Koora and Xudeedi, ha u bixina raggan.

That is a wrong assumption of you. Let's not do the Red Herring. The Economist has covered an important issue which is hardly talked about because of its sensitivity. Doesn't al-Shabaab daily persecute people based on trumped up charges that they are Christians or gaal for political reasons? I'm not here to vouch for the content of the article but what I can personally verify is the level of contempt and hatred we show towards religious and ethnic minorities.

Originally posted by Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar: Kutiri kuteen. Can't believe the Economist, a reputed newsmagazine as one can get, writes crap like this and then audaciously presents it as facts. The article portrays as a though Soomaali "Christians" are a significant minority that is persecuted daily, which is a pure bogus, especially this quoted part: "Every month several Somalis are killed for being Christian." MMA, saxib, you misunderstood the quoted part. Ma ilowdey sheekada murtadka ee dadka siyaasada al-shabaab kaga soo horjeedo lagu laayo. "Every month several Somalis are killed for being Christian. Sometimes that is just a label that the jihadists stick on people they suspect of working for Ethiopian intelligence." MMA, meelaan dowlad jirin haka sugin dulqaad la tuso dadka minoritiga ama xag diimeed ama xag jinsi.

WHERE is the hardest place in the world to be a Christian citizen? North Korea, perhaps? Saudi Arabia? Try Somalia. There are thought to be no more than a thousand Christians in a resident population of 8m people, with perhaps a few thousand more in the diaspora. The Islamist Shabab militia, which controls most of southern Somalia, is dedicated to hunting them down. Christian men attend mosques on Fridays, so as not to arouse suspicion. Bibles are kept hidden. There are no public meetings, let alone a church. Catholic churches and cemeteries have been destroyed. The last nuns in the smashed capital, Mogadishu, were chased out in 2007. The year before, an elderly nun working in a hospital there was murdered. The only Christian believers left are local Somalis. Catching and killing them is useful propaganda for the Shabab, not least for indoctrinating its young fighters and suicide-bombers in the belief that America, Britain, Italy, the Vatican, along with Ethiopia and Kenya, are all “crusaders” trying to convert Somalis to Christianity. The UN lurks nefariously behind. Israel, of course, is also doing its bit to undermine Islam. The shaky transitional government led by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, whose writ runs weakly across the territory the Shabab does not yet run, is unlikely to speak up for any of its citizens caught with a bible. Though professing moderation, he promotes a version of sharia law whereby every citizen of Somalia is born a Muslim and anyone who converts to another religion is guilty of apostasy, which is punishable by death. Every month several Somalis are killed for being Christian. Sometimes that is just a label that the jihadists stick on people they suspect of working for Ethiopian intelligence. But many are simple believers. According to Somali sources and Christian groups monitoring Somalia from abroad, at least 13 members of underground churches have been killed in the past few months. Most were Mennonites, evangelised by missionaries on the Juba river in southern Somalia. They include a 46-year-old woman shot dead near the town of Jilib after a Swahili-language bible was found in her shack; a 69-year-old man killed near a port south of Mogadishu after Shabab fighters found 25 Somali bibles in a bag he was carrying; and two boys, aged 11 and 12, who were beheaded by the Shabab after their father refused to divulge information about an underground church. Hundreds of Somalis may have been killed for being Christian since the Shabab arose in 2005. Such atrocities—and reports that the Koran has been read over the victims even at the point of their beheading—are upsetting evangelical Christians in America. Mr Ahmed’s government sorely needs money to shore itself up. But if he fails even to hint that Christians should be tolerated, he may find America’s Congress increasingly loth to help bail him out. Source: The Economist October 25, 2009

Originally posted by Jafe101: @ The Greatest unrecognized country in the world!!!

Walee dadka masaakiinta ee masiibada loo abuurey dad baddan bay danta ugu jirtaa, hadey noqoto hay'adaha cuntada bixiya, kuwa madaxda isku sheega ah oo kala goosha wadamada Arabta iyo kuwa deriska with their begging bowl, kuwa nabad-duminta/ilaalinta, iyo kuwa diinta shaarka gashan. Allow dadka masaakiinta u gargaar.

