May Allah forgive and have mercy on those killed in the Masjid bombing. Amiin. I think it is not only sad but disgusting. I hope this doesn't lead to Shia-Sunni violence like in Pakistan.

New-Nation, That's an interesting idea. But I don't think the people of the NW/NC/NE are ready for that. Well the peoples of Puntland have the option to seperate from Somalia. But I don't think there is the current will to do so as there might be in the NW. I would not be opposed to a referendum to decide the future of Puntland. It took a while for the people of the NE/NC Somalia to pressure their leaders to form a regional government during the 1990's and I think it will take a similar grassroots movement before the Puntland government will consider such a course of action. But currently the population supports a Federal solution for Somalia. And the current talks in Kenya will hopefully succeed. At least the new Federal Gov setup in Kenya will recognize existing regional states and allow them to officially deal with International Organizations, companies, and hopefully setup recognized banks/institutions that are able to deal with the outside world. Salaam P.S. Didn't the Puntland Charter of 1998 call for the creation of a regional flag? And anthem? Has that been changed? Or did the government just get lazy....

Iraq Najaf Mosque Bomb Kills 75, Including Shi'ite Leader Hakim Fri August 29, 2003 12:30 PM ET By Michael Georgy NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - A car bombing killed 75 Iraqis, including a top Shi'ite Muslim leader, on Friday in an apparent assassination that dealt a grave blow to the U.S. occupation and left carnage at the holiest shrine of Shi'ism. The blast tore through worshippers as they streamed away from Friday prayers in the Imam Ali mosque in the holy city of Najaf. It was by far the worst such atrocity in Iraq since the U.S.-led war toppled Saddam Hussein in April. In the aftermath, Iraqis burrowed into rubble strewn with body parts in a hunt for survivors. Volunteers screaming "God is Great" pulled out a severed foot and dug frantically around a deep crater filled with twisted metal and stinking black water. Some supporters of the slain Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim, 63, leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), blamed Saddam loyalists. But some commentators pointed to bitter faction-fighting among Iraq's long-repressed Shi'ite majority that has raged in Najaf since the end of the war. Hakim was for many the leading Shi'ite figure in Iraq and his cooperation with the U.S.-led administration through its Governing Council was seen as crucial to U.S. efforts to stabilize the country and install democratic rule. "We have at least 75 dead and that could go up to 80 because of severe injuries. There are 142 wounded," Dr Safaa al-Aneedi, director of the Najaf teaching hospital, told Reuters. Three gutted cars lay in the street by the mosque. Some witnesses said there had been more than one explosion. Witnesses said Hakim had been about to drive away from Friday prayers when the blast destroyed his car. A U.S. military spokesman confirmed there had been a bomb. "No coalition forces were in the area or on the ground because it is considered to be sacred ground," he said. POWER STRUGGLE The attack is the latest in a series of bloody incidents in Najaf, several of them aimed at religious leaders of the Shi'ite branch of Islam followed by a majority of Iraqis. On Sunday three men were killed in a bombing that injured Hakim's uncle, also a cleric associated with SCIRI. Some SCIRI supporters blamed that bomb on a rival Shi'ite leader opposed to the presence of foreign troops in Iraq. The Shi'ite power struggle in Najaf is viewed as one of the keys to the future of Iraq. Washington is keen to discourage those Shi'ite leaders who favor Islamic clerical rule like that of Shi'ite Iran, where many lived in exile during Saddam's rule. With many Iraqis belonging to Saddam's once dominant Sunni Arab minority or to other ethnic and religious groups like Kurds and Christians, the prospect of domination by the 60 percent Shi'ite majority is one that many regard with anxiety. "There is a very serious chance that what we are entering here is a Shi'ite civil war akin to what happened in Iran in 1979-80 with rival factions jockeying for power," said Ali Ansari, an expert on Iran at Britain's Durham University. "The repercussions within the Shi'ite community will be problematic for the British because they are in control of the south." Hamid al-Bayati, SCIRI's London representative, said: "It could be either Saddam loyalists using new techniques such as remote control or even suicide bombs, or it could be another extreme group. "We proposed to the allies a long time ago...to have a special security organization to protect the holy places and the religious scholars," he said. "The allies did not respond to this proposal." At the scene, some called for a stronger American presence around holy places where a few months ago Shi'ites demonstrated to keep the troops away. "The world is going to be turned upside down after this. This is our holiest site," said Qusay Jaber. "If the Americans don't secure our sites anything is possible. We will stage an uprising." Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim was tortured under Saddam's rule and spent more than 20 years in exile in Iran before returning to Iraq earlier this year after the U.S.-led victory over Saddam. "We deplore this horrible act of terrorist violence," said a White House official. "We will not be deterred in our efforts to help the Iraqi people rebuild their country and establish a representative democratic government." U.S. TROOPS AMBUSHED Further north, guerrillas ambushed a U.S. military convoy with rocket-propelled grenades on Friday, killing a soldier and wounding three others amid growing calls for a United Nations force to pacify the country. A U.S. Army spokesman said the six-vehicle convoy was attacked on a main road near the town of Baquba, part of the so- called "Sunni Triangle" north and west of Baghdad which is a bastion of anti-occupation sentiment. With the Bush administration signaling for the first time it might agree to a U.N.-sponsored multinational force in Iraq, the United States and Britain are expected to explore a new U.N. resolution to encourage nations to send troops. In Britain, an opinion poll on Friday showed support for Prime Minister Tony Blair had plunged during the controversy surrounding the suicide of a weapons expert caught up in a row between the BBC and the government over the Iraq war. Blair's much-criticized media spokesman Alastair Campbell announced his resignation on Friday.

