Can we have a decent discussions about infrastructure? I think that was Galbeedi's intention. Oodweyne, what is stopping Somaliland from building a vital bridge like this? We know it is not about the lack of money because in the Somali peninsula, the ruling elite illegally and unceremoniously rakes in millions of public money every year. What is the best way to energize the masses so that the government of Somaliland can take action to put an end to these kind of tragedies?

Oodweyne, is that a new Building for the Defense Ministry? I haven't see this picture before.

Oodweyne, China is a powerful country that any African country (shit-hole as Trump calls them) needs to have on its side. Ghuelleh did that right thing by selling a portion of his business to Ethiopia to lock and guarantee this giant client aka Ethiopia. But the question I have is, what does this mean for the Berbera deal? Why would Ethiopia use undeveloped Berbera, with all its troubles (Somalia's sovereignty, etc), when Djibouti with the right infrastructure (highways, world class ports, train system, closer distance, etc) is right there waiting to supply the massive Ethiopian market? Do you not think Ghuelleh's move is a blow to Berbera port?

Sad

If the UAE wants to give development money to Somaliland or Puntland or Jubaland, to help these governments economically and boost local security against terrorism, every Somali should support. What Kheyre and Farmaajo think or personally feel is irreverent. We Somalis need to be practical and start making sense. We don't have a Somali central government that is able to share national revenue with regional governments. Until that day arrives, every Dowlad-Goboleed should cover its budget gap with money it begs from outside friends. Particularly, I don't see a problem with the UAE continuing to train Puntland marine forces the same way it was doing for years. It is a great project. What we don't want, however, is for the UAE to take over our ports and profit from them without permission from the federal government. I also hope we don't ever get to a situation where the UAE is openly sabotaging active Somali development projects the same it is trying to kill the Pakistani port.

I think Gaas's reaction is understandable. Turkey has concentrated all its assistance in one city.

Buurmadoow must be released.

Cajiib.

UAE+British? Something is fishy.

Inshalah I will visit Djibouti after all these projects are completed. IOG must renovate downtown Djibouti to help tourism.

A population of 1 million is huge for Ismail Omar Ghelleh's family in Ethiopia. It is possible the number is even bigger than that. That is great.

Country Ethiopia Region Somali Zone Sitti Capital Shinile Area • Total 29,693 km2 (11,465 sq mi) Population (2014) • Total 946,968 Time zone EAT (UTC+3)

Well done boys. This is fantastic!!!!

OO must read this and direct his overlords to change tactics immediately or else you have another Oromia (more violent) in your hands. Don't underestimate the resolve of the little guy. The rapist must be caught and punished.

Good report Galbeedi.

UAE is stuck and conflicted. I has no idea of what to do and how to handle this issue.

Most Somalis know the Amharas are lowborn.

