Puntland: From a Utopian Vision to a Clan Enclave

[Thankful]

Some pics of the oil exploration of 2008,

 

 

 

 

These men are working in the middle of no where and are now employeed and feeding how many children? nieces, nephews and other family members? Yet the writer says this in the article Range Resources, Ltd escorted by Puntland militia arrived in Majiyahan (western Bari) to collect sample minerals without the communities' consent. It quickly turned into a deadly skirmish, forcing Puntland and their business partners out of the entire region. This episode serves as an important bullet point in Puntland's short political history. From this period, many other clans were inspired to challenge the administration adding on to the list of challenges for the incompetent administration. Look how many vehicles and people are working here. They benefited big time from it. The oil workers and their equiptment wouldn't be there if they didn't agree with it. Another huge mistake by Reer Maakhir. The writer of this article takes pride (as many others from his region) of attacking the workers, but other regions jumped at oppurtunity after the incident because they knew it would bring good. The article is being dishonest with it's interpretation.

 

[Koora-Tuunshe]

Thankfull... Malaha meelbay kaa taabteen.lol.. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. You are just repeating yourself but you can’t bend the facts.

 

Nin maakhiri ahbaa hada ka hor yiri:

................

............

Afka nacab ku eedaan

Iineey walaalnimo

Kii wadana eedeey

Abasaxa daruuraha

Dirirku soo akaakimay

Abid waqal tigaadsaday

Omaskiyo abaaraha

Ariga iyo geeluba

Iliilaha ku foofaan

Af mugaabo ka ambada

Unbo subag leh ka qawada

Iimaanka laga qaad

Uub calool wax ma ogyahay

Allabari dadweynuhu

Guddigii isla ogyahay

Awryaalo lagu qalo

Eri haqab ul lagla dhaco

Ka ordooba yeelkaa

Amini way ku soo celin

 

Puntland hanoolaato

[Fiqikhayre]

ThankfulSP, the problem of the Makhiris was, they didn't had any foothold in the government, so they were oblivious to the inner dealings and thus lacked a crucial point in securing the leadership.

 

Faroole had it easy and positioned himself as the Opposition such were Garooweonline's reporting if you followed it as I am aware you were physically there when the elections happened.

 

Ilka-jiir and the Makhiris thought to themselves, if they show the rest of Puntland, that their regions are firmly in control and that Ilkajiir is the de-fecto ruler and the hyping that followed together with the thought, that this time around, it's their turn as many ordinary folks in the diaspora were rooting for Ilkajiir that the presidency is their's and that it will automatically fall to them, which they erred, it was not theirs alone as others have well positioned themselves long before they did.

 

Ilka-jiir was a sudden phenomena and the political steps they did were done out of the blue and thus lacked a logical time-phrame, the media hype and then suddenly all Makhirs being united behind one man, only because their naively thought it was their turn to lead the State.

 

They refused to run for the Parliament Speaker, which was theirs to take and only candidated for the Presidents office, when they lost, they regrouped as the Sool folks also pokered and thus got their Vice President Position which has tradtionally been there's too.

 

This naivity stems firmly I believe because Makhiris have not been at the heart of Puntland politics which is the executive, they had their ways in the legislature and jurisdiction but not the executive.

 

Thus they need this in order to learn thus Abdullahi Jamac Ilkajiir had to take up the Interior Ministry position. They already acknowledge and say, they were dubed when Puntland was first formed and thus only now in 2008/09 woke up.

 

What is needed now is not a hype by certain webportals and radio-stations but a slow compaign at position yourself as the opposition. But I feel the time such politics were played have gone now and now we are approaching a new era of politics not by clan but by political domination and thus they (the Makhiris) need to orient themselves to it.

[Thankful]

Aw Muuse Ismaciil

 

I completely agree with you on all your points. My issue with the article that is that it is basically saying that Reer Maakhir are being shafted and if this continue there will be consequences. They have never been shafted, they now have a heavyweight politician in Ilko-Jiir and need to figure out how to promote him! They only have themselves to blame if they continue with their current path. Because there are candidates who are making plans everyday.

