FYI, Liban is no longer in Range's BOD. The opposition seek out every narrow crack it can break into and launch their propoganda attack on the goverment and hope one day it collapses from within. The president has nevertheless overcome many times internal divisions designed to weaken the TFG in its search for legitimacy. The same ones he weeded out since they stood in the way of progress forged alliance with the Islamists; unfortunately they could NOT exert any influence on the ground or pitch their political personality as they are mostly in exile. One time, you had put the governor of Mogadishu in par with the president as if both were propped up by the Ethiopian and that Yusuf had no power to either sack or restore him even if he uses the power of the constitution. The president believes in constitutionalism and he is disciplined to observe the rules of the system. The PM was ignorant of the legality of his actions, and all the president did was reinstate the governor because the PM violated the procedures on which to get his decision approved.

^ I know but his leadership was needed more in Sanaag than the rest of Puntland. The Region of Sool and Sanaag have lacked genuine and charismatic leadership for so long that the inhabitants were susceptible to manipulative tactics and exploitation. Now that the General has arrived his hometown and mobilized his people to such an extent that it spurs the community into action-oriented initiatives in the long term is a good step in the right direction. I think he will reinforce the general perception that the region of Sanaag does not fall into the sphere of the separatists. He will also, as I truly believe, unite the communities in Sool as they are his true uncles. I have heard 2/3 of the inhabitants of Sool support him for his probity and leadership capability which goes beyond the domain of Puntland.

Thanks Sunaari for the links

"Thus all this clan jihadi rhetoric and silly secessionist isolation is self defeating and not in the interest of the clan or the individual." Excellent point Duke. God Bless Somalia

Were these hijacked ships on Somali coast or off Somali coast. Most international news outlets report as if these if ships were off Somali coast. Pirates seize 3 ships off Somalia in 1 day EILEEN NG ASSOCIATED PRESS Originally published 12:13 p.m., August 21, 2008, updated 11:55 a.m., August 21, 2008 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (AP) - Armed pirates hijacked three ships off the coast of Somalia in a series of attacks Thursday, an international maritime body said, as it urged the U.N. to restore law and order to the notorious African waters. Three hijackings in a day "is unheard of," said Noel Choong, the head of the Kuala Lumpur-based piracy center of the International Maritime Bureau. The attacks came two days after the seizure of a Malaysian palm oil tanker with 39 crew in the same area and raised to seven the number of ships hijacked in the Gulf of Aden since July 20. In the first incident Thursday, pirates "continuously fired" on an Iranian bulk carrier before boarding and commandeering it, Choong told The Associated Press. Less than an hour later, a Japanese-operated tanker with 19 crew was attacked and seized near the same location, he said. Later in the day, a German-operated cargo ship, flying the Antigua and Barbuda flag, was hijacked in the vicinity, he said. No details about the crew were available. He said the piracy center in Kuala Lumpur received a distress call about the German hijacking from a passing ship. He said "the situation is getting very dangerous" in the waters off Somalia, the world's piracy hotspot where 24 attacks were reported in the first half of this year. "We strongly urge the U.N. and the international community to take serious action to stop this menace," he said. "If nothing is done more ships may be hijacked and there will be serious consequences on this important shipping route." Choong said there has been no communication so far with any of the four vessels hijacked since Tuesday. But a multi-coalition naval force in the area has been informed and is "taking action." The naval force includes the United States, France, Germany, Pakistan, Britain and Canada, which currently holds the rotating command. The IMB also issued an urgent warning to all ships in the Gulf of Aden to maintain a strict watch. The Gulf of Aden connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Choong said pirates seized a Japanese-owned cargo ship with 20 Filipino sailors on July 20 in the gulf. A Nigerian vessel was later hijacked followed by a Thai cargo ship with 28 crew members earlier this month. Pirates in all of those cases demanded ransom for the release of the crews, and negotiations are continuing, he said. The impoverished country of Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991 and foreign vessels are frequently seized for ransom by pirates armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and automatic weapons, making it difficult and expensive to deliver aid to the region. In June, the U.N. Security Council voted to allow international warships to enter Somali waters to combat the problem. But its 1,880-mile coastline _ the longest in Africa _ remains virtually unpoliced. (This version CORRECTS seven piracy cases since July 20, not June 20.)

