Originally posted by HornAfrique: Abdulahi Yusuf and his warlord friends at the peace process better thank god I'm not a millionaire. Otherwise they would've all seen their graves a loooong time ago. What would you do exactly? A mouse and keyboard wont get you too far Or did you plan on hiring assasins with your 'millions' There won't be another time when you use us true Somali nationalists... . Ilaahey ka cabso. How arrogant and pompous somalis have become. Thats called freedom and having liberty. Something Beer-Laawe, whom you constantly support, is in dire need of being taught. As apposed to the TNG, Riyaalow, JVA, and all the warlords? Convient that you didnt mention them(although I'll try not to read too much into them) BN

Originally posted by Nasir: the honorables members of the two houses and the fair and blanced goverment of somaliland decides to release this low pathetic called of a man. You mean those lazy odayaal who's only priority are qaat sessions? Those honorable ones!?!? All they have done is grow fat in their comfy villas while their people struggle day-to-day. I suggest you have more faith in real elders then these pseudo political elders and born again afweyn loyalists. all somalilanders support the action taking by their goverment regarding buurmadow What would you call those demontrations against the imprisonment of Buurmadow and resulting arrests by riyaale henchmen in places like burco and ceelafweyn? This is a 'nation'-divided,--all that needs to be answered is who will fire the first shot? All you guys have to do is ASK,--and Puntland forces will come and save you from your nightmare BN

Issimada Gobollada Sool, Sanaag Iyo Cayn Oo Ugu Baaqay Maamulka Riyaale In uu Siidaayo Boqor Buurmadow Arbaco, February 11 2004 Laascaanood(RadioLascaanod) Isimada Gobolada Sool, Sanaag Iyo Cayn ayaa maanta ugu baaqay Maamulka Somaliland in sida ugu dhaqsaha badan loo siidaayo Boqor Buurmadow, oo uu maamulkaasi dhawaan ku xidhay Magaalada Hargeysa, isaga oo ka shaqaynaayey sidii nabad loogu soo dabaali lahaa Xurgufta soo kala dhex gashay Puntland iyo Maamulka Riyaale. Waxa kale oo ay ugu baaqeen Riyaale kaahin In uu Boqorka oo ku caan baxay nabada iyo sidii uu uga shaqayn lahaa wadanoolaanshaha dadka soomaaliyeed loo baahan yahay in sharaftiisii iyo karaamadiisii loo soo celiyo. Baaqan waxaa soo saaray oo RadioLascaanod soo gaadhsiiyey isimada hoos ku qoran: Garaad C/qani Garaad Jaamac Garaad Saleebaan Garaad Maxmed Garaad Ismaaciil Ducaale Suldaan Siciid Cismaan Cali Garaad C/salaan Xasan Maxmed Garaad Maxmuud Cismaan Mashqare RadioLascaanod. BN

Horn, I think there is some squabbling over the actual document which was signed. Some are saying that it was a different then the one agreed to in the 10-day summit. But I could be wrong. Anyway I dont think this will affect the final outcome of these talks. The talks have overcome much larger obstacles then this. BN

SOMALIA: TNA endorses agreement NAIROBI, 9 Feb 2004 (IRIN) - After three days of debate, the Transitional National Assembly (TNA) of Somalia, has given its blessing to an agreement signed by the Transitional National Government (TNG) and Somalia's various political factions. The leaders of the Somali groups meeting in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, had on 29 January signed "a landmark breakthrough" agreement on a number of contentious issues that had plagued the peace talks. The debate on a motion seeking endorsement for the agreement began after the TNG cabinet had given its approval on 3 February, Abdikarim Ahmad Ali, the TNG parliamentary affairs minister, told IRIN. Abdikarim said that after three days of debate, 155 members present of the 245-seat TNA voted on the motion, of whom 136 supported the government's endorsement, with only one MP voting against it. Eighteen MPs abstained. The motion supporting the agreement was passed on 8 February. After the vote, the president of the TNG, Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, had signed "a decree making the agreement legal and binding on the government", said Abdikarim. Meanwhile, senior traditional elders from the ****** , one of country's four major clans, had also expressed support for the agreement, one of them told IRIN on Monday. Mu'allim Harun Mu'allim Yusuf, the chairman of the elders' committee, said the Mogadishu meeting, attended by over 60 elders from all ****** sub-clans, had endorsed it and called on all the Somali leaders and people to follow suit. "There is no turning back. We must support this compromise agreement and move forward towards the establishment of an all-inclusive government", he said, adding that if there were leaders who had some problems with the agreement, then "those minor issues should be addressed, but they should not be an excuse to scuttle the whole process". The support of the elders had been seen as crucial since they would have to give legitimacy to any final deal reached by the various groups, a regional analyst told IRIN on Monday. "Their support is massively important. It demonstrates the unequivocal endorsement by all the ****** clans of the agreement," he stressed. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39373&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=SOMALIA