Samurai, Thanks for the article. It seems the truth has dawned on the hargeisa politicians and have publically given up. But when will the diaspora realize it?

Gediid, You know very well those pictures, from an aid workers blog A Taste of Africa , are of the FLASH FLOODS IN NORTHWEST SOMALIA. One person lost their life as well. There are flash floods and seasonal rivers in Puntland as well. As for tension between tribes you only have to look at the recent gunbattle at hargeisa airport which led to one death, several injured and damage to property[airplanst]. Or maybe the thoughts of a recent vistor to the NW: ______________________________________________________________________ "Scams & Warnings Burao is the second largest city in Somaliland. It is very flat and spread out and is the main livestock market area for Somaliland. You definitely feel like you've crossed some imaginary border[imaginary country ends here] as you see civilians with automatic weapons and the atmosphere is not quite as friendly as it is in the rest of Somaliland[Read:Hargeisa/Berbera]. It is very unwise to even be seen with a camera on the streets here as you could get arrested and/or have your film confiscated for reasons unknown to you." Dave Dissette, Canada (May 03) Civilians with automatic weapons walking the streets?!?! Where is this xamar?!?! The Hargeisa government doens't even control Burco and they claim lands east of it. Funny, I thought secret arrests and confiscation of property was reserved for locals....my mistake "Also the Secret Police will find you quickly here so it's probably best to be in the process of looking for the police station when they do." Dave Dissette, Canada (May 03) Secret police?!?! I guess Riyaale hasn't lost his touch after all... "As a tourist your whereabouts are monitored. When you arive in any place it's a good idea to report to the police station." Dave Dissette, Canada (May 03) Another sign of the revitalized Siyaad Barre dictatorship in the NW http://www.lonelyplanet.com/letters/afr/som_pc.htm

Nice article. It good to hear Lascanod is doing well. Ayoub[and company], It seems UDUB is too busy with Khat sessions and and corruption and has all but given up on SSH. I think you'll enjoy these articles written by your compatriots: THE FEEBLE-MINDED GOVERNMENT Corruption, Corruption, Everywhere!

I think Guraad's heart was in the right place. He is trying to help Somalia.