Wonderful pics. Our people pledged to give their support to the Gen. Ilkajiir.

He has a good reputation among the communities of Maakhir and I deeply respect him for that.

The General is welcomed is Hingalool and Carmaale. Xiingalool Carmaale

This is a triumph for the Unionists. God Bless Somalia. New Dawn for Sanaag and the rest of Puntland Ismail Adan Mohamed Adan August 18, 2008 Every now and then as it happens, a state or any system of governance encounters an individual whose quality of leaderships can provide what the region of Sanaag and rest of Puntland needs: conflict resolution skills, Military expertise, social responsibility, transparency, accountability and reviving the fragile economy by pledging to transform it into a modern sustainable, free market-oriented economy. Puntlanders have experienced the destruction of internal wars, mismanagement, corruption, nepotism, and the cumulative effect of failed leadership on their communities and the nation as a whole. Examples are rather precious and relatively few are available to match his strategy to solve the numerous problems of Puntland, challenges that Sanaag and the rest of Puntland face; his plan is based on four major areas: Firstly, by improving the security of the region and normalize relations within the stakeholders, law and order will return, which will then enable foreign direct investments; the NGOs and UN agencies will continue supporting the local population who are struggling to make ends meet in a recovering part of a lawless Somalia. The hyper inflation and a string of kidnappings and piracy have added to its ills. Secondly, by reviving the local economy, the candidate has proposed to create more jobs for the large unemployed youth by undertaking in labor-intensive projects --- financed by the effective management and fair distribution of the tax funds and international aid. Investments in infrastructure such as roads, ports and electricity and encouraging the Diaspora to invest in industrial projects and to improve the agricultural sector of the state will be his other priorities . Another goal is to introduce policies that will support the destitute, the vulnerable and the IDPs, the handicaps and the elderly who might not have somebody to support them. Fourthly, the candidate emphasizes in his platform the right use of public funds and the optimal use of Puntland's natural resources. Corruption has been the cornerstone of Puntland's failure. Misuse and mismanagements of the state taxes led the public to withdraw their trust of the administration. And if not taken a different course of action, it will undermine the existence of the state. The credentials and education of the General Abdullahi Jama Ahmed are many. He studied from a prestigious military academy in Odessa Ukraine in 1973 and obtained his first degree in Military science. He later went to Egypt for his higher education and received a Master in Military Science in 1983. And he went on to study in the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, a prestigious college where the top American military leaders are trained. Diploma in strategy and decision making was awarded. The eagerness to learn to acquaint new knowledge did not stop there. He further studied and received a degree in accounting and CPA from Bryan & Stratton College at Rochester NY from 2000-04. He held many important positions in the Somali national army until he reached the highest ranking General in 1986. Gen.Abudallahi is the right candidate to be the next president of the State of Puntland. He left his comfort and family in the US to return to Puntland with less amenities and luxury so he could help build a prosperous, peaceful and stable Puntland. He needs the support of Puntland Diaspora, particularly those who believe in a new direction and the desire to make Puntland a better place for all Puntlanders. Putlanders are already showing acceptance of this new direction, a change for the better and I hope the momentum will carry on to be a success story for the sake of our existence and tomorrow's children. Let me say thank you to Gen Abdullahi, for his wise decision to bring a change and prosperity to Puntland. Let us wish him good luck for his endeavors and the future of Puntland. Ismail Adan Mohamed Adan Cagoof@hotmail.com

lol@ "7 sano oo danbena siyaadow ku dooranee", that is like 1986-1993. MMA, why did you post this video?

"port access is just a service which can be bought or sold. We have the money and we are going to shop around" Meles is a heavy weight business man. :cool:

It's nice to feel home.