 

Koora-Tuunshe,

 

The facts are in the Picture that is why I provided them.

 

Eid Waanagsan to all!!!

[Abwaan]

I like the reference...maxaabii s.com ku lahaaa!

[NASSIR]

ThankfulSP, promoting an individual who might single-handedly sponsor deals at the expense of the general population and the environment is narrow-minded at best. We should be striving how to figure out a system that can add to the economic well-being of our society and that would be sustainable. If Puntland's resources are better managed,for instance, we won't need to issue illegal fishing licenses to foreign companies or grant them the right to explore oil and minerals without environmental laws.

I think it was the environmentalist Jibrell who said in an interview with BBC-Somali that a better management of our marine resources like industrial development of the fishery sector can significantly raise the living standards of Somalia and thus produce a middle class, well-informed citizens. The point is that we don't have strong institutions that can better respond to the challenges of environmental and political issues affecting us. You should read this research article, "Puntland's oil and mining deal: An affair between greed and incompetence"(2006).

Its two parts clearly present an alternative solution to the present and future conflicts while also exposing the concession agreements which clearly give favorable treatment to Range and others, with corroborating evidence.

 

We must think ahead of our times.

[NASSIR]

Originally posted by humble.:

^Garoodi, how is your post helping an issue or an argument between Puntlanders rather than antagonize?

 

It's not helpful.

Waa iska ciyaal, ee ha u bixin.

[Thankful]

Nassir,

 

Let me address some of your concerns. First, I was supporting Cade Muse because I feel he was trying to make the Puntland economy more self sufficient. Puntland cannot rely solely on the donations from western nations and the Diaspora. They need to start figuring out ways of boosting their economy by finding jobs and revenue from its own resources. You are speaking about your concerns of the environment which I believe is quite baseless. I believe the environmental dangers from exploring for oil and minerals is significantly smaller then the benefits that the natural resources will bring. Do think the Arab countries that have been blessed with oil are concerned with the environment, especially when they started the initial process decades ago? Look at all the nations that have proven oil reserves and how it has benefitted them. The sprawling metropolitan cities that they have constructed and the improve standard of living that has occurred. Some of these nations were faced with treaty’s such as the Kyoto accord; which is an internationally treaty that seeks to reduce the greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere. It is something that has been signed by many countries concerned with the environment, except those like Canada, U.S, China and others; they knew they would be unable to meet the emissions standards, because like in Canada case the process they produce oil produced too much greenhouse emissions. The Prime Minister of Canada felt that the importance of the oil to the economy was so high that he refused to sign a treaty even though it would harm the environment. My point is that you cannot say you’re concerned with the environment when you are living in one of the poorest countries in the world that is suffering from countless problems. The money that oil and other natural resources would bring would improve the lives of our people. Think about this for a second, the situation is so bad people are risking their lives on a boat to try and get to a refugee camp in Yemen.

 