SOMALI Somalis (Somali: Soomaali, صوماليون‎) are an ethnic group inhabiting the Horn of Africa (Somali Peninsula).[31] The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic family. They are predominantly Sunni Muslim.[32] Ethnic Somalis number around 20–21 million and are principally concentrated in Somalia (around 12 million),[1] Ethiopia (4.6 million),[2] Kenya (2.4 million),[3] and Djibouti (524,000).[4] A Somali diaspora is also found in parts of the Middle East, North America, Oceania and Europe. Samaale, the oldest common ancestor of several Somali clans, is generally regarded as the source of the ethnonym Somali. The name "Somali" is, in turn, held to be derived from the words soo and maal, which together mean "go and milk" — a reference to the ubiquitous pastoralism of the Somali people.[33] Another plausible etymology proposes that the term Somali is derived from the Arabic for "wealthy" (dhawamaal), again referring to Somali riches in livestock.[34] Alternatively, the ethnonym Somali is believed to have been derived from the Automoli (Asmach), a group of warriors from ancient Egypt described by Herodotus, who were likely of Meshwesh origin according to Flinders Petrie. Asmach is thought to have been their Egyptian name, with Automoli being a Greek derivative of the Hebrew word Semoli (meaning "on the left hand side").[35] An Ancient Chinese document from the 9th century CE referred to the northern Somalia coast — which was then part of a broader region in Northeast Africa known as Barbara, in reference to the area's Berber (Hamitic) inhabitants[36] — as Po-pa-li.[37][38] The first clear written reference of the sobriquet Somali, however, dates back to the 15th century. During the conflict between the Sultanate of Ifat based at Zeila and the Solomonic Dynasty, the Abyssinian emperor had one of his court officials compose a hymn celebrating a military victory over the Sultan of Ifat's eponymous troops.[39] Simur was also an ancient Harari alias for the Somali people.[40] Ancient rock paintings, which date back 5000 years, have been found in the northern part of Somalia. These engravings depict early life in the territory.[41] The most famous of these is the Laas Geel complex. It contains some of the earliest known rock art on the African continent and features many elaborate pastoralist sketches of animal and human figures. In other places, such as the northern Dhambalin region, a depiction of a man on a horse is postulated as being one of the earliest known examples of a mounted huntsman.[41] Inscriptions have been found beneath many of the rock paintings, but archaeologists have so far been unable to decipher this form of ancient writing.[42] During the Stone Age, the Doian and Hargeisan cultures flourished here with their respective industries and factories.[43] The oldest evidence of burial customs in the Horn of Africa comes from cemeteries in Somalia dating back to 4th millennium BC.[44] The stone implements from the Jalelo site in northern Somalia are said to be the most important link in evidence of the universality in palaeolithic times between the East and the West.[45] In antiquity, the ancestors of the Somali people were an important link in the Horn of Africa connecting the region's commerce with the rest of the ancient world. Somali sailors and merchants were the main suppliers of frankincense, myrrh and spices, items which were considered valuable luxuries by the Ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, Mycenaeans and Babylonians.[46][47] According to most scholars, the ancient Land of Punt and its native inhabitants formed part of the ethnogenesis of the Somali people.[48][49][50][51] The ancient Puntites were a nation of people that had close relations with Pharaonic Egypt during the times of Pharaoh Sahure and Queen Hatshepsut. The pyramidal structures, temples and ancient houses of dressed stone littered around Somalia are said to date from this period.[52] In the classical era, the Macrobians, who may have been ancestral to the Automoli or ancient Somalis, established a powerful tribal kingdom that ruled large parts of modern Somalia. They were reputed for their longevity and wealth, and were said to be the "tallest and handsomest of all men".[53] The Macrobians were warrior herders and seafarers. According to Herodotus' account, the Persian Emperor Cambyses II, upon his conquest of Egypt (525 BC), sent ambassadors to Macrobia, bringing luxury gifts for the Macrobian king to entice his submission. The Macrobian ruler, who was elected based on his stature and beauty, replied instead with a challenge for his Persian counterpart in the form of an unstrung bow: if the Persians could manage to draw it, they would have the right to invade his country; but until then, they should thank the gods that the Macrobians never decided to invade their empire.[53][54] The Macrobians were a regional power reputed for their advanced architecture and gold wealth, which was so plentiful that they shackled their prisoners in golden chains.[54] After the collapse of Macrobia, several ancient city-states, such as Opone, Essina, Sarapion, Nikon, Malao, Damo and Mosylon near Cape Guardafui, which competed with the Sabaeans, Parthians and Axumites for the wealthy Indo-Greco-Roman trade, also flourished in Somalia.[55] The birth of Islam on the opposite side of Somalia's Red Sea coast meant that Somali merchants, sailors and expatriates living in the Arabian Peninsula gradually came under the influence of the new religion through their converted Arab Muslim trading partners. With the migration of fleeing Muslim families from the Islamic world to Somalia in the early centuries of Islam, and the peaceful conversion of the Somali population by Somali Muslim scholars in the following centuries, the ancient city-states eventually transformed into Islamic Mogadishu, Berbera, Zeila, Barawa and Merca, which were part of the Berberi civilization. The city of Mogadishu came to be known as the City of Islam,[56] and controlled the East African gold trade for several centuries.[57] The Sultanate of Ifat, led by the Walashma dynasty with its capital at Zeila, ruled over parts of what is now eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti, and northern Somalia. The historian al-Umari records that Ifat was situated near the Red Sea coast, and states its size as 15 days travel by 20 days travel. Its army numbered 15,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. Al-Umari also credits Ifat with seven "mother cities": Belqulzar, Kuljura, Shimi, Shewa, Adal, Jamme and Laboo.[58] In the Middle Ages, several powerful Somali empires dominated the regional trade including the Ajuran Sultanate, which excelled in hydraulic engineering and fortress building,[59] the Adal Sultanate, whose general Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (Ahmed Gurey) was the first commander to use cannon warfare on the continent during Adal's conquest of the Ethiopian Empire,[60] and the Sultanate of the Geledi, whose military dominance forced governors of the Omani empire north of the city of Lamu to pay tribute to the Somali Sultan Ahmed Yusuf.[61] The Harla, an early Hamitic group of tall stature who inhabited parts of Somalia, Tchertcher and other areas in the Horn, also erected various tumuli.[62] These masons are believed to have been ancestral to the Somalis ("proto-Somali").[63]