^No major road was ever built in this region, but this landform on which the armed vehicles of the dignitaries have travelled is rugged and pinkish. Its landform is known as the Sool Plateau or (Xadeed). The physical formation of this region's environment differs in landscape. There's the Gebi Valley, the AlMadow, and the Sool Plateau.

Dear Mansa, It was nice of you to share with us this report. I know ordinary lives struggle everyday to make ends meet, but how do people put so much faith and hope into the future of Somalia. Is Puntland the right vehicle to that dream of a united Somalia? I listened to BBC's interview with Rage Omar and he mentioned that our biggest problem is the absence of a leadership with integrity and vision. In other words, Leaders who will "serve a cause greater than self-interest" as John McCain always puts in his campaign speeches.

Let us not lose hope. I pray for the displaced, children and mothers who are now bearing the brunt of this mindless conflict. I have long ago said that our conflict is internationalized and the world has a lot to be held accountable for the perpetual suffering of our people.

Ngonge, unbiased!

Originally posted by Mansa Munsa During my stay in LA; I intermingled with the locales and asked them about what went wrong?. How such a city which was one of the fastest growing cities in Somalia, a linkage between the northern, and southern Somali regions and that of Reserve Area; all of a sudden collapsed and became a ghost town. I posed such questions to them, and I said: you can blame 24/7 the Garowe and Hargeisa administrations but the city's own sons, above all else, victimized and paralyzed the sort of semblance existed there. Some said; get use to it--it is just the signs of the new times, some nodded, and kept moving and others were dismayed by my blunt questioning. However, the majority population of this region gives their allegiance to the autonomous Puntland State, a bit over a quarter is proponents for self rule, and 10 to 15 percent embrace Somaliland ideals, the rest are stunned and undecided. Somali unity is very strong here even though some question its divident because this region contributed more than its share during the struggle for freedom and it has to yet realize any payback. Garowe, the administrative city of Puntland, was my next stop. What once was a beacon of hope, and the foundation of building blocks suggested for reincarnation of Somali nation by many political analyst and experts of the region. It has become an administration that fits all negative adjectives that can come to your mind. Lawlessness is its peak since PL was coined, not to mention the pirates, random killings through out Puntland, even more nowadays in Bosaso which is the economic pipe of the region, ill-conceived deals in regards to natural resources of the region and pocketing for whatever generated from the meager economy, disintegration of the administration is underway as Maakhir declared its secession from PL. President Adde and his Vice failed their constituents in any way, shape or form possible. Incompetence, corruption, insecurity and lack of good governance are the hallmarks of the current administration. If PL leadership is not changed soon I am very confident to say that she is a good candidate of becoming next hot spot within Somalia. I also visited my uncle who resides in Badhan, the capital city of the newly inaugurated, autonomous state of Maakhir. There is a friction and tension within the Maakhirities about the destiny of the new administration whether it will break up from or stay with PL for good. However, Maakhities, unlike their neighbors (SSC), had managed to keep their problems under control. Something that needs further enhancement I must say.I had spent good fifteen days from Badhan, Bosaso to Galkacayo and then hit the road for Beledweyn.[/b] Mansa Munsa, Welcome back brother man and thanks for sharing with us your exciting, cardinal yet adventurous trip to Somalia. I hope you'll be kind enough to add diatary supplements into SOL debates based on the practical experience you have gained from back home.

The best objective, rationally calculated observation I have seen on the net in a long time. I almost share with you on this great observation. I know some of us here are chuckling in agreement but would otherwise choose to feign ignorance.

Thanks KT for making this superb post on the platform of General Ilkajiir on future Puntland. The Land of Punt is the land of the Somalia and it will be.

