For those still hanging on to the ephemeral ghost like Duke and Xiin, here's the interview with Garaad Jama. Audio Interview

Originally posted by AYOUB: quote: Madaxweyne ku xigeenka Puntland oo ka jawaabaya qabsashada dhulka Puntland laga qabsaday ayaa waxa uu yidhi "ugu horayn annagu waanu taageersanahay shirka madax dhaqameedka hasa yeeshee dhulkan ay soo galeen ciidamadani waxay u yimaadeen shirka Holhol ka socda wayna noqon doonaan marka hawlahay u socdeen dhamaadaan, tan kale annagu haddii ciidan kaa xoogweyni jiro in aad dagaal ku qaado maaha waa in aad siyaasad isticmaashaa, maadaama xaalku sidaas yahay annagu waxaanu ku hawlanahay dagaal kale oo ah argagixiso, waxaanuna ciidan ku haynaa sided goobood oo ay ka mid yihiin Boosaaso, Gaalkacyo Garoowe, markaa ciidankaas meel kale u dirimayno, ciidamadan Somalilandna way noqonayaan". ^^ A reality-check for some of the posters on this Forum. Welcome to the reality of the Horn of Africa...

Originally posted by Sophist: Good Morning folks, Sophist reporting from Garowe. This conference is NO MORE! that is for the time being. When there is something interesting comes up I will let you know. Sophist I guess Xudeedi and Duke didn't get the 'Memo'.....

Originally posted by Sophist: Good Morning folks, Sophist reporting from Garowe. This conference is NO MORE! that is for the time being. When there is something interesting comes up I will let you know. Sophist I guess Xudeedi and Duke didn't get the 'Memo'.....

Originally posted by Sophist: Good Morning folks, Sophist reporting from Garowe. This conference is NO MORE! that is for the time being. When there is something interesting comes up I will let you know. Sophist I guess Xudeedi and Duke didn't get the 'Memo'.....

Be careful, gentlemen, not to feed clan resentment. The Garaad, while somewhat misled in his beliefs, is still a Somalilander and holds an important cultural title in Somaliland. The administration thus far has handled this well by showing the futility of these anti-Somaliland 'feel-good' conferences while at the same time not escalating the situation. The Garaad, a relative young man for a traditional Garaad, spent much of his formative adult years at the feet of remnants of the past military dictatorship exiled in the U.S. This has shaped his geopolitical viewpoints. Reality will sink in and we'll eventually see him come home (to Somaliland) singing a different tune. But in the meantime, we should be careful that our words and actions do not increase the feeling of alienation both the Garaad and his supporters feel. Just my two cents.

Also, in a separate thread I posted last week I noted how Las Anod is increasingly referred to as Somaliland territory in current news stories. No more mention of 'disputed regions' as a reference when mentioning Sool. It seems the 'facts on the ground policy' is working for Somaliland. None the less, do not underestimate the danger of these bombings and hit and run tactics. The anti-Somaliland groups have accepted for good that they're no match for Somaliland in military confrontations. Hence, they've opted for guerrilla tactics and terrorist-style bombings with the hope that Somaliland forces will enforce draconian rules on the local Sool population. This would alienate the Sool population from Somaliland law-enforcement forces and create a simmering feeling of occupation. That seems to be the new plan for the anti-Somaliland malcontents.

Some say Sharif and company are behind this. Many of those in the TFG undermining his administration had set up headquarters in Nairobi. At the same time, they're not safe in Xamar. So this was Sharif's way of clipping their wings. Check .... Let's wait to see if it turns into a Checkmate!

I think a few of the poor Anti-Somaliland brigade are getting caught up in the usual antics of politicking in an election-based system. For the obtuse, it's all about painting your opponent in the worst light. After the elections, the candidates shake hands and have a nice lunch together. Business as usual. Try not to get too excited. Masaakiin....

Originally posted by Abwaan: lol...kuwa badan oo aan anshax, aqoon iyo caqli diblomaasi waxba ka ogeyn oo warqadaha la wareegayey oo YEY u saxiixay maxaa haysta? I believe that's what's really bothering Mr.Duke! A lot of exiles will have to go back to Canada and Europe and leave the old embassies (as well as let go of the $$$ proceeds from renewing passports and notarizing documents). Isha'ayaad ka soo tuurtay, Haji Abwaan...

