Analysis: Explosions raise fears over Somaliland stability

Analysis: Explosions raise fears over Somaliland stability

Photo: Mohammed Amin Jibril/IRIN

A car burns during a past demonstration in Hargeisa, capital of Somaliland. A series of bombing incidents have been reported in Las-anod, an area disputed by Somaliland and Puntland (file photo)

HAIRGEISA, 29 January 2010 (IRIN) - The latest bomb explosion in Somalia's self-declared independent republic of Somaliland raises concerns over the lack of government presence in the Las-anod area, says an analyst. 

Among those injured in the blast, which killed one person and injured five on 28 January, was the governor of Sool region, Askar Farah Hussein, who was admitted to a hospital in the town of Las-anod. 

Commenting on the bombings that have hit the region since October 2009, Somaliland President Dahir Rayale Kahin told reporters: "I have heard the opposition accusing the government of being behind the bombs; this is unfortunate, the government is investigating, but we need to know that the enemy wants [to stage] more attacks against Somaliland..." 

The latest incident brings to five the bombings since October 2009 in Las-anod, capital of a region in contention between Somaliland and Puntland. Las-anod is part of Sool and Sanag region, to which the governments of Somaliland and Puntland both lay claim. 

According to EJ Hogendoorn, the International Crisis Group's Horn of Africa Project Director, the Somaliland government is strong enough to get the situation under control in Las-anod "but the problem is that there is minimal government presence in the area". 

"The area remains largely unadministered by both Puntland and Somaliland," Hogendoorn said, adding that the region is inhabited mainly by the Dhulbahante clan, which has family ties to the ruling Harti clan in Puntland. 

"The Sool and Sanag region is disputed by both Puntland and Somaliland for several reasons; the Dhulbahante are unhappy with both Puntland and Somaliland, and Islamist radicals have taken advantage of this to try to cause instability in the area," Hogendoorn said. "Moreover, it is likely that there are significant oil deposits in Sool and Sanag, so both governments lay claim to the region." 

Fomenting instability 

Hogendoorn said it appeared the violence was inspired by Islamist elements among the Dhulbahante that are sympathetic to Al-Shabab, the main Islamist group that has been waging war against the government in Somalia. 

Photo: Wikipedia Commons

"The interest of these Islamist elements is to foment instability. What is clear is that they have links with Al-Shabab in south and central Somalia," he said. "There is a similar dynamic going in Puntland, where the Islamist radicals have also targeted government officials in the past." 

However, Hogendoorn said analysts did not have any evidence that the bombings in Las-anod were orchestrated by Al-Shabab. 

"There are a lot of Islamist groups in the whole of Somalia; it is difficult to speculate whether or not Al-Shabab is behind the latest incidents," he said. "The best course of action would be for the Somaliland government to improve security in and around its installations in Las-anod and to have more presence on the ground." 

Police Commissioner Mohamed Saqadhi Dubad told IRIN that 23 arrests had been made in relation to the incidents and that investigations were ongoing to establish those behind the attacks. 

"We consider the suspects [to be] coming from our enemy who don't like our stability; of course they are external enemies," Dubad said, declining to give any names. 

On 26 January 2010, Dubad said, reports were made to police that a suspect package had been seen in Las-anod. The police collected the package but it turned out to be a remote-controlled bomb and it went off, killing two soldiers, Dubad said. 

On 14 January, unknown armed men shot dead the Las-anod police commissioner minutes after he left a mosque. 

Mohamed Abdi Dhimbil, the deputy governor of Sool, said: "A few days ago, unknown people threw hand grenades at a police station in the south, injuring three policemen." 

In late October 2009, an army commander and another official were killed following a bomb explosion. 

Dubad said: "Most of the incidents involved remote-controlled bombs, but more than 23 suspects, including officials from Somaliland, have been arrested and they will be on trial soon. 

"We captured some explosive material in Hargeisa after a woman in the area notified us that a man had placed what looked like explosive elements on the road near Hawadle Mosque," Dubad said. "One man was arrested over the incident." 

The bombings have caused fear and alarm among the public. 

"Nowadays Somaliland security is fragile because you can see everywhere there are incidents taking place; for this reason we consider the government could be losing control of national security and we are worried," said Mohamed Farah Qabile, a member of the Lower House of Parliament from the Kulmiye opposition party. 