Originally posted by Gediid: Bari I like what ever you're on ,any chance you can hook up a brother ....... Its called reality. Something which is in limited supply in waqooyigalbeed Hopefully, I can get a job with the Riyaale government as the "Minister for Truth, Accuracy, and factualism". You guys are in dire need of my services :cool: BN

Black folks = one step forward, two steps back. Even in the 'west', Never changes. Maybe another US invasion will solve the problem. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3470911.stm

Somalia: Radio Galkayo, Radio for peace During the civil war, while the whole world was being apart, a group of young people with some older ones and a few intellectuals from Galkayo joined forces. Together, they advanced the idea for creation of a radio for peace: Radio Galkayo. With the support of Oxfam-Quebec and Oxfam Canada, Radio Galkayo developed programs for peace which were heard throughout the country. With this initiative, we brought together communities at a time when no one even dared speak of peace and reconciliation. In partnership with other local groups and businesses we then developed other programs to continue our mission of peace. Without Oxfam, we would not be where we are today. This organization has done the most to establish stability for radio and consequently establish a more peaceful environment in Puntland. But the contribution to the peace and development effort also follows, for a large part, from our Diaspora. It is this effort of co-operation by all of us which will create a more peaceful world in which to live and prosper. After the civil war, Galkayo became home to businesses and non-government organizations (NGO) which were very successful. Radio Galkayo is proud of having contributed to establishing a peaceful environment for companies to put down roots in Galkayo, Puntland and the whole of Somalia. There are numerous signs of success: banks, construction companies, water purification companies, businesses, airlines, factories, telecommunications... There is no doubt that the most significant example is the Galkayo Education Center for Peace and Development (GECPD). This organization operates to reinforce the ability of women to defend their fundamental rights. There is also the Y Foundation, a local NGO which contributes to conflict resolution programs, urban planning, health education and encourages community participation in the development of local projects. My dream is that Radio Galkayo will continue to be a community radio, always promoting ideas of peace, love, labor and development in the community. For my neighborhood and my country, I pray for more understanding, for peace and for a stable and democratic system. By Aden Nur Mohamed, Manager, Public Relations, Radio Galkayo Web site: www.radiogalkayo.com Story Link Oxfam Quebec

Acuudubillah. Why do you guys always feel the need to look for acceptance and approval from your old british masters. You seem to be the only people openly courting your former colonialist,--while the rest of the 3rd world is united against the neo-colonialism of today. Instead you seem to be dreaming of a 'white knight' in shining armour to whisk you away. So much so that you become giddy when a few old white farts, mention your name in a committee or visits the dusty streets of Hargeisa! I will remind you--before Oodweyn and Co. become intoxicated with jubilation--of another MP, Jim Karygiannis(Canada-ruling Liberal party), visited Hargeisa in 2002, and wrote yet another report awash with the propaganda and disinformation of the ruling elite. As before, this will have no bearing on Somalia or any division of Somalis in the future. And any lines drawn in the sand by foreigners a hundred years ago will prove to be wholly irrelevant to the future of Somalia. As for your proverbial wet dream of including Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn in your fantasy of re-creating the old British Somaliland,--the sad reality of which is all too striking today. Your old british masters wont be coming to your rescue this time and they wont reward your obedience and subservience with more land from the peoples of Sool, Sanag, and Cayn. And I would not be surprised to find Riyaale and Ghelle(who seem to be getting on very well), to be contriving a plan to annex Awdal region into a 'Greater Djibouti'. As Gediid once said, none of your political leaders believe in this Somaliland idea and many are working against it. I suggest you worry more about Togdheer(which seems in line to re-join Puntland and Somaliweyn in the near future), then about Sool, Sanaag and Cayn. FREE BUUR-MADOW! BN