Originally posted by Xudeedi: As Somali’s are significant in the entire East African region, it’s diminutive what we put in paper on the achievements of such talented individuals. Ali Aadan Lord has contributed appreciably in engaging Somali’s in Kenyan affairs of state. His vision and political outlook has paved the way for folks like General Mohamuud and other key players. Other individuals who their visions were catalysts in engaging Somali’s to Kenyan politics are Nuur Sujuu who held the 4th most powerful position in Kenya (Court Justices). [/QB] Xudeedi, I think it is the third most powerful position, though I know little of Kenya's power structure. Jamaal, lixdameeyadii Somalida Kenya waxay aad u rabeen iney Somalia ku darsamaan. Laakinse hadda waxaad moodaa inay aad ugu jiraan siyaasada dalka Kenya. Do you think Somalis in Kenya are better off there? Koley waa dad naga cilmi baddan. Garaad, Aaden Lord iyo wiilkiisa Alla Yarxama aad baa carrigaas looga yaqaan. I e-mailed Liibaan, the author of this article who is based in Nairobi and he told me that more of this great man will come with historic pictures.

To put it in a brief summary of this long Somali article, published by LaasqorayNet, Ali Adan Lord was a Somali, born and raised in Nairobi in 1915. As his last name suggests, he came to acquire, bequethed in a sense, a huge land in the Eastleight section of Nairobi, including the Air Force base area, as a result of his father's legacy. And he owned many Real Estate properties. Ali Aden Lord joined the Mau Mau resistance later and became a key figure in its leadership. He was said to have been a close friend of Jomo Kenyata during the struggle to Political Independence. Ali Adan Lord became the first Somali MP and later the Interior Minister of Kenya, after which he did so many things for the Somali community. As an Interior Minister, Mr. Lord included along with Jomo Kenyatta the state delegation that went to Mogadishu during President Sharmaake's term. In honor of his achievement, President Sharmarke named a new road after his name in Mogadishu. May 09, 1961 Lord, in the middle. Milicsi Taariikheed: Kumuu ahaa Xildhibaan Cali Axmed Loodh

Originally posted by Jibreel: [QB Pray to Allah and ask him to guide you regarding the issue. Getting married is important and though finding a suitable person in this day and age might be a struggle,still,with the right intension,prayer and patience will get you exactly where you wanted to be and even better. Hope for the best and do not measure yourself with your friends and even family members.Your time will come. [/QB] Excellent advice, Jibriil.

A relevant article from the wsj.com. A February U.N. internal report, written by U.N. officials and approved by several of its agencies, including the WFP, said the food-distribution system in Somalia posed "considerable risk to the reputation and effectiveness of the organization," according to a copy reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The WFP declined to comment on the report. The WFP says its operation in Somalia, one of the agency's largest, reaches 3.5 million people. Officials from the U.N., African Union and Somali government say they are increasingly concerned about the dependability of some of the contractors used by the WFP, which handed out $35 million in food-aid distribution contracts in Somalia last year. It now uses 29 contractors. The U.K. says it is considering withdrawing financial support for the Somalia program because of concerns about food distribution; the U.S. has also threatened to do so, according to a U.N. official close to the situation and a Western diplomat with knowledge of the donors' concerns. British officials said they are waiting for the outcome of the WFP's investigation before deciding whether to suspend funding.USAID, the U.S. agency that gives international humanitarian assistance, is the biggest provider of funding to the WFP's Somalia program. A U.S. official said the government "has been reviewing our policies and procedures for the provision of humanitarian assistance in Somalia," including ensuring that the donations comply with U.S. antiterrorism laws. The U.S. has given more than $124 million in food aid for Somalia so far in the 2009 fiscal year, according to the U.S. official

The country is divided into three regions: the self-declared republic of Somaliland in the northwest; the autonomous Puntland region in the northeast; and the south-central part of the country, housing most of the IDPs. It's time the IDPs in the two Northern admins be given more attention.

Originally posted by J11: NASSIR, waxaa la yiri: 'Nin daad qaadey xumbo cuskey . Oodweyne cant, for his life, find anything to argue about even when he's being slowly (but sweetly) consumed by the hyena that is Riyaale. He will keep telling us, 'no no it's OK, I don't feel a thing, Riyaale's killing us softly' Now all we are doing is to show some concern for his plight and have only told him of the NS domination he's buckling under and what do we get in return? A desperate man's lament. So, let him be. Hadhoow buu oran doonaa wallee nimanyahow waad iga saxsaneydeen. [/QB] Lool Jamaal. You sum it all up. Qudhac and Africa, give it up. Xudeedi. Walee Riyaaale waa nin belo ah.