The whole story sounds like a fabrication. No other quarantine center exists in Berbera currently. Just another attempt by anti-Somaliland groups to start inter-Somaliland conflicts in the cyberworld.

Originally posted by Che -Guevara: quote:Originally posted by Saddiiq: Che-Guevara, Don't you think Somalis have been affected by Kenyas rendition program? Of course. Sheikh Faisal is only the latest casualty. Where's Faisal being renditioned to, there's so much publicity surrounding this man, I doubt he will be thrown into some God forsaken prison and as far as we could tell Gambia has volunteered to host him. And I'm aware rendition Somalis suffered where the TFG was willingly accomplice-Ina Makhtal comes to mind, but I rather fight for Makhtal's case and choose my fights carefully. I wouldn't stick my neck who chose to be in his current. Dying for your principle is great, but is it worth the lives and properties of hundreds and thousands of Somali refugees who in no doubt will be target of government crackdown. Considering how much is at stake for Somalis, I would not go out of my way in making Mr Faisal the central argument. And don't get me wrong native Kenyan Muslims and Somali refugees have many grievances but this is hardly the place or time to voice their concerns. Aamiin to that Ibti, For once, Che, I couldn't agree with you more. The resentment against Somalis in that region is growing - fueled by a rise in right-wing Evangelism and a local attempt to curry favor with Western donors by painting the Somalis as a dangerous menace to the region. Add to that, envy over growing Somali economic power. Most of these countries(East Africa) were a closed shop economically for the Indian business community and the progeny of White settlers. The growing Somali business community has opened the market wide open with an increase in the choice of products as well as lower prices. So, there are many to whose interest it plays for Somalis to be the bad guy. For Somalis to feed this fire for an obscure Sheikh, who probably doesn't even know what a Somali is, seems simply plain clueless

Originally posted by Suldaanka: I think these video scenarios are based on this document GLOBAL STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT 2009 quote: Also, the creation of Somalia in 1960 was a voluntary union between two already independent states (the former British Somaliland and former Italian Somaliland), and therefore outside the OAU/AU stricture, which means that when the former British Somaliland withdrew in 1991 from the Somalia union, following the collapse of the Siad Barre administration, Somaliland’s legal sovereignty was theoretically intact, although no AU states have yet formally recognized Somaliland’s sovereignty ^^ Don't give a heart attack to those who have their heads in the sand about the legality of Somaliland's revocation of the Union

There are a couple of these videos floating around video-sharing Internet sites. I fail to see the connection between the videos (which are signed with the imaginary GNN network logo) and the National Defense University. Does anyone have a direct link to these videos from the National Defense University site? If these war-game scenarios are truly from the National Defense University, it's interesting that the Department of Defense (U.S.) in its war-gaming exercises sees Somaliland as its natural ally in the Somali-inhabited region. This would give further credence to the Washington Post story on that same matter a few years back. But, before the pro and anti-Somaliland wings of this Forum get too excited, let's first ascertain that these videos are from the National Defense University.

Originally posted by NGONGE: ^^ Good man. Bigger fish to fry. No, my friend, we're actually on the rapprochment track with those fish. There are a few of their local representatives who haven't gotten the memo in this Forum, though

Originally posted by NGONGE: ^^ War naga daa. We've got our fair share of cantarbaqash, saaxib. We don't need beginners to teach the rules to. You've seen how many bans it took for the admin to finally tame Dr Cawke. ^^^ I'll let it go....

Originally posted by NGONGE: ^^ Here (he's being doing a few of those lately). And how's that a crime in this Forum (claiming the death of a political individual and comparing him to a lowly animal)- in comparison to the severe name-calling that takes place in this Forum between different political activists? I fail to see the crime in comparison to the daily postings of a 'Mr.Somalia', as an example. Just wondering... Hope this wondering doesn't get me banned as well

Enlighten me out of my paranoia. I'm always open to corrections

Best news of the day. Let's hope the politicians don't politicize a police matter! Insha'Allah, Kheyr.

Hassan has been permanently banned from SOL after posting that idea... Hmmmm....

