The Russian cold war almost came close to horne............Berbera.

[galbeedi]

At the end of 2014, a delegation from the Kremlin, Ruusia arrived in Hargeisa. They were presented as businessmen looking deals in fishery and aviation industry, but according to intelligence sources, they were representing the highest levels of the Russian defense ministry. President Ahmed Siilaanyo arranged Chief of staff and place minister Hersi H. Hassan and foreign minister Mohamed B. Yoonis to meet with delegation.

 

The Russians, without hesitation forwarded their plan immediately . They wanted to build a base in Berbera. Since Berbera port is located among the most strategic area of the world, the Russian, for their future plans in the middle east , Indian ocean and the Red Sea wanted to lease from Somaliland in exchange for something big for the Somaliland government and people. Mr. Putin had seen the weaknesses of the Obama administration and wanted to get one more base in the region to augment his bass in Tartus Syria.

 

The ministers were shocked that a powerful nation who is member of the security counsel has came to knock their doors for a deal. The ministers conveyed their fears of the western powers of the Russian presence in the region, so they said , " what are you willing to exchange since we would be taking a huge risk?". The Russian said that they would be willing not only to recognize Somalialnd, but would convince another dozen or so countries ,where they have both political and economic influence to follow suit.

 

The Russians went even further and offered about a billion dollar aid of development and infrastructure. According to this report, they mocked the piece meal aides of the west to Somaliland and offered a life changing aid both for the port and other infrastructures. The ministers received the document explaining the Russian deal and promised to consult more and meet in the future.

 

In order to enhance future cooperation, in the spring of 2015, the Russians invited the Somaliland soccer players to participate a tournament of football for unrecognized countries in Abkhazia, Georgia. In order to participate, the Russian embassy in Addis Ababa even accepted the Somaliland passport and stamped their visa for travel to Moscow.

 

http://www.sdwo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/cagayare.jpg

http://www.sdwo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image-ba716761dee09473765cdd1daaa73ebf030a81bc4c33226c5bce697cf936500a-V.jpg

 

 

As soon as the Russian delegation left Hargeisa, a simultaneous meeting among western intelligence took place in London and Washington. They moved swiftly to dismantle any future Russia deals with somaliland. They did not even bother to notify the Mogadishu based Somali government or the Somaliland administration. Instead, they called one of their client states in the region, The United Arab Emirate , especially Dubai rulers, and asked them to take over the port before the evil Russians take over the land with unforeseen consequences.

 

The Gulf rulers who have ignored Somalis for the last 25 years suddenly became the new darling of both Somalia and Somalilnd. Since the gulf sheikhs do not operate as institution , but a family , they decided to approach the issue of the Berbera port as a matter between two families. Immediately they called a young man called Baashe Morgan, who is the son in law of the Somaliland president and started their conquest quickly. These Emirates, believe that every thing has a price regardless of people or country. They begin their campaign by giving Baashe the keys to a million dollar house and named him the envoy of Somaliland in Dubai. Then they put aside about another $32 million for the mission.

 

Those ministers who sat down with Russian were fired or resigned for one reason or another, and a new minister of foreign affairs with other allies, including Faysal Waraabe begun to negotiate the new deal with Dubai world port. In their first meeting , they gave the minister and his delegation a $15 million dollar signing bonus named in Somaliland as the money for the pen ( xaqul qalin).

 

No one , including the Somliland parliament have seen the fine print of the Berbera port deal, yet pressure was applied to everyone to speed up the deal. Many people have welcomed the deal in order to modernize and increase the port capacity, while others were fed up with the port manager who run the port for 20 years as his own shop. The main problem is few people including all of us knew that there could be probably no investment coming from the gulf. Maybe the whole issue was to keep out the Russians and buy some time.

 

One thing is clear that Berbera and the whole Somali territory is a Jewell in this strategic region. If these enterprising Landers were in charge of Mogadishu and the Somali government , they would have probably achieved a lot more than the hapless Damujadiid flying in Addis three times in one week.

 

[Che -Guevara]

I would like to believe reer Waqooyi leadership would better than their southern brethren. Sadly, I don't think they are any better though I have to admit they are less prone to violence.