I read the article that you speak of “Puntland's oil and mining deal: An affair between greed and incompetence.” As I expected it was written by people in the U.S. The article is written basis of hearsay evidence and opinions and provides very little facts. It doesn’t take into account a lot of factors and the situation in Somalia. It does not mention the staggering infant mortality rate that Somalis are facing back home, the lack of clean water and a very low health care system that requires people who suffering the only alternative but to travel to other under develop nations to get even the basic medical attention. Many are also dying because of some easily treatable alignments. The article doesn’t speak about very little help that Puntland should be receiving in their allocation for international help. Instead the writers are again obsessed with the precieved thoughts that the former Puntland president and his minister were making a fortune. Which is what everyone who opposed the deal has always been concerned about, it is their fear that someone will be making lots of money and they won’t. I don’t know if they thought he’d be living like the Saudi royal family or if they simple just didn’t want to see anyone make money. Faroole and his supporters were the biggest opposition to the oil deal, I don’t think anyone else fought against it and questioned the legality to it. They had a website which main purpose was to attack the deal and claimed that Puntland cannot sign any such deals, even after Puntland had the federal parliament speaker and Federal president signed the deal Faroole and his website still said Somalia is in no position to make such concessions with their resources. But now that he has been in power for almost 9 months, he is still meeting with the same company that he once claimed was conducting illegal business and even said days after he was elected that “he accepted the contract in principle.” The fact remains the same oil companies are still their and Faroole has not rejected their contract and sent them on their way. Most of the people were against it claimed that they concerned with the environment, the fear it would destabilized the region, corruption, the fact the company is still their proves that the one and only issue they had was that they wanted to be the ones that would make the money. I support the former President Cade Muse because he was the first leader that did not beg for international aide. He tried to provide the people with their own means of developing their state through the fruits of their labor. One of his first focuses was trying to build the costly airport, the livestock quarantine, organizing the port and building a huge administration building there.

 

The article which refers to Puntland as a clan enclave bashes the former admin, but never mentions that so much of Puntlands resources were sent to Mogadishu to prop up the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and that a war was fought at it’s borders. It doesn’t mention that there was global economic crisis facing the most develop nations. There is no mention that other regions in Puntland gladly accepted the oil and mineral workers and pictures I showed you proved it. There is no mention the enormous changes that Bosasso and Garowe made from 2005 to 2009. The article is completely negative and does not make a single mention of anything positive that was developed; which should tell you something of how neutral the writer is.

[Xudeedi]

"a fair system spawns security, stability, and development of every region, and Puntland cannot hope to make progress towards development or democracy without creating conditions and institutions necessary for a lasting solution to internal issues and just political representation. "

 

Lack of fair and just representation is the essence and the sparker of all regional tensions. This article analyses past policies and how those policies impacted Makhiri regions in the most accurate way.

 

Thanksful: You must understand that criticizing previous administrations and re-orating their mistakes only purpose is to address to this new administration. Instead of admiting that alienation trully exists, you get all defensive thus further proving the accusation that links "Puntland" only to your region.

[General Duke]

With all due respect lads, there is a perception of bias but no proof of it at all. The article also does not address the role & responsibility of the named community for the regions development. For example who made SSC into “dispute territories” between a secessionist state & Puntland?

 

The author made some valid points but on the contrary he missed the most important aspect which brother ThanfulSP has touched upon.

 

1. If the communities supported Puntland wholeheartedly why are there politicians from this region in the payroll of Riyaale ?

2. Why was there a need for the creation of the now defunct Makhir State ?

 

One can not have his cake and eat at the same time. Also the argument that Bossaso port feeds Mudug, Nugaal & Bari and not the rest of the regions is a flawed argument. I doubt there has been a single investment made in the cities of Galkacyu, Qhardo Burtinle and many others from the state.

 

This talk of SSDF domination is more than defeatist and this clan family should not be used to cover up local Makhir failures.

 

Puntland was never a Utopian ideal and it is not a clan state.

[NASSIR]

Originally posted by ThankfulSP:

Nassir,

 

Let me address some of your concerns. First, I was supporting Cade Muse because I feel he was trying to make the Puntland economy more self sufficient. Puntland cannot rely solely on the donations from western nations and the Diaspora. They need to start figuring out ways of boosting their economy by finding jobs and revenue from its own resources.

Your notion of economic self-reliance for our regions is understandable, but given the circumstances we are in and the weak, clan-based institutions and political arrangement in place, such reckless adventures may signal a looming disaster. The clandestine deals Ade signed gives up 80% stake of Puntland to Africa Oil and Range in exchange for a mere $50M. The long-term implications of the deal borders on insanity and it is a day light robbery that most sub-clans in the region of Bari have now rejected to lease or give their lands for drilling rights after being inspired by the Majihan conflict. Who knows if Range and its partner have already recouped a huge return for its 50M investment. PL has No team of experts with technological capital and facility to monitor and take account of their activities.