Mohamed Hashi Elmi, a former minister of commerce, said the government should explain to people who was responsible for the explosions. 


Security priority 

On 17 January, Vice-President Ahmed Yusuf Yasin announced that national security would be given "the highest priority" in 2010. 

Police commissioner Dubad said security for international aid staff would also be improved to facilitate access to many parts of Somaliland. 

"We are improving security measures for international staff of aid organizations … because our enemy is targeting international aid workers as well as other foreign citizens who are helping our people in sectors such as education and health," Dubad said. 

He added that police would provide security for aid workers undertaking missions in various parts of the country, "even in their homes". 

maj/js/mw

SOMALILAND: Stranded ship Skipper pleads for urgent help as crew health deteriorates

BERBERA (Somalilandpress) — A crew of fifteen seafarers are stranded onboad a cargo ship, the MV Layla, in the Somaliland port of Berbera for the past five months and the sailors are said to be facing serious risk as their health deteriorates.

The captain of the ship, Mr. Sarath, who is from Sri Lanka, spoke to Mohamed Saed of Berberanews by phone on Saturday, and said that their ship has been stranded in the port for the past five months without charge.

Mr Sarath said he does not know exactly why they were kept in the port but local analysts believe a local firm, Omar International [Company], may have filed a maritime action asking Sahil regional authority and Berbera Port authority to obtain the ship for damages.

Omar International has lost a lot of assets including motor vehicles onboard a cargo ship, MV Mariam Star when it caught fire in it's upper deck in early September of 2009 and the two cargo vessels both belong to Al-Hufoof Shipping & Forwarding. The local authority and Omar International accuse the crew and skipper of MV Mariam of not cooperating with the port authority to put out the flame by switching the ship's engine off. They argue a lot could have been done if the crew did not switch the engine of the ship off.

Despite issuing a press release of it's own, suggesting the dispute was between the local authority and the ship, Omar International is believed to have authorized the local authority to obtain the ship for compensation it wants from Al-Hufoof Shipping & Forwarding.

Omar International company is locally owned influential company while Al Hufoof Shipping & Forwarding is Dubai based firm. When the skipper of MV Layla contacted Al Hufoof Shipping & Forwarding, they told him: "you were carrying goods for Somalis, the people who detained you and your ship are Somalis, we have nothing to do with it".

"We arrived in Berbera on the 17th of August 2009, after unloading the cargo, as we were preparing to depart we were told by the Sahil regional authority that we were being barred from leaving, but they did not tell us the reason nor charges against us, because we believe we have executed and handed in all the appropriate documents", he said.

The Sahil  authority constantly tells them that the matter is under review despite the fact that the local maritime court has issued a statement indicating that they were free to go but he said, nothing has happened for the past five months.

Mr Sarath requested urgent help from aid agencies, the international community and the Somaliland government insisting the crew are in desperate need of health care and lacked access to the basic necessities. He said the crew of Somali, Indian, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans had not received adequate food, water or medications and a number of them are on the verge of committing suicide while many are gravely ill. He also added that, the crew have not received any wages from Al-Hufoof Shipping & Forwarding for the past five months. He described the living conditions on the ship as "hell".

So far no rights group have contacted them and the people are getting frustrated by the minute. Mr Sarath made personal plea to India, Sri Lanka and Somaliland authority to interfere in the situation.

The ship is not docked at the port but in the middle of the ocean and the crew have not been on land for five months and time is running out on them, unless helped urgently many of them could die.

The governments of India, Somaliland, UAE, Sri Lanka and Pakistan need to resolve the situation for the sake of the crew if Omar International and Al-Hufoof Shipping & Forwarding would not resolve their dispute for the last five months.

By Mohamed Saed Abdullahi

Berberanews, 23 January 2010 (Somali)
Somalilandpress, 24 January 2010 (English version)

Picture: MV Mariam Star burns near the Berbera Corridor, Berberanews

Wasaaradda Daakhiliga iyo Badhasaabka Hargeysa oo Siyaabo Is-burinaya Uga Hadlay Dad la Sheegay Inay Qabanqaabinayaan Mudaharaadka ka Dhan ah Axmed-Siilaanyo