RAHANWEYN The Rahaweyn (Somali Maay: Reewing; traditional Somali: Raxaweyn, Arabic: رحنوين‎) is a Somali clan, composed of two major sub-clans, the Digil and the Mirifle.[1] It is one of the five major Somali clans residing in the Horn of Africa. The Digil sub-clan mainly consists of farmers and coastal people, while the Mirifle are predominantly nomadic pastoralists. According to the Rahanweyn, Somalis are linguistically grouped into Mai Terreh and Maxaa Tiri. The speakers of Mai Terreh (also known as Mai-Mai or Af-Maay) are the Rahanweyn, while the speakers of Maxaa Tiri (i.e. Standard Somali) belong to other clans (Darod, Dir, Mogadishu Clan and Isaaq). The Digil and Mirifle are mainly concentrated in southern Somalia, including Mogadishu, Upper Juba (Gedo, Bay, Bakool, most parts of Middle Juba) and Lower Shebelle. They are also found in the Somali Region of Ethiopia and the North Eastern Province of Kenya. The Rahanweyn clan were mentioned as the people of Reewing who lived in the fertile lands and coastal provinces and were very wealthy and powerful people during the antiquity period in southern Somalia. They were said to be a sub group of Barbara or Barbaroi people ancestors of the Somali people. Along with Mogadishu Clan, Rahanweyn clan also came under the Ajuran Empire control in the 13th century that governed much of southern Somalia and eastern Ethiopia, with its domain extending from Hobyo in the north, to Qelafo in the west, to Kismayo in the south.[2] At the end of the 17th century, the Ajuran Sultanate was on its decline, and various vassals were now breaking free or being absorbed by new Somali powers. One of these powers was the Geledi Sultanate who was established by Ibrahim Adeer, who was an Ajuran general at that time, successfully pushed back the imperial Ajuran army out of Afgooye. He subsequently established the Geledi sultanates ruling house, the Gobroon dynasty, after having first defeated the Ajuran vassal state, the Silcis Kingdom. Geledi Sultanate was a Rahanweyn Kingdom ruled by the noble Geledi clan which controlled the entire Jubba River and extending parts of Shebelle River and dominating the East African trade. The Geledi Sultanate had enough power to force the southern Arabians to pay tribute to the noble Geledi Rulers like Ahmed Yusuf (Gobroon).[3] The Geledi Sultanate was eventually incorporated into Italian Somaliland Protectorate in 1908 by the Geledi ruler: Osman Ahmed who signed multiple treaties with the Italian colonials and the Kingdom ended with the death of Osman Ahmed in 1910.[4] At the turn of 1991 when the Somali central government collapsed, the Rahanweyn clan formed their own autonomous state known as South West State of Somalia which was able to establish its own government, economy, army and flag. The Southwest state was able to successfully keep the stability in southern Somalia.[5][6]

The other clan (Baidoa) claims to have a lineage back to the original owners of Berbera town - the Berbers.

Moderators please don't delete this thread. It is just for informational. Is it a coincident that four of the five clans claim to be decendants of Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib.

