Naxar, I think you're grasping at straws here. But if it will make you feel better, the U.S. is no closer to recognizing Somaliland so you can rest on that score( at least in the near future) Now, as for your Clinton posting above: The Sec of State was asked a question re:the dual track policy and proceeded to diplomatically side-step it. This is understandable since it was a day to showcase the recognition of the Mogadishu-based Somali National Government. It would be bad form to cloud that with inconvenient facts about other Somali players the U.S. deals directly with. Fast forward to this week and a sit-down interview with the U.S. Special Representative for Somalia(which is the actual level where tactical Somali policy is set; we're not significant enough to make it to the Secretary level). He was asked a direct question by someone who seemed actually aware of the U.S. double-dealing(for lack of a better term) in having a direct relationship with Somaliland. The Ambassador was as direct as diplomatically allowed: We, the U.S., are in alignment with current U.N. and A.U. policy regarding recognizing Mogadishu as the nominal gov't of Somalia; however at the same time, we'll continue dealing directly with Somaliland (intimating its separate, special status within the former Somalia). Note all the praise for its stellar accomplishments the Ambassador heaps on Somaliland - while all he can say for the rest of the former Somalia is to simply herald the recognition of the Mogadishu gov't, an act bestowed by the Americans. So, my dear friend, as we've told the gallery countless times, Somaliland's accomplishments are there for the whole world to see and still remains the only example the world can point to of Somalis actually achieving something collectively when it comes to governance.

In the spirit of the weekend fun, I thought I would transcribe the Ambassador's statement for my SOL friends unable to view video on their systems. It starts at 5:41 for those able to view the video file. Enjoy ______________________________________________ {Question} How does the U.S. government reconcile recognizing the SFG as the official government of Somalia while at the same time dealing directly with Somaliland? {Amb. Swan} The U.S. and many other international partners, certainly, have great respect for the efforts made by the Somaliland people over a number of years in terms of maintaining a high degree of stability in the Somaliland territory, in terms of impressive gains on the governance front including holding a number of elections that have been of a high standard and certainly also with respect to efforts that have been made by that population to improve their economy and livelihoods. The U.S., certainly, intends to continue its engagement with the Somaliland population and administration in terms of humanitarian response, in terms of reconstruction and development activities, and in terms of our shared governance agenda. At the same time, the United States position is fully consistent with the United Nations, the African Union, the neighboring countries of Somalia, in terms of recognizing the national government in Mogadishu and in January, President Hassan Sheikh Mahamoud visited Washington and there was a formal exchange of notes with then-Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton that re-established formal U.S. recognition of Somalia for the first time since 1991. So our position is very much consistent with the African Union position, the UN position in terms of recognition of the Somali National Government yet we also want to continue our engagement and relationship with Somaliland for the benefit of that population.

U.S. Special Representative for Somalia, Amb. James Swann, confirms the U.S. Dual-Track Policy is still in effect in terms of relations with Somaliland. Below is the State Dept video interview confirming the policy's continuation. I hope this doesn't ruin the weekend for the anti-Somaliland battalion " frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

Qarannews is now reporting it as well. Still no public statement from either Hargeisa or Mogadishu. We'll know by end of this weekend whether the trip materializes.