 

True Somali dealership does not exist. It is even amazing we gained "independence."

 

Putin has played the West from Syria to holding conferences for American and European neo-Nazis in Saint Petersburg. Assad and his band of Shia militias along with Russian air-force and "advisers" are about to capture all of Aleppo, Soon they will have control over the major urban centers,

 

Putin is doing everything to discredit the West, everything from their liberal politics and economics. He didn't forget Western triumphalism when Russian empire come crushing down in 91.

 

What's more, he has 'friends' in the Trump's cabinet and White House. The anti-Muslim general Flyn has cozy relationship with Moscow. Trump is about to nominate ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as the next Secretary of State. Tillerson and ExxonMobil has business and personal interests in Russia,

 

The CIA has openly admitted Putin's hackers infiltrated the DNC and even RNC. When asked about the situation, Trump brushed off. Even the traditional GOP leadership were surprised at his response.

 

In other words, it will be four interesting years.

 

For the sake of our people (all Somalis), I hope we find an anchor, at this point I don't even mind independent Somaliland as long as it serves the anchor for all the Somali people in the Horn.

 

One more thing, D and H grip on Somali political arena needs to be diminished. Their respective leadership brought nothing but destruction to the Somali people.

[Tallaabo]

It would be a terrible thing to do to give the Russians a military base in Berbera or anywhere in the Somali peninsula. We are poor and in desperate need of economic development and political recognition but at least we are free from a Russian controlled and protected tyranny. If Siilaanyo signed such a deal with Putin, the Kremlin would easily put a ruthless dictator into power and then protect his regime with their military and economic power. The western nations despite their neglect of our country are at least a force that makes sure tyranny is kept at bay.

Let us also not forget that any military alliance with non Muslims is strictly forbidden in Islam. We should have a good peaceful relationship with the world, but we should never ever give any nation a military foothold in our country where they could carry out aggression again other nations without our consent because our consent is not required when we lease military bases to others. We should simply mind our own business and be more like Switzerland.

[Fyr]

I agree that a military base or an alliance whether it be a political one or military would hurt us in the long term, so that is out question right now. Siding with Russia at this moment would’ve be devastating for our economy, especially when our trade is run out UAE.

 

If there ever was such a deal from the Russian then that should be used to pressure the gulf monarchs into a political legitimacy for Somaliland i.e. Recognition. In foreign policy this should priority, to decouple us for this economic strangle hold they’ve on us.

 

Domestically we should strengthen our state institutions and rule of law so that personal, family or clan interest aren’t above the law. This vital if we ever to hope to have a future as a country and be in a position to help and reunite with our brethren in the south.

 

[maakhiri1]

^You forget KSA, 70% of livestock goes there!

 

I doubt this would be highly possible, Russia is a myth, is shadow of what it used to be, can never return, nor does it have the financial strength.

 

China, may be!

[Barwaaqo]

 

The United Arab Emirates has signed an agreement to establish a second foreign military base in the Horn of Africa.

 

 

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/mil-log/uae-presence-expands-africa/

[Che -Guevara]

The last time we got caught up in this sort of situation, we paid a heavy price. We should stay neutral,

[galbeedi]

Free and democratic nations do not rush to build false alliances for cash. It must be based on mutual interest . Only despots and corrupt politicians do. I agree Russia has no place in Somaliland or any where else in this region, at the same time these gulf countries are not nations but banks with oil money.

 

They never do any thing benevolent or merciful any where. They would have brought couple of thousand Syrians or other refugees. In 1960, Taiwan was the primary nation representing the Republic of China and many nations were forced by American's to deny the 700 million , people's Republic. Somalia disagreed and opened it's embassy at Teinamen square. We had relations with both China and USA.

As Che said , we need an anchor state that protects our interest and survival at this stage. Hassa Sheikh and the oligarchs in Mogadishu will sell us all for nothing. For the last four years he gave up every thing and got nothing in exchange . Siilaanyo and company are also following the same foot steps. They both signed this Emirate base , yet no one in Somalind knows.

 

Four years hare just finished and Al-shbaab is at the gates of Mogadishu. What have all these nations have done other than Turkey?, where is the Somali army, where is security? We need a real change.