Mooge, but we need migrants in Puntland or else how will Puntland develop if it's a closed shop not open to new customers? Besides I strongly disagree with the so called patriotic puntlander thinking his doing a public service by smuggling these people to yemen. These people should be welcomed and need to assimilate into Puntland society and not be seen as outcasts or lowlives.

Mooge, I agree they could've done better and shown the developments occurring.

This is a nice historical documentary of Puntland's Capital Garowe. It gives a detailed account of how far garowe has come since 1998 in all societal aspects. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB4cZoCW7iE

I was quite shocked by what this guy had to say. He was caught conducting in human trafficking and his response is disgusting!!! He thinks he is helping Puntland by cleaning up the ethiopian oromos who he considers undesirable migrants. He thinks he is an actual hero for doing this task because he is saving Bossaso from becoming diluted by migrants. The shocking video is below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOaCzEMISl4 As a Puntlander I condemn this man outright racism, Bosaso wouldn't be where it is today if it wasn't for migrants and that's a fact. I also watched this interesting documentary on al jazeera regarding ethiopian migrants in puntland and sure it is overwhelming for Puntland to cope with such migration but these migrants also provide a source of labor that is required for the city to be productive. Without they're labor who would do the manual tasks these people do? noone. The aljazeera documentary piece is here and it was a good watch

The below sites have up to date pictures from Bosaso recently. If you guys have any to add, please update the thread. I am not sure if it is just me or has the development of Bossaso been slow these couple of years. It's definitely no way near the development speed of Mogadishu. Seems to me the boss town has been having a quiet one these few years. It really needs to speed up development and keep up with the rest of the major cities of Somalia. http://alltusaale.com/?p=3100 http://doolow24.com/?p=10200 http://www.ishapuntland.com/?p=10800 http://www.codkasoomaalida.com/?p=28714

Axmed, regarding the las anod situation, it remains Puntland's choice not to spill it's own citizen blood, which is a wise decision. By the way, please we don't need side-tracking on other regional issues like somaliland, this is about Puntland's army, try and keep to topic and stop attempting to take the topic to 100 other different directions.

Puntland has come a long way in terms of military. The days of these are long gone.

Hi All, Long time no see. I am back on SOL. Its SOL infamous Doctor. I am back and defending Puntland. I haven't been lately catching up on Somali news because I have been on a vacation of the internet. But I caught up with these images of Puntland Army at Galgala. It's quite amazing. Please remember Puntland also has four F350S, old soviet weapons like tanks and bms in garowe and galkayo plus it's amazing airforce the only air power in somalia with armed helicopters and planes. Lets be honest and give credit where credit is due. Puntland has come a long way and is continuing to develop even though development in particularly diaspora investment has been very slow since Abdiweli has come to power.

Totally shocking news, ina illahi wa ina illahi rajacuun. Wallahi when I read this, I was absolutely stunned, never saw this coming at all. This is clear proof that mogadishu isn't ready to be a federal govt, this is clear proof that we can't expect to have a govt there, we tried 20 years and it hasn't worked, we shouldnt waste another 20 years there. It's time to move the capital and save the somali people who want to be saved and let the mogadishu zone become like darfur an isolated yet troubled region affecting only itself and not the the nation. I am big fan of moving the capital, we can't force a govt down the throats of a people who simply don't want it and we shouldn't hold hostage the nation to people who do want a govt. I believe it's the best solution in the long run for all people.

My father always use to say Hargeisa folks are good for civil administration work not leadership, he said they use to fill the area known as a casa populare in mogadishu and used to clock in 9 and finish 5. He said that's usually the best for them. But he also said they are the most educated among somaliland so there really isn't anything beyond them in somaliland.

Check out the inside of the mall here

My god this mall looks wicked. This is got to be the best mall in the nation. What is happening over there in Hargeisa? I am seeing all these glass towers from government ministries to business offices and now malls. I think Hargeisa is by far got the best modern architecture in Somalia, runti wa wax lagu dayan karo. We really need to lift up our game in Puntland and stop these little buildings or the same old boring style architecture. We need to invest PROPERLY or go home and don't bother. We need to bring something that can match the modern styles in the nation.