Oodweyne, That seems to be the tactic if the trip materializes. Some of the elites in Hargeisa never learn. The problem is not our Southern brethren when it comes to official recognition(iyaga cidna wax ma weydiiso, xataa waxa Xamar caawa lagu soo rogayo), but rather the united wall of opposition posed by the Arab world! Hence, I fail to understand the back-and-forth trips to various Gulf Arab states in order to negotiate with Mogadishu(when the deck is already stacked against SL in those Arab capitals to begin with). Below is a BBC Outline of Highlights from the Arab press this week. Headlining is a Syrian using the spector of a 'Somaliland' in northern Syria to scare other Syrians! _____________________________________________________ Highlights from UK Arabic press 20 Mar 13 20 March 2013 BBC Monitoring Middle East English © 2013 The British Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced except with the express permission of The British Broadcasting Corporation. Al-Hayah Online in Arabic 1. Report on statement by Haytham Manna, leader of the Syrian National Coordination Body, criticizing the election of a prime minister for the provisional government saying it will lead to a "Somaliland" in the north. (450 words) 2. Report on the aims of Lebanon's Hizballah and Iran and the dangers their plans are posing for Lebanon. (1,000 words) 3. Article by Abdallah Iskandar saying the most important thing for the provisional government the Syrian opposition is forming is not to fall into the "Iraqi awakening" trap to please the Americans. (600 words) 4. Article by Jihad al-Khazin saying President Obama's visit to Israel is more a tourist rather than a state one and Israel wants him only to declare war on Iran. (800 words) Al-Sharq al-Awsat Online in Arabic 1. Report saying Morocco has raised the security alert at its borders with Algeria and Mauritania to prevent the infiltration of jihadist elements from Mali. (600 words) 2. Report on the Saudi authorities' arrest of 18 Iranian spies, 16 of them Saudis, an Iranian, and a Lebanese, and the areas where they operated. (1,000 words) 3. Report on different reactions to the Iraqi cabinet's decision to postpone the provincial councils' elections in Al-Anbar and Ninawa Governorates. (600 words) 4. Report saying the Syrian regime and the opposition accused each other of using chemical weapons in Aleppo and on Free Syrian Army's denial of possessing Scud missiles or seizing any military base that has chemical weapons during the fighting with the regime's forces. (1,000 words) 5. Report on the difficulties facing the provisional government the Syrian opposition intends to establish when some Coalition members withdrew to protest the Muslim Brotherhood's imposition of their candidate to lead it and adding that the Free Syrian Army was dismayed by the results. (1,200 words) 6. Report on statements by James Moran, the EU ambassador to Egypt, denying that the EU's financial aid to Egypt was stopped and saying the EU does not support either the opposition or the Islamists. (600 words) 7. Article by Yusuf al-Dayni saying the Gulf countries already apprehensive of Iran's nuclear program should be worried by US President Obama's new language in his recent message to the Iranians promising them new relations if they complied with their international obligations. (1,000 words) Al-Quds al-Arabi Online in Arabic 1. Report on the local reactions to the attributed Jordanian King Abdallah II's interview with the American magazine The Atlantic and his controversial remarks with one viewpoint seeing it as a coup by the king against the old guards and another view as part of a conspiracy against the monarchy itself. (1,200 words) 2. Editorial saying the Syrian opposition's formation of a provisional government following the French and British decision to arm it might close the doors to negotiated political settlement of the Syrian crisis and herald more bloody days ahead. (600 words) 3. Article by Chief Editor Abd-al-Bari Atwan commenting on the 10th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq and admissions by Western officials that accusations that the Iraqi regime had weapons of mass destruction were falsified to justify the invasion all confirm that Iraq and the Arab nation are the target of a conspiracy against them. (1,000 words) Sources: As listed

The fact this was posted by a website with close ties to the administration lends some credence to this story/trip...

Dawladaha Imaaraadka Iyo Qatar Oo siyaasad kala fog u wajahay Somaliland Iyo Soomaaliya March 22nd, 2013 Comments Off Hargeysa (Somaliland.Org)-Dawladaha Qadar iyo Imaraadka Carabta oo ka wada tirsan waddamada Khaliijka, ayaa siyaasad kala fog ku kala wajahay Somaliland iyo Soomaaliya, arrintan ayaa hadda uun u soo baxday dibada, iyadoo Dawladda Imaraadka Carabtu, ay diyaarad khaasa u soo dirtay Madaxweynaha Somaliland Axmed Silaanyo, oo la filaayo inuu maalinta Sabtida Ah ka dhoofi doono garoonka diyaaradaha ee Berbera una kicitimo Imaaraadka Cimraadka, siday warar xaqiiq ah ku heshay Shabakadda Caalamiga ah ee Somalilandtoday.com. Dhinaca kale, Madaxweynaha dalka Soomaaliya, ayaa isna casuumad ka helay waddanka Qadar, isagoo maal maha soo socda si rasmiya uga degi doona dalkaas. Labadan Casuumadood ayaa u muuqda kuwo diirka ka qaadaya kala duwanaanshaha siyaasadda Somaliland iyo Soomaaliya. Dhinca kale Dawladda Qadar ayaa ilaa bilowgii ololihiisa ka hawlgashay Madaxweyne Xasan Shiikh, halka waddanka Imaraadka Carabtu wadatay Madaxweynihii hore ee Shiikh Shariif. Sidoo kale Dawladda Qadar waxay markasta tageero laxaad leh u fidisaa maamulka ay dhismihiisa wax ku lahayd ee Xasan Shiikh Maxamed, arrintan oo dadka la socday dhaq dhaqaaqa dawladda Qadar ee Soomaaliya ku tilmamaan, inay ka shaqeyeen wadaado u dhashay dalka Qadar oo xagga mabda’a diinta isku dhawayeen Xasan Shiikh. Dhinca kale waddanka Imaraadka Carabta ayaa si weyn u badalay siyaasadiisi ku aadanayd Somaliland, iyadoo labadii sanno ee ugu danbeeyay, ay si weyn isugu soo dhawanayeen Xukuumadda Somaliland iyo Dawladda Imaraadku, Wasiirka Macdanta iyo Biyaha Somaliland ayaa hore shir caalamiya ugaga qayb galay dalkaas, iyadoo markale ay safar ku tageen Saddex Wasiir oo Xukuumadda Somaliland ka tirsani, bishii hore. Sidoo kale waxay labadii sanno ee ugu danbeeyay Xukuumadda Imaraadka Carabtu mashariico waa weyn oo xagga biyaha u badan ka fulisay waddanka Somaliland. Si kastaba ha ahaate casuumadan Madaxweynaha Somaliland ay hadda u fidisay Dawladda Imaraadku, oo ka heer saraysa sidaanu wararka ku helayno boqashooyinkii uu hore ugu tagay dalkaas, waxay waji cusub u furaysaa xidhiidhka labada dal. Geeska kale iyadoo saxaafadda qaar kood qoreen in Madaxweynaha Soomaaliya Xasan Shiikh Maxamed tagi doono dalka Imaraadka, ayaanu warar rasmiya ku helnay in maal maha soo socda uu Madaxweyne Xasan Shiikh ka dagi doono dalka Qadar. Si kastaba ha ahaate, mawqifyada kala fog ee labadan dal kula kala macamileen Somaliland iyo Soomaaliya, ayaa u muuqda mid faa’iido weyn u leh dhinca Somaliland, maadaama oo waddamada Carabta badankoodu ku dhegenayeen qadiyadda midowga dalkii laysku odhan jiray Soomaaliya. Xigasho: Somaliland Today http://www.somaliland.org/2013/03/22/dawladaha-imaaraadka-iyo-qatar-oo-siyaasad-kala-fog-u-wajahay-somaliland-iyo-soomaaliya/