 

[QB]You are speaking about your concerns of the environment which I believe is quite baseless. I believe the environmental dangers from exploring for oil and minerals is significantly smaller then the benefits that the natural resources will bring. Do think the Arab countries that have been blessed with oil are concerned with the environment, especially when they started the initial process decades ago? Look at all the nations that have proven oil reserves and how it has benefitted them. The sprawling metropolitan cities that they have constructed and the improve standard of living that has occurred.

With the exception of few states, the optimal benefit from oil resources has been zero and more of a cursed source of revenue since the operation and management of this sector is capital intensive and therefore lends itself to very little employment opportunities. When there are no environmental laws that can hold the exploitative companies to task about the negative spillover effect of the production and handling that their drilling work poses to the environment, the cost is extremely huge as people(in this case nomads) are displaced of their traditional source of income. To avoid public resentment from being tapped, they companies would simply attract biddable officials and politicians, who are more concerned with enriching themselves, against such critical laws.

Besides, Puntland is not a recognized state with the legal power to seek the technical advise, training and financial loan or assistance of other nations in order to invest and develop its own resources. It's at best in a precarious situation in which the wolves and zombies continue to steal its seafood resources and whatever valuable rich that may lie beneath

Its surface land.

 

Some of these nations were faced with treaty’s such as the Kyoto accord; which is an internationally treaty that seeks to reduce the greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere. It is something that has been signed by many countries concerned with the environment, except those like Canada, U.S, China and others; they knew they would be unable to meet the emissions standards, because like in Canada case the process they produce oil produced too much greenhouse emissions. The Prime Minister of Canada felt that the importance of the oil to the economy was so high that he refused to sign a treaty even though it would harm the environment.

To draw.a comparision from an advanced nation like Canada which sees the full compliance of Kyoto Protocol more of hindrance to its economic growth than help is irrelevant in this particular issue. Still Canada faces an energy and environmental issues as there are recent reports of several bomb attacks in British Columbia. And less than a decade ago, more than 160 attacks had been registered in Alberta. "In protest at the energy companies' alleged disregard for farmers, and particularly their practice of flaring gas to toxic impurities, this was blamed for causing stillbirths in animals and humans," writes the Economist (August 15).

 

A viable Somali government is needed for these types of exploration deals.

 

 

I support the former President Cade Muse because he was the first leader that did not beg for international aide. He tried to provide the people with their own means of developing their state through the fruits of their labor. One of his first focuses was trying to build the costly airport, the livestock quarantine, organizing the port and building a huge administration building there.

That is good work by Adde. The quarantine deal is sort of monopoly. It drives many small traders out of business and thus lowers income of the pastoralists as the price of each livestock will be much much smaller than what they used to sell to individual traders. I hope the administration avoids in taking harsh measures which exclusively limits the freedom of established individual, livestock traders for the use of Bosaaso port.

[Che -Guevara]

Hi folks,

 

There's economic and political discord wether be real or imagined.Ignoring it would be unwise and detrimental to forging one common identity that moves us from Qabyaalid to statehood-something all Somalis should do incrementally till there's one common Somali identity .

 

Also, threatening to quit everytime you don't get your way or having worked hard enough to get foothold is dangerious and detrimental not only to Puntland but the very communities issueing the threats.

 

Conversly, demeaning communities who are part of the foundations by telling them, "you are free to go" is just wrong and again politically unwise.

 

Something needs to be worked out to ensure formation of one common identity, integration of all communities, and free access to politcal/econmical markets of the state.

 

ThankfulSP brother, you seemed to be stuck in the past as well.It does not do you any justice by looking back and defend a man who's longer in contention.Look forward, and support or help the next man who you believe aspires to your own political views.Defending Cadde would only exhaust you, and as you could tell many including me disapproved him for how he handled Puntland during his tenure, but I RESPECT him for leaving quitly once he knew he no longer knew enjoyed the confidence and support of the people. I believe this will be his lasting legacy and many admire him for that.I know I do, and I was never fond of him to begin with.