Before I start to investigate the topic at hand, let me say I know alot of people will find the title of this topic a bit provocative but I urge those who do please understand why I say that because I have been reading into Somali politics a fair bit lately especially from the 1960's till now and have found a consistent power at hand that hasn't changed at all. For example, In the 1960s the SYL party was formed by the Puntland folks, sure they're may have been all somalis clan in it as members but the formation of the party, its founder, its charter and the core essence of it was all done by a Puntlander by the name of Yasin Sharmarke. The other clans appear to be in it so the party got a national look only. Heck I even think it's nominated leader Abdillahi Issa was simply chosen to enhance the party to look like a national one with Puntland strings working in the background. If you go and study the revolution era also you will find the same consistent pattern. For example when Siyad came he came during a time of turmoil among Puntlanders when Sharmarke Senior was assasinated in Las anod. Thru that chaos he managed to take the leadership by FORCE not through vote or even his tribal background. After close observations of the revolution era I noticed the Puntlanders then built the first Rebel group which all of a sudden all Somalis followed on with and which led to the destruction of the state. Then came Aideed who again a trible who isn't considered 'soo jireen' used that vaccum of power and chaos among the traditional rulers and manipulated it for his own well being and as a way to remain in power. That's why he used threw the SAHAL boogeyman card among the HAG to keep them focussed on something else and at the same time united. It appears he was trying his best to get rid of any remnants of soo jireenka because he allied with non soo jireen clans among SAHAL like the gedo and even the big foot clan and the SNM in the north. Basically trying to run away from the traditional rulers and minimizing them as much as possible. During this era from 1991 too 2000 we saw anarchy, chaos, rape, looting, and attempts to reconcilation all collapse due mainly to the fact the traditional power base clans like Puntland were never supportive of it. Then came abdiqasim who was the first govt attempted and recognized as a transitional govt even though Puntlanders boycotted his GOVT, we saw nothing of tangible effects come from his rule that we can thank for today except 4.5. Then came Abdillahi yusuf the man who set the train we are on now, in 98 he declared Puntland a federal entity and declared federalism for Somalia with absolutely no backing from the international community, it was a policy similar to the somalilanders secession in the wilderness at that time. But in a short 4 year period 1998-2002 federalism was accepted at Embagathi Kenya in the famous 2002 conference as Somali political framework. Abdillahi yusuf then was elected as president and he kick started the federal roadmap that we were on since 2004 till 2012. Basically in this period of transition, a long transition we we were in the making to become a federal nation, we developed a federal constitution, ended the transition, and recently regional govts are forming around the nation. The garowe 1 and 2 conferences where this current government was built for the first time became officially recognized as Somali govtin 2012. I saw from my studies when-ever a govt was tried to be formed without Puntlander support, it never came to being and quickly disappeared but with Abdillahi Yusuf Federal GOVT, It's still here going hard. In all honesty from my investigation I have found all the regional governments in Somalia need Puntland approval or their existence becomes non-existance. For example Jubaland would never of existed if Puntland didn't accept it. South West region will never be a 6 state solution because it goes against Puntland policy for 3 states there. Mogadishu govt would never have been recognized if it wasn't build in Garowe 1 and 2 and not using the constitution developed in Garowe, if they did try to follow their own way like they have done in the past we would've have seen chaos and no govt all over again for mogadishu and the international community pull out immediately. I noticed also how the central regions cannot be built without caalin, qaybdiid, ximan iyo xeeb, geedi, baadiyow and all the HAGS basically always coming to garowe and seeking advice and assistance and APPROVAL or why else would they keep coming, they know the truth nothing will happen in Somalia without Puntlanders, they tried doing things without Puntlanders since 91 and they know the end result of such a policy which is no GOVT. Another interesting observation I made also was the fact how Puntland refusal of Khatumo basically means they can't go beyond conference mode for so many years now, it's one conference after another, international community refusing them, etc. I think this proves again the fact Puntland decides the fate of Somalis for good or for bad. Another interesting observation is Somaliland who is limited to begging for recognition, begging for 20 years with no end result insight. They tried to ally with HAG with no result, they tried to ally with SSC folks yet no results, they even tried to bring some no named sultan from gedo to hargeisa to recognize them but always ending with the same result no recognition. This proves to me that Puntland refusing Somaliland recognition is why no international community will ever recognize them because they see Somaliland as under Puntland or else they would've of recognized them a longgggggg time ago, they dont want to make the Puntlanders angry basically. So I really think it is in Somaliland interest to do what the HAGS in hamar did and get approval from Garowe, its a fact of life if you want a solution, no point chasing sool, sultan of gedo, district councils in the west, its jug jug halkada jog, its time wasting and denying reality. I really do believe after my close investigations and Faysal Ali Waraabe video on Puntland, he is right Puntland is a final say on Somali people and is responsible for the mess Somalia is in. I don't know but all I've seen from Somali politics history and today is, if you want to do something in Somalia, you need to go garowe no matter what clan you are or else you will never succeed in the nation and just remain in the wilderness like khatumo-somaliland or fighting like shabab.