Casey, LOL is rite. The Hargeisa government seems very desperate that they are putting out these 'memorandums'. But why do they need the help of the GBP, SSDF and 'Galkacyo Group' to topple--what they say is--a weak leader with a small militia(a few dozen at the most )? LOL. Isnt they SL 'military' of 100,000(with F16 & Abram tanks no less ), up to the job of expelling them from Sool/Sanaag/Cayn? Guess not. BN

Somalia: Traditional Leader Arrested in Somaliland Somaliland Interior Minister Isma'il Adan Usman told IRIN on Wednesday that the elder had been arrested for breaking Somaliland laws and "committing crimes against the existence of the state". Boqor Usman is also being accused of "having contacts with Puntland [the neighbouring self-declared autonomous region]". Tension has been high between Somaliland and Puntland over the Sool and Sanaag regions, which are claimed by both. The Boqor had reportedly contacted Puntland authorities in an effort to ease the tension and avert armed confrontation, sources said. Isma'il, however, said that the Boqor "supports the reunification of Somaliland with Somalia and has therefore called into question the existence of the country [somaliland]". It is a crime under Somaliland law to advocate the reunification of Somaliland with the rest of Somalia. Full Story

Originally posted by Mr Oodweyne.: This is interesting, I could swear that I remember right in here in a couple of months back, that there was one of the chaps from Somali-weyn camp, I presume it was Mr Bari-Nomad, but I am not so sure, who used to parade around in here with this seemingly UN report that say the city of Bossaso has higher income per capita per head than that of Hargeisa City, even if one were to consider the variation of population density of the two cities. Please show me where in the 'survey' it contradicted the earlier UN Study that Bosaso residents earned a higher income then their Hargeisa counterparts? Hopefully, you'll be able to answer this straightforward question and NOT go into hiding again B-N

Lander/Odweyn, I'm glad you guys have completely reversed course and are now praising the UN :rolleyes: I think your missing the main word in this so called 'study' which is SURVEY. Meaning(if I'm not mistaken) they went around to different housesholds and asked them to fill this survey out. And we all know how honest, impartial, and virtuous Somalis and Somali Governments can be... . Notice "The programme is implemented by UNDP in collaboration with Somali administrations." I'm sure Mr. NSS(Riyaale) had a field day with this survey Somalia Socio-Economic Survey 2002: Limitations of the Data "A major limitation of the data from household surveys is due to memory lapse of the respondents. Secondly, some of the answers provided by the respondents are influenced by their perceptions which in turn depend on their understanding and interpretation of the relevant terms (e.g.“good”, “fair”, “poor”, “participation”, “problem”)." [/i BN

Not a good move on the part of ina riyaale. Buurmadow is a good man. It seems Riyaale doesnt miss an opportunity to misstep. Opposition to his government is increasing, he seems to be out of touch with his people. Maybe I'm wrong, but Riyaale doesnt seem to have any vision, direction or goals for his government or would-be nation. Just what is going through his head??? BN

Originally posted by Angel-Dust: Bari, Look at the bloody map and tell me what is there to be "buoyant" about????? I think its a rather nice map of the republic Somalia need to worry about herslef beforing dreaming up such grand designs on thier neighbouring countries like Somaliland. Becuase that is what we are today : NEIGHBOURS. As far as I know, Somalia is still ONE country. Whether you like it or not. And a map of Somalia will include the northwest. Somaliland is not perfect (but then whos is?) but compare to those dingies in Nairobia we are by far superior. Yes we all know. Riyaale is a saint and a godsend :rolleyes: I know that there are a lot of obstacles ahead of us. And there are many enemies to a peaceful and united Somalia(both inside and outside our borders). I'm sure that some would like nothing better then the war to continue in our country(as a way to differentiate themselves). So they could run around the world dancing on the pain and suffering of Somalis, and continuing on their quest for statehood. But what brought all of the factions together in Nairobi? Maybe(just a theory), it was a thinly veiled threat by the Kenyan/Ugandan Presidents that indeed some nations were actually considering recognizing Somaliland--should this peace process fail. And I doubt any leaders(even warlords), would want to go down in history as playing a part in the dismemberment the Somali nation. But I guess its also possible they all just had a change of heart BN

