@galbeedi said: Well , as usual you are complimenting one another by accusing this fine lady as tribal because she visited Hargeisa and dinned with wife of former president Rayaale. Mr.Oodweyne , you mentioned that you saw her once along the wife of Rayaale dinning in Hargeisa. People visit their families as they wish, but busy and professional people usually go home once in a decade, especially those who live in North America. You both agree that by taking a job at the Somali Central Bank in 2012, she is tribal and against Somaliland. That is the most ridiculous and clannish statement to justify your attack on this fine lady. In 2011, Fowsiya Haji Aadan had a political party in Somaliland , which failed to pass for the second round, yet after one year she left for Mogadishu and she became the foreign minister of Somalia. I bet non of you said she was tribal by leaving Somaliland. What a logic. In fact , there was some officials who left Hargeisa while they were directors, and then joined directly the Somali government. Further more , nowadays, I do not think any self respecting professional person would join the incompetent, corrupt, disorganized and family run government of Siilaanyo. Who would join Cakuuse, Cadaani, Biixi and others ? I don't think so. @galbeedi said: I do not want to over kill, but I know their family. Their father was a diplomat and died with plain crush in Somalia in 1981. The whole family is educated. last year when I visited iMinneaplois, I met her older sister who is a medical doctor, and she was managing a healthcare company in the suburb of Minneaplis. They never involved any thing tribal or sectarian, Successful people do not have time for tribal issues. I Could say by far the "Abraar" family is one of the most educated and successful Somali families in north America. Imagine three women all having not only advanced degrees, but also successful profession. We all want to fight corruption, but the best people who could help succeed are hard to find. As they say, the gold is hidden. Also, the best people are busy with their lives. If Farmaajo targets those kind of people , there will hope. Galbeedi, You need to relax, my friend. What part of my praises of Ms. Abrar did you not understand? Or is it the simple admission of the perennial Somali characteristic of clannism that has got you in a huff & puff? If we would just honestly accept this characteristic, endemic in the Somali people, we might be able to move forward. But yet, you wish to regale us with 'Somalinimo' and 'Somaliweyn' monologues when at the mere mention of a clansman or clanswoman, you head for the 'spear'. You're too far gone to see that you're simply proving my point that for Somalis 'Clan is Everything!'. Then you go on with exaggerated stories of how that particular family is so exceptional for achieving 'Graduate Degrees' and 'Successful Professions'. That only shows how tiny your socialiazation circle is(clannism, anyone)???. I can show you in one N. American city 4 families from Galkacayo that have achieved just as much, if not more. It's 2017, and Somalis in the diaspora have achieved accreditations only dreamed of by their parents. The Abrars are an accompished family but they are not unique in that characteristic. It's not 1954! So to calm your tribal passions, here I go again: Once again, Ms. Abrar on the personal and financial level is of the highest integrity and honesty. But as a person who chose to be in the public/political realm she's open to criticism for the political choices and swaps she makes in her public profile. In the same way that Fowzia Y. Adan is open to criticism for similar flip-flopping. This is a political forum where those in the political sphere are criticized daily. Get used to it, even if it's your clansmen or clanswomen.

Oodweyne, It's a fair criticism of the lady that you have put forth. What can I say but.... 'Clan is everything in the Somali peninsula!' I'm not sure Farmaajo and Hassan Kheyre will pick her in a financial capacity if they hope to continue looting. She would be a dangerous wildcard in their midst who has enough financial independence personally to act as a whistleblower. However, she would be an effective advocate for the new administration in communicating with international donors.

If that's true(a big if), why are you not a supporter of Silaanyo and Kulmiye? Since you have finally come out of the closet and declared yourself a 'Somaliweyn' advocate. Think through your logic, saxiib.

Johnny B, I'll entertain your question for a minute: So let's begin by asking this question of Somaliweyn advocates such as yourself - Why is it OK to have foreign troops controlling all of Southern Somalia, setting up bases, putting up their own local administrations in each 'gobal', yet it's unacceptable to have a UAE base in Berbera? Put another way, what's the danger that the UAE poses in having a military footprint in Berbera that 'complete foreign military control' in the South does not pose? Do you now see why it's important to differentiate between those arguing from a Somaliland perspective and those from a Somaliweyn point of view? It's simply to point out the hypocrisy in the argument from one side.