This is an excellent documentary on the Historical Gardafu region of Puntland. The Minister of Information is travelling around the state, meeting locals and finding out their concerns. Some of the places they reached lack of infrastructure is shocking but it shows you the will of this new government to reach out to the 'remotest' parts of Puntland. If their is will, their is a way, I am very proud of the 'off the road' initiative. Here Here - It is well overdue.

Isbamuuto, by the way you been saying Puntland is finished since 98, it's still here ironically

This is a staged protest by locals and politically influenced, you can tell how small the crowd is. It's called revenge tactics by garowe locals who want to destabilize the government in revenge of what happened to farole. They have nothing to complain about because in all honesty they are the capital city, I even think the presidential seat shouldn't go to anyone hosting the capital, I consider it double dipping. Puntland armed forces are being paid on time at the end of month, this might be done electronically in the future through the hawala system.

They're is an interesting DNA study done by a genetic journal that suggests Somalis are half way between african and arabs and have a substantial amount of non african ancestory. http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/fetchSingleRepresentation.action?uri=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1004393.s017

Somalia light map across it's major city. Interesting how Mogadishu shrank from the 90s to now. I guess it has alot to do with the population shift and fleeing locals. Hargeisa light map grew over the year but the strange thing is how Bosaso and Hargeisa lighting was the same size in the 90s and I thought Hargeisa was way larger back then. Garowe though is the super-star, it's grown the most. Studying Somalia’s War Economy from Outer Space September 11, 2013 | 8:21am *This blog is a part of a collaborative series in partnership with Economists for Peace & Security and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The blog was written by Anja Shortland, Reader in Political Economy at King's College, London When we look at images of civil war such as the recent images from Syria, our gut response is that such destruction and suffering cannot and should not last. Surely war is a “means to an end”—and once that end is reached, civil society and the economy will rise from the ashes? Not necessarily so, says the literature on war economies: war can be “economics by other means”. We test this proposition by using satellite images to reconstruct the unwritten economic history of the Somali civil war. War can be seen as a rational economic activity. Warlords and insurgent movements use violence to extract rents: through looting and extortion or by charging taxes and from traders and producers in their territories. International aid can be a significant revenue source for such "violence entrepreneurs": it can be embezzled, diverted at roadblocks or directed to allied populations rather than the vulnerable and displaced. A “combat economy,” thus creates an elite of warlords, criminals and fighters with a direct interest in the continuation of war. Do war economies really exist, or are these just isolated snapshots and impressions of jaded aid workers and frustrated peace campaigners? Who gains from civil wars? Do we prolong conflict by sending humanitarian aid into war zones? Can we even conduct an objective test of the war economy hypotheses? The problem is compounded by the fact that data collection usually ceases in the first weeks of war. In a new multi-disciplinary paper published in the Journal of Peace Research we overcome the problems of terrestrial data collection by using satellite images to reconstruct the economic history of the Somali civil war. US weather satellites take images of the earth every evening, and have collated the information as annual images of "stable nightlights" since 1993. We can thus observe changes in electrical light output -- which happens to be a very good proxy for disposable income in Somalia. Most electricity generation is private and small-scale, using Diesel generators. Commercial generators offer pay-per-bulb electricity contracts to households in up-and-coming neighborhoods. Indeed, we find that light output in Somalia is highly sensitive to imported food prices and local harvests, showing that at the margin people choose between lights and food. The night-time images of Somalia tell interesting stories. First of all, Somalia is very, very dark at night. Only 15 urban centers were regularly visible in the period 1993–2009: coastal and pastoral populations simply did not develop well-lit public spaces and night-time economic activity. Second, major cities sometimes disappeared from the images altogether, while refugee camps outside them appeared, grew and shrank again. Third, light output collapsed in the anarchic south of Somalia but grew in the north. Finally, developments in the well-lit city centers do not correlate well with developments at the margins of the city. Images of Somaliland—a self-declared autonomous Somali republic bordering Ethiopia—and especially its principal city, Hargeisa, as well as of Puntland—an autonomous region in the north of Somalia whose capital city, Garowe, was not visible in satellite images until 1997—clearly document the economic recovery in the more stable regions of Somalia. In contrast, the depressing image of Mogadishu shows a profound economic collapse and the flight of the middle classes from the central areas to dimly-lit makeshift camps in the scrubland of the Afgooye Corridor. So how is conflict intensity related to light output? We used a detailed dataset of geo-coded conflict events in Somalia, counted annual conflict events for each city and correlated this data with light output. We looked separately at total light output, light intensity in the brightest area of each city and the total lit area. The bright pixels in the center of the images are our indicator for the fortunes of the elite who own businesses and residential properties in the city centers. The poor live on the margins of Somali cities—so if the lit area of the city expands it means that poorer areas gain access to electrical power. We found that urban elites are resilient to both local conflict and to violence elsewhere in the country. If anything, elites in peaceful cities benefit from conflict in other areas, which redirects diaspora investment to them. High intensity conflict in Mogadishu boosts total light output in cities hosting World Food Programme centers, as local economies respond positively to the influx of refugees, aid deliveries and the needs of aid providers. Only the poor unambiguously suffer during conflict: both local and remote conflicts significantly reduce light output from the cities’ margins. So what did we learn about Somalia’s war economy? To begin with, Somalia’s urban poor would reap a substantial peace dividend from stable governance in Somalia. However, for the economic (and political) elite there would have been no economic incentive to negotiate an end to the conflict. Instead, elites in cities with a significant aid infrastructure would have gained from torpedoing peace settlements in southern Somalia. The international community should consider these incentives in its state building efforts in Somalia and elsewhere. "Power-sharing" agreements between elites need significant long-term fiscal transfers to those whose fortunes otherwise depend on the continuation of war. We need to ensure that humanitarian aid does not undermine incentives for peacemaking. And democratization could be the foundation for long-term peace: it is the poor majority who reap the largest peace dividends and will demand peace at the ballot box.