With the current facts on the ground furthered on a daily basis, in 2 years time, it will be forgotten that this strategic town was ever contested ......

Posted in both NYTimes and Reuters

What's interesting is the lack in the preamble of- Las Anod in the disputed Sool region, etc., etc. Now it's just ' Today, in Las Anod, Somaliland so and so happened....' Just an observation....

Even Garowe Online grudgingly in reference to the story, gives Las Anod as an example of random bombings in Somaliland, & Bosasso as the other example in Puntland. -------------------------------- Qarax ka dhacey Lascano 13 Jan 13, 2010 - 2:07:31 AM Qaraxaan oo ka dhacey saldhig ku yaala bartamaha maagalada Lascano ayaa maamulka gobolka ku eedeeyay in laga soo abaabuley Koonfurta Somalia. Bamkaan oo laga tuurey gacanta aya wararku sheegayaan in dhaawacyo fudud u gaystey sadex qof oo isugu jira bolis iyo rayid ka ag dhowaa goobtaas. Ma jirto cid sheegatey qaraxaan iyada magaalada Lascano horey Bam dhulka lagu aasey lagu diley taliyihii ciidamada aaga Sool. Falalkaan amni daro ayaa kusoo badanaya Puntland iyo Somaliland iyada saraakiisha labada maamul ku eedeyso amni darada ka jirta Koonfurta iyo gobolada dhexe ee Somalia. Qaraxaan mid bar-bar socda ayaa xaley sidoo kale ka dhacey saldhig ku yaala magalaada Bosaso kaas oo sida laga heley saraakiisha Boliska aan gaysan dhimasho iyo dhaawac. GAROWE ONLINE

January 13, 2010 Gunmen Attack Police Station In Somaliland By REUTERS Filed at 7:27 a.m. ET HARGEISA (Reuters) - Unidentified attackers hurled hand grenades and opened fire at a police station in Somalia's northern breakaway enclave of Somaliland , wounding three officers, police sources said Wednesday. Somaliland is proud of its relative stability, unlike southern regions of the failed Horn of Africa state, where hardline al Shabaab insurgents control large amounts of territory and are fighting a weak Western-backed government. Washington accuses al Shabaab of being al Qaeda's proxy in Somalia, and security experts say the group wants to extend its influence north -- aiming to destabilise Somaliland and the neighboring pro-government, semi-autonomous region of Puntland. Somaliland police sources told Reuters that an unknown number of attackers threw two grenades at the police station in Las Anod , near the border with Puntland , late Tuesday before opening fire on the building with assault rifles. Three policemen on duty there were wounded, two of them seriously, hospital staff said. The police sources said the town was placed under curfew overnight with extra patrols, and that officers later found a Toyota pickup truck believed to have been used by the gunmen. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The assault came just three days after security forces in Somaliland said they had foiled an attack on a Hargeisa mosque where the imam had spoken out against militant suicide bombings. Officials said six rockets and two mortar bombs had been recovered from Imam Sheikh Aden Sira's mosque after a suspected bomber was discovered carrying them in a jacket. POLITICAL TENSIONS INCREASING Sira had been critical of suicide bombings carried out by al Shabaab in southern Somalia, and said he received death threats. Wednesday, the police sources said one man had been arrested in connection with the Hargeisa mosque incident, and that another was being hunted. They did not elaborate. Al Shabaab hit Somaliland and Puntland with synchronised suicide blasts that killed at least 24 people in October 2008. A court in Hargeisa has sentenced five men to death in absentia for the bombings, which struck the Ethiopian embassy, the local president's office and a U.N. building. It said they were on the run in other parts of Somalia. Somaliland, which has long sought international recognition as sovereign state, declared itself independent in 1991. Analysts worry a simmering political row between the president of Somaliland and opposition parties over delayed elections could lead to clan militias re-arming, an outbreak of violence, and more turmoil for al Shabaab rebels to exploit. Somaliland's upper House of Elders remained closed for a third day Wednesday amid wrangling over positions on several committees. Security forces said they had locked the building to prevent another outbreak of scuffling between rival lawmakers. The former British protectorate is governed by an opposition-led House of Representatives, which is elected by the people, and an upper house comprised of senior clan elders. (Editing by Daniel Wallis and Robin Pomeroy)