reconcile us and to teach us our culture and heritage. Don't let the thugs win and reach their ugly and dark objectives. All Somalis must be fearless to express their condemnation and opposition to the fanatics that are murdering our icons. We must vocally and actively express our disgust and loathing of the evil actions of the murderers. As a sane and civil society, we must not let the disaster and distress of the chaos in our country discourage us to appreciate and support our cultural icons and living legends. Our culture is integral to our life and humanity. We must not surrender. We must give assurance and renewed confidence to our artists, athletes, activists, and intellectuals and help them continue to educate and entertain us. My condolences to all the families and loved ones of the fallen heroes like the late iconic Somali comedian Abdi Jaylani Marshaale. My salute and cheers to the Somali Olympians, Zamzam & Mohamed in London. Keep waving the blue and white flag and thank you for telling the world that Somalia is alive. Abdulkadir Mohamed (Ato)

The current and hasty process to end the transition and form a permanent legitimate government in Somalia is bound to fail for self-fulfilling prophecy. Somalia is once again headed down to the same and familiar failures. The current road map started on a wrong footing. It all began with a simulated drafting of a borrowed constitution. The draft was highly guarded, secret and ever shifting document before it was endorsed and ratified just few days ago. Then Somalia's so-called benefactors selected some unscrupulous non-entities as signatories and sole stakeholders of the road map. To add insult to injury, the staged signatories agreed on the same shameful 4.5 clan system for power-sharing. The staged ones agreed on the same failed scenarios to select yet another inflated and disproportionate parliament based on the same clannish system. They did this with the behest of their backers and with the realization of how skilled they are to manipulate the road map. Blessed with no foresight, the so-called stakeholders and signatories reinforced the perennial bankruptcy of Somali politics. The whole road map scam, its sponsors and signatories, perpetuate the perception that Somalia is a society that is fixated on clans and self-imposed primitive system. And that system only benefits few self-absorbed clowns and their foreign backers. The selection of the parliamentarians by impaired elders, in the dark ages, abases the process as a sham. The actions and conduct of elders and the political aspirants knows no integrity. The process is being polluted by a betting stunt where those who are vying to have a seat in the new parliament outbid each other and bribe the rotten aged veterans of oblivion and illegitimacy. The seat that is supposed to represent communities and citizens is now for sale for mere twenty thousand US dollars paid to selfish clan elder. Let us not be fooled by this sham. it will not transit and transform Somalia into a functioning nation. Somalia will remain a failed state if this fraud goes on its shameful projected course. The anticipated failure is the aftermath of two decades of chaos and carnage. All Somali institutions, secular and religious, are stained by dysfunction and incompetence. The current sham is just another band-aid that is not going to heal the deep scars of Somalia. It's just a foreign sponsored soap opera to scam Somalia and sustain the status-quo of mismanagement and misery. It's not blasphemous to suggest that those who started the fire and continuously hijacked all potential attempts cannot bring any solution except blunder and burden. The same politicians whose only sinister self-enrichment agenda is to steal and embezzle every dime from public coffers and foreign handouts selected complacent elders and are at the front seat to dominate and steer the outcome to their favor. Basically, the process is replete with the cancerous clan system and the cult fixation. If these two culprits of incompetency are not taken out of the equation, the whole process would amount to an absolute futility. Among the participants and candidates, there are few Somalis with good conscience and clean hands who understand Somalia's struggles and pains. Sadly, these candidates don't have a fair play at all unless someone emphasizes the selection of the members of the parliament and the future leaders of Somalia is not for sale to the highest bidder and the process is not a bazaar to bargain and outbid each other. Somalia must be allowed to establish a meaningful system where its good sons and daughters can fully participate in the political process. Somalia is at a critical cross-road and there is a pressing need to demand reform and start a revolution before it's too late. We should not be silent and become witness to unsubtle swindle. What is being dubbed as a road map to end Somalia's transition now seems to be a clear and present danger led by corrupt and crooked politicians with full pockets of bribes, kickbacks and fraudulent promises. Lastly, Somalia's self-inflicted downfall and decay requires a holistic and alternate solution. What Somalia needs is serious institutional reform and societal change. Somalis like any other conflict-ridden and war-torn societies need a genuine reconciliation and healing process that is indigenous and inclusive, not as corrupt, divisive lengthy and time-consuming as the ones dominated by by bloody warlords, bogus elders, greedy opportunists and short-sighted pseudo intellectuals. Abdulkadir Mohamed (Ato) aka Ato Shaair Mataan

Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed: Waiting for History’s Rehabilitation BY Muktar M. Omer March 23, 2012 Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed Perhaps Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed was not a hero, may even be a villain to many. But he was a remarkable political figure, one whose pages on Somali history is assured, for good as well as for bad, for now. Alive, he was equally loved and loathed. He meant different things to different people. That divisiveness, so emblematic of historical figures, will follow him to the grave. But history has a fascinating way of rehabilitating and cleansing historical figures, well after they are gone, buried in dark graves. No one remembers Che Guvera for the wives he deserted or for his suicidal revolutionary idealism. Mandela’s neglect of his progeny is forgiven. Sayid Mohamed fought not only colonial occupiers but close kins and tribes who resented his autocracy. He has composed numerous pejorative poems whose appeal and potency diminished as time passed. Heroes like all mortal humans err, after all. Yet, all of the Sayid’s warts were washed away by his nationalistic gallantry and defiance against colonialists. And history did rehabilitate him generously, pardoning his clannish escapades and highlighting his nationalistic grandeur, at least in the mainstream Somali history. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed's patriotic achievements do not parallel those of the Sayid, but so does his political wrongdoings. A considerate History would judge Yusuf by his intentions rather than his achievements. A vindictive history would disregard his efforts and intentions, instead zooming on the dismal political results he left behind. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed Wearing a consummate doggedness and self-belief that would define his long political and military career, Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, took his part in shaping Somalia’s political history and destiny for the last three decades. And because Somalia’s history was dark and desolate in those decades, it can correctly be concluded that his influence was largely adverse. It is hard to argue against that conclusion. In the end, if we judge him by what he had achieved, this is a man who failed to depose Siyaad Barre from power, having rightly pioneered the culture of fighting dictators in Somalia. This is a man who led Puntland to war with itself, having created it himself. This is the same man who led Ethiopia’s invention of Somalia in 2006 and vowed to flush out those who resist occupation, the same occupation he himself fought in the ****** (Somali Regional State) in 1977. But if intentions are to count, which they must in the tempestuous contemporary politics of Somalia, this is a man who had taken the lead before anyone in trying to free Somalia from dictatorship, in resisting political Islam from taking roots, and in pursuing the dream of reviving a unified and strong Somalia State. If the result was bad, it is unfair to put all the blame on him. There were too many actors, too many issues, too many milieus that diminished his individual relevance in the goings of Somalia. He surely could not have lifted Somalia up alone, or taken it down alone. A fair judgment is that he tried to do what he could do for his country – sometimes the right things, many times the wrong way. Zenawi, Abdullahi Yusuf and Ghedi His worst political decision, allegedly, was to sleep with Ethiopia. Yet, the man did not always did their bidding and those who scrutinize his engagement with Ethiopia with an eagle eye would realize that Ethiopia was always a player in the Somali political equation since 1990, and therefore can argue that all he tried was to manage this interference, debatably for Somalia’s advantage. There is one fact that even his detractors cannot hide. This was the only Somali politician who the Ethiopians did not dare to push around as they wanted. He was stubborn and proud, traits that Ethiopian rulers do not find attractive in a Somali. It is this unease about his refusal to play to the tunes of Ethiopia that finally sealed his political career. Even on this issue, it is hard to disagree with the logic of his political decision, of course with the benefit of hindsight. The Ethiopian intervention we resented in 2006, today many, including Sheikh Sharif, accept it as an inescapable regional reality. Today, we know no one poses more fatal threat to Somalia than its bearded sons and camouflaged sisters. He foresaw this threat, decades back! He fought extremism and politicization of religion fearlessly. Few men could have assembled the resolve and valour he demonstrated in tackling the evil of terrorism and extremism. He risked losing limbs and legs to stand up to what he believed in, and stood up to bullying political Islamists where others have waivered. With what become of Somalia’s Islamists, few today disagree with his verdict on them. After he left politics, he followed Somalia’s politics from afar with remarkable grace and with dignity that befits a former Head of State. He did not whine or curse his political foes, something that usually typifies retirement politics in Somalia.. Abdullahi with his wife Where Abduallhi Yusuf receives an unqualified approbation is how he treated his immediate family and his political friends. Yusuf was a man who exuded all the good traditions of nomadic life: sharing, honouring commitments, and charming bluntness. Bred with the austere tenets of a nomad, he was not a greedy politician, ready to pilfer and live profligate life, unlike most of the young rulers who replaced him in the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) or the shells that preceded it. The avuncular Yusuf, with uplifting distinct Somali features and nomadic mannerisms, led an exemplary family life, even laying the foundation stone for a Mosque in Baidoa in 2007, as a glowing résumé of his fleshly purity. A divisive figure? Yes. A man with many political foibles? Indeed. Was his ancient political mindset one that doesn’t fit the demands of contemporary politics? Maybe. But Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed was a “man”, in the parlance Somalis say that word. Few could begrudge him of that distinction. It is my wish that history will rehabilitate him to show his good intentions and the foundations he left behind for the rebirth of a Somali State, through unpopular but ingenious and effective political partnerships. Above all, this was a principled man, one who was loyal to what he believes in, and those who believe in him. Today, with his death, a wail of distress engulfed the lands and hearts where he was popular. A garrulous meanness reigns in the valleys and bellies of those who hated him. But no amount of divergent monologues and soliloquies by foes or friends can take that unique nomadic lustre and pride away from this misunderstood political icon. As a man who had resented his politics and hated his “I-live-by-the-sword” mentality, it was with a shock that I discovered the depth of latent admiration and even love I had for the fallen former president, when I heard the news of his death. I still roundly disagree with many things he did, but admire him for his loyalty to his own principles, philosophies, and friends. My condolences to his family. May he rest in peace and sleep in the heavens! Mukhtar M. Omer WardheerNews Contributor E-Mail:muktaromer@ymail.com