^You're probably making a lopsided comparison. The west has been mainly investing in capital intensive projects in the Middle East and made UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuweit, although increasingly interdependent, shining stars. The unfulfilled high expectancy of the majority of the people in the Middle East of their resources is as a result of shortage of labor-intensive projects, poor management, and dictatorial forms of rule. This, according to regional experts, led to a rising public frustrations with government policies which they later took them on the streets and in the form of armed rebellion, particularly terrorist actions backed by "incontrovertible" fatwas to liberate the oil-rich countries from the yoke of neocolonialism. DRC however has suffered from a long political instability and two major civil wars that had left a trail of destruction behind it with Rwanda-backed Tutsis and Uganda taking active and direct intervention in the Congo civil wars since 1996. The Second Congo civil war got the label of African World War killing at least 5.5 milllion people between 1998-2003. Second Congo Civil War

Dabshid, I lay all the blame on the west, Particularly the United States and EU. They create, manipulate and exploit the crisis in Congo. For instance, the supply of low cost raw materials can give their corporations a competitive advantage and sustainable profit margin on their high-tech industries.

I was watching this program last night on the prospect of Peace in Somalia. I concur with the idea of Awale Kulane from London who emphasized how the Somalis yearned the world to intervene to Somalia's crisis and when finally the world has shown interest in Somalia's crisis and respect for its territorial integrity, we seem to be receding to the idea that real solution can only be derived from Somalia's traditional method but his key point is that we should take responsiblity of our problems, reconcile, and respect the opportunity the world offers to Somalis. The Prof. also makes some great points and he seem to be supporting the Djibouti Agreement. Somalia, More Choas

This is a good enterprise. I was thinking of visiting Bosaso.