Wasaaradda Daakhiliga iyo Badhasaabka Hargeysa oo Siyaabo Is-burinaya Uga Hadlay Dad la Sheegay Inay Qabanqaabinayaan Mudaharaadka ka Dhan ah Axmed-Siilaanyo Hargeysa (Jam)- Wasiirul-dawlaha arrimaha gudaha Md. Farxaan Jaamac Ismaaciil iyo Guddoomiyaha gobolka Hargeysa Md. Maxamed Cabdi Daa'uud, ayaa siyaaabo is burinaya uga hadlay dad la sheegay inay qabanqaabinayaan mudaharaad la doonanayo in lagala hortago guddoomiyaha xisbiga muacaridka ah ee KULMIYE Md. Axmed Maxamed Maxamuud (Siilaanyo) oo la filayo inuu maalmaha soo socda ka soo laabto booqashada uu ku joogo dalka Maraykanka. Badhasaabka Gobolka Hargeysa Md. Maxamed Cabdi Daa'uud oo xalay Jamhuuriya khadka telefoonka ku weydiiyey waxa ka jira wararka sheegaya in Hargeysa laga qabanqaabinayo mudaharaad ka dhan ah guddoomiyaha KULMIYE, waxa uu caddeeyey inay jiraan dad ka codsaday inay mudaharaad sameeyaan, basle ay ka diideen, iyaga oo tixgelinaya nabada iyo xasiloonida dalka, balse wasiirul-dawlaha arrimaha guddaha Somaliland oo isagana aanu arrintaas xalay wax ka waydiinay, ayaa sheegay in aanay jirin meel cidi ugu keentay waraaqo ay mudaharaad ku codsanayaan. Badhasaabka gobolka Hargeysa Md. Maxamed Cabdi Daa'uud oo ka jawaabaya waxa ka jira wararka sheegaya in xukuumaddu qabanqaabinayso mudaharaad lagaga soo horjeedo soo noqoshada guddoomiyaha KULMIYE waxa uu yidhi; "Way jirtaa dad noola yimi in aannu u oggolaano mudaharaad ay kala hortagaan Guddoomiyaha KULMIYE, laakiin waannu ka diidnay oo umaaanu oggolaanin, wixii nabadgelyada waxyeelanayana ma oggolin, mucaarad iyo muxaafid midna ka oggolaan mayno, dadkii noo yimi ee mudaharaadka wadayna waannu ka diidnay, qolada mucaaradkana Axmed Siilaanyo waa nin siyaasi ah oo qadarin mudan leh, haddii ay soo dhoweynayaan si nidaamsan oo aan ka badbadin iyo buuq lahayn ha u soo dhoweeyaan oo gurigiisa ha geeyaan." Badhasaabka oo aannu weydiinay waxa uga meel yaalla, haddii dadka mudaharaadka ula yimi ay bannaan-bax sameeyaan, waxa uu ku jawaabay; "Annagu labada qolaba [mucaarad iyo muxaafid] ka oggolaan mayno mudaharaad aanay cid ogeyna oo aan fasax loo haysana cidi ma dhigi karto oo dadkeenu uma bisla mudaharaadada, ninkii doonaya inuu isu-soo-bax sameeyo beerta Xorriyadda ha cabirta oo siyaasadiisa iyo barnaamijyadiisa dadka ha uga sheekeeyo, buuq iyo rabshad midna ayaan la sameyn. Ninkii sharaf leh ee mudaharaad diyaarinayaana waa inuu fasax u qaataa, isla markaana uu dammaanad qaadaa dadka uu isku soo ururiyey wixii dhibaato ah ee ay geystaan, haddii ay boolis shiidaan, gaadhi jabiyaan amma wax kale sameeyaan. Mucaaradkana waxaad naga gaadhsiisaan [saxaafadda] wax mudaharaad ah oo Guddoomiyaha lagu soo dhoweyn karaa ma jiro oo inta sameecado waaweyn la qaato oo suuqyada la meeraysto rabshada halkaa ka dhacaan, waxaannu leenahay Axmed-Siilaanyo waa nin siyaasi ah oo si fiican u soo dhoweysta oo nidaam leh, qolada muxaafadkana uma oggolin in Guddoomiyaha KULMIYE wax mudaharaad ah lagu sameeyo, ninka leh niin soo degay ayaan mudaharaad iyo rabshad kala hortaganaana uma oggolin. Waxaan leeyahay ha la ilaaliyo nabadgelyada iyo deggenaanshaha oo wixii dhib inoo keenaya ayaan lagu dhaqaaqin." Dhinaca kalena, Wasiiru-dawlaha Arrimaha Gudaha Somaliland Md. Farxaan Jaamac Ismaaciil oo isna dhinaciisa aanu xalay khadka telefoonka ku weydiinay waxa ka jira in xukuumaddu diyaarinayso mudaharaad lagaga soo horjeedo guddoomiyaha KULMIYE, waxa uu ku jawaabay; "Arrintaasi waa mid la yaab leh, Axmed Siilaayana wax dambi ah oo uu galay ma jiro, wax mudaharaad ah oo xukuumaddu qabanqaabinaysaana ma jiro, xukuumaddu nabadgelyada ayey ilaalisaa ee ma mudaharaado, mana garanayo sababta KULMIYE ku keliftay inay yidhaahdaan Guddoomiyahagii ayaa lagu mudaharaadayaa, Axmed Siilaanyo waa nin siyaasi ah oo u tartamaya jagada Madaxweynaha, sabab loogu mudaharaadaana iima muuqato," ayuu yidhi Md. Farxaan Jaamac Ismaaciil. Wasiiru-dawlaha oo aannu weydiinay inuu ka war hayo dad qabanqaabinaya mudaharaad ka dhan ah Axmed Siilaanyo iyo cid wasaarad ahaan inay fasax u weydiisatay mudaharaadkaas, waxa uu ku jawaabay; "Marka hore xisbiyadu xaq bay u leeyihiin inay mudaharaad sameeyaan oo dastuurkeena ayey ku caddahay, laakiin waa inay sharciyadda looga baahan yahay maraan oo ay fasax weydiistaan Wasaaradda Arrimaha Gudaha, balse ilaa hadda ma hayno meel ciddi noogu keentay waraaqo ay ku codsanayaan mudaharaad." Wasiirka beeraha Somaliland Md. Aadan Axmed Cilmi (Dhoolayare) oo isaguna u waramay shabakada wararka ee Ramaasnews, ayaa sheegay in aanay waxba ka jirin wararka sheegaya in xukuumaddu wado mudaharaad ka dhan ah Axmed Siilaanyo, isaga oo arrintaa ku tilmaamay buuq mucaaridku samaysanayo. "Xukuumadu nabad gelyo darro ma abuurayso ee hadh iyo habeen waxay heegan ugu jirtaa sugida amniga dalka, Guddoomiyaha KULMIYE waa nin murashax ah oo ah Guddoomiye Xisbi qaran qadarin iyo tix gelin ayuu xukuumada ka mudan yahay, xukuumada Somaliland-na ma abuurayso mudaharaadyo wararka arrintaasi la xidhiidhaana waa been abuur cad," ayuu yidhi; wasiirka beeruhu.

