Somaliland: King Rabi Detention Opens Unionism Pandora Box

Somaliland: King Rabi Detention Opens Unionism Pandora Box

By: Yusuf M Hasan HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – "We demand the urgent and unconditional release of King Rabi Yusuf, or else" So read a statement released by traditional leaders after a meeting at a Hargeisa hotel where they had met to discuss and come up with strategies to effect the release of their jailed colleague King Rabi Yusuf Abdilahi now in police custody for almost a week. The arrest on 12th February and subsequent detention of King Rabi in the capital city immediately upon arrival from Mogadishu pertains to suspect interaction with the Somalia government thus a unionist, a treasonable offence in the country. The meeting whose participants were entirely traditional leaders from the King Rabi Eidagale clan asked the government to unconditional release the King whose arrest and detention they termed as abhorrence and an affront to their community. Excerpts of the Elders Statement to the government read Quote - "King Rabi is a respectable leader and his detention without trial is an affront to his leadership mandate in addition to being a ploy to assassinate his character and good standing within the community" "While we acknowledge and respect laws of the country we urged the security officials holding King Rabi to arraign him in court if he they have sufficient proof of his crimes or release him immediately" "Nonetheless we hereby inform of our abhorrence for the continued detention without trial of the respected traditional leader which is proof that his arrest was of malicious intent" "We therefore inform the government that unless the King's arraignment in court or release is not expedited we shall be forced to pursue other avenues that might be detrimental to existing cooperation" –Unquote Though King Rabi's mission in Mogadishu are not clear he is known to have gone there after conclusion of the Somalia constitution making that attracted a number of prominent personalities mostly traditional leaders. In pursuit of fulfilling constitutional dictates that criminalize any association with Somalia authorities, the government in Hargeisa has repeatedly warned that those who are enticed (financially/Morally) will be arrested and charged with treason upon setting foot in Somaliland. While this tenet of treating the Somalilanders termed unionists thus owing allegiance to the Mogadishu government has withstood the time tide of two decades the lenient sentence imposed on Somalia MP Jama Ahmed Mahmud is seen as a salient approval of association with Somalia by the Government in Hargeisa. The Mogadishu legislator was arrested on 5th Feb in the western Gabile town where he had been for a fortnight and subsequently transferred to Hargeisa for arraignment in Court. According to the Gabile regional police Chief Captain Suleiman Duale 'Dega'ade', MP Jama was arrested because he original hails from Gabile thus a traitor to the Nation for having joined the Unionists in South Somalia, an act that is contrary to the laws of Somaliland. On 23rd February the Maroodi-jeeh (Hargeisa) regional court fined the MP1, 000,000 SL Sh ($150) plus immediate deportation to Mogadishu upon payment of the fine. The legislator having paid the lenient fine was subsequently deported two days ago. "Due to the severity under which the unionist legislator was charged with and the subsequent sentence of a cheap fine and deportation, the hitherto treasonable crime of working for the Somalia government seems to have been discarded" quipped analyst Yumoha Pasha On the other hand the court's lenient treatment of the unionist MP son of Somaliland is very contrary to the vehement castigation meted on Ms. Fozia Yusuf Haji Aden a few months ago when she was appointed to her current posts of Somalia deputy premier and Foreign minister. Hon Fozia Yusuf Haji Aden who is currently the Somalia Deputy Premier and minister of Foreign Affairs who is a prominent daughter of Somaliland was upon her appointment in Mogadishu, accused of being a traitor and threatened with arrest and stiff sentence if ever she steps on Somaliland soil. At the height of debate on the Fozia Mogadishu appointments to high posts the chairperson of the Guurti, the upper chamber of parliament, Elder Suleiman Mahmud Aden said that the Fozia's ascension to those offices was treason, a crime against the republic of Somaliland and thus to be considered, Fozia a traitor. Though the leader of the house of elders pledged to see that the law is upheld thus her prosecution on treason and subsequent stiff sentence, proceeding events as per the leniency meted on Somalia MP Jama Ahmed Mahmud places the elder between two walls as pertains to his fulfillment of his pledge on Fozia if ever she is arrested. So what will happen if and when the Mogadishu based Deputy Premier decides to visit relatives in and facelift her sprawling mansion in Hargeisa? In the unionism Pandora box there is the detention without trial of King Rabi, the $150 and deportation lenient sentence for the now not treasonable association with Somalia authorities.

Somaliland: Presidency Face-lifting Initiated

Somaliland: Presidency Face-lifting Initiated

By: Hasan O Horri HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The president H.E Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo has launched construction works at the presidency. The works that will see eight new ultra-modern offices and two conference halls as well as the addition of spacious rooms to the barracks of the presidential guards. At ceremony launching the works which are fully funded by the government, the head of state was briefed by presidency minister Hirsi Haji Ali as per the final design of the new facilities and intended purpose. President Silanyo who informed that the already completed, ongoing rehabilitation or new construction of public infrastructures is as per his government's policy as well as fulfillment of campaign pledges made in 2010.

S. African police drag man, who later dies

S. African police drag man, who later dies
By Raf Cassert, Associated Press1

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
A South African newspaper, posted video footage of the dragging
Uniformed South African police officers bound man's hands to the rear of a van
Van sped off, dragging the man along the pavement

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — They bound his hands to the rear of a van, and then sped off, dragging the slender taxi driver along the pavement as a crowd of onlookers shouted in dismay. The man was later found dead.

A gut-wrenching video of the scene is all the more disturbing because the men who abused the Mozambican immigrant were uniformed South African police officers and the van was a marked police vehicle.

The graphic scenes of the victim struggling for his life shocked a nation long accustomed to reports of police violence.

The Daily Sun, a South African newspaper, posted video the footage Thursday and it was quickly picked up by other South African news outlets and carried on the Internet. It sparked immediate outrage.

"They are there for safety, but we as a people fear them more," said Johannesburg resident Alfonso Adams. "You don't know who to trust anymore."

Some of those in the crowd who watched the scene unfold in the Daveyton township east of Johannesburg shouted at the police and warned that it was being videotaped. The police did not seem at all concerned by all the witnesses and the presence of cameras as they tied Mido Macia, a 27-year-old from neighboring Mozambique, to the back of a police vehicle, his hands behind his head. At least three policemen participated in the incident. Macia was found dead in a Daveyton police cell late Tuesday.

"We are going to film this," several onlookers shouted in Zulu as the police tormented Macia. One bystander can be heard on the videotape shouting in Zulu: "What has this guy done?"

A murder probe is underway on the evidence that Macia suffered head and upper abdomen injuries, including internal bleeding, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, the police watchdog agency, said Thursday. The injuries could be from the dragging and he could also have been beaten later in police custody.

"The allegations are that he was dragged behind a vehicle and his head was bent on the police vehicle. There are also allegations of assault," said the investigative unit's spokesman Moses Dlamini.

The video evidence of the abuse renewed concerns about brutality, corruption and other misconduct by a national police force whose reputation has suffered in recent years amid reports that many officers lack training. Some have been charged with committing the crimes they are supposed to prevent, including rape and murder.

"As horrific as it is, it is not exceptional. Hardly a week goes by without such stories of brutality," said Jacob van Garderen, national director of Lawyers for Human Rights.

At first, Macia, dressed in jeans and a red T-shirt, is dragged along the road by the vehicle at slow speed, the footage shows. He awkwardly tries to keep step even though he is almost horizontal above the ground. Then the van stops, two policemen pick up the legs of the taxi driver and drop them to the ground as the van picks up speed and drives off, beyond the view of the camera.

The police watchdog agency said the incident started just before 7 p.m. on Tuesday when the cab driver was allegedly obstructing traffic with his vehicle. Then Macia allegedly assaulted a constable and took his weapon before he was overpowered, the police investigative unit said.

Macia was found dead in a cell over two hours later by another policeman, according to the watchdog agency.

National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega "strongly condemned" what happened. South Africans are "urged to remain vigilant and continue to report all acts of crime irrespective of who is involved," said Phiyega in a statement.

Phiyega has tried to upgrade the reputation of the South African police since her appointment last year. Last month, Phiyega told a group of police officials the standing of the force "has been severely but not irreparably tarnished over the past several years."