Oodka, What can I say? In the words of Ronald Reagan, "Here we go again..."

Saalax, There are promising blocks all up and down the former Somalia, all the way down to the Kismayo/Kenya border region. In my humble opinion, all Somalis in all regions should hold off on the petrochemical game till a political accomodation is reached between all Somalis, Somali communities learn to live in peace once again, and most importantly strong legal institutions are established to properly monitor whatever proceeds might come from the ground under. Remember every Somali and his grandmother always believed there were great oil reserves underneath and every Somali political actor dreamed that it will be found when he's sitting on the seat in order to start the next Petro-monarchy for his family right here in the Horn. That's all well and good if it's your uncle, but what about when it's not your uncle? If you think the Somali peninsula has a governance problem now, wait till oil or gas is found.... We're not ready yet....

xiinfaniin;929132 wrote: ^^Why, would I? Have you not heard my "big tent" caravan? The D-block in the south and the need to come together for politics of scale ... Xiin, Xiin, Xiin.... From the Somaliweyn caravan of yesteryears to the 'big tent caravan of D-block' as the banner cry of today? Now that's what I call progress

xiinfaniin;929125 wrote: ^^I have the time so I CAN continue calling you out, Again who is Xaaji, Carafaat, Oodweyne, Mintid ? LOL they are all brothers from Hargeysa On top of that they are all supporting Gedo folks , thinking that will get to xiinfaniin, how childish Paranoid much???

Sheekadan Kismaayo waa belaayo! It brings such strong emotions from certain corners if one even mentions it in passing. "Why are the 'secessionists' discussing Kismayo? Why don't they just leave the situation alone? etc., etc.," It's even put our friend Abtigiis into a long exile (even from his favorite Wardheernews)....

Mintid Farayar;929087 wrote: But you haven't answered the question. Where do you think Jawaari stands on the issue? The silence is deafening...

xiinfaniin;929084 wrote: ^^Mintid awoowe, I thought you was hoping Jawaair would organize a conference to form state that would overlap with Jubbaland , or was that another wishful analysis of yours You need to learn from me, talk about the stuff you know Once again show a single thread where I made that claim. Show 'beenaalinimada' rag badan kugu sheegeyeen wax baa ka jira Anyway, ka soco, slowly 'waa lays baranayaa ee' But you haven't answered the question. Where do you think Jawaari stands on the issue?