Originally posted by Nisar: Thanks for the pics Cowke! Very nice. Do you know which port/s they are taken in? Where did you get them from by the way? Pics were taken from Boosaaso Port.

Dear, Nisar Here you will find FAQs and some of the documents. http://www.laasqorayport.org/somali/inner.asp?cat=faqs

Dear Oodweyne, in light of our differences, I have no choice but to discredit the empty rhetoric that you present herein as facts. I have been kind enough to clarify the issue and expand our scope of argument as it pertains to Erigavo. The thread's topic was at first the secessioist's unbridled fear and suspicion over Mr. Riyaale, when Xudeedi gave a brief summary of that Somali article article whose main theme centers on the grand designs of Mr. Riyaale and his consolidation of power in the secessionists' clan enclave, as it pertains to his unproportional selection of the so called Electoral Commision (5 of the 8 new members which are believed to be biased in favor of his re-selection). Then you went to as far as to psychologically analyze that Xudeedi might be harboring "A tribal vengeance" as a result of the "Ownership and admnistration" of the city of Erigavo as though his clan had been subjugated and reduced to purveyors of the city's lifeline. if this is not a warped judgement from a sick heart how else for I to break it down leaves me perplexed. Because of your sheer ignorance on this city, I went the extra mile in offering a free lecture of the long, tangled history that created the stand off between Makhir's celebrated success in maintaining their political independence of the attempt to retrieve the colonial framework of British Somaliland. Erigavo as a District can not be isolated from the rest of Sanaag because of geographic, historical and political dimensions and the preeminent power and prestige the Sultanate held once in the region, for historically Erigavo and Las Khorey formed part of the Districts of former British Somaliland. Even so, it was explained with concrete evidence how that city is run to this day and how it was founded by the Sultanate in its apogee, an administration that was recognized by the British Empire. Despite the evidence of the Police and the Military under a Makhiri-born administrators, not to mention, its the head of its local government, you are still blind and obstinate in your silly assertion that the ownership and civil administration of Erigavo was established by the outcome of the post-1991 Somalia's tribal wars. If this is still the case, why is that ""Somaliland" project is absent in the other 4 districts of the region? The fact that they humiliated your Warlord Minister and defeated his army would have been sufficient to demote the likes of Muse Ismail Dalaf from their positions. You would have told these gallant individuals in Erigavo that they did not deserve to be part of Erigavo Civil Administration since the Makhiris, (being the vanguards of PL) have shown a total rejection of "our project". Contrary to your beliefs, Makhiris run Erigavo based on the peace treaty provided and with total confidence to run the rest of their exclusive Districts, the violation of which would parry a blow, as it has been the case. Don't you see how vague and intellectually weak this argument of the secessionist platform has been. What makes western Erigavo important than the rest of Sanaag, which falls under Puntland's admin? You see my friend your sheer ignorance and prejudices are so evident that you don't even realize how contradictory the secessionist argument is without flooding the whole thread with verbiage and a lopsided analogy.

Originally posted by J11: How's the project going anyway? I think Nassir and Xuddeedi among others are privy to this matter. Welcome Nisar. Welcome back mi'lady of Maakhir Xudeedi and Koora definately have more info than I.

Cawke thanks for the pics.

- Why are people interested or not to support the Jetty Project? - How has support been generated and mobilised? - Nisar, wlc to SOL. I am as well not very privy to the subject but I'll try my best to answer your questionaire. I have attended a number of communal meetings and fund raising events. The main reason people, Somalis of Sanaag and Sool region, are interested in the completion of this project is to first revive this ancient commercial city of Laasqoray (Las Koray or Laas Qorey) by building this port. HR has commissioned a number of agencies that conducted surveys among the businesses currently based in the region and Boosaaso and they concluded that a significant number of the respondents are in favor of this project. The agency has as well mobilized the community both inside and the Diaspora and the enthusiasm and support shown for the project have been unprecedented. This is because there is a critical need of infrastracture for the vast regions of Sanaag and Sool, and thus reverse the socio-economic decline of its inhabitants, the bulk of which have also moved to Bosaaso, in consequence. The agency also wants to form a partnership not with private ownership interests but with the public, so that the governance structure that has already bee set up remains neutral and beneficial to the Isolated inhabitants, most of whom are pastoralists. With the beginning of the global financial meltdown and the rise of Piracy in Puntland, donors have been reluctant to honor their promises but they remain steadfast to continue their assistance should the storms mentioned subside. How does generation or age and gender influence peoples’s interest or involvement in the Project? - Every age has contributed. The old generation and Women(Somalia's silent leaders) have been the most enthusiastic and the most supportive. How do the local contexts in Somalia and in the diaspora influence people’s involvement and support of the Project? As I said the local support or its direct involvement is huge but there are external and internal obstacles--a common feature of Africa's underdevelopment in this sector. The Laasqoray Jetty project nevertheless will commence. It has had a huge impact on almost every region of Somalia. Ps. There are documents available online if you are interested.

