A big source of revenue for the fragile government. _________________ NAIROBI (AFP) — Somalia will soon be able to levy taxes on imports from Kenya before goods are flown in, in a move designed to sideline extortionist warlords, Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said Friday. He said the move would prevent the warlords taking their own cut on the Somali end, and provide the embattled Somali government with much-needed cash to build up their security forces. "The Somalia government wants us to assist them levy taxes and we have agreed... Once the taxes are collected, Somalia can be in a position to pay their police to secure the border," Wetangula said. "We have signed an agreement on this. It is only the final modalities that are being worked on," he said at a press conference. Wetangula did not provide specifics but said that goods exported to Somalia from Kenya's Mombasa, Wilson (Nairobi) and Wajir airports would be taxed before departure and proceeds surrendered to Somalia. He explained that, at present, the only taxes on imports from Kenya were imposed by Somali warlords thus contributing to thwart the fledgling transitional government's state-building efforts. "There are warlords there who control border points, they collect revenue and this does not go to the government. That is why we signed a protocol to that effect," Wetangula said. He added that Somali customs officers would be posted in Kenyan airports. However, Kenya's khat farmers and traders feared that the new measure would simply result in double-taxation. "If they levy a tax on miraa (khat) in Kenya, there is no way we can avoid paying the warlords in Somalia right now," Kimathi Munjuri, from the main umbrella group of khat producers, told AFP. "So I'm not sure how this can work, we need a clearer picture." The mild narcotic leaf is chewed by millions in Somalia and is one of Kenya's top exports to the neighbouring country. Nairobi has recently voiced fears that extremist Islamic groups operating in Somalia could target Kenya and is keen to boost security at the border. Source: AFP

Obama is still a rookie so he is prone to acting on strange behaviours. That wasn't the expectation attached to a person holding a higher position. For a President to greet a Saudi king like that, it's indeed a terrible stuff to bear with. I know Obama is honest and courteous but that's above the limit.lol I wish he were Abdilahi Yousuf on this and only this ocassion. Obama needs to be arrogant sometimes.

Do Egyptians believe in him and his load of bs. Lol. He is sure a comedian.

Ngonge, pick up a copy of Farah's latest novel,Knots. --a powerful dissection of a fragmented society as the Bookforum notes. Good luck! Malika, you should visit your ancestral homeland.

Gheele As a person who voted for Obama, I still clinch to the hopes that Obama cultivates in our heart. "Love should never leave us alone" as Marley said. I think this particular conflict of the Islamic world vs. The West has had wider implications on the African continent. Even during the Arab-Israeli conflict in the 70s, and the oil embargo, the continent that was most affected was Africa. However, comparing the two key unequal players in this conflict and their financial contribution to Africa's progress, I firmly believe that Muslim Arabs have made huge investments in countries like Sudan, Di-jibouti, and Chad, and their Islamic charity to the needy is registered to be more than the one given by the west, overall. However, what is truly sad is that it's not the west's lack of interest to see the development of our places of origin but it's centuries old doctrine of "winner-takes-all". Now unlike China which is eager to fill the gap and its emerging competitor--the Arabs, the west had to come up with a new world order that would heighten corrosive instability and therefore retard any development or progress towards self-sufficiency. But the chickens have come home to roost and America or its partner/ally won't have the apetite to look at a dark continent, for now. They are in fear of losing what they already have. China is becoming a more active global player. I hope it's not corrupted with this doctrine of "winner takes all". What got her at this level is their Culture: thrifty, hardwork and egalitarian values.

Blessed, what type of Somali dance will they pick? Good luck.