The problems, though, are immense for a police force that has expanded from some 120,000 to almost 200,000 over the last decade, "often failing to match the increase in quantity with sufficient quality," said Johan Burger, who served for 36 years on the force before becoming a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies.

Several experts contacted by The Associated Press also said that in recent years there has been an increasing willingness to use a shoot-to-kill approach to the crime and violence.

An average of 860 people a year died in police custody or as a result of police action between 2009 and 2010, up from 695 a year from 2003 to 2008, according to Burger of the security studies institute.

Further staining the reputation of the police is the Marikana shootings when, on Aug. 16, 2012, a line of South African police opened fire on a crowd of striking miners, killing 34 at a platinum mine northwest of Johannesburg. A judicial commission is investigating allegations that many were killed in a rocky hill, near the much-filmed initial scene of the attack, shot in the back as they tried to escape.

---

Associated Press Writer Michelle Faul contributed to this story.

Thailand signs peace talks deal with Muslim rebels

Thailand signs peace talks deal with Muslim rebels

More than 5,000 people have died since the insurgency flared up in 2004

Continue reading the main story

Related Stories

• Thailand country profile
• Putting a face to the conflict in Thailand's south
• Militants killed in Thailand attack

Thailand's government has signed its first-ever peace talks deal with Muslim rebels aimed at ending a decades-long conflict in the south.

The deal was signed in Malaysia by the National Revolution Front (BRN), one of several groups operating in Thailand.

More than 5,000 people have been killed since the conflict reignited in the Muslim-majority region in 2004.

Malaysian PM Najib Razak and his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra are to meet in Kuala Lumpur later on Thursday.

Their annual meeting is expected to include talks on the insurgency in the south as well as cross-border trade, said the Bangkok Post newspaper on Wednesday.

Malaysia has been acting as a facilitator for the negotiations between the Thai government and the Muslim rebels and is likely to host any peace talks.

'Do our best'

The document signed in Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, will begin a "dialogue process", said officials.

More details of the agreement will be made public after the two prime ministers meet, Malaysian officials were quoted by Associated Press news agency as saying.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Jonathan HeadBBC News, South East Asia correspondent

Many attempts have been made before to start talks between the Thai government and the Muslim insurgents fighting in the far south of the country - most were half-hearted, and all failed.

What is different this time is that the two sides have signed an agreement to begin negotiations, and that it is being launched very publicly by the prime ministers of Thailand and Malaysia.

That commits both sides to stick to the process - for the first time, the insurgents have been given recognition by the Thai state, and their demands can be heard and discussed.

This breakthrough follows an abortive raid by a large group of insurgents on a Thai military base earlier this month, in which 16 of them were killed.

The incident appears to have shaken the Thai government into reaching out to the insurgents, rather than retaliating for the raid with force.

However this is still just the start of a process that is untested and could stumble on many issues.

The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says that while attempts have been made before to launch a peace process, this is the first time both sides have committed to doing so in writing.

However, he adds that it is only a first step, noting the splintered nature of the insurgency and the possibility that the various rebel leaders may limited influence over their fighters on the ground.

The secretary-general of Thailand's National Security Council Paradorn Pattanatabutr, who signed the deal, said it was "another attempt by the government to tackle the unrest" and did not mean an immediate end to the conflict, Bangkok Post reports.

Hassan Taib, who signed the document for the BRN, told reporters: "We will do our best to solve the problem. We will tell our people to work together to solve the problems."

BRN, or Barisan Revolusi Nasional in Malay, is just one of several rebel groups in the south.

The rebels in mostly Muslim southern provinces are thought to be fighting for greater autonomy from Buddhist-majority Thailand.

Malaysia also brokered a framework peace agreement between the Philippines and its largest Muslim rebel group last year.

Hargeisa: a city on the edge

Hargeisa: a city on the edge

The Capital city of the self declared independent State of Somaliland has much to be proud of. It is home, by conservative estimates, to more than a million people and it is the national centre of commerce. By simply observing the growing corporate skyline, it is evident that this reputation will only grow. More than any other city in Somaliland, Hargeisa, is a place of great tribal diversity and the unrecognised nation's political heart.

Since breaking off the unity forged after independence with the South in 1991, Somalilanders, as the nations citizens like to be called, were governed from Hargeisa. The capital of any nation is the focal point for politics, business, trade and individual ambition. Hargeisa is no different. Today like Bombay and London, Hargeisa is a city facing enormous problems that can only be resolved by visionary leadership, political will and national economic redistribution.

The major headaches

Globalisation has led to a larger concentration of people internationally living in cities than ever before. In 2007 the global urban population overtook the rural one and the speed of urbanisation, especially in developing nations, is phenomenal and unsustainable. Much of the reason why so many want to come and live in Hargeisa is because they feel it offers the best hopes for employment in the whole country. All NGOs, businesses and government departments are clustered in specific areas of the capital and as such it is easy to see why people, often with stable lives elsewhere will be attracted to the city. Like most other capital cities too, Hargeisa is seen as a cosmopolitan city of culture and fun. It is less conservative than other major Somaliland cities because of the diversity in its population which is made up of professionals, Diaspora returnees and locals from differing corners of Somalia and Somaliland. There is always something going on every night and a hotel room or restaurant for every budget. However, this warm invitation from a distant is just that.

Hargeisa has high levels of unemployment, crime and the cost of living is going up daily due to lack of government interventions and controls. It has extremely poor infrastructure, limited public services and most services that are provided are done so by Aid agencies and NGOs working in the city. In line with other growing third world cities, Hargeisa has a rapidly expanding population and is home to many refugees fleeing the violence in the South of Somalia, work seekers and settlers from neighbouring nations such as Ethiopia. There is no risk that Hargeisa might ever reach the size of some mega cities such as Karachi, but for its size and current challenges, it may as well be for most inhabitants who compete for meagre available resources such as land.

In many past songs and poems Hargeisa, like many of the beautiful cities of Somalia, was praised for its greenery and cleanliness. It was fertile land for absolutely anything from settlement to planting fruits. However, today with the increasing number of cars on the roads, pollution infects the air. Poor public health and limited sanitation facilities both private and public hamper the city's residents. Even the basic supply of water in such a scorching country is not possible in most areas without the use of donkeys. Of course, the donkeys, like every other service in the city that is not owned and managed by NGOs is privately provided at a cost which is rising faster than income for those lucky enough to be economically active in any form. Ironically for the majority of its residents, Hargeisa, the city of bright lights and greater opportunities, offers a bleak future.

What's your price?

Meaningful local leadership can be brought about by better governance and provision of public services facilitated by economic growth which then can be taxed fairly to redistribute and fund essential public services such as sewers and schools. This is how most of the developed world municipalities operate with some assistance from central government. However, in the absence of real funds from government, the only way for Hargeisa city to have the necessary public services is to attract investors. This creates employment, partnerships and a tax nest. All necessary for public service funding. However, what if most of the businesses, except a few, are either not registered or simply operate openly in the black market? This is what happens in most third world countries. Hargeisa has a bustling street market culture and the traders that sell in all corners of the city are the heart of the real economy. As much local taxes can possibly be raised from this group as the larger national corporations such as remittance and telecommunication companies. But how does the city prove their income? Or who do they pay taxes to and for what? Who gets a bite of the cherry first: The national or local government? This is a continuing policy mess that needs to be cleared up before convincing traders of the tax collectors integrity and good intentions to help them through the provision of public services if they are ever to come out of the economic darkness. This enormous economic black hole is not one created by greedy local traders but by confused governance, corruption and poor co-ordination and provision of essential and desperately needed public services.

Who's Roof?