'The time has come to disarm. Lay down your weapons' Jan 26 2004 The Guardian - In the school hall in Berbera, a sweltering Somali port on the Gulf of Aden, the audience is jam-packed and sweating. Women swathed from head to foot in bright colours chatter noisily and wipe their faces with the ends of their scarves as they wait for the ceremony to begin. On the wall posters declare: "The time has come to disarm! Put down your weapons!" The mayor takes his place on the platform and the hubbub subsides. His speech opens the occasion. "I want to make it clear that we, in the regional authority, are with you in this war." The war the mayor is referring to is not the type all too familiar in this part of the world, but the war on female genital mutilation. The "weapons" to be laid down are not the guns that are so prolific in this society, but the scissors, knives, razor blades, needles and surgical thread used by those who, until now, have cut and stitched girls' genitalia as their profession. Military images carry over seamlessly. A few years ago, for a man to stand on a platform anywhere in Somalia and talk about this subject would have been unthinkable. This is a land where the discussion of sexual issues - especially female ones - remains shrouded in taboo. Slowly, they are emerging from the shadows. Here, at the age of seven or eight, 95% of girls still endure a traditional surgical operation to excise their external sexual organs and almost completely close their vaginal aperture. The practice, mistakenly thought to be sanctioned in the Koran, is an extreme form of protection against male sexual predators in the desert, where the nomadic herding life is pursued. Today, women activists and many health workers know it is harmful and redundant - and not ordained in Islam. The mayor sits next to colleagues from city hall, doctors and sheikhs, and is not the only man in the hall. But for him to have come and spoken out on the subject is important. He soon slips away, and there follows a theatrical display of speeches, witness statements, loud applause, laughter, songs, and mopping of brows. Sado, the local head of maternal and child health services, is the first to greet the six circumcisers of Berbera in whose honour the event is being held. Each carries a bag containing her instruments; each has volunteered to disarm. Full Story

Somali warlords, politicians reach consensus on new parliament NAIROBI, Jan 26 (AFP) - Somali warlords and politicians have reached a rare consensus on the formation of a parliament that will elect a national president, diplomatic sources and delegates at long-running peace talks in Kenya said Monday. "The president of Somalia's transitional national government, Abdulkassim Salat Hassan, told a group of Arab countries following the negotiations that the deal will be signed Wednesday in Nairobi," said a diplomat following the talks, which are aimed at restoring what would be the first recognised central government in Somalia since the fall in 1991 of dictator Mohammed Siad Barre. Somalia's best known warlord, Hussein Mohammed Aidid, told AFP: "The Somalis have agreed to settle their differences amicably by signing an agreement which will end the anarchy in Somalia." Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki is expected to officiate at the signing ceremony. If the deal is indeed signed, it will be the first time that such a broad cross-section of prominent Somalis -- leaders of warring clan factions, politicians, elders and civil society groups -- all put their names to a document outlining how their conflict-ravaged country should be governed. The warlords, mostly grouped under the Ethiopian-backed Somalia Reconciliation and Reconciliation Council, were not party to the 2000 talks that led to Salat's installation and, like much of the Horn of Africa country, do not recognise his authority or that of the TNG. In September Salat walked out of talks in Nairobi after rejecting an earlier version of a blueprint for Somalia's governance. He was enticed back on board when the size of the envisaged assembly was reduced from 350 MPs to 275 and when elders, rather than just warlords, were brought into the selection process. Still, a notable exception from the deal will be officials from the would-be independent state of Somaliland, northwest of Somalia proper, which broke away in 1991 and has all the institutional trappings, if none of the international recognition, of a sovereign country. The future parliamentarians in Somalia will appoint a new national president who will in turn appoint a prime minister responsible for forming a government. The signing will herald a new phase of the current peace process. The first phase ended in October 2002 when delegates agreed, but went on to repeatedly violate, a ceasefire. The third phase of the talks will concentrate on how to share power among groups who, for more than a decade, have used weapons to settle their disputes and helped to keep their Horn of Africa country one of the world's poorest.