"Reportedly, the Israeli planes used a US base in Djibouti to stage the attacks, as part of the agreement between Israel and the outgoing Bush Administration made in mid January." This is a good example of the divide and rule policies of the West towards the Arab and African states. Can Somalis in D-jibouti demand the foreclosure of the preemtive strikes launched from their home territory. As if cocoon of despair, the West howls that convenient term of democratic governance while building dictatorship walls as usual. In this case of IRAN, they are irritated simply because it outfoxed them through this old tactic of survival and state dilemma. Iran has been successful as they continue bringing more state and non-state actors into her sphere of influence with its oil riches and home grown democracy. People are killed at will daily either by unmanned drones or propped up repressive regimes. When the world market is secluded from you, creativity is stifled and be reduced to mere consumers of their products as well as a reliable supplier of raw materials well below their fair market price, desperate socieities turn on themselves and repressive regimes with their elite rulers, military and policy advisers, do resort to harsh methods aimed at surviving their hold on power rather than competing to survive their societies and perfecting their institutions. Will there be a near future when Arab and African governments become answerable to their own people. I hope!

Indeed, Sherban Shabeel. I plan to settle there, invest and marry two wives, InshaAllah. More pics for those who haven't seen Casha pics yet

I don't see anything amiss with A&T. It's probably that I don't minitor everyone's post here, but one thing is true, considering the perceived or actual reactions of those around us, that we can't simply assume every character or write anything that comes to our mind. We have to regulate our behavior in manner that's culturally and intellectually bound. It was Einstein who said "Two things are infinite: the universe and human *********;" Let's strive for excellence and the perfection of our humanity. - my two cents!

Ibtihal, Florally, Calmadow has approximately 1,000 plant species, 200 of which are only found in Calmadow. Calmadow and its neighboring areas also have richer fauna than other parts of Somalia and harbor some of the rarest and most localized Somalias endemic species. Here a Linnet (Warsanghelia johannis, Acanthus olivae (Pigeon) and Golden-winged Grosbeak occur, as well as colorful antelope, the Dorctrgus megalotis (Beira), and different species of gazelles. by a research team from Uppsala University, Sweden. It's Allah's grace that Somalia is blessed with this land.

cynical, the first one is my favorite. Have you seen other pics of this place?

Source: Reporters without borders

It's getting terrible. ----------- Freelance journalist gets two years in prison in Puntland on defamation charge A court in Bosaso, the main port city of the semi-autonomous northern region of Puntland, yesterday sentenced freelance journalist Jama Ayanle Feyte to two years in prison, Reporters Without Borders has learned from its partner organisation in Somalia, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ). Feyte was not defended by a lawyer at the trial, which was held four days after he was arrested in Bosaso. He was accused of defamation and disseminating false information but the authorities did not specify what prompted the charges. “Feyte is the victim of a flagrant case of summary justice and must be freed without delay,” Reporters Without Borders said. “This conviction was clearly politically motivated as there were absolutely no grounds for the charges. We urge the Puntland authorities to adopt a law that protects press freedom and protects journalists from arbitrary arrest.” Several local sources said Feyte’s arrest on 26 March was ordered by Puntland interior minister Abdullahi Jama Ilkajir and could have been prompted by political comments Feyte had made about the region’s authorities. Feyte works for several local newspapers and the Dayniile.com et Laasqoray.net websites.

Unbelievable! I haven't seen these new ones. More by Sagal A. Hirsi

Link

This delay or the presidential term extension for the second time would only complicate Riyale's chances of winning the upcoming election, I believe. But again, the Burco sub-clans, and the city as the stronghold of Kulmiye party, have never embraced fully the state and its power to institute its printed papers as the only official currency in the region. Reer Burco have often relied on the Somali shilling and used the Bossaso port. For this time, they are tired of Riyale's conflict of interest and his backers and they explicitly express that the power be handed over to Siilaanyo from Bur'o whom they credit him as the founder of "Somaliland." However, Ethiopia might be involved and the Guurti Assembly are now too corrupted to independently execute its area of responsibility.