Originally posted by Kool_Kat: Don't get me wrong, but isn't Bosaso in Puntland; and Hargeisa in Somaliland... [/QB] lol. Yes your right. I was speaking about Bosaso/Hargeisa in particular and Puntland/Somaliland in general. Peace and prosperity to all Somali lands!!!

I've seen this guy popping up on several websites but I don't know too much about him. But he's seems colourful I'll give him that I have no idea about the Fish Candidate...

It seems the voting is tied 50/50. MMA, That's a nice vision But you didn't give reasons for your 'no' answer. Please re-read the entire article before replying...no need to rush SW, Very well laid out response. You support regional autonomy--the current reality--but would you support regional seperation(independence)? Is that what you meant by: Originally posted by Samurai Worrior: As in all cases, some regions shall definitely challenge that course and shall become the exception, thus the principal imperfection of options of all sorts.

It's one thing if the C/Qasim couldn't bring peace to somalia; but he made it his mandate to destabalize peaceful regions like the NE and Bay/Bokool. Does anybody remember how much better it was getting during the late 1990's? RRA setup SouthWest State; Hiiraan regional government; peace was returning to Mog city and much of south somalia. All the TNG did was re-ignite civil war in Somalia and create more warlords. I hope the conference in Kenya will not do the same because in the end it is the people who will suffer.

Wefdigii nabadda Hadraawi oo u aqoonsaday Ururka PSA kuwii ugu soo dhaweynta wanaagsanaa Soomaaliya Gabdhaha dhigta machadka lagu soo dhoweeyey waftiga. Xafladdaasi oo ay ka soo qaybgaleen wefdigii Socdaalka Nabadda ee Hadraawi iyo Mas?uuliyiin ka tirsan Maamulka Puntland oo uu Hogaaminayo Xilhayaha Dawladda ee Gobolka Bari ,ayaa waxaa Ururkaasi waxa uu halkaa ka jeediyey khudbad soo dhaweyn iyo fariin isugu jirta oo uu soo jeediyey Afhayeenka Ururkaasi Maxamed Cabdi Ibraahim. Waxaa halkaasi ka hadlay Abwaano waaweyn oo uu ka mid ahaa Cabdi Muxumud Amiin oo ah abwaan Caan ah oo halabuurka magacweyn kuleh wuxuuna halkaasi ka sheegay in dhallinyaradu soo bandhigeen wax lagu farxo iyo jawi nabadeed dareen ka tarjumaya , wuxuuna Abwaanku kula taliyey inaanay dhallintu qaadin tubtii kuwii ka horeeyey mareen ee taariikhda baalka xun ka gashay . Sidoo kale Waxaa isna halkaasi kahadlay Abwaanka hogaaminayey Socdaalka Nabadda Maxamed Ibraahim Warsame Hadraawi oo isagu aad iyo aad ugu mahad caliyey dhallinyarada Ururka PSA sheegayna inay yihiin kuwa ugu soo dhaweynta iyo bandhiga fiicnaa intii ay soo marayeen Gobollada Soomaaliya , wuxuuna Abwaanku qiray inay dhallinyarada PSA yihiin kuwa qaaday Billadii Soo dhaweynta iyo anshaxa iyo asluubta hadalka iyo ka hadalka Nabadda iyo Soo dhaweynta Socdaalka Nabadda ee Hadraawi .Wuxuu Abwaanku si gaar ah ugu mahad celiyey Inankii jeediyey Khudbadda Maxamed Cabdi Ibraahim , wuxuuna ku tilmaamay nin ku hadlaya luuqadii abwaanada iyo hantidii raga hal abuurku lahaanjireen , waxaana abwaanku u yeeray inankaasi isagoo ka codsaday in uu Hadraawi oo u mahadnaqay dhallinta, erayo dhiiri gelinna faray ag istaago oo gacan qaado dabadeedna mahadcelin ayuu u jeediyey iyo Bogaadin wuxuuna ka ballan qaaday abwaanku inuu talada ay dhallintu u soo jeediyeen abwaanadda ay aqbaleen oo ay fulindoonaan . Goobtaasi waxaa ka hadlay oo tixo ka jeediyey abwaano faro badan oo ay ka mid ahaayeen C/qaadir Cabdi Shube iyo Maki xaaji Banaadir, SahalMacalin Ciise iyo rag kaloo faro badan. Waxaa isna halkaasi ka hadlay Gudoomiyaha Inxa C/llaahi Xaaji Dayib oo u mahad celiyey Ururka kuna tilmaamay rag geesi yaal ah oo Nabadda jecel , waxaa halkaasi xafladii soo khatimay Xilhayaha Dawlada ee Gobolka Bari Faarax Maxamuud Yuusuf Dooxa Joog oo sheegay in dhallinyaradani yihiin rag aad u firfircoon , wuxuuna qiray inay wax qabad weyn oo dhan walba ah u qabteen Bulshada , isla markaasna mudan yihiin in lagu taageero oo laga caawiyo hawlaha ay wadaan oo wax tarka u leh Ummadda.Xafladaasi oo ahayd mid aad u ballaadhan ayaa waxa jawiga si weyn u buuxiyey Suxufiyiinta Madaxa Bannaan iyo sawir qaadayaasha si ay u duubtaan bal dhacdadaasi taariikhda gali doonta oo ay Abwaanaduba qireen .Dadkii halkaasi isugu yimid ayaa farax la kala hoyday iyago u riyaaqsan Ardaydaasi jeclaystayna in ay waaga ku baryaan oo dhuuxaan Murtida Abwaanadu la burqadeen oo ay ardaydaasi lagu maamuusay maadaama ay ka kasbadeen . Maxamuud Yuusuf Dooxa Joog http://sanaag.net/news/2003/somalinews/puntland/140803bossasohadraawi.htm