Jamhuuriya Online

SOMALIA: Galkayo hospital "desperate for supplies"

SOMALIA: Galkayo hospital "desperate for supplies"

NAIROBI, 28 January 2010 (IRIN) - Galkayo Hospital in northern Somalia, once a large, fully equipped referral facility, has become a shadow of its former self since the collapse of the central government in 1991, according to medical staff.

 "The hospital is for all practical purposes closed. We have nothing. It lacks basic equipment to treat even small injuries," Abdullahi Hirsi Jestro, a doctor, told IRIN.

 Jestro and other medical staff have started a campaign to re-open the hospital.

 It is the only public health facility in north Galkayo, in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, he said, adding that the most needy were now unable to access medical care.

 There are several private clinics in the town but they are beyond the financial reach of most, he said. "Almost 90 percent cannot afford to go to a private clinic," he said.

 The campaign, Jestro added, aimed to help the most vulnerable in the town - "displaced women, children and elderly and the very poor. Those are the ones this hospital is meant to help," he told IRIN.

 The operating theatre is just one of the facilities in the 70-bed hospital that needs to be re-equipped. "Almost all departments from the children's wing to the maternity ward need [supplies]," said Maimun Farah, the hospital director.

 "We don't even have IV fluid," she said. The doctors were there "but without the proper equipment and the medicines, they are useless".

 She urged international aid agencies to help. "We need all the help we can get, particularly in the provision of the more expensive equipment and supplies."

 Jestro said the hospital buildings were in fair shape and most of the local doctors were committed to offering their services. "All we need now is to raise funds for the equipment, the drugs and the general staff."

 The town's business community has pledged to help but that was not enough. "We are appealing to our brothers and sisters in the diaspora to contribute generously to this endeavour."