Ok, Oodweyne, once again we'll look the other way while Xiin puts the macawiis back on. Now I have a question for Xiin to broaden his horizons: Where do you think Jawaari stands on this issue??

xiinfaniin;929066 wrote: I wonder, just wonder,. what would Mintid says when a new Jubbaland state is inaugurated (new state mind you, he thought UN was against its formation ) LOL... Xiin, Let's put each other's intellectual honesty to the test. Repost Mintid claiming UN is against formation of Jubba. The exagerrations get old after a while, sxb. As much as you try to put a brave face on, the Jubba situation is still dangling in the wind. You're far too blinded by your Mintid-phobia to take my brotherly advice re:Hassan Sheikh's current machinations. Pity...

Meanwhile, the political tussle continues..... ________________________________________________________________ Somali elder says regional body meddling in formation of southern administration 21 March 2013 BBC Monitoring Africa © 2013 The British Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced except with the express permission of The British Broadcasting Corporation. Text of report by Somali Midnimo.com website Traditional elders working on the formation of the Jubbaland Regional Administration have complained of foreign interference on their work. Husayn Hasan Naleyn who is among traditional elders that were selected to work on the formation of the Jubbaland Administration said he and others are walking out of the conference because individuals selected to attend it have since been replaced with others wanting to lead the new administration that is to be formed. The elder urged the Somali government to intervene in the conference on formation of the new Jubbaland Administration and accused IGAD [intergovernmental Authority for Development] of backing certain individuals in the conference in order to use them to further their geopolitical interests. He said majority of those working on the formation of the Jubbaland administration have been selected by foreign nations and particularly by neighbouring Kenya. "Those working on the formation of this new administration have been brought in from NFD [Northern Front Districts-in North Eastern Kenya] and Ethiopia and do not even hail from these regions," said Nalayn. It on the 28th of last month that the leader transitional administration in Kismaayo, Ahmad Madobe launched conference on formation of Jubbaland Administration in Kismaayo. The conference was later suspended after the required number of delegates failed to attend it. Source: Midnimo.com website in Somali 21 Mar 13

Meanwhile, the Ethiopian continue to play out their bluff/withdrawal for the same financial reasons. ______________________________________________________ AU Somali force readies for possible Ethiopia pullout 21 March 2013 Agence France Presse Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2013 All reproduction and presentation rights reserved. African Union forces battling Islamist insurgents in Somalia are preparing troops to take over should Ethiopia withdraw more soldiers from the region, their commander said Thursday. "We have in place contingent measures to ensure that areas in Bay and Bakool...remain stable and secure in the event of further Ethiopian troop withdrawals," said Andrew Gutti, commander of African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM), referring to southwest Somali regions currently controlled by Ethiopia. Ethiopian troops, the strongest military power in Somalia's southwest ever since their November 2011 invasion, pulled out of the town of Hudur on Sunday, the capital of Bakool region. Hours later, Somalia's Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab swept into the town, their most important territorial victory for over a year. The capture prompted jubilant celebrations, which included the beheading of an influential cleric in the town. Despite a string of losses in recent months, the Shebab remain a potent threat, still controlling rural areas as well as carrying out guerrilla attacks in areas apparently under government control. Somali militia forces allied to the Ethiopians, as well as a column of some 2,000 terrified civilians, fled shortly after the Ethiopian pullout. Security sources say the withdrawal from Hudur could signal a wider pullout of Ethiopian forces including from the key city of Baidoa, warning that if this happens, the 17,000-strong AMISOM would be hugely overstretched. AMISOM, which fights alongside Somali government forces, "is closely monitoring developments following the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Hudur," the force said in a statement. "We are conducting a review of our troop deployments...and remain confident that there will be sufficient coverage," Gutti added. Security sources say that AMISOM would struggle at its current capacity to take over Ethiopian positions, while Somali troops who have worked closely with Ethiopian troops might not necessarily cooperate so well with other forces. So far, Hudur is the only major town Ethiopians have pulled out of, but troops are also packing kit in Baidoa in apparent preparation to leave. Ethiopian troops entered Somalia in late 2011 to attack Shebab bases, shortly after Kenyan troops invaded Somalia from the far south. While Kenyan troops have since joined AMISOM, Ethiopia remained separate.