This is Congo, the chief source of world raw materials. Here are some statistics of Congo's raw materials and its global use for production which pales into insignificance with the country's abject socio-economic condition. The absence of system of representation and regulatory framework that entitles and enforces property rights such as certification, license, titles, etc of these critically significant raw materials reinforces the already unpalatable solution to the Congo crisis. 8% of the global production of Copper is exported from Congo Cobalt, 73% of the global production Uranium, 60% used by the west Industrial Diamond, 80% used by the West Gold, Zinc, Cadmium, Mangenese, Tantulum etc. Congo was the only country in Africa that declared independence unprepared, first recognized in 1960 by the Pan African movement. Belgium did little to prepare Congo for independence and it promoted, during her long colonial rule, paternalistic/tribal form of administration which has had a long term effect on the country's post-independence struggle for stability and unity. For instance, It was the initial conception of Washington to pursue a policy agenda that would portray Congo as socially backward and unprepared for independence. A policy of direct intervention was warranted to promote peace, build nationhood and retrain its people for self-rule, but this policy agenda by the U.S. and UN pitted them against Lamumba, (first PM of Zaire) who advocated for a unitary state and the independence of Congo from aggressive foreign intervention. Lumumba was finally overthrown, captured and transferred to the mineral-rich Katanga, which earlier sought a Belgium-backed secession from the rest of Congo. During his captivity, he was subjected to arbitrary torture, humiliation and was finally executed by by Katangan officers on orders from Belgium. Before jumping to the aricle, read the a policy statement of U.S State Department in 1960 The African population of this area is poorly prepared for self-government. Despite the spectacular postwar quickening of economic activity in such places as the copper belt of Northern Rhodesia and the Belgian Congo, most Africans still live the primitive life of the hinterland. Tribal loyalties and jealousies continue to play a major political role throughout the area, thereby handicapping the efforts of African leaders to develop unified political movements and provoking sometimes violent intertribal conflicts. The heavy price of the world's High-Tech By Khadija Sharife June 12, 2008 The year is 2008, the world is highly militarised by virtue of surveillance equipment posing as national defence. There is a camera watching your every move. Airport scanners conduct scans on your underwear of choice, magnifying every pore. And for every camera and mobile phone, every DVD machine and iPod, and that dancing Justin Timberlake doll with electrically-wired curls - there is a little bit of tantalum or refined coltan. Nothing in our world today can survive without tantalum - the heat resistant derivative of coltan, the abbreviation of Columbo-Tantalite, an iridescent black mud that acts as capacitator, superconductor and transistor of every modern industry known to mankind, from the heat shields of Nasa rockets to the pivotal key components of nuclear reactors, processors and land turbines, and toasters, video machines and modems, flat screen TVs and satellite phones, etc, etc. The $275bn American "Big Brother Surveillance System", otherwise known as the Echelon, cannot do without tantalum or refined coltan. The market for commercialised coltan products is guaranteed through aggressive multi-dimensional advertising, resulting in the pathology of egoism. In France, Telecom sales in 2007 increased by 52% to $9.25bn, fuelled by the mobile revenue growth. How many of these phones were necessary? How many superfluous? How many reached those in the "disconnects" of the world? More importantly, how many were purchased because of a new and improved ringtone or size by those who previously owned similar models? In 2000, Sony "PlayStation 2" caused a stratospheric rise in the share price of coltan - $500 per kg. Sony sales and revenues between October and November 2007 rose sharply thanks to sales of the PlayStation 2. "Revenue increased by 9.6% and net profit rose 25.2% to $1.88bn (¥200.2bn)," according to Japanese media reports. Yet, miners in DRCongo where the coltan is extracted are paid less than $1 per kilogram. Over 80% of the world's known coltan reserves are situated in eastern DRCongo. Coltan - or magic mud as the "miners" call it - is located very close to the surface, requiring only a pick, shovel and plastic bucket to slosh the moist, dense, and heavy mud until it sinks to the bottom. Most of the miners' money is then taxed for food and other necessities. Most have probably never seen a PlayStation or mobile phone. Yet, they live their lives knee deep in mud. The story of PlayStation 2 of 2000 signified the symbolic turning point of a Western world hindered and obstructed when lacking access to the developing world's resources. "Although ethnic tensions in DRCongo existed prior to the 1996-2003 war, the heightened ethnic conflict and the dismantling of civil society currently underway are a by-product of international trade in this region," says Dena Montague, research associate for the Arms Trade Resource Project at the World Policy Institute. No doubt, Sony acquired the coltan mined in DRCongo through various channels - just as likely, most consumers have never even heard of the resource. "The conflict in DRCongo has created a population so ravaged that women in some villages have simply stopped taking their children to health centres because they no longer possess simple items of clothing to preserve their dignity," Dena Montague continues in a document entitled "Coltan and Conflict in the DRCongo". "Coltan