 Increased insecurity

 Galkayo, which is home to thousands of displaced people, has in the past few months suffered increased insecurity, with a rise in explosions and fatalities, blamed by locals on the displaced who have fled fighting to seek refuge in the town.

 Halimo Jama, 45, went to the hospital seeking help. She had a miscarriage, which led to severe bleeding. "I have nowhere else to go. I cannot afford a private doctor, so I came here."

 She said the doctors had examined her but now she had to look for the medicine. "I don't know how I will find the money."

 The UN estimates that at least 1.5 million Somalis are internally displaced while 3.7 million require humanitarian aid.

 ah/mw[END]

Djibouti says to commit 450 troops to Somalia

Djibouti says to commit 450 troops to Somalia

By Duncan Miriri Thursday, January 28, 2010 ADDIS ABABA  (Reuters) - Djibouti said on Thursday it planned to send 450 soldiers to Somalia possibly next month to boost the African Union (AU) peace mission that is protecting the fragile Western-backed government. Uganda and Burundi each have 2,500 peacekeepers in Mogadishu with the AU's AMISOM force in Mogadishu. Its soldiers come under near-daily attacks from roadside bombs and rebel artillery. The force is struggling to raise its numbers beyond the 5,000 troops already present in the anarchic nation that has had no functional central government since 1991. "We are preparing our troops. We are training them so that they can carry out their mission in a very efficient way," Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf told Reuters on the sidelines of an African Union foreign ministers' meeting. Youssouf said he hoped his country's contribution would inspire others to do the same. "Somalia is a neighbouring country. We have a very close relationship. We can see what is going on there and we have to contribute as Africans," he said. Since the beginning of 2007, fighting between pro-government militia and the Islamist al Shabaab group -- which Washington terms as al Qaeda's proxy in the region -- has killed more than 21,000 Somalis and driven 1.5 million from their homes. Together with Hizbul Islam, another hardline Islamist group, al Shabaab wants to impose a harsh version of sharia Islamic law in the country. Youssouf said the region must remain watchful against extremist groups. "We have to be very vigilant because al Qaeda has a very large network in the Arabian peninsula and also in the Horn of Africa," he said. Separately, AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping said in a speech that Somalia's best hope was its transitional government and urged the international community to implement their pledges for aid. International donors pledged $213 million at a conference in Belgium about a year ago, but Somalia's government complains that only a small proportion has so far been delivered. (Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Helen Nyambura). Source: Reuters

Kulmiye’s Operation Blitzkrieg Angered and Ruffled Rayaale Regimes Feathers

Kulmiye's Operation Blitzkrieg Angered and Ruffled Rayaale Regimes Feathers

Quote

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963

Word of the day, "Dictatorships are fragile entities that thrive on fear, intimidation, lies, corruption, collective punishment and media black out."

Introduction

I am starting this piece by saying we won't be discouraged by Rayaale regime's incessant intimidation, illegal public property sales, abuse of power and crack down on the media. The bizarre and incoherent statements and messages coming from the Rayaale regime all last week, have puzzled many Somalilanders. Despite all their antics and strange behavior, we won't back down from demanding their peaceful resignation, before they are removed by a landslide election victory, or washed away by torments of peaceful but raging masses with pitch forks. We will fight back with our brains, pens, poetry and the ballot box. We will use peaceful civil rights disobedience against Rayaale's life bullets and the misuse of the national police. He will not hesitate to use bullets but instead we will use pens and pencils. In the final analysis our pens will prevail over his bullets. Justice will overcome injustice, light will overtake darkness, and the day will prevail over night no matter what they do Rayaale regime's days are over. They refused to heed the multiple advices demanding their quiet resignation, and they are clearly heading to oblivion, infamy and shame. They keep on coming up with dirty trick after dirty trick. All those tricks and trepidations will fail and they will be chased out of power anyway.