http://www.wardheernews.com/Articles_12/March/Muktar/23_Colonel_Ahmed_Waiting_for_Historys_Rehabilitation.html isn't this the same article?

This VOA article does some objective analysis to the marxuum. The former president of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government has died at a hospital in the United Arab Emirates at the age of 77 following a long battle with liver disease. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, a former warlord, was elected president in 2004, but had few friends left in Somalia by the time he resigned four years later. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed spent a lifetime fighting. He famously led an attempt to overthrow Somali President Mohammed Siad Barre in 1978, but failed, fled to Kenya and then to Ethiopia. There, he formed a rebel force to fight against the Barre regime. But the Ethiopians turned against him and he was imprisoned in the mid-1980s until 1991, when Siad Barre was finally forced from power. The Somalia he went home to was chaotic and violent. Warlords were fighting throughout the country for control of territory and resources. In his homeland, in the northeast, Yusuf put together his own forces and became one of the founders of the autonomous region of Puntland, where his legacy is best remembered. On the news of his death, the current Minister of State Planning for Puntland, Abdulkadir Hashi, wrote on Twitter that he was "saddened by his passing" and called the late president a "great patriot & friend." Politically, Yusuf was a hardliner, inflexible and forever a military man who was quick to sideline anybody who stood in his way. His political career was boosted by warlords and others who believed the country needed a leader willing to fight. He became president of Somalia's first Transitional Federal Government (TFG) after beating out 27 other candidates, one of them being Mohamed Mohamoud, a self-described peace activist who is also from Puntland. "Abdullahi Yusuf was sidelining anybody who is not strictly on the military side," said Mohamoud. "He was not comfortable with the people who are politically enlightened, politically independent, politically courageous, who is against military rule." Although he won the election with the backing of the country's warlords, they quickly turned against him when he tried to set up a government in Mogadishu, fearing a federal government would encroach on their territory. Under pressure from the warlords, he moved the government to Baidoa in central Somalia. Then, growing more concerned about the rising power of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), he was instrumental in convincing Ethiopia to send troops into Somalia in 2006 to help prop up the TFG. The move was unpopular with many Somalis. Former presidential candidate Mohamoud said he supported Yusuf's military strategy, but said more thought should have been given to reforming the political system. "We were not even opposing him, even me I was not opposing him, just because I believe it was appropriate to take Somalia by force first," said Mohamoud. "But after someone takes by force, well, there should be an immediate change of the system to a rule of law." The Ethiopian incursion backfired for Yusuf. The troops' presence only helped to bolster support for the militant wing of the ICU, which later evolved into the militant al-Shabab. Sheikh Abdisamad Abdiwahab, a Somalia analyst with Southlink consultants in Nairobi, says Yusuf had also lost the support of the United States, which had supported his stance against the Islamists. "Initially they were having very high hope, he's going to restore stability and security of Mogadishu, but he failed to do so, contrary to the expectations of the Americans," said Abdisamad. "So they tell him publicly, if you fail to restore the security and law and order, kindly resign." His fellow politicians accused him of favoring his own ***** clan, which had no clout in Mogadishu or Baidoa. And the international community called him an obstacle to peace for blocking peace deals with the Islamists. Yusuf resigned in 2008, making way for the current TFG president, former cleric Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed. source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Former-Somali-President-Yusuf-Dies-at-77-143969976.html

yeah and she is good at it!