happened to be the most lucrative raw material, and, more than any other mineral resource, it attracted the invading forces and lured them into establishing fullfledged commercial operations," she says, and goes on to correctly state that coltan, unlike diamonds, is not registered and does not require a certification process to flag the country of origin in an attempt to discern whether such extracted minerals are fuelling or financing conflict. As New African went to press, there were indications that a German-funded and G8-supported regulatory system was being considered to certify coltan so that all products that use the mineral would bear the certification stamp detailing the origin of the ore, and informing consumers of its source. Press reports quoted DRCongo's mines minister, Victor Kasongo, saying: "We believe that in 2009, we should be able to enforce certification. Licensing, centralisation, certifications, control, more revenue for Congo and peace and stability are the things we are aiming for." The reports said the German Federal Institute for Geoscience and Natural Resources - the primary geostrategic authority to the German government - will be conducting regional studies across DRCongo, mapping the areas with the highest yield and developing and isolating different and unique characteristics, that will allow for coltan to be recognisable. Coltan, like most other conflict minerals and precious substances, is highly militarised. According to a 2002 UN report, "60-70% of the coltan exported from eastern DRCongo was mined 'under the direct surveillance' of the Rwandan army". The UN confirms the above figure and estimates that coltan deposits in Canada, Brazil, Malaysia and China are less than 20% of global deposits; yet even though over 80% of coltan is located in Africa, with 82% of the African total situated in DRCongo - in a conflict region - the lifeline of the conflict is all but invisible. What is visible are conservation areas that have been razed to the ground, the wood sold cheaply to purchasing agents, transported via airstrips controlled by the military and then onwards to foreign multinationals. Whilst the forests are being razed in North and South Kivu, the wildlife is hunted down, shot and smoked, or tranquilised and transported out to zoos, private estates and collectors in foreign lands. Gorillas and other large species make easy targets. They also present a substantial weight of meat and, of course, the forests have to be cleared out before the miners can get to work on the minerals. There are over 700 licensed "hunters" operating in DRCongo, the surrealistic horror of the war-zone has been held in cognitive abeyance by hunters who prefer to perceive not the loss of life in its entirety but the value per shot. As with the early pioneers of America, the idea is to make every bullet count; as with most mercenaries, hunters see conflict regions in Africa as prime opportunity. Just before the 1996 invasion to overthrow President Mobutu Sese Seko, specialised US military forces trained in Rwandan bases. Ninety days later, a missile attack destroyed the plane carrying the then Rwandan leadership. The Hutus expressed their belief that the Tutsis and the US were conspiring to wrest control of Rwanda. This event detonated the socio-political, historical, economic, and ethnic tensions that precipitated the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, the spillover of which allowed the US-sponsored allies - Rwanda and Uganda - to enter the eastern DRCongo. The control of coltan, amongst other resources obtained in exactly the same way and predominantly found in DRCongo - has allowed Rwanda to prosper economically. It has also allowed Western multinationals to conjure and control the large masses of coltan supplies without capital intensive investment, and raking in the profits. The UN states: "In 2002, the US was the principal destination of DRCongo's coltan exports. Congolese miners extracted the minerals and Rwandan brokers traded the ore ... It was highly organised and was coordinated centrally from an administrative entity known as the Congo Desk, located in Rwanda's Ministry of Defence." Each day, more than $6m in resources leaves the eastern DRCongo, including coltan, diamonds and gold. The UN says that between 2002 and 2005 over $197m was dished out to "smalltime" rebel militias and para-military groups. The deliberate and systematic destruction of natural resources, farms and other forms of agriculture in DRCongo has additionally led many farmers, schoo!children, the unemployed, and unskilled workers, to voluntarily sign up as "artisans" - enlisting themselves in one of many mining towns as labour-in-waiting. But who profits? The extracted coltan resources are not recorded in eastern DRCongo. As they are located so close to the surface, there is no need for capital investment or other industrial constructs. It is the invisible trade. For the most part, every atom that leaves African soil - in this case at least 70% of the coltan - has the same story to tell. But with 2,800 languages in Central Africa alone, the words are lost in the din and clamour of hustlers and handlers. The story of coitan is no different. Blood cassiterite Similarly, cassiterite is a pivotal constituent of the manufacturing industry, vital to the production of everything from integrated circuit boards, plumbing, rockets, electro-plating, electric components, to lesser known uses such as paper preservatives, shaving foam, ink cans, etc. Its value has drastically increased since China, Western European, Japan and America modified regulations, substituting toxic lead with the more benign tin found in abundant quantities in DRCongo. Even toothpaste contains tin fluoride. The UN states that between August 2002 and May 2004, the price per kilo of eassiterite tripled, and world consumption increased by 20,000 tons. The price