Galbeedi I used to think Miskin was a bit smarter then that since he is a moderator but that isn't the case always. How can he talk about unity with other clans the D M folks killed each other not to long ago in the 2000s over who will lead 6 state region which sahal was prepared to accept at the time untill we saw it will just cause more problems. This miskin and anti federalist in general have this notion they will agree on a government with distant clans like HAG and SAHAL when they can't even agree among themselves in the D & M. Horta soo ma aha inay kow D & M iyo dadka gobolladas degan 3 gobol ku heeshiyan mamulkisa iyo jagoyinkisa and after a time period ay uu gudban somalida inteeda kale and say 'listen anagu waan heeshinay markan we will try to agree with you'. That makes much more logical sense then saying 'hey I cant agree with the M of the D but I'll try to work something out with you HAGS and SAHAL folks' Who will buy this nonsense? Charity starts at home adeer, start with yourselves and neighbour and then when you find peace there then come and see the rest of somalis. I don't even think they will agree on how to share power in the 3 state region but these guys think they will agree to share power with PL/SL/JL, centralism is code work for forwdo, wa iska waqti lumis iyo dad iska doonayo in fowdada layska dhex jiro

Warheedhe Miskin macruuf, Adigo la heeshin karin The M from D & M maxaa ku geeye sahal iyo hag? ma macqul ba inaad hag iyo sahal la heeshisid adigo la heeshin karin kan ku dhow? war dalku waqti lumiska ka daa, isu taga taager, xal kale ma jiree

Somalis tried a 6 state solution in the 2000's era with shatigaduud but the RRA killed themselves over it, do you suggest we repeat it? in politics opportunities come once, if u lose it, it wont come again. Today a 3 state solution is being discussed and if they fail to grab it like they did with the 6 state solution in the 2000 era we could be discussing a 2 state solution of bay and bakool with lower shabelle on the table for negiotations, this could even lead to a 1 state solution in bay since bakool there are jubalanders who live there and can cause a mayhem about sacrificing their land to the RRA folks. I would suggest the RRA folks dont repeat the bad politics of yesteryear and lose more land, once you lose land, getting it back is going to be difficult, dont be reduced to BAY because the path you guys are taking now it can only lead to that because your allowing for confusion and an environment of chaos to continue which will mean other chaos factors and other tribes will start annexing their own parts of the 3 state solution and the only loser will be you at the end when it gets out of hand and the RRA are told a 3 state solution is not feasible any longer because to many clans warring over it, your going to a 1 state solution of BAY