For all of those political caveats, we believe the war is winnable. And Mr. Obama's strategy takes some important steps. The most significant is to reclaim the battle from NATO, which never really wanted the job. The U.S. will create a new command in Southern Afghanistan, where U.S. and Afghan troops will apply the lessons of Iraq. The irony here is that Mr. Obama is asserting U.S. primacy from the failing "multilateralism" of the Bush Administration, which made the mistake of assuming Europeans really believed in the fight. In the end, as usual, the 60,000 or so Yanks will have to do the bloodiest fighting and the Germans can man the supply lines out of harm's way. Another step forward is the commitment of 4,000 more GIs to train and expand the Afghan army to 134,000 troops by 2011. We agree with strategists who say the ultimate goal should be 250,000 or more -- making the army a major employer and source of national unity. But Mr. Obama is right to say that Afghans will eventually have to learn to defend their own country. Mr. Obama made much yesterday of an allegedly new willingness to engage elements of the Taliban. This is hardly as revolutionary as it sounds, since U.S. troops did something similar in Anbar Province in Iraq. It makes sense to try to peel away tribal chiefs and others who may be "Taliban" only because they are paid to be, or afraid not to be. But over time this will only work if the U.S. and Afghans can persuade these Taliban-for-hire that the allies can provide security against al Qaeda and the real Taliban. Also mark us down as skeptics about his new call for "benchmarks" for the Pakistan and Afghanistan governments. As we learned in Iraq, benchmarks can measure the wrong things amid larger progress, and they also make it easier for Congress to find fault. No doubt both Kabul and Islamabad can do more as allies, but the best way to ensure that is with a broad, sustained U.S. commitment, not with what sound like orders from Washington. Perhaps the best news in yesterday's speech is that Mr. Obama has now taken ownership of this war. One lesson he can learn from Iraq is that -- as hard as the fighting may get and as vociferous as the opposition at home may become -- Mr. Obama now has an obligation to stay the course until our soldiers can return home in victory and with honor. Source: wsj/Opinion

I hope he gets released so he can resume his work, which's really an important public service.

XARIGA WARIYE JAAMAC AYAANLE FEYTE Bosaaso:- Dhamaan akhristayaasha Webka LaasqorayNET ayaa waxaa la ogeysiinayaa in Wariye Jaamaca Ayaanle Feyte la xirey isagoo hada ku sugan saldhiga dhexe ee magaalada Bosaaso isla markaana aan denbigiisa la ogeyn iyadoo amarka xidhitaankiisa ay ka danbeyeen DACWAD BEEN ABUUR AH OO caada qaatayaasha ka hawlgala Sanaag. Ilaa iyo hada Maamulka Puntland muusan cadeyn sababta uu u xirey Weriye Feyte iyadoo weriyey Feyte uu ku soo caan baxay wararka Investigative reports oo macnehedu yahay baaritaanada wararka sirta ah isla markaana uu dhowr jeer warar ka soo gudbiyey isla markaana ay u dhacdey sidii lagu heley baaritaanada, waxaana ugu waaweynaa arimihii boobkii Macdanta iyo Cade Muuse. Sidoo kale Weriye Feyte waxa uu baaritaano balaaran ku sameeyey Caaglayaasha Gobolka Sanaag[Raga lacagta beenta ah ku qaata ciidamo aan jirin] isla markaana warar sir ah laga heley iyadoo la xaqiijiyey asalka wararkan. Waxaa jira xeer saxaafadeed oo ah iney Saxaafadu madax banaan tahay, weriyaasheedana aan la xiri karin max kamad la'aan. Hadii Maxkamadi timaado oo weriye Jaamac lasoo istaago waxay LaasqorayNET haysaa cadeymo cadeynaya aan geed loogu soo gabaneyn oo ku saabsan caada qaatayaasha Sanaag ka shaqeeya iyo weliba qoraalo isugu jira emailo iyo waraaqo la is weydaarsadey oo aad u xasaasi ah. Hase yeeshee iyadoo lawada ogsoon yahay ineysan jirin maxkamad ka shaqeysa Puntland ayaa LaasqorayNET waxay dantu ku kalifi doontaa in sirar badan oo ay ka hayso rag badan oo caado qaatayaal ah oo labada maamul hal marka lacago been abuur ah ka wada qaata ay faafin doonto iyadoo cadeymo soo bandhigi doonto. Waxaa Bahda LaasqorayNET ay Dowlad goboleedka Puntland iyo ciidamada Amniga ay ka codsanayaan iney si deg deg ah lagu sii daayo Weriye Jaamac Ayaan Feyte isla markaana xoriyadiisii dib loogu soo celiyo. Waxaanu sidoo kale waxgaradka Magaalada Bosaaso ka codsaneynaa iney doorkoodii ka qaataan sii deynta weriye Feyte iyo siduu u heli lahaa xoriyadiisa. Maamulka Webka LaasqorayNET