Why Nasir designs as a publisher, JB? Cost: Your country..lol

Two major Generals of the army and the police led the coup. I agree it was initially welcomed inside and a $ millions of aid money injected from outside, but it turned out that corruption, nepotism, dictatorship, and ethnic-cleansing took its biggest toll, the corralary of which has been a prolonged anarchy and further division and ethnic-cleansing. It was a cursed legacy on the history of Somalia.

Thanks Xudeedi for posting this old book review of mine. The "Corpse of Bashir" poem by Haji Adan Afqaloc is a historic one. The level of contempt and disrespect with which his body was held by the colonial admin, after they killed him, will never be forgotten. The peom indeed preserves that historic moment.

Sultaan, the Truth is reer Makhir are united in their resolve to remain outside SL's political arrangement and they thus form majority in this vast region of Sanaag including the contested Erigavo district, but to call their territory insignifcant shows your deep animosity towards a group that your clan administration feels powerless to win over for its secessionist project. I remember your pledge to renounce all manner of support to the failed project right after the nurtured dictator sacked the "Somaliland" Warlord Minister from Burco and the flurry of articles that ensued for the historic humiliation it engendered. Accusations that Mr. Riyaale has ulterior motives for your ilk and that he wish to evaporate your mythical victory over your perceived enemy surfaced like a magma set free from its ancient rocky prison.

Sultaan and Oodweyne, It is your ilk-constituency that repeatedly wish to flex their artificial muscles as though they are fighting their biggest enemy on earth---despite external forces trying to exploit this innate weakness of yours. And you persist on going on the path of division and harm, though we chose not to encroach on Northwesterners' clan sphere. And unlike the daily harmless threats from Hargeisa, we participate(d) on reconciling their internal differences. It is evident that we view Northwesterners not as our biggest adversary that are arrayed against our political destiny but as brothers whom we share a common fate as citizens of Somalia. And from historical perspective, This radius piece of your territory around Hargeisa, Berbera and Bur'o triangle has formed a little margin of Somalia's GDP, other than being a straining burden and liability on the Nation. The only political significance it has is the Berbera Port and that is about it. It was the leading factor that led Britain to sign treaties with Coastal Clans on the Gulf of Aden to forestall any efforts from those ambitious states that had been signatory to the Berlin Treaty to establish their sphere of influence on this part of Somalia. It was Churchill who recommended before the Upper House, right after his visit, that the region be altogether abandoned. His proposal failed and the region had lingered in its dire status of underdevelopment until independence. So, my dear ambitious neighbours, the Somaliland project is nothing but a bargaining chip on the future of Somalia, something the Makhiris have been working on for the last 18 years along with their PL and southern brethrens. However, what is amazing is that you wish to reap the fruits of unearned labour, while seeking political legitimacy from Sool and Sanaag constituency. Isn't it that the worst political strategy a self-interested group to have ever conceived? Well, good luck with that hopeless endeavor, and pray to, her Majesty, the gracious Queen-Empress, her return " for which act of friendship and good-will a suitable reward will be given by the British Government."

Very sad indeed. The tragedies of WOT!

"If anyone from puntland leaves islam, believe me son they don't go worship jesus, they become atheists. Christianity is simply for the ppl of hargeisa," Malika, do you have beef with Cawke lol? Yours is a strawman's argument because the above quote is not Cawke's main position. Some of his assumptions and prejudices for those he perceives as his political rivals are too apparent for all to see, but he is simply painting the double standard of "Somaliland" administration. The Somaliland constitution for instance stipulates a candidate for a public office should be a Muslim, yet Edna has held important ministerial posts. "Somalilanders" may argue against her professed faith, that she reverted to Islam but the whole issue surrounding her faith is , nevertheless, shrouded with secrecy.