Maskin Macruf, Dalku waa qabiil ama iska indhatir ama shaati soo xiro. Dalku manta uma bahno shaatiyo la soo xirto, shaatiyo la soo xiranayo daawo uma noqonayo khilaafka qabiil uu dhexayo somalia. U really think this shabab stuff is true? you really think this secessionist stuff is true? you really think this centralist hal meel dalka ka hukun is true? they are all just shaatis for a clan agenda, at least federalism says 'rather then wearing' so many different shaatis why don't we just talk at tribe level, after-all thats what the civil war was about, thats what is forcing us to seek masks and ever changing masks depending on geo politics and wear we can funding to support our mask nonsense. I love when I hear people say 'isu tag' ma rabno, 'qabil ma rabno', wax ka qabyalad badan ma jiro, today their mask flavor is centralism but once they lose support for it on the ground, they will find some other mask to disguise their tribalism and then this person will come to a table and expect a resolution but will only get more clans wear more masks becaue they know what your doing and this will lead to more failed conferences like we always had. War dalka waxay uu bahan tahay wixi jira oo xaqiiqda la tabto, marki federal la yiri, xaqiiqdi ayaa la tabtay, somali dhan kalsoonida ayaa uu soo noqday because wixi jira bala tabtay and calamka so that somalis are now being SERIOUS and show them confidence also. They know when we wear stupid masks sxb, their not stupid and they won't come near us when we do CAUSE they know the outcome will be just failure and people in ever more denial. Qabil ba loo burburay, cid qaran rabto ma jirto marku qabilkisa ka maqan yahay marka federal solution is the only way to ensure each major tribe has a regional govt and a say while not in power at a federal level without resorting to wearing stupid masks like we always did since the 60s till today and cause destabilization techniques like rebel groups, clan parties, shabab, secession, etc all mere destabiliation techniques to conceal the tribal agenda. Maskin it is a shame I thought you were smarter then that but you obviously aren't, if your still anti federalism, your simply anti somali and anti peace as far as I am concerned because you prefer us to remain in this cycle of civil war and allow for an environment wear every clan will mear masks to destabilize the govt whenever they find themselves out of a position at a federal level with some nonsense mask they find as their vehicle.

I couldn't agree more, Somalis always try to foot the blame to other clans for their own local failures. HAGS blame pretty much anything and everything besides themselves. Why will reconcilation with PL/JL solve an issue that is local to mogadishu? It makes no sense at all, how is it, mogadishu which is 500 kilomters away from Kismayo and 1000 Kilometers away from Garowe reconcilation make it all of a sudden better? PL didn't have any reconcilation with HAG but it moved forward, PL progress isn't dependent on reconcilation with other clans that are far away from us, it is our duty to serve our people and make them healty, educated, and prospering for the future. If you failed to do that with the millions displaced in mogadishu, then you should blame yourself not everyone but you. I totally agree with what is said here 'don't blame the lack of reconcilation between somalis for your lack of progress'. I was even told today it is dangerous doing business in mogadishu today, don't be fooled by these one or two buildings, there is a closed network of business-men who will kill anyone they see as a threat to their market, they even killed somali businessmen as far as away in nairobi who posing a threat. If you don't have contacts or kafil in hamar you cant even live there let alone trade, this is unheard of in Puntland, where anyone can head to minister of business and register and pay a small fee and be free to trade in the state without protection of any sort required. Our business men don't need armed escorts in their own town, non locals don't need armed escorts, the people are just vastly different in PL compared to Mogadishu and I put it down to history. If you have a history, you have something to fall on, to learn from, to adhere to, if you lack it then you just become like african americans always blaming others for their lack of progress. We see an identical situation in mogadishu.

<cite> @Peace Action said:</cite> Charity begins at home: Everyone should focus on developing their respective regions and local districts. We need to stop scapegoating our own local failures for the lack of reconciliation with other Somalis. I couldn't agree more, here here

Dr Kennedy, that is the point of federalism really, to get the HAGS jealous of PL/SL. That is the point of the dual track policy, to let the HAGS know the nation won't stall because of you and the international community will work with viable partners where-ever they maybe. They only starting to wake up now cause their about to lose it all if they continue playing these silly political games, they starting to realize it's not 1991 and everything is about 'HAMAR' anymore and their are viable regional administrations that are effective and providing social services to its people so it can boost the living standards of all it's locals not just it's diaspora as is the case in mogadishu as of late. We will see if this wakes them up but if it doesn't they must realize somalis nor the international community is sticking around waiting for them, dual track policy will be fully implemented and as time goes on they will be left sidelined as 'unworkable'. The energy they waste fighting in hamar and shabellaha hoose wouldn't it be better they start providing social services to their locals in the central regions and hamar? wouldn't it be better to advance what u do have now rather then risk that with dual track policy of PL/SL dealing with the world and mogadishu sidelined thru their own stupidity? These guys suprise me alot.