The question is: If she's picked in either role, will the Farmaajo administration be able to guarantee her physical security given the enemies she's made during her short stint as Central Banker. After all, she delivered the biggest blow to the financial coffers of the previous administration with her exposure of corrupt practices at a time when the financial spigots where about to open (a time of great hope for a civil-society president, Hassan Sheikh, if you remember).

2nd attempt to post. Salaax, Putting aside your narrow-minded agenda, this is a sad state of current affairs for Somaliland. It will further alienate Somaliland's international allies who have held it up as a beacon of representative democracy in the Horn.

Che, Much as I regret the loss of Ms. Abrar from the Somaliland camp in the past 7 years, she's a highly qualified individual of the highest integrity. It would be a high-caliber choice on Farmaajo's part to pick her.

Galbeedi, On a lighter note, in your youthful time in Mogadishu with which you love to wax on about, you must have picked up the 'walaweyn' habit of embellishing your clansman's CV and titles. Abdirahman Beileh was never a Vice-President at ADB, but rather a Director. While a Director is an honorable, senior management position at the bank, it's a far cry from VP of the bank. Intaasi wa iga kaftan, ee ha xanaaqin, sheekh!

Precisely, Galbeedi. I'm making a differentiation between the objectives of those opposing the deal. Is one against the deal based on which government has sovereignty over Berbera or on the merits of the deal to the Somaliland population? The difference between the two is 'huge', if I may borrow the term. I accept your correction on which Jama Qalib you are referring to. Do your homework and ascertain the origins of the other two(Egal and Jamal). It might come as a surprise to you that each of the 'Habros'(as you refer to them) settle in multiple cities throughout Somaliland. But we digress here. As for the UAE situation, we will see how it plays out. On a different note - do you honestly believe this administration in Mogadishu will be anymore successful in bringing Somaliland back to the fold? Or is it simply the Abdirahman Beileh connection to the new President that has you 'irrationally exuberant'? Farmaajo has a trusted circle of diaspora Somaliland unionists(primarily from North America ) around him, along with his PM and wife's subclan. Could this be a head fake to keep these particular Somaliland unionists on board in order to rely on their professional accreditations(since First-World professional achievement is in short supply among Southern politicians)? Farmaajo will need them as front-men to tap into dwindling international aid. People such as Abdisalam Hadliye filled that role for Hassan Sheikh. As for Farmaajo, do you believe he has the 'temperament' and skills to deal with the complex issues besetting him right outside his bedroom door in Mogadishu, before we even get to Berbera 3000 km away? Or was his election simply a protest vote against the incumbent, Hassan Sheikh, in the same way Hassan Sheikh's election was a protest vote against the previous incumbent, Sheikh Sharif? Since you claim to have a monopoly on age, I'm sure you remember the euphoria that greeted Hassan Sheikh's election.

Galbeedi, Besides simply repeating the earlier arguments I posted on why a loyal Somalilander might oppose the base agreement, what else is your post about? Yet, by your own writings you're not a loyal Somalilander, but rather a Somaliweyn proponent claiming to hail from Somaliland territory. It's precisely this cloaking/misrepresentation of real intentions I was referring to in this thread. Your further attempts to muddy the field by confusing the charge of being anti-Somaliland with being against the people is noted. I never made the charge against you of being against the people, but rather of being against Somaliland, politically - proven by your own postings on this Forum. This eliminates you from the internal Somaliland debate on whether the deal, as it stands now, is truly beneficial to Somaliland - a debate open to loyal Somalilanders, but not to those who want to destroy the political Somaliland. So we will toss the crocodile tears about Silaanyo's lack of aptitude to the side. Finally, while you claim to be a knowledgeable Somali about all things Somaliland-related, your understanding of 'Beesha Dhexe' is somewhat limited. Cigaal was from Burco, Jamac Qaalib and Jamaal Cali Xuseen are both from Hargeisa. While the 'HY' current Speaker of the Parliament, Cirro, is from Berbera. Don't let the clan affiliations fool you. Maakhiri1, If there's a ban on Somali-passport holders(Insha'Allah, there won't be one), is it the fault of Somaliland or the current leadership in Mogadishu who picked a fight with a stronger state? A stronger state which they are financially dependent on? Wouldn't it have been far more prudent for Farmaajo to diplomatically bring the issue to the UAE authorities instead of insulting them by attempting to get a neighboring state, Saudi Arabia, to pressure them? This is an indicator of the poor state-craft of the new leadership in Mogadishu. Let's pray for the sake of all Somali 'masakiin' that your prediction of a Somali-passport ban in the UAE does not materialize. For both Galbeedi and Maakhiri1 - Don't take this as a personal attack, but rather an attempt to clarify what the real differences in our respective positions are. Note to Somalilanders: I'm not defending the deal, the complete details of which I'm unfamiliar with - but, rather clarifying it as a debate that should only take place within the Somaliland family. My issue is 'where does sovereignty over Berbera lie - in Hargeisa or Mogadishu'? I think most readers know where I stand on that issue.