Housing is in short supply globally. It also costs far too much. Land rights are disputed all over the world today and Somaliland is no different. Nowhere else in Somaliland is gentrifying more quickly than the capital Hargeisa. Simply put, Gentrification is a process whereby one set of people, usually wealthier, move into, renovate and restore housing in inner city areas where poorer people used to live. The American architect and journalist Duany, described gentrification as "the rising tide that lifts all boats" because of its ability to rebalance "a concentration of poverty by providing a tax base, rub off work ethic and political effectiveness of a middle class and in the process improve the quality of life for all a community's residence." How very hopeful and patronising. In Hargeisa before the current tsunami of gentrification which is largely led by the wealthy and the Diaspora who do not live in their overpriced summer houses, community spirit was strong and income inequalities limited. Now the sense of community has been destroyed by the erections of large villa gates and watchmen as well as larger shopping centres suddenly surfacing to cater for the new remittance rich class. The sense of them and us is now arguably strong where it did not exist before. As for spread of political clout, even if it were possible in a tribal nation, the wealthy have shown a tendency to just represent themselves and exclude others issues. Even more worryingly, undeveloped land banks are everywhere in Hargeisa (jaago) and developers are holding on to these until prices go up at which time they will sell it to the highest bidder. For a country which relies on foreign aid and the UN Habitat to build the few social homes to ever be built, it is difficult to see how a national social housing building programme can be initiated, funded and effectively implemented. However, in the absence of land law, proper planning regulations and the historic ownership of land through tribal heritage, it is impossible to see how the losers of gentrification can be contained when they return to their tribes to ask to get their land back simply because the price the developers paid for it has not allowed them to buy another elsewhere. Whereas in developed nations with the necessary laws and regulations, simple property matters can be resolved in independents courts, in madly gentrifying Hargeisa it may lead to bloodshed in the near future if things are not done about it.

Illegal settlements in Hargeisa have been a major headache for every political administration. They trap inhabitants in poverty, create criminality and contribute to the poor health of the city. There are some slums of hope like in India where there are public services and a thriving regulated economy. But Somaliland's slums are ones of despair and containing a significant number of the population. They poorly house families, orphans and refugees and are hard to tackle politically as the local authority has nowhere else to accommodate these people. This enormous problem can be attributed to poor planning, land management and the process of gentrification. To tackle this Hargeisa needs revolutionary city leadership.

Follow the leader

The key challenges facing Hargeisa are similar in every major city in the World. In a recent lecture at the University of Bristol's Centre for Urban Studies, Professor Robin Hambleton, an expert in City leadership, argued that the way to tackle the challenges facing major cities today is to find the leadership that can avoid the disaster scenario which is a divided, unequal city with residents living isolated lives in separate fortified enclaves. City leaders instead need, he went on, to focus on discovering ways in which to nurture, build and sustain a vibrant, multicultural city which generates economic prosperity and a good quality of life for all citizens.

Hargeisa is prosperous but not for the vast majority of people. Yet it still attracts them with the false lure of most capital cities across the world. The new mayor of Hargeisa, Yusuf Warsame Saeed, in a recent interview was confident about the future of his city despite understanding its challenges. This is a good start but what he needs to change on top of the negative public image of his Councillors and office, is the way the city is run. It needs to be transparent, functioning daily and not coming to a halt after lunch and working in the public interest. On a policy level the new Hargeisa city local government needs to lead the way in which things are done locally. They need to be the example for other local authorities. They can only achieve this if they take the initiative and start investigating rent controls, initiating community cohesion strategies and advocating for planning laws which force developers to build a certain percentage of social housing if they are to build in the city. Greater involvement of the public in policy making needs to be made a priority and the fact that other cities such as Borama and Berbera are in competition with the capital cannot be forgotten by carving out niche specialities for their cities. Borama is education and Berbera tourism. Both of these Hargeisa has but because of poor infrastructure, high prices and crippling rising pollution can easily be beaten by both as well as other cities in both Somaliland and Somalia.

Hargeisa Councillors have a thankless task and can be forgiven for feeling frustrated with their roles. It sometimes feels as though, because Hargeisa is home to the national government and the seat of all official political power in Somaliland, locals with connections are able to side step them and directly approach the government Ministers to deal with their issues personally. The obvious visibility of the national government has in the past put Councillors and the Mayor in the political shadow. However, this is dangerous for democracy, economic growth, security and stability. The national government should know its remit and focus on the national issues such as defence and the budget whilst leaving local issues, which often are tribal, to the local elected officials to resolve. Clarity of their powers, roles and support from the centre by refusing to deal with local issues will enhance the governance of the capital.

Somalis in general misunderstand leadership to mean One Man rule. Leadership is the ability to articulate and formulate a vision and use all the legal and necessary resources at ones disposal to achieve it. Yusuf Warsame Saeed needs to work with all stakeholders to co-ordinate and manage the city's finances as well as extending out to public private partnerships to create employment and raise the capital to develop the needed public services like roads and bin collections. This coupled with transparent and more inclusive governance will win resources and respect for Hargeisa from both the public and private sector.

The population growth, even with good governance and strong partnerships remains an issue. The average size of a Somali family is large by most standards and land is in short supply in the capital. The best way to address this major concern is for central government, to invest in and promote Regional Economic Development. This means giving tax breaks to companies that invest outside of the capital and create employment in other major cities so as to alleviate the population pressure from the capital. The NGOs that have also congregated in Hargeisa ought to be dispersed and government functions and offices shipped out too. Why should a nation be concentrated in one city? This is bad economics, politics and even worse urban planning. However, the dream of Regional Economic Development is currently hampered by poor infrastructure and transport which are two of the key reasons why businesses, NGOs and people huddle together uncomfortably in the capital.

Hargeisa is a city with great potential. It is the capital of a nation seeking recognition from the international community and its economical and political heart. However, with so much hope invested in it by everyone, it could end up letting the nation down. It is too populated, increasingly divided, poorly and confusingly governed as well as expensive. This is not the recipe for city survival and success. Indeed it is the route to fragmentation and eventual self destruction. Urgent steps need to be taken to prevent this both from the Centre and by Local leadership.

The author welcomes feedback and can be contacted via the below methods.
Liban Obsiye
libanbakaa@hotmail.com

African migrants pay high prices to send money home

IRIN wrote:

African migrants pay high prices to send money home

JOHANNESBURG, 27 February 2013 (IRIN) - New data [ http://sendmoneyafrica.worldbank.org/ ] from the World Bank has revealed that African migrants pay more to send money home to their families than any other migrant group in the world.

While South Asians pay an average of US$6 for every $100 they send home, Africans often pay more than twice that - and in South Africa, which has the highest remittance costs on the continent, nearly 21 percent of money set aside for family members back home is spent on getting it there.

With an estimated 120 million Africans depending on remittances from family members abroad for their survival, health and education, the World Bank argues that high transaction costs are cutting into the impact remittances can have on poverty levels.

To address this, the Bank is partnering with the African Union Commission and member states to establish the African Institute for Remittances [ http://sendmoneyafrica.worldbank.org/african-institute-remittances-air-project ], which will work towards lowering the transaction costs of remittances to and within Africa. It will also leverage the potential of remittances to influence economic and social development.

"The World Bank's approach supports regulatory and policy reforms that promote transparency and market competition and the creation of an enabling environment that promotes innovative payment and remittance products," said Marco Nicoli, a finance analyst at the Bank who specializes in remittances.

Costly and difficult

Owen Maromo, a 33-year-old farmworker who lives in De Doorns, a grape-growing region in South Africa's Western Cape Province, told IRIN that his family in Zimbabwe relies on the money he sends home every month.

"I've got a house there and I need to pay rent. I'm also taking care of my youngest brother - since my mum died four years ago - and my wife's family.

"Almost every Zimbabwean here is budgeting to send money back home," he added. "If they could, they would send money home on a weekly basis."

In a 2012 report by the Cape Town-based NGO People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP), interviews with 350 Zimbabwean migrants revealed some of the reasons sending money home from South Africa is both costly and difficult [ http://www.passop.co.za/news/featured/press-statement ].

A key impediment is the stringent regulatory framework that governs cross-border transfers from South Africa. Exchange control legislation, for example, requires money transfer operators (MTOs) to partner with a bank. According to PASSOP, this has had the effect of stifling competition that would likely reduce transaction costs.

Legislation intending to counter money laundering and terrorist financing requires that customers provide proof of residence and proof of the source of their funds before they can access financial services. This effectively excludes the many migrants living in informal settlements and those who are paid in cash.

PASSOP found that even among migrants who do have access to banks and MTOs like Western Union and MoneyGram, many lack the financial literacy to make use of them.

"Some have just come from rural areas in Zimbabwe, so it takes time for them to know about such things," said Maromo, adding that lack of documentation was another major obstacle. "If you're undocumented, you can't go through the banks."