Mintid Farayar;928369 wrote: Not correct. The Ethiopians refused to come under the AMISOM umbrella to maintain their strategic maneuverability. The Kenyans initially stayed out but when the indigenous funds ran dry, they were forced to formally join the AMISOM umbrella in order to access the AMISOM financial pipeline (which is considerable by African standards - $1500 per soldier under the current fiscal year). It's all about the 'funds' when it comes to the sustainability of these African militaries within Somalia. Below, you have the Kenyans making further plays after nominally joining AMISOM. _________________________________________________ Nairobi wants UN to pay for intervention in Somalia 1 March 2013 ION The Kenyan government has asked the African Union (AU) to submit to the United Nations the bill for its contribution to the military intervention in Somalia that got underway in October 2011. Nairobi would like to be repaid for its role in the AfricanUnion Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and is also asking the UN to spend some $10 million on the creation of a maritime force for AMISOM. The money would go directly to Kenya, which is the only African nation with a naval fleet in Somalian waters. According to a Kenya Defence Force (KDF) headquarters source in Nairobi, the military would also like the UN to invest in the training of Somalian soldiers. The KDF is of the view that having a Somalian government force capable of resisting Al Shabaab Islamist rebels is a pre-condition of the Kenyan military contingent being able to return home by the end of this year. The KDF also thinks it has the necessary personnel to train the Somalian soldiers, making it just a question of the UN coming up with the funding. To date there has been no response to the Kenyan demands from New York.

Meanwhile, according the 'Garowe-published' Dr. Weinstein: The underlying dynamics of the "donor"-power tilt toward the S.F.G. has been to inflate the S.F.G. without having given it the power to back that up, and to deflate Puntland. This new balance creates an unstable situation in which the S.F.G. would be tempted to cross what, for Puntland, would be a red line. The two are already competing through proxies in the south. The point of an overt split and open hostility between the two has not yet been reached. Meanwhile, the more the opposition to the S.F.G. takes on a clan-conflict cast, the more difficult it will be to resolve disputes, such as bringing Puntland and the S.F.G. into accord. A third source, on the ground in south-central Somalia, says that the "donor"-powers prefer to deal with a small close group of Somali officials, if for nothing else than convenience and expediency. If that is the case, then one can understand why they do not take the power positions of Somali actors into their calculations, particularly the consequences of a redistribution of power. Source: garoweonline By: Dr. Michael A. Weinstein, Professor of Political Science, Purdue University in Chicagoweinstem@purdue.edu

It's the satellite image, in particular, that puts 'paid' to the argument http://www.somaliaonline.com/community/showthread.php/70236-Puntland-s-Image-Problem?p=928698#post928698 Man, those were a few good years for our pirate brothers. What's the next scheme??

xiinfaniin;928753 wrote: ^^The Jubbaland State should have been murdered by your 'UN Resolution' Per that logic (the UN is against it), there is nothing to discuss, or is there ? A poor attempt to muddy the waters. The Security Council Resolution gave Hassan Sheikh leverage over future charcoal exports(an important revenue source for the Jubbas). That was the argument as much as you try otherwise. The thread is there for all to see Somalia;928758 wrote: :D, this thread should now be closed. Igga qallee uun dheh

That's the free lesson for the day, boys Now let's get back to Jubba!

That money train was shut down as well... Read below _________________________________________________________ REAL TIME PIRACY WARNINGS Piracy REPORT:Piracy EXCLUSIVE Puntland Marine Force In Disarray UAE and Bancroft Meetings in Bosaso Lead to Confusion And Distrust About Future By ROBERT YOUNG PELTON 10/31/2012 © Somalia Report, All Rights Reserved PMPF Training Base in Bosaso On the day before Eid, a delegation from the United Arab Emirates and security contractor Bancroft Global completed their third meeting on the future of the land-based anti-piracy force called the Puntland Marine Police Force. Although any visit by the UAE would normally be considered a VIP event in Puntland, attendees describe the meeting as tense. The son of President Mohamad Farole even went as far as to show his position by refusing to meet the delegation at the airport. The Private War Against Pirates The main topic of the meeting was cash. Under the approval of Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan the UAE initially funded the program using a zakat or islamic charity fund that hid the actual monetary donations into the fund. The goal of the maritime trading nation was altruistic and simple; to help Puntland develop a security force to defeat piracy and bring stability to its shores. Despite the deep pockets of the Nahyan family, problems with the flow of money began about half way through the project and peaked five months ago. The "secret" project was once again in the media and was also featured in the latest UN SEMG report as a private army set up to fight pirates and accountable to no one. Although the PMPF did not deploy until spring of 2012, the unnamed authors of the SEMG report editorialized on the goals of the PMPF and Puntland as being negative. The inference was that instead of the PMPF bringing security it would bring insecurity. ........ http://somaliareport.com/index.php/post/3597/Puntland_Marine_Force_In_Disarray_

Che -Guevara;928730 wrote: Gheelle.T I think Faroole is genius, getting money to setup security force in order to fight a crime you yourself have been accused off. Hence why the UK and US put a quick stop to it. The UAE funding hand was quickly slapped down Must we point everything out......