There was, for example, the reported distribution of false voter ID cards and widespread underage voting around the town of Borama near the Ethiopian border, home territory of President Dahir Riyale Kahin. There were problems in the regions of Sool and eastern Sanaag, where some clan leaders are unenthusiastic about Somaliland and where Puntland, another part of Somalia that asserts its autonomy, lays claim to territory. Source: The Economist This is the only credible news from the Economist, and it is still biased in favor of the secessionists.

Xaaji, it is about the inevitable third party intervention that adds another layer of complexity into Somali conflict, and the international media, swayed by the influence of the extremists in the south, are swayed by false notions of democracy in the north.

Originally posted by Che -Guevara: I just posted something.It magically disappeared? lol@Che, Even the well-respected Rage Omar showed his biases for his clan's enclave.

SOURCE

The Double Standards of the International Action and Media With the exception of al-Jazeera, other major news agencies such as Reuters and AFP rely mostly on local news sites and personal interviews with politicians in favor of Somalia's dismemberment. The al-Jazeera reporter, Mohamed Adow, was reported to have been detained after giving a brief coverage of an armed clash near Las Anod. His story was picked up, distributed and published at several international newspapers. Human rights violations, for instance, is systematically bypassed and news of a voter registrations process (with much irregularity) and presidential polls given credibility. The opinion of various not-for profits European organizations under the role of a self-styled international observers along with "Somaliland" individuals from the UK Somali Diaspora declared the "election" to be free and fair. It was business as usual--new jobs and opportunity to build up their resumes and win potential lucrative contracts from donors and the states in which they are registered. In retrospect, Shameless deals with foreign non-state actors over our national resources for a mere payment--less worth of public expectation--or much lower than the its intrinsic value--have been the "positive" news of Somalia. Unfair deals are traded on popular stock exchanges in Australia and Europe. These are examples of the business of the inevitable third-party intervention in Somalia. The support of one group at the expense of another is how the policies of divide and rule in Africa are still employed and maintained by the powers that be.