HAWIYA The Mogadishu Clan (Somali: Mogadishu Clan, Arabic: بنو هوية‎) is a Somali clan. Members of the clan traditionally inhabit central and southern Somalia, Ogaden and the North Eastern Province (currently administered by Ethiopia and Kenya, respectively). Like many Somalis, Mogadishu Clan members trace their paternal ancestry to Irir, one of the sons of Samaale. Mogadishu Clan is one of the major Somali clans, with a wide traditional territory,[1] it is the dominant clan in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.[2] According to an official Military Survey conducted during the colonial period, Mogadishu Clan clan members are by tradition believed to be descended from a forefather named Hawiya Irrir. Hawiya Irrir is held to be the brother of Dir. I.M. Lewis and many sources maintain that the Dir together with the Mogadishu Clan trace ancestry through Irir son of Samaale to Banu Hashim Arabian origins with Aqeel Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib.[3][4][5][6][7] Due to ancient pastoralist migrations and population movements across the Somali peninsula in search of water wells and grazing land over a period of thousand years, Mogadishu Clan clans today can be found inhabiting an area stretching from the fertile lands of southern Somalia between Barawa and Kismayo, to the regions surrounding Merka, Mogadishu and Warsheikh in the hinterland, west to the modern city of Beledweyne in the Hiran region, and north to the ancient port town of Hobyo in the arid central Mudug region.[8] Mogadishu Clan along with some Samaale sub-clans migrated to central and southern Somalia in the 1st century AD to populate the Horn of Africa, they established farmlands in the fertile plain lands of southern Somalia and also established flourishing harbor ports in south and central Somalia.[9] The first written reference to the Mogadishu Clan dates back to a 12th-century document by the Arab geographer, Ibn Sa'id, who described Merca at the time as the "capital of Mogadishu Clan country", the 12th century cartographer Muhammad al-Idrisi may have referred to the Mogadishu Clan as well, as he called Merca the region of the "Hadiye", which Herbert S. Lewis believes is a scribal error for "Mogadishu Clan", as do Guilliani, Schleicher and Cerulli.[10] Along with Rahanweyn, Mogadishu Clan clan also came under the Ajuran Empire control in the 13th century that governed much of southern Somalia and eastern Ethiopia, with its domain extending from Hobyo in the north, to Qelafo in the west, to Kismayo in the south.[11] At the end of the 17th century, the Ajuran Empire was on its decline due to high taxation on none-Ajuran clans and the practice of primae noctis which was the prime reason why the Mogadishu Clan clan revolted against the Ajuran rulers and ever since this first revolt against the Ajuran other groups would follow in the rebellion which would eventually bring down Ajuran rule of the inter-riverine region.[12] Lee Cassanelli in his book, "The Shaping of Somali society," provides a historical picture of the Hiraab Immate, he writes: "According to local oral tradition, the Hiraab imamate was a powerful alliance of closely related groups who shared a common lineage under the Gorgaarte clan divisions. It successfully revolted against the Ajuran Empire and established an independent rule for at least two centuries from the seventeen hundreds and onwards.[13] The alliance involved the army leaders and advisors of the Habar Gidir and Duduble, a Fiqhi/Qadi of Sheekhaal, and the Imam was reserved for the Mudulood branch who is believed to have been the first born. Once established, the Imamate ruled the territories from the Shabeelle valley, the Benaadir provinces, the Mareeg areas all the way to the arid lands of Mudug, whilst the ancient port of Hobyo emerged as the commercial center and Mogadishu being its capital for the newly established Hiraab Imamate in the late 17th century.[13] Hobyo served as a prosperous commercial centre for the Imamate, the agricultural centres of Eldher and Harardhere included the production of sorghum and beans, supplementing with herds of camels, cattle, goats and sheep. Livestock, hides and skin, whilst the aromatic woods and raisins were the primary exports as rice, other foodstuffs and clothes were imported. Merchants looking for exotic goods came to Hobyo to buy textiles, precious metals and pearls, the commercial goods harvested along the Shabelle river were brought to Hobyo for trade. Also, the increasing importance and rapid settlement of more southernly cities such as Mogadishu further boosted the prosperity of Hobyo, as more and more ships made their way down the Somali coast and stopped in Hobyo to trade and replenish their supplies.[13] The economy of the Mogadishu Clan in the interior includes the predominant nomadic pastoralism, and to some extent, cultivation within agricultural settlements in the riverine area, as well as mercantile commerce along the urban coast, at various points throughout history, trade of modern and ancient commodities by the Mogadishu Clan through maritime routes included cattle skin, slaves, ivory and ambergris.[14][15] Soon afterwards, the entire region was snapped up by the fascists Italians and it led to the birth of a Modern Somalia. However, the Hiraab hereditary leadership has remained intact up to this day and enjoys a dominant influence in national Somali affairs."[13]