After a long delay, Sierra Leone’s contingent to the African Union Somalia peacekeeping force (Amisom) AMISOM is set to depart for the country. President Ernest Bai Koroma was on hand Monday to bid farewell to the troops in their “historic expedition to Somalia”. Back in December 2010, the government had pledged to contribute an infantry battalion comprising 850 soldiers to the UN-backed Amisom force that is fighting Islamist Al-Shabaab forces. That was followed by the signing of an memorandum of understanding with the AU a year later. The MoU also committed the continental bloc through the UN to help with the necessary logistics. “Today, after more than 12 months of rigorous training and logistical preparation, the gallant [sierra] Leone Battalion 1 is adequately prepared and ready to deploy. We applaud the governments of the United States and the UK for their invaluable support to making this possible,” President Koroma, clad in full military fatigue, told the soldiers. The troops are scheduled to depart next Tuesday. The Sierra Leonean contingent has been preparing for the mission since 2011, with the US providing training and equipment. The President urged the soldiers to maintain decorum while on their assignment, saying the eyes of the world were on them. Said he: “Our country is now a force for peace in the world. This is an achievement we must sustain. The RSLAF [Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces] have showcased professionalism and have gained enviable international admiration and reputation. I implore you to guard this enviable reputation.” Source: Africa Review

Oodweyne: Sierra leone AU troops coming to Somalia is an old news, nothing new or related to Jubbaland politics as you secessionists like to believe. The head of media at the ministry, Major Ken Jabbie, told APA there are no women among the 835 soldiers “as they had been advised not to send women personnel because of the prevailing conditions in the mission, where rape was being used as a weapon by enemy forces.” At the Peace Mission Training Centre, at Hastings outside Freetown where the troops underwent training by expatriates, President Ernest Bai Koroma on Monday motivated and bade farewell to the troops. Koroma said the country had pledged to give a battalion to AMISOM in 2010 “as its contribution to global peace and in 2011 signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect.” After more than 12 months, he said, “the gallant” LEOBATT 1 was “adequately prepared” for the mission. “Sierra Leone is now a country that is a force for peace in the world and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces have gained an enviable reputation” he said. President Koroma added that the troops would showcase how a transformed nation and military could be a force for democracy and peace. He urged them to be ambassadors of peace in Somalia and thanked the United Kingdom and United States for their support for making the mission possible. He warned that the task might not be an easy one because a lot had happened in AMISOM since 2007. Commanding Officer of LEOBATT 1, Lt. Col. Abubakarr Conteh, said his men were ready and prepared to contribute to peace in Somalia. He said final training started on 3rd January to maximize operational readiness of the troops while paying tribute to the five soldiers whom he said died of natural causes during training.

So for Carafaat, Somalia is only Kismaayo, Dhuusamareeb, Garoowe iyo Baydhabo. Kid needs some Geography lessons.

AYOUB;931363 wrote: A young Xiin being chased by rampant USC boys is not funny at all. To this day, he still hasn't recovered from the nightmare. Arms emarbargo must stay still Xiin is mentally over it all and doesn't think Abwan, The Xaaji or anyone is "out to get his block". You're glorifying that ugly history of the civil war as if it were a comedy. Tan labaad, talking about not recovering from the nightmares of the wars, aren't you the one basing his whole secession on being bullied and abused? Who's running into courtrooms crying about rape by a ninety year old man? Playing the victim card to get tolka a country of her own? You must not see the irony. Xiin isn't parading around the world with a victim card on his hand. You are sxb. Hayye Hargeysa meeqa monuments of reminding people of their victimization ayaa ka dhisan horta? Bal muraayadda isku eeg marka hore.

AYOUB;931241 wrote: We don't want a repeat of 1991 where the likes of your innocent clan were hunted down just for belonging to the wrong Block name , do we? You think this is funny. The secessionists in full support of x.xaaji hateful remarks.

Waa nimcadii ay HAG dheceen 20 sano la soo dhaafay. Bal Oba ku leh meeshaas baan ka dhigan retirement. What gives. Joking waryaa. To be honest, we got great land, biyuutiful landscape, aaway dad hee. Any town in the country with xeeb and geel looks this pretty. Maasha alaah.

Gabbal saaxiib the points you raised are valid but you do need united front force and political reconciliation and will to free AS of the region. Without those two things, it is a victory for AS. If anything, the reports out of afmadow today show AS is to be confronted and driven out.

Xaaji Xunjuf;931150 wrote: War ha isku tegin yaan lugu afduub eh , hadhow bay odhan doonan nin reer Somaliland baanu qabsanay eeh lacag hala na siiyo, Xamar is better. But unlike you, airplanes don't get kidnapped and looted.

^Saaxiib this is nothing more than a delay tactic until a certain clan gets the leverage they think they need to come to the table. I highly doubt if this is a well thought out plan to advance peace and reconciliation in the region. I read it and it just reads, Gedo should lead the way, front and center and call all the shots in the formation of Jubbaland. Not what you expect from someone serious about advancing the process. This is got walaalaha Galgaduud written all over it. I guess old friendships die hard.

Chingancho, Somalia.

Oodka: ^^Gedo is not as united behind this PM as you deem them unless you suggesting Hassan Culusow got them in his pockets through the PM. But the bigger point is this admin failed big time and digging itselft into bigger hole if it thinks this is the way forward of reconciliation. Back to the drawing boards and start from scratch. Hassan's presidency and the legitimacy of his admin is gonna be questioned. No progress at all. Qori qori ku taag and delay the reconciliation process is the name of the game. Somalia definately lost in the first round of this game.