SOMALIA: Failure in curbing the advances of the Somaliland secessionists Mohamed A. Elmi July 5, 2010 As concerned Somali expats we are dealing with a complex set of problems in our quest for an ideal future for perpetual peace and prosperity through an overarching vision nourished by benevolent objectives and specific guidelines. We understand and consider the need for further research and study of the strengths of Somali cultural identity, political union, good governance and untapped natural resources. The scientific improvement of such crucial items is knowledgeably impeded by the continual fragmentation of Somalis into clan-inspired mini states and dominions. Looking at the scale of measurement thus far, still running negatives for the indicators of our absolute social values are apparent injustice, cruelty, regressive political expression and self-destruction. That it might take beyond our lifetime to cut the social and economic deficit is a serious consideration unless the international community of states alters its outright negligence about the baleful conditions under which Somalia throttles in. The Northern (Somalia) dilemma While the South suffers under the weight of proxy wars, the North is routinely classified as relatively calm. Of the recent lopsided coverage of the presidential election in "Somaliland, a new description entered the Somali conflict. For instance, ” Ballots vs. bullets" has been recently coined to draw a stark and unfair contrast between the North and the South of Somalia, respectively, while leaving the dire situation and conflict in Las Anod city and environs out of the spectrum of the political discussion. It is praiseworthy that Prof. Mohamed Said Gees and his highly valued research organization, the Academy for Peace and Development (APD) pioneered and sustained the democratic process of "Somaliland" like the strengthening of the multi-party system, voter registration, constitutional law, how to develop and sustain peace and consensus among Somali communities, but it is not largely enough if it encourages and advances, in its publications, reports and academic books (commissioned by the UNICEF and the UK Government), the dismemberment of Somalia. On the other hand, the political reality in the North (Somaliland) gives us a different perspective. Fascist thoughts and behavior are tolerated and advanced in public spheres, schools and around government circles. For instance, the history of the SNM movement was officially proposed (though later reversed) to be part of the academic curriculum in Primary and Elementary schools. A die-hard secessionist would openly glorify the atrocities committed against the people of much of Sool, Ayn, Haylan, and Sanaag regions by the SNM guerilla fighters as justified means to “freedom”, and to secure the right to secede from the bulk of Somalia. The last authoritarian regime’s resort, however, to brutal force and bad policies had had dire consequences on every Somali citizen in almost equal measure until its collapse. Inspired by a British colonial legacy, "Somaliland" declared an “independence” from itself, but the international media often ignores this fact. It also ignores how this entity emerged from the wreckage of the collapsed state of Somalia and how it superimposes its political aspirations---warped as it may---on the regions of Maakhir Territory (made up of much of Sanaag, Haylan and western Bari regions) without any ground forces to manifest for its bogus claims. Though, always and successfully, challenged, the claim to Maakhir Territory is her propaganda asset in her desire to balance and seek a legal personality status with rights and privileges as a new member of the international community. I am surprised the secessionist "government" is under no international pressure to retreat from its narrow political agenda, which might set a precedent or a "contagion" effect for this volatile, Horn of Africa, region. International Economic Integration Even though the rise of secessionist sentiments and clamor for statehood in the areas around Bur'o, Berbera, and Hargeisa, a.k.a the Triangle, is well reported, the region has not proven to be economically viable as it lags behind Puntland and the rest of Somalia in trade volume and foreign direct investment (FDI) in the private sector, according to a comparative analysis by the World Bank, collected data of the revenues between the ports of Berbera and Bosaso. With the exception of Sanaag and Sool regions, both of which are well-documented (Somalia, The Petroleum Economist, 1991) to have large deposits of oil and minerals besides marvelous greeneries in the Calmadow plateau, the secessionist-controlled areas are less endowed with such resources. "Somaliland" does not even fit Robert Gurr's 'Global View of Ethnopolitical Conflicts’, which states, "Smallness can be an asset in the division of labor in the modern world, where economies are linked through international transactions.” The secessionist "government" also parlays the benign assistance from the U.N and related aid agencies into serious political advantages. A central government that would have applied a much-needed break against the parochial excess of one-clan secession is long dead, suspended or absent. Moreover, fueling the violence and the anarchy in Mogadisho are part of "Somaliland's" best strategy to dismember Somalia. The Double Standards of the International Action and Media With the exception of al-Jazeera, other major news agencies such as Reuters and AFP rely mostly on local news sites and personal interviews with politicians in favor of Somalia's dismemberment. The al-Jazeera reporter, Mohamed Adow, was reported to have been detained after giving a brief coverage of an armed clash near Las Anod. His story was picked up, distributed and published at several international newspapers. Human rights violations, for instance, is systematically bypassed and news of a voter registrations process (with much irregularity) and presidential polls given credibility. The opinion of various not-for profits European organizations under the role of a self-styled international observers along with "Somaliland" individuals from the UK Somali Diaspora declared the "election" to be free and fair. It was business as usual--new jobs and opportunity to build up their resumes and win potential lucrative contracts from donors and the states in which they are registered. In retrospect, Shameless deals with foreign non-state actors over our national resources for a mere payment--less worth of public expectation--or much lower than the its intrinsic value--have been the "positive" news of Somalia. Unfair deals are traded on popular stock exchanges in Australia and Europe. These are examples of the business of the inevitable third-party intervention in Somalia. The support of one group at the expense of another is how the policies of divide and rule in Africa are still employed and maintained by the powers that be. I recall once reading a good article about Somalia from the Foreign Affairs magazine. It argued for the promotion of a bottom-up approach as a viable solution to Somalia's political and economic crisis. One of its interesting policy prescriptions or recommendations was that it called for either the U.N or the U.S to launch a national deposit fund that doubles almost in half for every dollar every Somali region receives as a remittance from Europe and America. The money will be used to encourage local initiatives and traditional models of governance. At the moment, all the significant financial support and blind attention that Somalia gets have been unfairly given to three entities, one of which is the Transitional Federal Government Somalia (TFG)--the main recipient, while both Puntland" and "Somaliland" have been granted financial incentives to play minor roles for the International Community such as the war against piracy, international terrorism, and the promotion of human rights and democratic principles, though they abuse the responsibility that comes with such collaboration--almost routinely, in their hostile dealings with Maakhir regions. By Mohamed A. Elmi, ahafinance@gmail.com San Diego, CA

Originally posted by Malika: ^I dont think Somalia has shortage of 'the beacon of light/s' , its just that its shaded light - only reflecting tribalist rays. It's interesting to see a people that shows no signs of difference if educated or not - waa isku fikir. Whilst ranting forgot to congratulate the graduates!..Masha'allah,well done to them. Points well-taken, Malika, but we still need to increase the number, and sustain as to rejuvenate and empower our society.

we need to change da way we live, da way we eat and the way we treat each other. U c it's not working for us always to do what we getta do to survive. I STILL SEE NO CHANGE I agree with Norfsky. I personally eat from several places and do my own physical fitness workout two times a week. More fruits, drinking more water (2 gallons a day) and eating the white meat would give u a healthy lifestyle. That is the way to go, so let us do it, my fellow Nomads.

It's amazing how Chomsky has been able to gather information from different reliable sources, synthesize them and make a coherent and convincing logic on the direction of U.S foreign policies toward the developing nations; this hegemonic exericise of power and control of resources, according to Chomsky, contributes to the economic stagnation and instability of developing nations. To him, the Pentagon is the technological and economic engine of U.S foreign policy--an assertion repeatedly confirmed by the sequence of events before our eyes. Ps. A good article you might want to read, first published at the Rolling Stone magazine.