Maakhiri1, To answer your last question above, Yes, it's possible to be against the agreements from the perspective of both listed arguments. However, the majority opposing it subscribe to one or the other of the 2 arguments, not both simultaneously. A thorough reading of most opposition opinions on this Forum makes that clear to all. As for your larger point regarding an irrational fear, it's a rather weak analysis to equate Somaliland's existence as a governing construct with a superstitious fear of their fellow Somalis, whether from the South, Ethiopia, or Djibouti. To reverse your logic, this fear you speak of applies accurately to the hold-outs in peripheral communities at the edges of Somaliland, such as the community your 'screen name of Maakhiri' origates from. Yet, how do you explain Somaliland's existence and forward progress(while limited by developed world standards) in almost 3 decades with a divided political elite fighting for governing power(like most other functioning, democratic entities) , meager resources, and neighbors bent on its political destruction? The answer to this question is willfully ignored by those against Somaliland politically such as yourself(by your own admission). Could it be that a majority of the public buys into the Somaliland concept, as well as seeing the alternative with 'federal construct' after 'federal construct' failing politically in 'Somalia' even with sophisticated international backers putting 'government' after 'government' together in Mogadishu? Little by little, even the most die-hard anti-Somaliland elements in the peripheral communities(within Somaliland) are beginning to make their peace with SL and opening negotiations on integrating into the Somaliland project. So, it's been 26 years+ since the fall of Siyaad. Somaliland as a political entity is almost as old as the unified Somali Republic (which lasted on paper politically till early 1991). Look at the pattern of history during that time - Which is more likely 1)That Somaliland as a political entity disappears into the larger 'Somalia' or 2)That Somaliland continues its almost complete expansion into its claimed territory of the former British Somaliland? I leave that to the minds of serious political scholars in the Somali family.

Since this Forum's server eliminated my reply to another thread, I will repost it as a new topic: Two different issues need to be separated regarding the issue of the Berbera leasing contracts. 1- Another government(Somalia) de-legitimizing Somaliland's elected representatives' legal right to enter into bilateral agreements with other sovereign nations. Can Mogadishu deny Hargeisa's right to enter into bilateral relations? 2- Somalilanders contesting/rejecting the merits of the deal (given the secretive nature of the agreement-the details of which haven't been made transparent to the public or opposition parties, the dangers it draws for Somaliland with powerful armed groups in the region such as the Houthis and Iranians, the danger of having a more advanced military force on local soil while Somaliland forces lack the ability to police these forces). These are 2 significant, yet completely different issues. If we oppose the deal, we should be clear which one of the 2 arguments we are in alignment with. I say this only because many who oppose Somaliland's existence often use argument #2 to cloak their real objectives-the elimination of Somaliland.

Oh, snap! It's amazing the reaction a little backgrounder on the new President brings out from certain quarters. Like all new office holders, Farmaajo has the focus on him currently. Who is he? What's his history? What can we expect from him? Etc., etc. So, we're bringing the image into focus, in answer to Che's question. From past performance and current behavior, I'm not impressed. He's just as weak as his predecessor(Hassan Sheikh) in standing up for Somali rights. Case in point, he's a Somali president who happens to be a US citizen. Yet not a peep about the Trump administration's Somali ban on travel to the US. No statement nor appeal, either publicly or privately. To add insult to injury, he does a photo-op with the US Ambassador where he accepts a hat inscribed with a variation of the controversial Trump slogan, "Make Somalia Great Again". Instead of diplomatically declining the hat, given the pain this travel ban has brought to Somalis, he lamely accepts it and proceeds to do an international press photo-op with it. While the American press was commenting on how cringe-worthy this scene was, the new President and his advisers saw nothing wrong with the scene. Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction!