Xaaji ha loo sheego, Pope Francis preaches thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Waranle_Warrior;931129 wrote: ^We hoped it will change or at least something will change but if it continues to take the same course as that of Abdiqasim then Somalia will remain to be a mess and another wasted 4 years. Sadly you think that favours the secessionists. Bingo. The PM is for the interest of his boss. Sooner or later, Gedo will need to decide its fate. Regardless the outcome, Culusoow admin is damaged for good.

^Maaddeey baa ku tagay. Astaqfurulaaah. Welcome back. How is life.

^My words are mockery and sarcasm but you actually do believe your words, no laws in this jungle called Somalia.

Wadani;930739 wrote: So what laws do u think apply in all of the scenarios u outlined above? I'm not sure since I don't live there. I'll have to look up the constitution. I'm sure it's addressed in there.

Naxar Nugaaleed;930742 wrote: there are laws to punish converts? ^No, no laws at all. Just a jungle full of nomads and monkeys running around.

Naxar Nugaaleed;930736 wrote: for love of god sub, there are no such laws in Somalia just a bad attitude and that is the issue I have with Somalis living abroad enjoying freedoms advocating against it for others Right. Somalia has NO laws.

Naxar Nugaaleed;930714 wrote: you missed the point completely, simply put as former resident of western nations where they enjoyed these freedoms now leading Somalia, they should no better. as for Somalis currently in the West, they should be less hypocritical and support the freedoms that allow to live their lives peacefully here. Sxb, I am trying to show you're confusing apple and oranges. Where someone or a leader lived or studies has little to do with the existing laws and the rules of that country. Somalis enjoying freedom of religion and press in their host country has nothing to do with how their home country is run and they aren't responsible for such laws. One is a personal choice, the other is the written rules and laws of a country. Many leaders in Middle East including Jordan, Egypt, Saudia have top officials who studied and lived in the West for many years yet their countries have laws limiting religious freedom. It has little to do with their own personal preference than the country's law of the land. You are making a huge assumption saying Somalis are hypocritial in nature for enjoying freedom of religion here and denying others of such freedom in their country. Based on what? What evidence that shows Somalis here actually blocked freedom of religion back home? Are you suggesting Farmaajo, Sharmarke, Gaas and the few MPs that left here are guilty of taking away freedom of religion back home?

Good development in the sense the government in Muqdisho is finally addressing Jubooyinka. At least we have a government engaging this issue head on for the first time in so long instead of avoiding it as it would go away. I think this is more important for Gedo block than any other stake holders in Jubbaland formation.

Naxar Nugaaleed;930678 wrote: Jacpher, millions is an exaggeration but i think there big portion of the Somali peoples live in the west, like almost the commentators here but am going to disagree with you an their not being able to do anything about. First, all the leaders back home are citizen of western nations, from America to australia. Second they seem to support religious oppression, even though they would not be where they are if it was not for religious freedom. A good case in point, our friend here xaaji that is unless his Jewish loool So to follow your logic, the Asians and Arabs living here enjoying freedom of religion here are directly responsible for whatever religious oppression going on in their home country. No? Pakistani and Saudi American citizens here are responsible for all that their government does in the their country in name of religion. No?

Xaaji Xunjuf;930677 wrote: Well if you were born into a christian family or a Jewish family If you born into christian or Jewish family, you get a pass. If you convert, cut his head off miyaa sheekadu. What about through interreligious marriage? Another law applies? None of these sound so fair and don't go according to Islamic teaching. No one comes to this world out of the womb Christian or Jewish. It's his/her parents that turn them into Christian or Jewish.

Xaaji Xunjuf;930671 wrote: ^^ Every one fights for his dreams and his country no one wants to be ruled or be a second class citizens we have seen what a union with Somalia did to Somaliland. My friend people have done it before the Kurds are still fighting i see Somaliland chances of becoming a full fledged nation as something that can happen in the near future Somalia is not a regional power that can oppress Somaliland like turkey is doing with the kurds or china is doing with the people of Taiwan . if the Dinkas did it if the Kosovons did it if the Eritreans did it than sure Somalilanders will do it to. But u can call it misguided but if people do not want to share a country with you than that should be respected or do you want to force them? Now why dont you fix your country first and than talk about Somaliland That was not my argument. I wasn't talking about the reasons for Somaliland to leave. I was basically pointing out now at this point in time, Hassan is the official president on the only official country of Somalia though you may be in denial. However, since you talked about Somaliland being oppressed into second class citizen and refused of self determination, thus leaving the union, isn't Somaliland itself doing so to other communities that share border with them? You can't accuse Somalia of oppressing you and on your way out, do the same thing you accuse of others. In other words, you claim to have been bullied historically, now you're doing the bullying.

Xaaji Xunjuf;930665 wrote: There is no such thing as freedom of religion in a Muslim country apostates should not be encouraged if they want to be Christians or Jews or Hindus they should do it else where. How ever born Christians families who were born as Christians or Jews should be respected. xaaji: how do you born Christian or Jewish :D

Xaaji Xunjuf;930657 wrote: ^^ As if he can rule over Somalilanders lol:D Yes he does. I know you are in denial but for now, he's the official president of the only country in the horn of Africa, Somalia. If and when Somaliland is officially put on the world map as another African country in the horn, you can make that argument. Say yes to Mr. President Hassan now. Say is with me. He's my president.