Credit should go to the people of Sanaag and western Bari for sustaining peace and economic progress. If Gen. Ilka-jir can harness the security system by building the Naval base in Laasqoray as planned, it will be great accomplishment for him. Besides building local governments, he also needs to consolidate the police and army in Sanaag region as one strong unit with UNDP's help. I think clan militias should be disbanded. I'm sure their concerns can be changed for the better once they come to believe the integrity and transperancy of the administration. With strong security infrastructure in place, sustainable economic development ensues.

^It's going perfectly as planned. Galgalanews, though good intentioned most of the time, is unethical and less informed in its news reporting and analysis. Wow, amazing ceremony for the Maakhir students studying in India. Be the beacon of light Somalia desperately wants!!

our women must not be forced to suffocate under the oppressive blankets of oppression and misogyny Ayan Hirsi in the making! The most demeaning editorial I have ever read concering Somali problems.

A great independence day.

Thankful, do not fall for the lethal lies that AFP and the likes propogate--straight from the secessionists' mouth. The so called dominant clan in Northwestern Somalis are limited to their own territory. They are united by one common descent and are thus mobilized in self-defense to redress past grievances. They have no influence nor power over the sub-clans of Puntland, a land whose borders co-incide with its clan borders. Puntland has more resources, more territory, more population and more political influence than "Somaliland"'s Triangle. Just recall that Somalia's territorial integrity will remain intact, I guarantee you that. If there is a country that is likely to be dissolved in several states, it will be ETHIOPIA whose diverse ethnic groups have waged internal fierce wars for decades.

Bilan, he is our sujuu brother, so we can bear with his gaffes from time to time. No worries. Haatu, don't give too much credit and power than they truly deserve. After all, as the famous author, Farah put it, the Somali problem "has always been clan vs. clan, Christian Ethiopia vs. Muslim Somalis as long as anyone can remember."

Oodweyne, you know I was trying to get one of his books about Somalis' connection to the ancient Egyptians. Any info? Haatu, what do you think of the East Africa Common Market Protocol?. I was really impressed by that agreement and its implementation though it's too early to know its potential benefits to the countries under the Protocol.

Women's Rights in Islam and Somali Culture - A study. Academy for Peace and Development, commissioned by UNICEF,Hargeisa, 2002. English, 40 pages. http://www.unicef.org/somalia/SOM_WomenInIslam.pdf I found this interesting study from your link by the Academy for Peace and Development. The APD seems to have written so many resourceful books on "Somaliland". Check their website's link.

Chief Aaqil, you sound more like a SL insider, but you can sense the sentiment against the people of Maakhir for their well-known anti-secessionism stance. They are the most die-hard anti-secessionist block in the former British Somaliland--a reflection of their independent spirit, long civilization, and support for Somali unity. If you are a true Maakhiri, I suggest you don't try to be a party-crasher. I know that the Gees family happen to be a third generation Berbera residents. They have the least connection to their ancestral homeland. Cadami and Hoori and the likes pursue their own personal interest.

Allaha u naxariisto. In the West, domestic violence is the number one public health issue facing women and children. And it is basically cultural. Whereas we value and respect our women and children, or rather consult with her family for outstanding family issues, the opposite is true for a highly advanced societies whereby informal channels of dispute resolution mechanisms, hardly come across as normal. (You'll see nuclear families suing each other for less than $ 200) Besides, the ridicule, contempt and insults that women are subjected to in the social media are alarming. Examples of domestic violence: * Name-callings or put-downs * Withholdings of money or support * Isolating women and children from their friends and families * Actual or threatened physical harm

Happy July 1st to all my patriots.

Chief Aaqil, if you are not a masked entertainer or imposter intent on soiling the reputation of reer Maakhir, tell us why a failed project to dismember our country serves best the interests of reer Sanaag? Btw, where did you get the "sultan of Somaliland" quote? Point us to the sources, if you don't mind?

On the Laas Qoray/Sanaag Coastline

^well said Thankful. You raised great points except your use of the term "disputed territory" Technically a territory is disputed when a recognized government forcefully controls or occupies a territory against the wishes of its inhabitants. This term has been misused and applied to much of Sanaa g region without a reliable evidence to back up the claims. Why would NATO hold a private crucial meeting with the elders along with governor of Sanaag on our coast? The fact is that NATO acknowledges another authority in the region and thus its hopes that it strikes a good relationship with that admin and authority as to work together and collectively confront an international security challenge are successfully accomplished.

Somalia: U.S. Urged to Cut Lifeline to Struggling TFG By Kevin J. Kelly June 29, 2010 Influential figures in the US Congress who have supported the TFG are meanwhile expressing dismay over reports that it has recruited thousands of child soldiers. The lawmakers note that the United States may in effect be supporting this practice through the assistance it has provided to the TFG's military units. Link

Btw, read the UNISOM I & II missions in Somalia. Awad Ahmed Ashara, current MP of Somalia, was the politician from the main clan of Sanaag region, who was appointed to be the legitimate representative of the people, contrary to the claims that the secessionists often used to make to hoodwink the international community.