Rayaale came to power through the ballot box. He barley won the presidency through a relatively free and fair elections. The difference between him and the opposition Kulmiye party candidate was very slim. The election was a relatively free and fair elections where the difference in a heavily contested election was just 50 votes. That kind of experience rarely happens in Africa and the Middle East. At the time Rayaale was competing against a decorated war hero with a very illustrious resume Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Siraanyo. From all corners of the country Somalilanders have voted for him with utmost enthusiasm and excitement, but overtime Rayaale real genes and true colors If you will came out. For the last several years he was degenerated into a money-gusting and public lands grape machine, who can potentially exchange with few dollars, anything no matter how precious or dear to the people. All over the country, he went through a frenzy of selling public lands to private property. His property sales spree reached unprecedented peak when he sold the historical islands of Saadin and Ceebat to foreign individuals from Djibouti. The later sale struck a cord with all Somalilanders and especially the people of Awdal/Salel and Gabiley, who are up in arms inside and outside the country. They are organizing, raising funds and speaking out against the devastation and destruction this dictator has unleashed on the country. We are seriously telling those who think Rayaale can sell our land to them think again, this despot can't sell our land. This movement is determined and driven to drive out this greedy beast from office by any means necessary.
The movement may also may pursue a legal action against him, pertaining to a number of criminal acts he was allegedly involved with.
Rayaale's unfounded lies and fabrication towards Kulmiye's visit to the United States were triggered by jealousy and insecurity

Two days after the first huge reception of Chairman Ahmed. M. Siiraanyo held in Minneapolis, Rayaale called for a news conference where he failed to conceal his burning anger and jealousy towards Kulmiye party. His deputy minister of foreign affairs said " Ahmed M. Siranyo is forbidden to come back to the country." Their other officials also went out and waged a massive fabrication and slander campaign against Kulmiye party. These were baseless lies that amounted to nothing. There is nothing wrong Kulmiye party did, that triggered all that bizarre anger and antics. All these unwarranted rants and rage were touched off by the growing Kulmiye success, and Rayaale regime's increasing unpopularity.

Anger, rants, jealousy, incoherent statements, false and baseless propaganda against the Kulmiye delegation can not work. Rayaale's bad intentions, political bumpling and the continuous disruption of the presidential election is crystal clear. This regime did not seem to be ready to a peaceful transfer of power. Again they are not ready for a clean and legal election to take place. They are increasingly becoming unpopular and the hatred and disdain towards the regime is rapidly raising up. To stop the election from happening, they keep coming up with one road block after another. They look at the polls and did not like what they saw, but unfortunately they can't be spared from the wide spread public anger this time.

What Kulmiye party and all Somalilanders are facing is a democratically elected person, metamorphosed into his original genes, and the dictatorial colors he inherited from the fascist Siyad Barre's regime he used to work for as a National Security Officer. The later were notorious and deadly group who were behind the death and the disappearance of thousands of innocent people. Despite his Siyad Barre tactics and style, Kulmiye party is peacefully seeking the office of the presidency through the ballot box.

Step by step break down of Kulmiye's official visit to the United States

The recent official visit to the United States is part of a clean and legal campaign they are trying to unseat a dictator, who is still resorting to what he knows best, corruption, embezzlement of funds, sale of public property, dirty tricks, manipulation, creation of dispute prone regions, abuse of power and the office. Kulmiye party has waged a smart, and shrewd international political campaign to rally the troops, get acquainted with important political centers and excite the base.

The chronology of Kulmiye's official visit to Ethiopia and the United States is as follows:

Chairman Ahmed M. Siraayo first leg of his visit was Addis Abba, Ethiopia. The next president of Somaliland has met high officials in the Ethiopian government, and diplomats from premier countries that are interested in Somaliland. They stayed in Addis Abba for about two weeks. Their official meetings with high Ethiopian officials and others ended up with an atmosphere of understanding and friendship.

Kulmiye party chairman and his delegation arrived at Washington Dulles airport on the 7th of January, 2009. They were welcomed at the airport by senior United States officials, and Kulmiye party officials from the local Washington D.C. branch. The distinguished delegation stayed in Washington for a little more than a week, at which time they have conducted series of meetings with senior officials, from the United States government including state department, ministry of defense, and congress. The negotiations have been ended with an atmosphere of mutual understanding between the two countries.

The Delegation led by the next president of Somaliland, and Kulmiye party his Excellency chairman Ahmed Mohamed Siiranyo reached the twin cities of Minneapolis/St.Paul on Sunday, 17th of, 2010. They were welcomed at the airport by the Somaliland community of Minnesota led by Kulmiye party officials of the state of Minnesota. When the limousine of the delegation reached Minneapolis Hilton Hotel in down town Minneapolis, a large crowd from the Somaliland community have welcomes them. At that night the delegation led by his Excellency chairman of the Kulmiye party spoke in a reception. Large number of the Somaliland community members of Minnesota have participated in that reception. On Monday January 18th , the delegation and all Kulmiye members of the Twin cities of St.Paul and Minneapolis were invited to a working dinner hosted by one of the Kulmiye leaders in the state of Minnesota, held in the Minneapolis suburb of Burnsville. The delegation left Minneapolis on the 19th of January, 2010.