Gediid, I think you just showed us who is living in a fantasy. I bring facts you brings worthless talk. Please don't embarrase yourself further by replying.... Wind, Are you saying you don't agree with the UN report? Do you think the opposit is true? If yes, please provide documentation. As for leadership--I don't like any Somali leader. I think they are all remnants of the last 50 years of Somali history. We need fresh faces, ideas, and personalities. If you think Riyaale is the solution; thats your problem. What the UN compared was economics and standard of living in the NW and NE. It's clear that if the average was in the NE is $4/per day and the NW is $1/per day; Obviously the NE has a higher quality of life. Hopefully in the future the NW will rise to the same levels...Although by then the NE will be far gone Salaam. P.S. I hope you won't start blaming the BogeyMan or E.T. next....

I think there were some good points he had(like arabic). But instead of discussing them at the Plenary he used them as an excuse to leave the talks. Either way(most likely) he would not be re-elected. He should think about what's good for Somalia and how he will be remembered....

Wefdigii Socadaalka Nabadda ee Hadraawi oo si weyn looga soo dhaweeyey Deegamada Puntland Waxaa shalay gelinkii danbe Bossaso soo gaadhay weftiga nabada iyoiskuxidhka dareenka nabadda oo ay ka dhexmuuqdaan abwaaniinta ah xanjada isu haysa dareenka iyo midnimadda Soomaaliya sida, Maxamed Axmed Ibraahim "Hadraawi", Cabdi Muxumud Amiin IWK. Waa kan weriyaha Sanaag|net uga soo warama waqooyi-bari Soomaaliya oo joobjooge ahaa markii waftida nabaddu ay soo galeen magaalada Bossaso. Waftiga nabadda ee Hadraawi oo soogalaysa Bossaso Wefdigan oo uu horkacayey abwaanka caanka ah ee lagu magacaabo Maxamed Ibraahim Hadraawi ayaa in dhawaaleba socodaal nabadeed ku marayey meelo kala geddisan oo ka mid ah Soomaaliya , iyagoo toddobaadkii ina dhaafay oo dhan ku sugnaa deegannada Puntland ayey la kulmayeen soo dhaweyn aad u ballaadhan iyo u bogaadin xiiso leh . Meelihii sida weyn looga soo dhaweeyey intii ay ku marayeen socdaalkooda deegannada Puntland ayaa waxaa ka mid ahaa Magaalooyinka Gaalkacyo, Garoowe iyo Qardho oo ay wafdigu xalayto u hooydeen , halkaasi oo ay kala kulmeen dad aad u faro badan oo kaga hortagay meesha lagu magacaabo Yako oo qiyaastii 30km dhanka Garoowe ka xigta Degmadaasi Qardho , dadka ku dhaqan Qardho ayaa ku soo dhaweeyey Fardo aad u qurxoon oo wiilal aad u bari yaqaanaa ay rikaabka u hayaan, sidoo kale waxaa wefdiga laga soo dhaweynayey dhamaan tuulooyinka ku teedan wadada u dhaxaysa Qardho iyo Bosaaso . Duhurnimadii shalay ayaa wefdigu soo gaareen magaaladda Boosaaso halkaasi oo ay soo dhodheeyeen dadwyyne aad u badan oo ah shacbiga Boosaaso iyo madaxda maamulkaba. Dad aad u faro badan oo wata baabuur ayaa kaga hortagay wefdiga meel qiyaastii 90km u jirta magaalada Boosaaso kagana aaddan dhanka Koonfureed. Soo dhaweyntaasi wefdiga Nabadda ayaa waxaa si weyn uga qayb qaatay Madaxda Dawladda oo hogaaminayo Duqa Magaalada Boosaaso Mud. Bashiir Siciid Aaden iyo Ururada Bulshada Rayidka ah ee Puntland iyo Hay’adaha maxalliga ah .kuwaasi oo ay ka mid ahaayeen Ururka Ardayda Puntland (PSA) oo si fiican dawr wax ku ool ah uga Dadweyne isugu soo baxay soo dhoweynta Waftiga abawaan Hadraawi qaadatay soo dhaweynta , muujiyeyna kaalinta ay ku yeelan karaan Ardayda ama dhallinyaraduba Nabadda iyo u ololaynteeda . Waxaan halkaasi ku arkayey Baabuur aad u faro badan oo ay saaran yihiin Arday boqollaal kor u dhaaftay oo watey halku dhigyo xambaarsan Nabadda iyo qiimeheeda , waxaana la ii sheegay in Ururkaasi PSA uu soo agaasimey . sidoo kale waxay halkaasi ku gacan qaadeen Ardaydu Wefdigii Nabadda iyagoo abwaankii caanka ahaa ee Hadraawi halkaasi salaan iyo bogaadin u soo jeediyey . Sidoo kale waxaa iyana soo dhaweynta ka qeyb galay Hay’addo samofal ah oo ay kamid ahayd OTP. Wefdigaasi ayaa la dejiyey Hoteel Panorama oo ku yaal magaalada Boosaaso, halkaasi oo ay martigelinta waftida nabada muddo looga diyaargaroobayey, hurdadana looga diyaariyey ayey ku yara nasteen . Dhalinyaro sugaya soo dhoweynta Waftiga Wefdigaasi Socdaalka Nabadda ee abwaan Hadraawi ayaa waxaa ka mid ahaa Abwaan Maxamed Ibraahim Hadraawi. Iyo Guddoomiyaha Shabakada Nabadaynta ee INXA C/laahi Xaaji Dayib, Cabdi Mohuxud Amiin iyo fanaaniin kale , suxufiyiin ka socda idaacadaha iyo bogaga internetca ee Muqdisho oo ku weheliyey Safarkoodaasi . Dadkaasi oo la kulmay soo dhaweyn tii ugu habooneyd ayaa la oran karaa waxay la soo kowsadeen xilli Deeganada Puntland Nabad taam ah laga hirgeliyey oo ay dadku Nabadda macaankeeda dhadhamiyeen una ooman yihiin in Nabad Soomooliya mar uun lagu soo dabbaalo. Hadraawi iyo dhalinta ururka dhallinyarada degaanka Sanaag.Net