Wow. That was quite a response! I hope the unmasking of certain 'advisers' to the new Mogadishu president didn't bring that about. It's always amusing to read the circular logic of certain posters here. Claiming to separate attacks directed at Somaliland's gov't from the people of Somaliland (whom, with crocodile tears, they claim as their Somali brethren), yet crying wolf and not comprehending the same separation when charges are brought against 'Somalia's leadership'. Then in the latter case, a charge against Mogadishu leadership is an attack against the Somali people! The hypocricy knows no bounds... I'll leave it at that without entertaining the late night fantasies of Somaliland being brought back.

Che, saxiib, Why the lamentations re:the citation from a reputable 'private corporate intelligence' publication? I'm simply rounding out the story-line on the new man in town. I'll post further info as it becomes pertinent to the issues at hand. Oodka, Don't be surprised by Farmaajo's aggressive beginning re: the Somaliland question. Besides his own sentiments, two(2) of his closest advisers happen to be from the Maakhiri and Awdal communities. Both these diaspora individuals are long term anti-SL camp members. Expect further shots across the bow from this administration. *This will make sense to those cognizant of certain leanings within certain diaspora communities.*

However, Farmajo is not a newcomer to Somali politics. He may have changed in the six years he has been out of office and in Buffalo, United States, where he has been a transport manager. He can be as emotional as the crowds on the Somali street: he is sometimes nationalistic to the point of chauvinism, rude to his opponents and arrogant. As Prime Minister, he got the SNA paid after a gap of several months and always asserted his determination to fight Al Shabaab and build an SNA that would make Amisom redundant. Yet, by the end of his term in 2011, Farmajo was not considered honest as such, only 'less corrupt than the rest'. In 2011, there were several allegations of embezzlement for which he has not been held to account (AC Vol 53 No 5, Cashing in on chaos). A few years ago, according to one US diplomat, he was depositing US$9,000 in cash every week into a Buffalo bank, hoping not to attract the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation by crossing the $10,000 cash deposit threshold, which triggers automatic investigation. 'Mortgage ministers' was the nickname then attributed to the diaspora people who came to Mogadishu to make money and go home once they left office (AC Vol 53 No 19, New president, new laws and old enemies). Whatever else Farmajo wants to achieve, he will have to clarify what powers are devolved to the federal entities and agree on power and resource-sharing. The men ruling those states won't simply obey him. He will need to prove himself and display a talent for diplomacy that no one noticed when he was Prime Minister. He will have also to manage relations with Ethiopia and Kenya. Two days after his victory, a Somaliland delegation was invited to Addis Ababa and important commercial agreements were signed after months or years of procrastination. The same day, the UAE obtained a military base in Somaliland. These moves, undertaken without reference to Mogadishu, are a challenge to Farmajo's authority.

Galbeedi, Let's come back to reality and put away the begging bowl. There's no accountable mechanism to receive $1 Million, let alone $1 Billion in Mogadishu.

I have to correct this misconception that the new Prime Minister in Mogadishu funded Farmaajo's campaign. Actually, he was an integral part of Hassan Sheikh's campaign for re-election. His choice seem more an attempt to keep Hassan Sheikh and his influential cronies from playing spoilers to a new administration led by a non-Mogadishu native son. Also, before the Prime Minister's appointment, key regional state leaderships were consulted and asked to support his appointment. South-west State(Baydhabo) leadership was one of the one's that gave strong support to the new prime minister. However, Farmaajo broke two of the promises he made during his campaign, which were to appoint a PM who was experienced in government and free from even the hint of corruption - both of which the new PM does not meet. Let's see how this plays out, given that his appointment will force at least 2 of his fellow clansmen to lose their positions due to the 4.5 distribution followed in this process. By this appointment, Farmaajo has left 2 important wings of the H-confederacy out in the cold. Meanwhile, Puntland's influence in federal structures continues to decline - as well as its internal stability. It's state security forces just seized its parliament building today in the latest mutiny over unpaid salaries(over 7 months worth of wages).

