USAID Chief Visits Mogadishu, Says US Is Committed

[Che -Guevara]

OGADISHU, Somalia February 21, 2013 (AP)

 

The administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development is in Mogadishu for talks with top Somali officials.

 

The visit on Thursday by Rajiv Shah, the administrator of USAID, makes him the highest ranking U.S. administration official to visit Mogadishu in years.

 

The U.S. is embracing the new government in Mogadishu, a formerly war-torn city that has seen about 18 months of relative peace. Last month the U.S. formally recognized Somalia's government for the first time in two decades.

 

Shah, standing beside Somalia's president, announced $20 million in new funding to support health and education programs. Shah said the U.S. also wants to help Somalia fight corruption.

 

He said Somalia was mired in conflict, famine and terrorism, but that its story line is now one of resilience, recovery and hope.

 

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/usaid-chief-visits-mogadishu-us-committed-18554608

[nuune]

So first time for USAID since 1990/91, well at least I expect 2%(about 400,000) of that money to go into the mentioned projects, just 2% is OK, inta kale ha kala dafaan bisadaha sugaya ee moodaya the money is for them!

 

 

Anigu waxaan oran lahaa aid is not the solution, aid creates corruption, aid makes people lazy, aid waxaa weeye waan ku leeyahay ee yeel saan kaa rabo.

[SayidSomal]

Committed to what?

 

My opinion on this is no more aid!

[SayidSomal]

nuune;920305 wrote:

 

Anigu waxaan oran lahaa aid is not the solution, aid creates corruption, aid makes people lazy, aid waxaa weeye waan ku leeyahay ee yeel saan kaa rabo.

+1

Couldn't agree more

[Che -Guevara]

We don't have a lot options, do we?

[SayidSomal]

^oh yes we do - plenty in fact!

obviously some are better than others - but plenty of options.

[nuune]

Too many options to list, but why go aid while you can establish business/investment relationships with China, Japan, Russia and any reasonable country.

 

 

Get China to build rail/road system

Japan for generating electricity such as dams etc

Turkey for construction

Russia for cheap oil, and weaponary(near future)

 

 

All these won't ask for initial payment, so why worry and generate tax from the workers with the mentioned projects to pay for the projects.

[Haatu]

nuune;920342 wrote:

Too many options to list, but why go aid while you can establish business/investment relationships with China, Japan, Russia and any reasonable country.

 

 

Get China to build rail/road system

Japan for generating electricity such as dams etc

Turkey for construction

Russia for cheap oil, and weaponary(near future)

 

 

All these won't ask for initial payment, so why worry and generate tax from the workers with the mentioned projects to pay for the projects.

Also, after Somalia starts exporting oil, it would have some cash if its own to spend. They could then give these projects to Somali companies and make up the shortfall of experienced personnel by allowing foreigners to work in the country. Somalis should rely on themselves and not others. No one is going to build their country for them. If they continue relying on "Turkey baa dhisi" they will remain stagnant for eons to come.

[Abwaan]

This is good. The government is getting more international support. It needs to put more work on security in order for this to continue receiving this support.

[cadnaan1]

Madaxweynaha shalayto xildhibaan ayuu sidii madaxweyne oo kale usoo dhaweyey..maanta nin hay'ad ka socdo ayey asaga iyo raisal wasaaraha isla soo dhaweyeen.

Waxaana mudneed inay soo dhaweyso wasaarada arimaha bulshada , shaqadii oo dhan waxaa isku qaatay sedexda mas'ul ee sare.

[Abwaan]

cadnaan1 dantaada maqaar eey xitaa waa loo huwadaa. Insha Allaah waa la gaari doonaa halkaasd u socotid.

[Waranle_Warrior]

^Lol, not that USAID will change their policy, up or down allocations whether they are welcomed by the President or other government representative. It doesn't work like that.

[cadnaan1]

Sxb baahi ayaa i haysa baqti looma cuno,,inkasta oo dhaqaale xumo jirto hadana laysma liidiyo.maantana waxay ku fiicneed wadahadalka loo daayo wasaarada ku shaqada leh uu asaga atleast goob joog ka ahaado. Waa in sharciga la wada ilaaliya.

[Raamsade]

USAID has a dark history in Somalia especially its collusion with the Siad Barre regime of malfeasance which directly led to the wholesale desctruction of Somalia's agricultural potential. When the Kacaanka government rose to power in 1970, Somalia and Somalis were self-sufficient in food production. The twilight period of Kacaanka government when aid agencies like USAID et all basically ran the country, Somalia couldn't feed half of its population. Lets learn from history!

[Odey]

20 Million in return for what?. It is too small a figure and If USA really wanted to help they would have announced billions. This is not aid, this is a way to keep this fledgling government in check. Labaatan milyan waa lugooyo!, particularly since the President even went to the white house. Personally I believe the president should have sent the head of the Disaster Management committee, not even a minister or a deputy.

 

Having said that, the leadership need to understand they are not the bloody taxi service that get called to the bloody airport everyday. In fact they should insist these people leave the airport and come to villa somalia. The fact that they are agreeing to receive them at the airport is simply going to allow all the other internationals to demand the same and claim the city is not safe enough for them to go. They used to go to Villa somalia in the last two years when at times it was quite dangerous. Quite frankly I am very disappointed with this whole saga.