Wefdigii Socdaalka Nabadda ee Hadraawi oo dadweynaha reer Boosaaso uga khudbeeyey Garoonka Kubbadda Cagta Dadweyne ka soo qaybgaley khudbadda Hadraawi iyo waftiga nabadda. Abwaanka sida weyn loo sugayey ee Hadraawi ayaa uga faallooday ummadii halkaas timid ujeedada Socdaalkiisa oo sheekeeyey sida uu Qurbaha iyo cariga ingiriiska uga soo laabtay si uu ummadiisa wax ula qaybsado , abwaanku wuxuu kaloo sheegay isagoo la hadlaya Ummadiisa in dalkii markuu burburay ee kala googo'ay aanu isagu la googo'in ee ay Ummadda soomalidu isugu mid yihiin , wuxuuna Yiri ma ahan xikmaddu inaan ka waramo meesha aan degenahay oo Burco ah, balse waa inaan Ummadda soomaalida ah ka wada warami karo . isaga oo abwaanku ka hadlaya sida uu uga fogyahay arigtada Soomaalida ee hoos u daadega qabyaaladda ayuu yidhi annigu xayndaabka Soomaalida mabda'aygu waa uu ka fogyahay . isaga oo ka hadlaya Nabaddana waxa uu yidhi Calaamadda Nabadu Qori ma aha marka qoriga la waayo ayaa nabaddi taam tahay wuxuuna yidhi sidoo kale anniga Socdaalkaygu waa inaan ummada oo dhan anniga oo ay ijeceshahay aan ka dhexbaxaa , abwaanka ayaa tiraabtii uga baxay tix yar oo duco ah oo uu Eebe Nabad ugaga baryayo oo tiriyey 1995tii markii uu joogey Carriga Ingiriiska . Abwaan Hadraawi oo ka khudbadaynaya fagaare laysigu yimi Bossaso. Waxaa isna sidoo kale tix ka soo jeediyey abwaanka lagu magacaabo Mustafe Sheekh Cismaan , sidoo kale waxaa maanso isna halkaasi ka jeediyey Axmed Cabdi Gaashaan oo ah Abwaan Soomliyeed ahaana Ninkii hore u curiyey Riwaayadii la magac baxday shan iyo tobankii Shuumay . Wefdiga oo aad dadku u xiisaynayeen ayaa weli wata socdaalkooda lagana yaabaa inay kulamo danbe la kala yeeshaan Qaybaha kala geddisan ee Bulshada maalmaha soo socda. Gebagebadii ayaa la gaaray goortii libdhadu ay xerootay dadkii halkaa yimid oo aan weli kadhergin xikmadihii Abwaanada doonayeyna in ay maqlaan marar badan , waxaana ka muuqday dadka wajigooda farax iyo raynrayn ay Nabadda iyo wefdiga Nabaddoonka ee Hadraawi ay u hayaan , farax iyo sacab ayaana lagu macasalaameeyey . Abwaaniinta waftiga iyo masuuliyiinta degaanka oo wada shawraya. http://sanaag.net/news/2003/somalinews/puntland/100803faraarehadraawi.htm

Somali tension as mandate ends The future of Somalia remains highly uncertain on Tuesday as the mandate of the three-year old Transitional National Government (TNG) expires. But Prime Minister Abshir Farah says the TNG will be illegitimate from Wednesday, and accused the president of deliberately trying to make Somali reconciliation talks in Nairobi fail to justify prolonging his stay in office. The TNG was established on 13 August 2000 after a conference of Somali elders and given a three-year mandate to reconcile the numerous warring factions in Somalia. Fear The Somali capital, Mogadishu, is reported to be tense with residents worried about the consequences of the stand-off. They point out that powerful warlords who control parts of the capital have disagreed with President Hassan and have opted to continue participating at the talks. The residents say that if a new parallel government is formed in Nairobi then renewed fighting is likely. The president, who quit the talks on 29 July, accused the peace conference of taking an anti-Islamic direction saying that a transitional constitution being negotiated in Kenya would create a federal state that would divide Somalia. Row President Hassan's opponents have accused him of running scared. "Abdulkassim wants the failure of the peace efforts we are pursuing in Kenya so that he can keep power. He felt he would lose out at this conference," said a spokesman for Prime Minister Farah. There is no indication as yet of what action may be taken by President Hassan's opponents if he continues to ignore the Nairobi talks. Over the weekend both the prime minister and the Speaker of parliament, who remain in Nairobi at the talks, were sacked in Mogadishu. But the sacked prime minister - the TNG's chief negotiator - said the sacking was meaningless as the parliament did not have a quorum when the vote took place. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3143733.stm