Oodka, it's good to see you're still active on these boards. You, my friend, are wasting your time, though. Many are unaware that the recent phenomena of 'Fake News' currently being outed in Western democracies whereby Russian and Extreme Right-wing operatives post incendiary opinions on the web while posing as the citizen next door was first invented on the Somali political websites. You see, there are those who feel intrinsically insecure in their arguments if they presented themselves in their true identity - for it would easily expose their unrealistic narrow objectives. So let Salaax go from previously claiming to be pro-Somaliland, but simply opposed to the Silaanyo administration to eventually exposing his real agenda of Somaliweyn in peace. Secondly, you're used to this song&dance-that Somaliland is on the verge of giving up on its independence-that rears its head in the diaspora chattering classes every 5 years for the last 20+ years. Let this one die its natural death like so many before it. Some of its most eloquent professors (far more eloquent than posters on this Board) have found themselves back in Hargeisa under Somaliland protection...i.e. Ahmed Samatar and Ali Khalif. On another note, the euphoria regarding Farmaajo reminds me of the same unrealistic celebrations when Hassan Sheikh was elected some years back - where he defeated Sheikh Sharif. Very few seem to notice the main reason for the election win seems to be surviving the initial round of voting and then 'in not being' the current incumbent who also survived the initial round with the most votes bought with public funds. History keeps repeating itself in Mogadishu. Insha'Allah, Kheyr.

So much for the theory that the international community, including the US, is behind this impeachment attempt. The IC seems genuinely weary of petty Somali score-settling.

More wishful thinking on Galbeedi's part with the claim 'that the US is behind the impeachment drive of Culusow'. The US has no appetite for nation-building after the experiences of Iraq and Afghanistan. Everyone knows this unless you've been dead to any form of US political news for the last 6 years. The US is only concerned with the 'security' aspect of Somalia as a hotbed of 'transnational terrorism'. The nation-building exercise has been outsourced to the European Union hence why the EU pays the budgetary support items such as parliamentary and soldiers' salaries. This is only the latest version of Somali brinkmanship in order to obtain the most concessions for the Parliamentarians at a time Culusow is perceived as politically weakened. We will see how it plays out. Malistar, You're behind the times. Sultan Waberi was yesterday's attempt to derail Somaliland. He's now in the dustbin of history, like so many before him. Ali Khalif is the latest 'knight on a white horse' for that anti-Somaliland project. Keep up, son..LOL

Galbeedi, On this Forum, you make many accusations without once backing up your charge with any basic facts/proof. What incidents do you know of where a particular crime was committed by an individual after a payment was made to that individual through Zaad? I'm asking because I, like many in the audience, am not privy to this information. So, please share with us the facts if you have any. Secondly, should Barclays, RBS, Citibank, HSBC, or TD Bank be shut down as banking entities because criminals used a limited number of accounts to send payments for their criminal deeds? Wouldn't that unfairly hurt the millions of innocent account holders dependent on those banks? No, the usual procedure is to identify those accounts, shut them down, and penalize the actors involved. Your theory sounds like an interesting theory, but without proof, it's just another theory from the usual 'Cafe Calaacal' of the Qurbojoog Life.

How is it any different from the previous Awdal State, SSC, Khatumo, etc.? What makes it any more sustainable than the previous failed attempts? Or is it the usual wishful thinking from the frustrated arm-chair quarterbacks of the diaspora?

Mooge, As usual you analyze with emotions and clan-driven wishes rather than a careful observation of events. If Omar Abdirashid was such a threat why appoint him the first recognized Ambassador to the US, the superpower which was first to give the stamp of legitimacy to Hassan Sheikh's gov't and to this day is instrumental in propping up his gov't? Do you see the fallacy in your logic? Omar Abdirashid is the Puntland candidate on the short-list for PM. Xalane is another candidate from the Ras Kamboni community. The third is from Sool. Hassan Sheikh created this list from the first day the conflict with the current PM started. There are no candidates from the Gedo community currently. Having said that, the list I saw was almost a month old. But the announcement of Omar Abdirashid in recent articles leads me to believe the list hasn't changed.

I told you guys before a short-list was prepared when the feud broke out between Xassan Sheikh and Yuulka. The 3 on that short-list where from the Ras Kamboni, Puntland, and Sool communities. So far SOL members have figured out that Xalane and Cumar Abdirashid are the 2 respective choices from their communities. Let's see if you can figure out who the third candidate from the Sool community is? I'll make it easy for you: He used to work for a respected 'international organization'. Futurenow, earlier you had referred to some other Puntland fellow in previous posts and I told you he wasn't the one. Omar Abdirashid was the candidate from Puntland. Mooge, this list doesn't come from pressure from the 'donors/IC'. Hassan Sheikh's clique drew up this list immediately after the fallout with current PM.