The next destination of the Kulmiye party delegation was Washington D.C. where the next president was invited back again by the United States government. After a short stop in Washington, the delegation will head to Columbus Ohio and on the 23th of January they conducted a huge reception in a five star hotel in down town Columbus Ohio. Kulmiye supporters who came as far away as Toronto, Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana have participated in the reception. The huge turn outs wherever the next president of Somaliland, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Siiranyo is a vivid demonstration of the tremendous thirsty for change in Somaliland. The outpouring of support is testament to the fierce urgency of now. Their is a huge tendency and energy in the air aspiring to remove the current inept, dictatorial, childish, jealous and bickering Rayaale regime from power. One more day the Rayaale administration stays in power means one more day of corruption, mismanagement, conflict creation between Somaliland communities, illegal sale of public land. One more day in power means creation of more unnecessary conflict prone districts and regions, more corruption and more bizarre decisions and statements. This man is from the old school of Africa's failed state mentality. This man is a throw back of Africa's big men and president's for life who are mostly extinct today. The mentality of the current corrupt regime is not compatible with Somaliland's forward-looking populace. This regime do not belong to the 21st century.

Dictatorship

Dictatorship is a state basically run by one man. They are usually paranoid, schizophrenic, impulsive, volatile, micro-managers with heavy doze of insecurity. They fragile entities that thrive on fear, intimidation, abuse of power, collective punishment, suspicion and fear. Statistics collected in the aftermath of fallen dictatorships indicated staggering data. Most of those data showed that overwhelming majority of those dictatorships end up in catastrophe, failure and extremely bad results. Nazi Germany Fascist Italy, the Soviet Union, Congo, Siyad Bare former Somalia, Ethiopia's Mengistu, Uganda's Idi Amin are few examples among many. Courage, democracy, the truth and freedom of expression are the enemies of dictatorship.

Break down of Rayaale's numerous road blocks and attempts to disrupt the election

1. Creation of numerous new so-called, unplanned, not thought of regions. He just created, imaginary and virtual regions which are potential land mines. The first thing Kulmiye has to do is to tell the people carving imaginary regions is not the right thing to do. Rayaale has created all such unnecessary and wrongly carved multiple tribal Bantus-tans in order to harvest votes. He has preferred supposed short time personal gains with disastrous results to long time public tranquility. His lack of foresight may potentially cause long time land disputes. He seemed to care less about the negative consequences an unnecessary disputes such artificial ghost regions may cause.The right thing to do is to work hard to build a pluralistic, prosperous and peaceful Somaliland.
2. The relentless sale of public property and other Real Estate in exchange for few dollars.
3. For the first time in history he was embarked in an unprecedented sale of ancient islands of Saadin and Ceebat.
4. Cynical manipulation of the Ceelbardale dispute.
5. Creating conflict between peaceful clans
6. Rayaale is a cynical divider not a unifier.
7. Constant creation of problems in the Guurti so he can manipulate and pressure them to give him more illegal extensions. The Guurti name has been already damaged when they gave the dictatorial Rayalle regime two illegal extensions.
8. Creation of multiple and endless conflicts and constitutional crisis

Suleiman Egeh

 Freelance writer and a senior science instructor

UDUB MAXAY SAWIRKA IYO WARARKA AY FICILKEEDU SAMEEYEEN UGA GUBANEYSAA?!!