It seems the YES Vote is winning but you guys need to be giving reasons!!! The whole point was to see where every nomad stood on this issue. Not annonymous voting...don't be lazy!!! Where are those patriotic NorthWesterners? :confused:

Only in Somalia... Do we really need another warlord in Mog city? But more then half in parliament, his pm, and parliament speaker are all in Kenya. Insha'Allah this will be the last conference for Somalia.

SNW, Very well said; as usual.

Originally posted by Haaruun: Bari_Nomad, is this the Joke of the month? Sxb, What's a joke is that residents in the "capital" and largest city in NW Somalia earn on average $1 a day. And residents in Bosaso--once a tiny town--earn four times as much and have a higher Quality of Life. I know it's embarrasing but look at the bright side...at least they make more then ppl in burco or berbera :cool: Originally posted by WinD..TaLker..: Man, that's great news that the residents of Boosaaso are living on $4 a day. LOL. For Somalis back home--that is good news. Maybe you've been living our west toooo long Seriously though, there's two faults in you're analysis of the economies of two distinct cities. Enlighten Me... First and foremost, I don't believe a word the U.N. says. lol. Let me guess this involves a big conspiracy and aliens...right? I guess you get all your info spoon fed to you by the UDUB government in Hargeisa... And secondly, if one Somali city is prospering, why bring another one down? Just facts. But to compare it to Hargaysa is a childish way of compare-contrast. Your not making sense. But it's a pretty bad comparison for Hargeisans-I agree. I'm sure in a bit, LANDER, Gediid, and the rest are going to respond to you're B.S.@Bari. My BS? You mean the UN Report? The NW ppl can't say sh!t because they can't disprove it. Haven't you noticed how quiet they have become? They truth has dumb-founded them....

Originally posted by Grinov: why are we supporting the TNG(people who hail from lower mudug, mogadishu and Gedo), Ina yeey(people from Bari) C/Yusuf is from Mudug. And so are his strongest supporters. Jama a. Jama and his supporters were from Bari region. Unless you were just referring to "east". Anyways, the majority of somali people over 80% live outside of these two regions. This was probably true pre 1991. But with the civil war, exodus from somalia, and the Internally Displaced Somalis fleeing fighing in South/Central Somalia to Northern Somalia. Today I think it is more 50/50. Btw, if you wanna start a topic about other regions nobody is stopping you-or anyone else.

Ibito, If the truth makes you and other "somali-landers" feel "belittled" then that's your problem.

Horn, Thanks for the article. I just hope that this won't be a repeat of 1993-95. Insha'Allah. Salaam.

Hello, I just wanted to start a discussion on self determination for Somali regions--or clans as the case might be. I was thinking to myself if a Somali clan doesn't want to be part of Somalia--can we force them? For example--let's use the North West clan. For arguments sake let's say the majority wants to seperate--is it the right of the rest of Somalia to say NO? Who's choice is it. Personally I think that we shouldn't. If a referendum were held by an agreed third party; and the overwhelming choice of the people was to seperate and form their own state. I would support them. Would the rest of the Nomads on SOL? But the question is if a SUBCLAN of the NW clan then wants it's own independence--don't they too have the right to self determination? Will they be given that choice now as well? And we can imagine how far this can go--very soon we might see dozens of Somali states. Jump right in! But please give reason(s) WHY!