 

You wanna cement his legacy and see through his policies, find a candidate that share his political philosophy.

 

 

N people listen to Aw Muuse Ismaciil, Qabiil is indeed like onion, the more you pill it, the stinker it gets. Puntland was built on Qabiil, you don't wanna divide into different qabiils but, you could help it from redefine it by forming new identity that's based on loyalty to the state. Asking any Qabiil who ain't happy with the situation only takes you back to paste.

 

N the PAST HAS NO FUTURE.

 

Good day.

[NASSIR]

Che,. You seem to be missing the crux of the matter.

There's no qabiil issue in this topic other than an advisory warning for the likelihood of that trajectory. It's about outstanding issues like the delay of Haylaan's council and budget even though the latter comes under the responsibility of the interior minister.

 

There's also the environmental and exploration issues that need to be addressed.

 

Common Somali identity is only feasible under a federal model.

[General Duke]

Nassir & ThankfulSP are elevating the debate. Keep it up lads it has been highly enjoyable thus far.

[Thankful]

Nassir,

The article that started this thread seems to be complaining about something that I feel is not present. Like I’ve said several times now, if Puntland is clan enclave and was not being fair to Reer Maakhir would Gen Ilko-Jiir have made the run that he did? You've stated that oil exploration is not a good thing at the present time. I agree that for Reer Maakhir it isn't, but in other area's such as Bari there was no issue with it and people there were excited and supported the deal.

 

How can you possible say something negative about the livestock quarantine? In 2001, an out break of Rift Valley Fever occurred in Saudi Arabia, and was subsequently blamed on African livestock, in return Many Arab nation banned all imports, crippling our economy and hurting thousands of farmers. Like this report from relief web shows The effect of the ban is likely to be "devastating" for countries, such as Somalia, which are heavily dependent on livestock exports to the Gulf states, a regional economic expert told IRIN. Cade Muse administration was the first in Somalia to address the ban, and purposed an alternative to Arab nations where a facility would be built in Puntland that would test animals and ensure that they met there standards, which would then allow our livestock to be accepted. Saudi Arabia and other gulf states agreed and it happened, the same Arab group is now doing the same thing in NW Somalia. You say that small traders are going out of business because incomes of the pastoralists as the price of each live stock will be much lower? Do you realize before the livestock quarantine that is exactly what was happening, before the only alternative for our farmers was to send their livestock to Djibouti for vaccinations, which would result in their income being significantly lowered? The live stock quarantine that Cade had built remedied and satisfied the complaints from Puntland farmers. They are now making more money then they were before when they had to go through Djibouti. Arab nations won’t accept our livestock directly from us without the quarantine, things are better now! If we are going to have an honest debate about the previous admin then we should talk about everything good and bad!

 

 

Che,

I was never fond of him to begin with.

This tells me everything and proves exactly what I was saying the issues people like you had with Cade were there before he was president and you never gave him a chance. You were against Abdullahi Yusuf and have a deep seated hatred for him, and anyone that supports him. And since Cade was one of Abdullahi Yusuf most staunches allies you began hating him as well. I am in no way stuck in the past and never mention Cade Muse, but when articles are posted mentioning him by his enemies in a bad light, I will mention the positive aspects of his tenure that they seem to always conveniently leave out. Garoweonline is still posting articles mentioning Cade’s Admin and how bad it was trying to remind people that the problems their father is facing is not new, these articles are being written by people like Weinstien and others. So if you think I am just going to remain silent when these articles are posted, it won’t happen. This is a pic of Bosaso’s new Sea Port, the administrative building was built by Cade Muse admin, before that there was nothing and the end result has organized this extremely vital part of Puntland’s economy.