Somali parties reach consensus on future parliament NAIROBI, Jan. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Delegates in Somali peace talks, including warlords and politicians, reached a consensus here on Monday on the formation of a future parliament that will elect a national president, sources close to the talks said. According to the sources, President of Somalia's transitional national government Abdiqasin Salad Hassan has told a group of Arab countries that the deal on future parliament will be signed here on Wednesday. The ongoing Somali talks, which have been held in the Kenyan capital, are aimed at restoring what would be the first recognized central government in Somalia since the fall of dictator Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991. Enditem

SOMALIA: Progress reported as leaders agree on contentious issues NAIROBI, 26 Jan 2004 (IRIN) - The organisers of the peace talks being held under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) were in a buoyant mood after Somali leaders resolved some of the most contentious issues that have plagued the negotiations, a source close to the talks told IRIN on Monday. Another source at IGAD told IRIN that a breakthrough had been made and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki were likely to officiate at the signing of a new compromise agreement between the Somali leaders later this week. "We [had] expected that agreement to be signed in the presence of the presidents on Tuesday, but it will now be signed on Wednesday. An official communique will be issued," the IGAD source said. The talks were then expected to move to the final phase, which would deal with the thorny issue of power-sharing, the source said. The Somali leaders have been engaged in what organisers describe as "consultative meetings" at a Nairobi hotel since 9 January, when Museveni, the current IGAD chairman, launched a fresh effort to revive the peace talks. These meetings replaced a retreat originally due to have opened in Mombasa on 9 December, but postponed until 18 December, then again until 9 January - which was seen as an opportunity to jump-start the process. "The informal meetings between the leaders seem to have had the desired effect: they broke the log jam," Awad Ashara, the spokesman for the self-declared region of Puntland in northeastern Somalia, told IRIN. "This [compromise] has brought back all the leaders to the talks," he added. The leaders have reportedly agreed on amendments to a controversial interim charter which was adopted in July last year by the delegates to the talks, but rejected as "flawed" by the Transitional National Government and some factions. A statement issued at the time by the conference organisers said the delegates had agreed that parliament would comprise 351 members; the life of the transitional parliament would be four years; and MPs would be selected by the political leaders who had been party to the Declaration on the Cessation of Hostilities signed in Eldoret on 27 October 2002, and by politicians originally officially invited by the Technical Committee in consultation with the traditional leaders. The compromise amendments reportedly reduce the number of MPs from 351 to 275, with 12 percent seats set aside for women. The selection of MPs is also specified in the proposed compromise as designed "to address the concerns" of those who had rejected the July agreement. Selection will now be effected by clan political leaders and must be endorsed by "recognised traditional elders". The duration of the transitional period will now be five years. The leaders agreed that these amendments would come into force after the conference plenary adopted them and after endorsement by the Transitional National Assembly in Mogadishu. This was seen as a formality, since all leaders had agreed to it, a diplomatic source involved in the talks told IRIN. "It is a compromise agreement, and we welcome anything that will bring the Somali people together," said Ashara. The mood at the Safari Park [Hotel where the talks are being held] is buoyant," said the diplomat. "It looks as if they [the leaders] have made a breakthrough." Meanwhile, the leaders who have been boycotting the talks have returned. They include the prominent Mogadishu-based faction leaders, Muse Sudi Yalahow and Usman Hasan Ato; the leader of the Kismayo-based Juba Valley Alliance, Col Barre Adan Hirale; Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade of the ********* Resistance Army; and Col Abdirazzaq **** Bihi of the Gedo-based Somali National Front.