Three-quarters of the Zimbabwean migrants interviewed by PASSOP relied instead on "informal" remittance channels, such as giving money or goods to bus drivers, friends or agents to send home. This is often not much cheaper than using banks or MTOs, and it is significantly riskier. Of the respondents who used such methods, 84 percent reported negative experiences, including theft of their money, loss or destruction of their goods and long delays in remittances reaching intended recipients.

Maromo relayed his own experience sending money home through an agent who charged a 15 percent commission to channel the money through his South African bank account before handing it over to Maromo's relatives in Zimbabwe. "Some time ago, I nearly lost 2,000 rand ($225) because I deposited it in [the agent's] account and he was saying he didn't have it and giving excuses. In the end, we got the money, but it cost us nearly 1,000 rand ($113) in airtime calling Zimbabwe," he said.

"Some are using bus drivers or those people who are going home, and you have to trust them because you're desperate, but there can be a lot of problems," he added. "There are a lot of people whose money just disappears. Almost on a daily basis, you hear those stories."

Lowering transaction fees

Now, Maromo uses a UK-based online transfer service called Mukuru.com, which is popular with many Zimbabweans living overseas. The proof of residence and source of funds requirements are the same as for traditional MTOs, but the site charges 10 percent on transfers from South Africa to Zimbabwe - less than most banks.

The South African Reserve Bank and the treasury have committed to bringing the cost of remittances down to 5 percent by relaxing regulations for smaller money transfers, negotiating with regulators in the Southern African Development Community on exchange control regulations, and removing the requirement that MTOs partner with banks.

However, at the time of writing, the Reserve Bank has not yet responded to questions from IRIN about how these changes will be implemented and within what timeframe.

Rob Burrell, director of Mukuru.com, said achieving the 5 percent target would be tough considering the numerous costs that MTOs have to cover, including fees paid to the companies that collect and pay out the money, the cost of supporting transactions through a call centre, and licensing and reporting requirements. "We would need everyone pulling together," he said.

Burrell noted that less stringent laws governing MTOs in the UK mean more competition but much weaker anti-money laundering controls. To operate in South Africa, Mukuru.com has to comply with the regulation that they partner with a local banking license holder.

"In the UK, it's easier to obtain your license. There are 4,000 [MTOs operating in the UK] compared to 12 in South Africa, but the downside is that it's very difficult to police them all," he told IRIN. "My last audit in the UK was four years ago because they can't handle the volume of licenses."

ks/rz

Cirro: A Rudderless Leader Sinking Somaliland By Saeed M. Timir

Cirro: A Rudderless Leader Sinking Somaliland By Saeed M. Timir

Failure to Lead Parliament
the Parliament is supposed to be an advocate and an agent of the people to check on the government against abuse of power as outlined on section 6 of Article 53 of Somaliland Constitution which reads, "The House of Representatives shall have the power to summon the Government or its organs or agencies in order to question them about the fulfillment of their responsibilities".

The reasons why President Siilaanyo's abuse of Presidential powers is not checked by Parliament starts with the fact that the Chairman of The House of Representatives (Parliament), Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Cirro), consistently lines up with the president and blocks any attempts to check on the Government (President) or its organs or agencies.

Failure to investigate local elections
Take the case of the recent municipal elections where the outcome was rigged. After bloody demonstrations Cirro promised to assign a committee to investigate how the elections were handled. Unfortunately, this promise was shelved even after it was approved by 12 parliamentarians out of 14 that were present on December 22nd, 2012.

Mr. Cirro chose, deliberately, to ignore the will of the people and Parliament and reneged on his promise to conduct a thorough investigation of the elections and why, needlessly, innocent young men demonstrating against the election outcome were massacred.

I have challenged and asked friends of mine who support Wadani Party to give a good reason why they should support Mr. Cirro. Their answer was that Mr. Cirro is a gentleman and he gets along with everybody and that we do not need a confrontational leader. This is the basis and essence of their support. But that is exactly where the heart of the problem lies. Trying to get along with everybody and preferring to be silent and not upholding the constitution.

Preferring silence over making vociferous statements against corruption and rigged local elections is a perfect example of the characteristics of week leadership. The Chairman of the Parliament, failed miserably in the eyes of the people, to investigate the root cause and failure to hold fair and transparent local elections. He also failed to investigate why the security services shot live bullets at peaceful demonstrators.

Failure to 'censor' Ministry of Aviation
Another example of his dereliction of parliamentary duties is not conducting a thorough review of how the Ministry of Aviation, Mr. Hashi, allowed a private entity (NASHA) to levy a $10 fee on all departing passengers at our airports. That money was collected by above privately owned entity for more than a year without the approval of parliament. It is a violation of our constitution for any ministry or government agency to collect or levy income without the approbation and express approval of parliament. The Chairman failed to 'censor' the Minister of Aviation for this violation – A testament to Chairman Cirro's poor judgment.

The people want to know why Mr. Abdirahman Cirro failed to enquire where and how that money which was illegally levied on departing passengers was spent. He also failed to enquire how that money can be retrieved and returned to the treasury.

Kingpin of transactional politics
There is no doubt that this failure to scrutinize government and its agencies made him impotent because 'transactional politics' is at the heart of all this corruption assigning himself to be the chief protector of the status quo. It can not be described as anything else but greased wheels at work to render parliament submissive to President Siilaanyo's whims. He failed to use his parliamentary devises to check on the President and he resigned himself to be a rudderless leader helping the sinking and demise of Somaliland into the bottom of a dark ocean.


In conclusion Somaliland as I said before Parliament is supposed to be an advocate and an agent of the people to check on the government against abuse of power. The people of Somaliland must wake up, organize themselves and start a revolution to end the corruption and demand changes to governance. We must demand just governance and an end to the transactional politics between the Chairman of The House of Representatives and the President.

Saeed M. Timir
s_timir@yahoo.com

Government Confirms Al-Shabaab Suspects Arrested In Sanaag & Hargeisa

Government Confirms Al-Shabaab Suspects Arrested In Sanaag & Hargeisa
Hargeisa:- The Somaliland government has confirmed that an unknown number of people with suspected links to the Al-Shabaab group from Somalia have been arrested at recent operations conducted by the Somaliland Defence Forces in the eastern parts of Sanaag and Sool region. The government has also confirmed that a few suspects had been arrested in Hargeisa through extensive operations conducted by the Somaliland Security Forces.

This is the first time that the government of Somaliland has officially clarified the extent of Al-Shabaab's penetration into to the country.

Speaking to the local media, the Somaliland Defence minister, Ahmed Haji Ali Addami stated that Somaliland and the United Kingdom have been co-operating in order to resolve the issue of the travel ban imposed on British nationals to Somaliland and Somalia.

Sources indicate that the Al-Shabaab group having been routed in Somalia by Amison forces are trying to attain footholds in the eastern regions of Somaliland. Al-Shabaab have also been reported to have infiltrated the areas under the control of the Puntland and Gal-Mudug states of Somalia.

All in all, the administration of President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud "Silaanyo" having been caught unprepared by the travel bans from the United Kingdom and the United States of American warning its citizens from travelling to the country have finally decided to address that matter and level with the people of Somaliland with regard to the graveness of the issue.

Women in Japan are renting out their legs for advertising space

Women in Japan are renting out their legs for advertising space

New trend in advertising: Using bare legs to promote brand awareness.

By Kim Anne 

Renting billboard space in prime locations may have been the old way to advertise, but these days, Japan is scouting out new space to rent for their advertising campaigns. According to the Daily Mail, enterprising firms have rented ad space on a Japanese woman's bare legs, paying her to wear a miniskirt 8 hours a day to display their advertising.

More from Living: 25 most provocative fashion & beauty products

The Daily Mail reports that in order to participate, a woman will get her leg stamped with an ad, then go about her daily life, but make sure she is constantly wearing a short skirt to show off the branding.

More from Living: 21 style don'ts to live by

The woman must also take a picture of her leg with the advertising on it so that the company knows they are doing their job.

This unique form of advertising is definitely an interesting concept, but is it affective? It is certainly an attention-getter.