has since been relatively stable, hovering between $7,500 and $9,000 per ton. A special combination of cassiterice (tin) and niobium (a substance extracted from coltan) alloy has been found to act as a superconductor. These qualities, in parallel and concert, make eassiterite a very wanted resource on the world market. Like coltan, cassiterite lacks identity of origin - once purchased and processed, there is very little evidence linking the resource to DRCongo. The 2002 UN Expert Panel report, also stated that over 70% of DRCongo's cassiterite was mined under the direct surveillance of the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA). At the time, Rwanda and Uganda had invaded and occupied large swathes of eastern DRCongo at the behest of Washington DC, as usual hiding behind the scenes (see "How America ran, and still runs, the Congo War, New African cover story, Sept 2001). The UN report defined the conflict in Congo as "a war for resources". It said: "Illegal exploitation of the minerai and forest resources of DRCongo are taking place at an alarming rate ... Two phases can be distinguished: mass-scale looting and the systematic and systemic exploitation of natural resources." The report stated matter-of-factly that the "primary agents", Rwanda and Uganda, were benefiting from the "massive availability of financial resources for the Rwandan Patriotic Army, and the individual enrichment of top Ugandan military commanders and civilians". Both countries have persistently and vehemently denied these allegations. Today, Congo's South Kivu province is portrayed as being under the rule of Kinshasa. But in reality, the Congolese army operating in South Kivu has likewise militarised the mining towns and the minerais are transferred via Rwanda. Cassiterite is not just in hot demand. It is also linked to coltan in its location and the method of extraction. Both lie close to the surface and require only pick, shovel and a plastic bucket to slosh through the detritus. As with coltan, cassherite ore is channelled dirough identical trading networks. Charles Chalondakwa, a researcher in Bukav, says: "When the soldiers arrived from Kinshasa, they asked 'where can we find the gold?' We had to wonder whether they were here for the war or for minerals." On many occasions, the impoverished Congolese miners - young men and boys, sometimes naked and always unprotected, armed only with their bare hands and a chisel - have been filmed by news media hammering away at cassiterite rocks in deplorable conditions. Armed at every turn are soldiers acting as overseers. Boys as young as 10 years old are forced to crawl into the smallest crevices, the fissures are narrow gaps burrowing deep into the earth like worm trails. The clefts lack support, buttressed by air alone; the cells could collapse and sometimes do, killing those caught in the womb. The miners are usually paid less than $ 1 for a kilogram of coltan or cassiterite. They transport the material in sacks on their backs, carrying 30-50kg by foot, sometimes the walk back to the mining towns and trading centres are 50km in length. Cassiterite, unlike coltan, is a very heavy substance. The Kahuzi-Biega Park, rich in coltan and Cassiterite, previously housed over 350 elephant families, but the elephants have since been hunted down and stripped of their tusks. As is usual, the meat was smoked and fed to the miners. A similar situation prevails in the Virunga Park and the Okapi Reserve. Although the UN report in 2002 defined the structure and methodology of the Congo "war" as "mass scale looting" and "systemic and systematic exploitation", there were 85 multinational (mainly Western) companies that acted as facilitator, purchaser, processor, and manufacturer. Even though over 80% of the worlds coltan reserves and 59% of "accessible" cassiterite are located in DRCongo, high-end purchasers and other electronic, defence, arms and toy companies (mainly in the West and the Far East) are able to easily feign ignorance, yet are acutely aware of the lack of evidence linking the unregistered mineral resource to conflict-ridden DRCongo. In fact, the historicity of resources in the Congo is suffused with political intrigue, corrupt politicians, smokescreens, calculated provocation, and media camouflage. But who benefits and who pays the price? Despite its riches, Congo has a life expectancy of less than 45 years; over 51% of its biodiversity has been destroyed and 34% of the population is illiterate. In 2004, a US-based NGO did a census in parts of Congo and reported that over 4.7 million Congolese had died, directly and indirectly, from the war between 1996 and 2003. It is estimated that the majority of wildlife, specifically regarding indicator species, avians and other flora and fauna has been systemically destroyed for profit. When will Africa ever learn? Source: New African

Why some people keep engaging in irrationality is beyond my understanding unless some people truly and vicariously rejoice the caustic theme of this topic, which depicts one clan as powerful and capable of achieving this worst case scenerio, when in fact they have been relatively weak and the victims of historic injustice. This topic shouldn't take 8 or 9 pages. But to give an overview (to clear confusion) of the kind of belligerancy the Sanag community had already experienced includes a prolonged warfare of 4 years from (1989-93) but it was the inhabitants of this region who put an impregnable fortress for this type of tribally motivated aggression and finally overcame unlike the Awdalites who have submitted to their tribal cause. The Maakhiris and the Dervishes are known to have always maintained dominant strategy both historically and to this day in their dealings with their neighbors, We don't however want to stoop so low to their Base level of depravity. The topic should have been deleted by the Admin long time ago.