Originally posted by DraGon: You are stillside stepping the issue here. What I am trying to say is whether SNM was using civilians or not still doesn't justify what the former somali govt or anyother government to kill its own citizens for that reason or any other reason for that matter. Government are supposed to take the higher moral position in case of insurgency and the preservation of lives is the ultimate goal. Nevertheless I am surpprised that you dont share this sentiments. As i said it before it will be suicidal & immoral 4 slander authority to attack LA under the immoral excuse of "civilians are used as human shields". And if they did I will seize to support them. First, Its Bari not Baashi. Second, the SNM knew who they were dealing with--a ruthless dictator. They saw him attack his citizens in the Northeast in the 1970's(setting a precendent). This was not a government elected by the people or who cared about 'preservation of life' or takingt he 'higher moral position'. The Barre dictatorship also bombed Mogadishu when the USC entered it in 1990. No one should be absolving the Siyad Barre government/military OR the rebel groups(all of them) for their actions and crimes against Somalis. BN

American Democrat hopefuls sticking to pro-Israel policies Clark struck a similar chord in his comments on Iran. He anticipated democratic reform in Tehran: "I am convinced that if we can get Western culture and Western ideas that are suitable for the younger generation [there], we will see a change in this society," he said. Clark indicated also that Syria should undertake reforms. As far as American Jews are concerned, the jury is still out on the Democratic Party's new star, John Kerry. An experienced politician with 18 years on the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee under his belt, he has a solid record of supporting Israel. American Jewish sources in Washington indicated that Kerry's comments in off-the-record talks recall the approach adopted by the Clinton administration: unqualified support for Israel , yet also insistence that a resolution to the conflict with the Palestinians depends upon Israeli concessions in the territories. The bottom line, says one seasoned political observer in Washington, is that Israel has nothing to fear from Kerry, Clark or other Democratic hopefuls. All of the candidates endorse their party's supportive stance toward Israel, and the candidates are surrounded by staff workers who are long-standing friends of Israel. Link

Originally posted by AYOUB_SHEIKH: Bari, their destination is not Las Caanod. Good. At least someone knows where this phantom army is going. NOW, would you mind telling them? Originally posted by DraGon: There is nothing funny nor that will justify what happened in 1988. No one is justifying what happened in 1977-78, 1988-89, or 1990-91. And no one should also be justifying the SNM for using civilians as 'human shields' in Hargeisa or Burco--which is against international law. People like Ayoub call this a 'Milestone' and a 'victory'--rather then a criminal act.

Nas, If you ever need someone to hold your hand and check you in to an 'institution', I'll be there for you. OK bro Casey, Your problem is that you actually believe this story. It is NOT from an unbiased news source and thus can not be trusted. And why did you guys huff and puff and send all those soldiers EAST and claim you were going to fight PL forces? It seems they've realized that dialogue is the only solution to this problem. Lander, Relax and take a deep breath. Now count to 10(slowly). There. Feeling better? One minute they're preaching peace, and the next they seem eager to support their side in engaging in military conflict Nope. I'm just commenting on wat I sees. Btw, I dont think this will lead to military conlfict. perhaps due to the elusion that their side has gained an upper hand in the conflict i.e. Yusuf's milita still remaining in lascanood. The 'militia' have been in Lascanod since at least 1999 with the full knowledge of the Hargeisa government and forces. The upper hand is that the people are supporters of PL and not SL. I know it fills your lungs with pride to know that your militia is hiding behind a town filled with impartial dwellers including women and children, LOL. Hmm. Where do I remember this happening? Let me think... Wouldn't it be best to come out of the town and fight in the open as to minimize the harm to the civilian population that your warlord claims as his own? Aahh. If only they had you in 1988.

I am way off topic, BUT... I think some ppl post too many topics. In one day they start like 5 different threads. Why??? There should be a maximum of 1 per day(at least). This may convince people to take part in dicussions already underway rather then just propagating 'news' or articles from certain sites at every opportunity. More topics should be in more debate-like rather then talking about news articles. And maybe we should bring back old topics(like 1-2 years ago) since there are lots of newbiez Peace, BN

First welcome Militia Gayl, Second, the people and gov of pL are for a united federal somalia. But if the war continued for another 13, 20, 30 years--or if a federal system was not chosen, then who knows. Public opinion may change. Right now everyone in Somalia is working to establish an inclusive Federal TNG government in Nairobi. Lets hope its sucessfull. I interested to see the thoughts of the nomads on this topic. Peace, BN