Xukuumadda Oo Qirtay In Xubno Al-Shabaab Ka Tirsan Ay Gacanta Ku Dhigeen

Xukuumadda Oo Qirtay In Xubno Al-Shabaab Ka Tirsan Ay Gacanta Ku Dhigeen: Haa Way Ku Jiraan Xubno Al-Shabaab Ahi…
"…Raali baanu ka nahay in Dadkaas [Al-shabaab] in Xamar Lagaga Awood Roonaaday…"

Hargeysa,-Wasiirka Wasaarada Gaashaandhiga Somaliland Md. Axmed Xaaji Cali Caddami, ayaa si aanu shaki ku jirin daboolka uga qaaday in xubno ka tirsan Xarakada Al-Shabaab ay kusoo qabteen hawl-galo baadhitaan oo Ciidamada amaanka Somaliland maalmahanba dalka ka sameeyeen.

Sida lagu sheegay war lagu baahiyey Shabakada Ramaasnews ee Internet-ka, waxa Wasiirku ka xog-waramay hawl-galkii Ciidamada Nabadgelyadu sameeyeen, tirada dadkii la soo qab-qabtay iyo sidoo kale Warbixinihii ay dawladaha Mareykanka iyo Ingiriisku ku dureen amniga Somaliland.

Wasiir Cadami oo sida Shabakadu baahisay la weydiiyey in xubno Ururka Al-Shabaab ka tirsani ku jiraan dadka Sideetanka gaadhaya ee Ciidamada amnigu soo qab-qabteen, waxa uu yidhi; "..Haa way ku jiraan xubno Al-Shabaab ahi.. Raali baanu ka nahay in dadkaas (Al-shabaab) in Xamar lagaga awood roonaaday..". "Laakiin" ayuu Cadami yidhi; "..Ma ogin in lagu soo dhaweeyo Xaafado Somaliland iyo Puntland ah..".

Wasiirka Gaashaandhiga Somaliland Md. Cadami, sidoo kale waxa uu ka hadlay saameynta ay yeelan karto dhambaaladii dayrada ahaa ee dawladaha Ingiriiska iyo Mareykanku kaga hadleen xaalada Nabadgelyo ee Somaliland.

"..Qoladaas (Maraykanka iyo Ingiriiska) xidhiidh fiican baanu leenahay, xitaa haddii ay hadlaan kuma kala tegayno ee waa la wada hadlayaa, anaga cid amar na siisay ma jirto ee hawl-galada amaanka lagu sugayaa horeba way u jireen..". Ayuu yidhi Wasiir Cadami.

Geesta kale waxa uu Wasiirku xog-waran ka bixiyey warbixinihii dawladaha Mareykanka iyo Ingiriisku ku dureen iyo nuxurka kulankii Madaxweynaha Somaliland dhawaan London kula yeeshay madaxda dawlada Ingiriiska qaarkood, isagoo arrintaa ka hadlayana waxa uu yidhi; "..Waxaa waa laga heshiiyey oo Madaxwaynuhu waa kii tagay Ingiriiska, Masuuliyiintiina way isa soo arkeen oo waa laga heshiiyey wixii jirayba, waxaana jira (qalab) sheegaya qofka 100-ka Mayl kuu jira iyo dharka uu gashan yahayba, markaa marxaladaa waa laga soo gudbay, nabaduna in laga wada shaqeeyo ayay u baahan tahay, hawshaana waxa ka wada hadalkeeda loo daayay qolooyinka nabadgelyada..

Somaliland: Electricity Consumers to Pay 20% More of the $1 a Kilowatt Charged

Somaliland: Electricity Consumers to Pay 20% More of the $1 a Kilowatt Charged

• Providers increase electricity charges by 20% a day after the govElectricity providers assocition officials announce price increaseernment announced intend to reorganize the state owned Hargeisa Electricity Agency following evidence of massive graft By: Yusuf M Hasan HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The increase in the price of petroleum products has forced electricity providers to increase charges by 20%. This was revealed by the chairperson of the Hargeisa Electricity Providers association Eng. Abdi Ali Barkhad during a press conference in Hargeisa where he also promised to reverse the charges once the cost of petrol goes down. Though the increase is currently in Hargeisa only it is expected that the rest of the private providers in the country who control over 95% of the market will follow suit thus inflate the already exorbitant $1 a kilowatt charged consumers, among the highest rate in the world. According to Eng. Barkhad who was flanked by other members of his association the increasing price of the low quality petrol being imported into the country has forced the upping of electricity rates as the Providers had been incurring loses of late. While the justification by the providers is acceptable their announcement comes a couple of hourA tangle of electricity cables above Hargeisa markets after the government announced plans to revamp the state owned Hargeisa electricity agency. For a couple of months the city electricity supplier has been under scrutiny from the Auditor General's office after the Minister of public works and housing Hon Ahmed Abdi Habsade called in the state investigator to peruse books at the agency. The investigations which proved the minister right in his suspicions of maladministration prompted the president H.E Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo to establish a committee with the mandate of providing streamlining recommendations. The committee composed of the Minister of planning Dr. Saad Shire, minister of public works Hon Habsade, Auditor general Mr. Mahmud Aw Abdi and Accountant General Mr. Mohamed Abdi Bedde brought a guilty verdict against the Hargeisa Electricity Agency management for bringing services down. According to Hon Habsade the State agency has failed to sustain itself while services especially fee collection is ongoing but misappropriated thus requiring his ministry to prop up the agency though the state coffers have not provided the budget for such. Informing that the city power agency has the potential to not only Habsade my ministry can not prop upp the agencysustain itself but earn profits the minister of planning urged consumers to ensure that the pay their bills on time thus continued services from the agency which at $0.4 a kilowatt is the cheapest provider in the country. On their part the auditor general and his Accountant general counter who concurred with the two ministers promised to maintain close scrutiny at the agency thus ensure that operations are not brought down again by managerial failures. It is believed that the post of Hargeisa Electricity Agency which has always been a political appointment shall be publicly announced thus recruit the best without consideration to political affiliations. It is hoped that the public works minister shall come up with legal stipulations that provide directions on how private electricity providers cost their services as well as howDr Saad Ali Shire, Consumers should pay on time they manage their wiring within towns where residents have raised safety fears as a result of the haphazard way wires crisscross. As the USAID facilitated Energy law is about to be completed it is hoped that the government shall embark on tangible activities directed towards developing or help develop sources of renewable energy especially wind and solar driven. This will not only alleviate consumers from the payment of excessive cash for electricity but act as consolation price given to citizens by the government that scrapped its contract with total company thus invite profusion of unclean petroleum products by unscrupulous merchants.

Qiimaha Laydh-Tiriiga Somaliland Oo La Kordhiyey+ Cida Kordhisay +Waxay Ku Sababeeyeen

Qiimaha laydh-Tiriiga Somaliland oo la kordhiyey+ cida kordhisay +waxay ku sababeeyeen

Hargeisa--Gudoomiyaha Shirkadaha Wershadaha Laydh-tiriiga ee sida gaarka ah loo leeyahay ee Hargeysa Eng.Cabdi Cali Barkhad ayaa maanta shir Jaraaid oo ay ku qabteen Hargeysa kaga dhawaaqey inay shirkadahoodu si wadajira u go'aansadeen inay kordhiyaan lacagta laga qaado macaamiisha laydhka boqolkiiba labaatan (20%).

Gudoomiye Barkhad ayaa ku sababeeyay kordhinta qiimaha laydhka,Shidaalka Naaftada ee ay isticmaalaan oo shirkadaha ay ka soo iibsadaa kordhiyeen.
Geesta kale wuxuuu Gudoomiye Barkhad ku eedeeyay shirkadaha shidaalka soo waarida ee ay ka soo iibsadaan in qiimaha ay kaga soo iibin jireen Foostada Naaftada ah ku kordhiyeen ama ku dareen $20 iyadaan Shidaalka suuqayda caalamku ka kordhin.

Isku soo wada duuboo Xikmad baa ah Miskiin baa misko la fuulo leh" ee kordhinta qiimaha Laydh-tiiriiga ee Gudoomiyaha Wershadaha Laydh-tiriigu ku bushaareeyay inay qaliyeeyeen ayaa dhiig-bax iyo culays ku ah dadka saboolka ah ee haddana baahi weyn u qaba laydh-tiriiga.