Bulshadu  waa  "Candid Camera" kamarad qarsoon oo intaas wax duubeysa, waa archieve taariikheed oo ogaal ah. Talisyada aqoonta ka baylaha ah, waxa had iyo jeer u caado ah, qoraallo yaalla oo ay ka murmaan, wax ay si u doonayaan oo ay si kale u qabtaan, Ammaan aanay lahayn , muteysanna oo lga fidiyo lagana sheego. Waxay ummadda ugu neceb yihiin, Saxaafadda aan sida ay dooneyso Ammaan ku rusheyn. Weerarka beryahanba ku socdey saxaafadda oo aynu ognahay in kii ugu ugu dambeeyey ahaa Wargeyska Jamhuuriya oo tifatirihiisa looga yeedhey C.I.Dda, waxa loogu yeedheyna yahay wax aan meesha leekeyn oo aan asaas qaanuun lahayn ee Cagajugleyn looga jeedo!!   Innamada uu Jug-Soo-Dhacayna u soo dhigtey, markii ay wasiirro iyo wax ka sarreeyaaba ku daaleen inay u rakoocaan culeyska uu Maamulka Riyaale isugu habar wacdey si loo wiiqo Madax-bannaabnida Saxaafadda Curdinka ah ee Somaliland. Muqaawilkan soo luggo'ay ee weliba ay webka ku jiraan sida uu talo-bixinta ula lahaa maamulkii Afka u dhacay , isaga oo waqtigaa joogey France, waxa ka maqan in ay dhallin yaradani sida ay u da'yar yihiin anay ahayn ee ay yiihiin kuweii dhagaxa ku eryadey Afweyne, Kaare , Suug iyo BMna aan waxba u ogeyn!! Xidha!! waa afka dadka suunka-hoostiisa ka hadla, meelna kama soo gala xorriyadda ra'yigu ereygan foosha xun leh, waayo Dastuurka Xorriyadda iyo Lafahan dadka , katiinadaha iskugu xidhan ee Daadadku soo saaraan, mar kasta oo uu roob da'o UDUB wey ka indho la'dahay in ay u dhinteen si inta noolaataa, xorriyad ugu hadasho.   Saxaafaddu waxa ay qortaa , waxa uu Maamulka hadba jiraa hawl gal ah ee uu ku kaco iyo waxa ay bulshadu ka tidhaahdo ama ka yeesho iyo sida ay u qaabisho. Innamada iyo Gabdhaha sida ammaanta iyo sharafka mudan uga dul boodey letter Presskii iyo dhibatadii Naxaastu ku haysey farsamo yaqaannada marka ay columnska xidhayaan, ee Siber-Ageka Sonmaliland soo Gaadhsiiyey Adduunka oo dhan in laga Daawado lagana Akhristo wararka Dalku " Shahaado Sharafta Darajada Koowaad ee qaranka ayey ka istaahilaan Ummadda, ee jug soo dhacay halka uu ka dhalliiley saxaafaddu waa macruuf.   Haddii waxa keliya ee Maamulkan laga sheegi karaa noqdey Dhulkii Danta Guud oo ay u kala baratameen iibintiisa, Dhoofkii Xoolaha oo uu Afweyne ka xishoodey in uu ajnebi gacanta u geliyo , oo ay u gesheen weliba ugu xidheen kooto loo xaddidey Sicir aanu Dalka Gudihiisa ka joogin iska  daa dibadoo. Waxa ku xiga shidaalka qaranka oo aan sinaba sharikad ama shakhsi ajnebi ah gacanta u geli karin, waayo waa shey halbowle u ah Amniga iyo Ganacsiga Qaranka!! Waxa aynu aragnaa in Sanaag-bari oo ah dhul Somaliland leedahay ay iska maamulato Puntland oo Laas-qorey looga dhigey Saldhig Budhcad badeedda !! T/vga Madaxtooyaduna nagu suuxinayo "Somaliland Dalkeyga" Marka waxan oo dil ah , qaraxyo aqoonsare daadihineyso oo meel fog laga maamulayo ay barriisteen shicibka axraarta ah ee Laas-Caanood , Maamulkuna waxba ka qaban waayo, Jug soo dhacay, Saxaafadda ma sidii warsame indhoole ayuu doonayaa in qaraxyadan ubax ka  dhigaan. " Jaalle warsame, waxa uu soo indho-indheeyeyna, aan lagu beddelin, Jaalle Warsame waxa uu soo dhegodhegeeyey !!, illeyn Warsame, Ummaddu wey taqaan oo waa indho la'yahaye!!   Mr. Axmed Xasan Cawke iyo Sheekadii Warsdame-indhoole ayaanu doorkan ku dhaafeynaa weerarka Saxaafadda  ee uu Xoghayaha Guud ee xisbiga Udub ku qaadey Saxaafadda iyo Jamhuuriya gaar ahaan, oo uu Muwaadin Dhanxiir Attore ka yahay. Ha noolaato , hana waarto saxaafadda Somaliland.   Dr. Cali Cabdi Muxumed