Hiiraan.com confirms 1,500 ONLF members were released. I assume these are foot soldiers and some might not even ONLF members.

It's not what Somalis say but it is what Tolka said. Should we dig up Oodka aka Ducale wrote, what Cirro said or what many other landers yelled about? The outside world is not as stupid as you would hoped them to be. I am sure they are aware of children getting voter IDs and what not.

Tillamook, It's a crapshoot indeed. They were even considering another southerner but I think the train has passed. The Oromo are also pushing for another OPDO guy, Abiy Ahmed but he might not be easily controlled as well. I think the biggest thing an Oromo leader will insist on recognizing Oromia's special interest in Addis and establishing Afaan Oromo as the second official language, issues that will automatically cause a headache for Tigray generals.

LOL Isn't too early to play the democracy card considering the wholesale robbery of the kursi by the Jeegaanta.

Holac, It will be more than an embarrassment. That's what happens when you have no plan, don't understand politics or have some decency. Half of the time things happen because Somali leaders don't put up a fight or anticipate the consequences. I am skeptical of this news but things are moving so fast in Ethiopia, at this point, anything is possible.

Not yet confirm, a developing story. One of ONLF insistence during the recent round of talks was the release of prisoners including Qalbidhaqax.

The Cabinet has unanimously endorsed Abdi Sheik Ahmed for the post of Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Somalia, which is established under Somalia’s Communications Law 2017. Speaking after the endorsement, the minister for Post, Telecom and Technology, H.E. Abdi Ashur Hassan, thanked the Cabinet for the endorsement of the director who will lead Somalia’s first communications regulator. “This is another milestone by the Ministry to have the director endorsed in due course because it will bring us closer to the establishment of the regulator,” said the minister. “When the law was passed in 2017 we promised our commitment to its implementation, and the establishment of NCA is the first step towards that goal,” concluded the minister. Short profile Abdi Sheikh is multi-disciplinary technology leader with strong background in all facets of Information and Communication Technologies, particularly in the design and operations of global networks. For over 23 years he worked for one of the largest Telecommunication companies in the US and the World (Verizon Communications) where he held number of leadership and senior management positions, including 11 years of managing financial and human resources. Over the years, Abdi held number of positions with Verizon Communications progressively assuming more responsibilities ranging from engineering, product/services/business development, managing highly skilled professionals and resources, to overseeing and negotiating multi-million dollar business opportunities. Currently, he is a Senior ICT Adviser to the Ministry of Post, Telecommunication and Technology of the Federal Government of Somalia, focusing on passage of Somali Communications Act, capacity building for the Ministry, and engagements between the Ministry, development partners, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). In 2012 Abdi returned to Somalia where he served as a Senior Adviser to two Prime Ministers. In the Office of the Prime Minister, he identified a need for coordinated and coherent capacity development framework and strategy for the Somali state institutions. Abdi proposed the formation of a national institutional capacity development directorate, which Prime Minister Sa’id established in a Decree. He worked with the World Bank and UNDP to develop a $53-million dollar; multi-year capacity development flagship program aimed at addressing severe capacity constraints in the Somali institutions. Abdi obtained his under graduate education in Computer Science from Rust College/University of Houston, Texas with honors (Suma Cum laude) and Master of Science – specialization in Information System and MBA degrees respectively from the University of Denver and the top-ranked business school of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

More #Ethiopia - Thousands turnout in Gondar city to welcome home Wolkiat Identity Committee leader, Colonel Demeke Zewdu, who was released earlier today after more than a year of detention.

Defiance strike in Ethiopia's Amhara region over state of emergency The city of Gondar in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara regional state has been hit by a strike days after the declaration of a national state of emergency by the Council of Ministers.  ADVERTISING

Egypt accepts delay of Ethiopia dam meeting as protests rage CAIRO — Egypt’s Foreign Ministry says it accepts Ethiopia’s request to delay a meeting about a dam that Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile River, after Addis Ababa declared a state of emergency amid the worst anti-government protests in decades.  The meeting, which was to discuss contentious issues over the dam, which Egypt fears could reduce its share of the Nile waters, was to include Sudan and take place in Khartoum on Feb. 24-25.

Mogadishu in 1331

U.S. Embassy Statement on the Ethiopian Government’s Declared State of Emergency We strongly disagree with the Ethiopian government’s decision to impose a state of emergency that includes restrictions on fundamental rights such as assembly and expression. We recognize and share concerns expressed by the government about incidents of violence and loss of life, but firmly believe that the answer is greater freedom, not less. The challenges facing Ethiopia, whether to democratic reform, economic growth, or lasting stability, are best addressed through inclusive discourse and political processes, rather than through the imposition of restrictions. The declaration of a state of emergency undermines recent positive steps toward creating a more inclusive political space, including the release of thousands of prisoners. Restrictions on the ability of the Ethiopian people to express themselves peacefully sends a message that they are not being heard. We strongly urge the government to rethink this approach and identify other means to protect lives and property while preserving, and indeed expanding, the space for meaningful dialogue and political participation that can pave the way to a lasting democracy. https://et.usembassy.gov/u-s-embassy-statement-ethiopian-governments-declared-state-emergency/

II am glad they have foresight to do that. I wonder if the first base built by the Turks will be exclusively theirs.

Like everything, a criminal aspect has developed. Their entry point is from Waqooyi with safe houses in Sool/Saanaag and smugglers in coastal Bari.

^Let your less crazy persona do the talking.