What Are The Impediments To Somaliland’s Growth And Are We Emotionally Bruised: A Retrospective?

What Are The Impediments To Somaliland's Growth And Are We Emotionally Bruised: A Retrospective?

What are the impediments to Somaliland's growth and are we emotionally bruised: A Retrospective?

This sort of article is an oddity for this organization because normally we chose to focus on more pertinent issues that strengthen the bedrock Institutions Somaliland needs to augment in order to sustain itself; a strong and 'living' Constitution, independent and ethical Judiciary and Media. We also campaign for Somaliland's recognition through media correspondence and back door lobbying.
But if one has been an observer of our nation's slow but progressive political and emotional decline, one could not be blamed for seeking treatment for a sudden bout of depression.
Persistent nuisances detrimental to Somaliland can no longer be ignored. The 'silent majority' of Somalilanders can no longer afford to be oblivious to these problems as this young and struggling Republic becomes unhinged. A 'vocal minority' who isn't accountable to anyone dominates the discourse. They are mainly in political parties (politicians), media and are tribal warriors who are more concerned about their placement in our society than that of the nation.
They show no urgency for the immediate needs of the people and lack decorum by showing no restraint. As a consequence peoples divisions harden, the enemy list grows and tribalism is brought to the forefront without shame or contrition. And Somaliland media enables and perpetuates this tit for tat thus the spread of frivolous stories about individuals and groups that have no relevance to Somaliland's development.

These three entities aren't some unseen or ghostly like presence that come out of their shells in the dark of night to destroy our nation. We know the enemy, we have seen the enemy and the enemy is us!
Political Parties (politicians);
Generally politicians do what they need to do for their political survival. No more. No less. If those who support them aren't demanding that they appeal to what's best about people, why would they change? Why elevate the discourse? This constant trivial political pursuit and the daily battle for the never-ending election cycle have taken a psychological toll and almost everything else has taken a back seat. This is evidenced by the helplessness if not the malaise people feel. Politicians are simply a reflection of their society and until and unless that society demands better of itself, nothing will change.
Tribalism:

It would be naïve to suggest that with the snap of two fingers tribalism should end in our homeland. But it isn't naïve to suggest that we must begin somewhere! Every one of us believes 'qabiil' is someone else's problem; it's not them or their family or friends who are contributing to this dilemma. If this is the case then who are the 'others' we always blame? Self-reflection and criticism have never been a strong human trait but we have taken this to another level and in the meantime Somaliland loses.
Media:
An independent media is one of the core principals of a developing nation. That independence exists to a certain extent. Unfortunately we have misused that right. To be fair, the media has generally done great work in bringing attention to the plight of our people and their immediate needs. Our intent is not to slight them in any way nor is it to challenge an individual's right to free expression or the medias right to publish what they deem appropriate. But what happened to showing restraint and looking at the bigger picture? Or does the need to steer more web traffic or attract more readership to one's publication outweigh the greater good? It has become, willfully or not, a conveyance for sensationalism in which tribalism, division and hatred are spread conveniently. Slandering and destroying peoples' reputations through accusations and innuendos must cease.

In this regard, the media could show restraint and leadership. Our intent, therefore preference, is to encourage them to filter through the noise and set a high standard.
We were once asked by Independent Diplomat (ID is a non-profit organization that gives advice and assistance in diplomatic strategy and technique to governments and political groups) why for such a small (population) group of people we always seem at odds since our nation is in dire straits? When we asked how they came to that opinion; the simple answer was researching and observing the people of Somaliland, their politics and media. That kind of response should be considered catastrophic to our cause.
Our purpose here is to awaken our senses and encourage all of us to not only self-reflect but to stop digging ourselves deeper into oblivion. It makes us feel better and righteous to blame a President or someone else, for that matter, for our problems. It won't make a difference who we elect until we (individuals) change.

The first thing alcoholics must do once they realize they have a problem is to utter – out loud – to themselves and others that they are alcoholics. Our assumption – and more so to the point -is that this is done in order to get through the impenetrable human skull.

We find ourselves at a crossroads. Any more time we spend on trivial matters is time stolen from getting clean water to a mother and her children. Any more time spent on which Minister was fired from what job, is time stolen from building a hospital. Any more time spent on which political party is up or down, is time stolen from building schools and fixing our justice system so people aren't treated unjustly by their own politicians.
We pray Allah help and show us the true path.
Mohammed A. Ali Baranbaro
Chair
Somaliland American Guild
branbaro@hotmail.com

Mr Siilaanyo Is A Great Political Survivor

Mr Siilaanyo Is A Great Political Survivor

The Survivor.

Mr Siilaanyo is a great political survivor , the art that he knows best , if not the only art he knows. He survived Afweine . He survived SNM . He survived Tuur , Egal and Rayale. He survived in politics longer than anybody else. How?

Mr Siilanyo makes deals. He made a deal with Siad Bare that he let him be brave and questioning against him in the day time , so he can spy for him in the night time. I am not sure of that , but many people accuse him of the double faced way of dealing with situations.

He survived SNM by dividing the Mujahidiin into factions and then always supporting one faction against the other , and then changing sides in the middle of the game and confusing everybody so he may stay at the top. When the trick was discovered , he was chased away. However he succeeded in managing the campaign of the next SNM chairman. Therefore he survived.

As the country was liberated soon after his removal from the chairmanship of the SNM , he tried to force himself into a prime ministerial position which he thought was his right as he campaigned for the election of Mr Tuur. Mr Tuur would have non of that , and Siilanyo was still unpopular among the ranks of the veterans , therefore he lost that bid. Everybody else would have retired at 'that point . Not Siilanyo. He saw the opportunity of his survival in another project. I am not sure of that , but some people accuse him that he Engineered a Civil War in Buroa and Berbera , and left the country to his home in England . He knew Mr Tuur would not survive the civil war , and his plan was to triumphantly come back and claim the leadership. That did not work because instead of him Egal came , and Siilanyo had to settle for a seat in the parliament. I am not sure of that but some people accuse him that he repeated the experiment and added fuel to the fire in the feud between Egal and Jama Yare , and as the situation developed into a new civil war , he again left the country dreaming of coming back triumphantly. It did not work that way. Egal emerged victoriously from the civil war , and Mr Siilanyo constituency was angry with him in abandoning them in the civil strife and they preferred Sulieman as contender. Anybody else would have turned in at that point. Not Siilanyo. He made a deal with Egal to join his cabinet as a Finance Minister and demanded Mr Fagadhe to be the Foreign Minister so the Government might not look lopsidedly western and Mr Siilanyo would still remain politically relevant. As Minister of Finance , he was al looking forward to after Egal and made peace with many veterans who had a bad blood relations with him and was projecting himself as the heir appare3nt after Egal. Unfortunately for him Sulieman Gaal was mounting a noisy opposition movement and being from the same constituency as Suleiman , remaining in Egals cabinet was getting too uncomfortable for him , therefore he resigned and went back to England. Everybody thought that he retired for good , but that is not Siilanyo. Just before Egal died he made himself available as a peacemaker between the opposition and the Government. Egal died and immediately Siilanyo asked Mr Rayalle to name him Vice-President. Mr Rayalle was suspicious about that demand and got afraid that the old man has other plans in mind , something bigger than the Vice. He flatly turned him down. Mr Siilanyo had to do something else. He made his political party Kulmiye and ran for president . He lost. Many people wrote him off after that last adventure. After all he was over 70 years old and an ex NSS officer defeated him in the ballot box. Another man would have been heart broken . Not Siilanyo. He began Plotting the moment he lost. For close to a decade he waged a scorched earth campaign. No prisoners taken . End justifies the means , and he resorted to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Despite all that he would not have won had not Mr Rayalle made certain political blunders. Biggest of these were chasing Faisal and his party from UDUB supporter to a Kulmiye supporter by refusing to give the speaker position to UCID and settling for the deputy speakers. That was a golden opportunity for Siilanyo, He paid a fortune to get the deal that Rayalle foolishly turned down. Mr Rayalle lost the whole parliament in one stroke . After that it was the way Mr Siilanyo wanted: A Tea Party parliament. The other principle mistake that Mr Rayalle made was accepting term extensions . That also played into Mr Siilanyos hands. Mr Rayalle who was a more responsible leader than Siilanyo , but not necessarily a better one , did not have any clue of what politics was all about. Mr Siilanyp survived from Siad Barre to Somaliland Presidency . He will survive . He knows the art but the million dollar question is . Will Somaliland suvive him.