Jama Ayanle Feyte is a Somalia based journalist and his articles has appeared on a number of Somali news portals. As it has become normal the illegal detention of journalists in Puntland, Jama Ayanle Feyte has become the new victim and it shocked many of us. Puntland authorities has yet to explain reasons for his detention. He is held now in an overly crowded Bosaso prison for the second night. BAAQ KUSOCDA PUNTLAND EE XARIGA WARIYE KA MID AH WARIYAYAASHA UGU CAANSAN PUNTLAND OO KA MID AHAA WARIYAYAASHA SANAAG, HAYLAAN, BARI MEDIA Dhahar:- Maamulka Puntland ayaa u muuqda mid aan ilaa iyo imika wax iska badalin marka ay noqoto arimaha la xiriira caburinta saxaafada iyo jirdilka suxufiga. Iyadoo haatan uu ku cadeystey in wariye Jaamac Ayaanle Feyte looga qaadey xoriyadiisa isagoo aan lagu heyn wax cadeyn ah oo uu ugu xadgudbey maamulka, iyadoo uu wariyuhu mar walba run ka sheegaayey wacyiga markaasi taagan. Wariye Jaamac Feyte ayaa sida la sheegay waxaa amarka lagu soo xirey ka dambeeyey taliye ku xigeenka ciidanka booliska maxamed saciid jaqanaf, iyadoo aanan ilaa iyo hadeer ehelkiisa loo sheegin sababta loosoo xirey, wali aan loo ogolaan in ay arkaan. Dhanka kale ayaa waxaa la yaableh arintaan oo aynan masuuliyiinta sare Puntland ka hadlin, gaar ahaan wasiirka arimaha gudaha Gen. C/Laahi Ilka Jiir. Iyadoo amarka xariga suxufiga uu yahay mid uu ka dambeeyey nin aan sharci ahaan xaq iyo darajo u lahayn in uu talaabadaas qaado. Waxaan baaq u direynaa anagoo ah saxaafada SHB in ay si deg deg ah, shuruud la’aana ah in lagu siidaayo wariye Jaamac Feyte. Maamulkana uu raali galin ka bixiyo. Xigasho:- Dhahar.com

"Had the Mujahideen, then known as Itihaad, followed the advice of Peacenik Gacamay, many nomads that are typing frivolously on these board might not have been alive." Haye and Aideed would have finished them up. Lol War meesha bahasha foosha-xun ka yareeya.

I agree with Marx. The young who had never seen what Somalia once was has quite developed this sense of identity crisis. Good post.

Of course, every community should develop its area, but when you form a political union, it's imperative that whatever aid and development intended for the blocks that make up its whole by either Somali government or UN agencies should be part of the community's efforts. If this is hard to achieve just because few individuals benefit from this contract, then our people must demand an answer or seek an alternative road. There's needs to be checks and balances and transperancy.

Federalim is the panacea given the circumstance we are in.

If this news turns real, we shall be able to assess if they can walk the walk. In all manners of the past and its political heat, this is necessarily a good policy initiative. To work out some structural changes in order to improve the security of the city and send a strong signal of solidarity and economic cooperation was long overdue. it's also good decision by Puntland to return the money earmarked for the Laasqoray by the TFG in form of resource allocation. Besides, consolidating the port security and the law enforcement is also a great new strategy by Faroole and Ilka-Jir. Pics