One thing weare hearing since he became president is that there are Shabaab sympathizers in his Government. Sometimes I wonder whether the arch deal maker made a deal with devil himself, with the shabaab. That after they nearly killed the former president in a suicide attack, he got afraid of a simialiar fate and made a deal with them that he will include some of them in the cabinet and then they do not try to kill him . It is only a hypothesis . When I look at the history of the man , I will give that a serious thought.

Mohamud Tani
mohamudtmohamud_t@yahoo.com

Masuul (Haweenay) Dhalasho Ahaan Ka Soo Jeeda Somaliland Oo Loo Magacaabay Chief Of Cabenit-Ka Golaha Wasiirada Somaliya

Masuul (Haweenay) Dhalasho Ahaan Ka Soo Jeeda Somaliland Oo Loo Magacaabay Chief Of Cabenit-Ka Golaha Wasiirada Somaliya

Muqdisho--Warar Rasmiya oo Qarannews ka heshay siyaasiyiin u dhuun daloola Xafiiska Madaxweynaha Somaliya ayaa tibaaxaaya in Madaxweyne Xasan Shiekh Maxamuud Doraad si rasmiya ugu magacaabay Xogahayaha Golaha Wasiirada (Chief of Cabinet) Somaliya haweenay dhalasho ahaan ka soo jeeda Somaliland oo la yidhaahdo Khadra Axmed Kayse X.cabdi Ducaale.
Khadra Axmed Kayse ayaa waxaa dhalay Axmed Kayse Cabdi oo ah Siyaasi ama Dibitaati hore oo ka mid ahaan jiray Barlamaankii Somaliya ee lixdameeyadii amaba Barlamaankii ugu horeeyay ee Dawlad Somaliyeed yeelato, Axmed Kayse waxay isku hayb iyo beelba ka soo jeedaan Madaxweynaha Somaliland Axmed Siilanyo.

Khadra Axmed Kayse ayaa ka mid ah Qurbajooga reer Somaliland ee dhawaan Muqdisho xilalka u soo doontay inkastoo qaar badani waayeen iyadu waxay calafsatey xilkaas Chief of Cabinet-ka oo Doraad si rasmiya loogu xushay.

Wadani Official Criticises Silaanyo Administration & Comment On State Of Country

Wadani Official Criticises Silaanyo Administration & Comment On State Of Country

Hargeisa-The Wadani spokesperson, Ibrahim Mahdi Bubaa blasted the beleaguered administration of President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud "Silaanyo" and rebuffed comments and allegations from Kulmiye chair Muse Bihi.

Speaking to the media, Wadani spokesperson, Ibrahim Mahdi stated that the country is in dire straits, which in his opinion is worse that any period over the last two decades.

Wadani's Ibrahim Mahdi stated "the situation the country finds itself is worse than in any difficult period of President Rayale's administration, however, if you recall upon handing over power to President Silaanyo, former President Rayale reminded the incoming administration that it is inheriting a united and committed people and country, can anyone claim that today?..the country is unravelling, we see now political parties operating in Badhan and Dhahar, with only the people of Somaliland living in those place opposing these moves…We are seeing the communities fragmenting due to the policies of this administration.. We are seeing the President and his Vice-President requiring mediation from the House of Elders, so much for the promise of 2010!"..

In further comments to the media,Wadani's Ibrahim Mahdi stated " the current dire situation of the youth in country; unemployment, dangerous migration, disaffection which could lead them to unsavoury organisations, require new thinking, a new focus and a new way to engaging the future of our country, but this administration is out of steam and its officials are occupied with just making money, and doing everything for themselves and nothing for those in need in the country"

In conclusion, Wadani's Ibrahim Mead refuted allegations from Kulmiye chair Muse Bihi and former Finance minister Mohamed Hashi by stating that "Wadani is a national party, it is a large umbrella in which all the Somaliland communities are represented. We have no ties with the leadership in Somalia as alleged by Muse Bihi. In response to Mohamed Hashi's comments, we offer fresh ideas and a fresh focus on the pressing needs of Somaliland and we intend to make a change and bring hope. This administration has not only blunted our Foreign policy, it has decimated out Internal policy as well, and as we now see, its beginning to devour itself, with everyone running for the President's office..Somaliland deserves better, and we are confident Wadani will be the solution to Somaliland ills".

Somali robber sues us for £50k because he had ‘nightmares’

Somali robber sues us for £50k because he had 'nightmares'
A SHAMELESS Somali robber who claims a deportation attempt gave him nightmares is trying to get £50,000 from taxpayers.
By: Anil DawarPublished: Tue, February 26, 2013



2Comments


A UK Border Agency source said the agency was "actively seeking to get rid of him"

Abdirahman Ajab wants the cash for "mental problems" he claims to have suffered after being held at an immigration centre for eight months.

Now living rent-free in a council flat in Tower Hamlets, east London, Ajab, 30, has racked up two convictions for robbery and another for false imprisonment since coming to Britain in 1999.

Despite his criminal history a High Court judge allowed him to stay because his life was said to be in danger if he returned to his native country.

Yesterday the thug admitted he wanted the cash to start a new life in Somalia and bizarrely said immigration officials were preventing him from leaving.

The migrant's brazen attempt to pocket public cash and drag the Government into a costly court battle provoked anger among campaigners.

MEP Gerard Batten said: "We are mugs. Britain has become the rip off centre of the world.

"It's like we have a big sign up at the airport saying 'come on in and fleece us'.

"We should be free to kick this guy out without giving him a penny. He's obviously just here for the cash and will leave as soon as he gets it."

Matthew Sinclair, of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Taxpayers will be disgusted that Ajab is able to pursue an action against the Government. If anyone has really suffered here, it is his victims. It should be far easier for the Government to deport foreign nationals who have committed crimes.

"The court time taken up with cases like this ends up costing taxpayers dear."

Ajab is claiming compensation for being held at an immigration centre while officers battled to deport him.

He qualified for automatic deportation because of the seriousness of his crimes.

Officials would have refused to release him after he finished his jail term because he was seen as a danger to the public and there was a risk he would abscond.

However, Ajab was freed after winning his legal bid to stay.

The UK Border Agency paid out £4million in compensation in 2010 for 152 similar cases.

In one incident a Ugandan man was awarded £110,000 after the court ruled he had been unlawfully detained for 10 months.


We are mugs. Britain has become the rip off centre of the world

MEP Gerard Batten

Hate preacher Abu Qatada has said he is planning to sue Britain for £10million after being held in jail for eight years during the Home Office's decade-long fight to get him out of the country.

Yesterday, Ajab said: "The Government have been doing me bad for years. It's giving me mental problems. It's given me nightmares. They owe me, man."

Ajab, who insists he wants to return to Somalia, said he would use any payout to buy land and set himself up in business.

A Home Office spokesman said: "There is nothing stopping him from leaving Britain. He's more than welcome to leave."

A UK Border Agency source said the agency was "actively seeking to get rid of him", including looking at revoking his indefinite leave to remain.

BNP criticise Churches for supporting Oswestry Islamic Centre bid

BNP criticise Churches for supporting Oswestry Islamic Centre bid


The Oswestry and Border Counties Advertiser follows its report last week, on the planning approval granted by the local council to the Oswestry Muslim Society for converting a 19th century Presbyterian church into an Islamic centre


with news of the BNP's criticism of local churches for supporting the plans.

Phil Reddall, who stood as the BNP's parliamentary candidate in the 2010 general election, told the local the paper:

"Churches Together are creating a monster by giving their backing to the scheme and this is another example of the political establishment appeasing the Muslim community despite disenfranchising our own community at the same time."

Reddall added that the BNP intends to "step up its leafleting campaign in the run up to May's local elections" saying that support for the party "has grown in Oswestry more than any other North Shropshire town since 2009."

He said:

"In 2009 a BNP candidate stood in College Ward and received 15 per cent of the vote. This is an issue we can run with again and a surprising amount of people agree with us when we speak to them."

Local elections are to be held in parts of England on Thursday 2nd May. Details of councils where seats will be contested are available on the Electoral Commission website, here.

Rebranding Fascism

Rebranding Fascism


Daniel Trilling in an opinion piece for the Mirror newspaper covers the launch at the weekend of the British Democratic Party (BDP).


Trilling, author of the book 'Bloody Nasty People', writes of the BDP's roots:

"On Saturday, veteran neo-Nazis – all disgruntled ex-members of the BNP – met at a village hall to launch the British Democratic Party.

"At their head was Andrew Brons, a retired teacher who began his political career in the synagogue-burning National Socialist Movement.

"To Britain's shame, he still represents our country as a member of the European Parliament.

"Providing "security" at the launch in Leicestershire were members of the anti-Muslim English Defence League."

Trilling elucidates the conditions under which far right groups and parties have an audience and opportunity, from rhetoric espoused by mainstream politicians to the media. He writes of the latter, "some newspapersfanned the flames of hatred, linking asylum seekers with crime and disease, publishing scare stories about Muslims in the wake of 9/11, and making exaggerated claims about immigrants entering the country."

Where media and political scaremongering led, Trilling notes the emergence of the English Defence League as,

"Pretending to be a grassroots movement of people angry at Islamic "extremism" it was in fact cooked up by rich Islamophobes, in a £500,000 flat belonging to ex-City investment fund boss Alan Ayling, who hides behind the pseudonym Alan Lake."

Touching on the fearmongering in recent days over Bulgarian and Romanian immigrants to the UK, Trilling argues "We simply can't afford to let ourselves be divided by racists.

"Cameron and his Cabinet of millionaires may be smirking when they say "we're all in this together", but for the rest of us – black, white or Asian; Muslim, Jew, Christian or atheist – it really is true."

You can read the opinion piece here.

Northumbria Police braced for SDL demo tomorrow

Northumbria Police braced for SDL demo tomorrow


The Berwick Advertiser reports on steps being taken by Northumbria Police ahead of the Scottish Defence League's demonstration in Berwick tomorrow, Saturday 16th.


The local paper notes that "Posts on a Facebook group under the [SDL] branch's name contain a series of anti-Islamic references and seek to drum up support for the Berwick event.

"In response to the planned march, new group Berwick United Against Fascism has formed, and arranged a demonstration of its own at 12 noon in the town centre.

"Northumbria Police has said it will have an increased presence in the town on Saturday when members of both the Scottish Defence League and Berwick United Against Fascism descend on the town."

Estimated costs to the public purse of policing some of the EDL/SDL demonstrations in recent months include £800,000 for a demonstration in Manchester in January, and £100,000 for a demo in Norwich last December. An EDL demonstration held in Bristol last summer required the presence of 700 police officers at a cost of almost £495,000.

The Metropolitan Police Service claimed it was 'unable' to calculate the cost of policing EDL protests and counter protests in Walthamstow, East London last year in the months September and October after a Freedom of Information request was put in by a local paper.

THE DOOMSDAY OF SOMALILAND DREAM IS IMMINENT

THE DOOMSDAY OF SOMALILAND DREAM IS IMMINENT


Mr. Silaanyo's agenda is very clear and needs no witness. He cannot withstand the power of Mr. Hague. Mr.Silaanyo is not honest with the people of Somaliland. He knows the people are suspicious about his agenda and he doesn't know how to disclose the truth to the people



Borama(Sunatimes) The President of Somaliland has just returned from Britain and gave press conference at Hargeisa Egal Airport. In his Speech he emphasized three important things: Peace in Somaliland, May Somali Conference, and the Unity of the people of Somaliland.

The president's speech was short of details of the real issue behind the meeting between him and the Britain Foreign Secretary, Mr. Hague. The people of Somaliland knew the points of contention; Al-Shabaab presence in Somliland and Somali Unity. He avoided telling the truth to the people of Somaliland and to disclose the full details of the agenda. Somalilanders know the focus of British agenda on Somaliland Issue. The British and EU countries as well as USA are interested in bringing Somaliland to the table at May Conference under any circumstances and cost. Mr. Siilaanyo knows the intentions of those countries and that he cannot escape from the wrath of those great Nations, especially his god father, Britain which his second home. Mr. Silaanyo cannot afford to oppose Britain's agenda. Only the core elements of his regime have full knowledge about what was discussed in that meeting in London.Mr.Siilanyo's presidency is shrouded with secrecy which only he and his inner circle are aware of the magnitude of the outcome of the meeting.

Mr. Silaanyo's agenda is very clear and needs no witness. He cannot withstand the power of Mr. Hague. Mr.Silaanyo is not honest with the people of Somaliland. He knows the people are suspicious about his agenda and he doesn't know how to disclose the truth to the people. He is telling lies to the people by saying there is an ultimate peace and harmony in Somaliland. He is telling them now that unity is needed. But he is not telling the people that he and his inner circle is enemy to the dream, peace and unity of Somaliland. Regardless of Al-Shabaab, the region has its own Government created problems. The wars and uncertainties in Somaliland are from the bad policy of the Government. It is also the result of the unbalanced power which lies in the hands of a very few personalities from the same clan and lack of unity of the opposition and within the tribes themselves.

Some tribes in Somaliland have sacrificed a lot for keeping the peace while other have lived and prospered on the expenses of those peacekeepers. The reason why the President has mentioned unity in his press talk at the Egal Airport at this particular time is; he is scared to face the reality and challenges ahead because he was shown the seriousness of the Road Map of the unity of Somalia. The dream of Somaliland being a sovereign state is dead in this recent meeting with Britain. Mr. Silaanyo and his inner circle are the culprits of the death of that dream. The dream has been slowly dying but its doomsday is imminent and the final day is in May this year in London. The reason why Mr.Silaanyo has mentioned unity at this time is; he understands his mistakes and those of his predecessors. He is making excuses for the ultimate death of the dream. He knew all along that, when things get worse and the international community decides Somalia as one nation, people will be asked their choice and a referendum will be proposed. This scenario has been neglected by this present regime and instead he has grown hate, distrust, finger pointing, and unnecessary wars among the peace loving people. Unity is important for any community to strive and realize its dreams. Both unity and the dream are gone with the wind and Mr. President and his comrades have no choice except to take high road. The President and his comrades have only one option remaining. They have to come up a strategy where they can negotiate with Somalia and demand the Lion's share for themselves and their tribe. But the question is: How he is going to tell to the people? May be they will delegate the Sultan of the Sultans of Isaq to convey the final verdict to the people as that Sultan recently claimed he could do for the President.

Mohamed Mouse

More Kulmiye Senior Officials In Bid To Replace President Silaanyo

More Kulmiye Senior Officials In Bid To Replace President Silaanyo


Hargeisa-More Kulmiye senior officials, including the Somaliland minister of Finacne, Abdiasis Samale have thrown their hat into the ring to replace the incumbent President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud "Silaanyo" in the next presidential elections due in 2015.

President Silaanyo who was elected in 2010 and only half-way through his five year mandate has been blinded sided by the issue of his successor as prospective presidential candidate.

President Silaanyo who has just returned from visit to the United Kingdom has become engulfed in an issue that pertains to an event at least two years away.

But, it would appear that the jockeying for the position to succeeded President Silaanyo has been exacerbated by the president's request for a second vice-president, and also the issue of the president's age and health.

Among those rumoured to be actively lobbying to succeed the president as Kulmiye's prospective presidential candidate, are current Vice-President Abdirahman "Saylici", party chair Muse Bihi, deputy-chair Mohamed Kahin and Finance minister, Abdiasis Samale.

Newly minted minister for Resettlement and former SSC stalwart, Saleeban Isse "Xagla-toosiye" has become hot favourite to be the prospective 2nd vice-president, if and when the issue, passes constitutional muster in the parliament and law courts.

All in all, the competition for President Silaanyo's job appears to be gathering pace, and seems to be fuelled by the belief in certain circles that the president may not be able to serve consecutive terms, and it is time to select a new leader to lead Kulmiye in 2015