Well above our peers and without even de jure recognition. Clearly this speaks to the governments good stewardship in building the right instutions and steps to building a favourable business climate. With the banking reform law already in the process of being designed, Somaliland should rise in the ranks even further.

Any real evidence besides pics of a messy bedroom and livestock from a poorly formatted site?

^^^ Good idea on paper but do you think these groups are going to lay down their arms willingly? They already wield enough power and influence in their respective areas and are outside the government's control. I think we'll soon see if ASJW and raskaambooni were actually committed to the cause or were allied with the gov out of the convenience of sharing a common enemy.

Somalia;877713 wrote: Why don't you come up with your case. Puntland has been the driving force behind federalism, the founding state and during the transitional period pushed through the end of it, while sceptics such as secessionists wanted the prolonging of a miserable dawn. The United Nations has said that without Puntland, none of this would be possible. I already said that Puntland has positively contributed to the process and ending the transition. I was not taking that away from the state. However when statements that dismiss the hard work and contributions of key figures and citizens from throughout Somalia are made.....that takes away from the entire nation. It's as if Massachusetts were to say since we had the Boston Tea Party the United States is at the debt of our state and we should take full credit for the revolution.

I think multiparty democracy is healthy for the country but there definitely should be a cap on the number of active parties as the original constitutional provision stated. It would become too easy for splintering and kinship based parties to emerge if there isn't a cap. 2 parties is way too few and it becomes only an illusion of choice like the in the US. It should be more like the multi party legislatures in Europe with 3 or 4 prominent parties. That way there will be more choices that reflect people actual values and ideologies while still preventing factionalism.

Building strong relationships with a reputable partner like Sweden is good policy. Very intrigued on the MP's emphasis on investment opportunities in the country....

I seem to recall when P-landers were saying no such talks would occur without Farole's involvement....then he was shut of the talks. And now that garowe has been shut out you dimissed the entire dialogue/process. What a turnaround.

Seems like Duke is trying to speak for everyone but in the end saying nothing for anyone....

General Duke;877590 wrote: He is the PM of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The entity that we Puntlanders created. Taking full credit for the blood sweat and tears that an entire nation has sacrificed to get their country back on track? I don't know if you're simply trying to illciit a response or really that deluded but that simply is not the case. Has Puntland positively contributed to the process? Sure. But don't take the credit for a victory that an entire nation shares.

So I guess it really is a blessing that only water was found in the wells in Puntland....

Mashallah Edna Adan truly is a national treasure of Somaliland. Despite the defamatory attacks by others her actions and accomplishments and the many lives saved by her and her hospital make her a real hero in the eyes of world.

Somaliland minister of Higher Education Miss Zamzam Abdi Adam has today met with a delegation from Turkey. The Minister of Education said the delegation from the Turkish Prime Minister is in the country to implement projects and also to access where there is an urgent need the education system. The Turkish delegation said they plan to upgrade Laboratories in five major secondary schools and to distribute computers in all secondary schools in the country. The Turkish delegation told the Minister that apart from implement the projects at hand, they are committed to establish a long term working relations with Somaliland’s education ministry. Somaliland’s Minister of Education revealed that the Turkish delegates will also facilitate the training of officials from the Ministry of Education in Turkey. Lastly Hon Zamzam Abdi Adan extended her heartfelt thanks to the Turkish delegation for their support and generosity to the people of Somaliland; she added that these efforts are reinforced by Turkey’s development cooperation activities. Turkey’s endeavor in the field of development cooperation demonstrates its dedication to the global efforts aimed at the eradication of poverty and sustainable development for a better future for all, said head of the Turkish delegation. http://somalilandpress.com/somaliland-education-minister-meet%E2%80%99s-turkish-delegation-35469/

What kind of degenerate psychopaths ambush a peace conference? Clearly the minority elements in the district do not wish for reconciliation since they thrive off of conflict

Ferderalism only emphasizes the differences between the constituent entities and instutiionalizes political division. I think employing a federalist model in Somalia, especially when it's going about state building in a post-conflict environment will only ensure future conflict and intra-polity fighting.

The World Bank unveiled a $14 million grant to the Somaliland administration last week to strengthen the fishing industry and advance privately owned businesses in the region, officials said. A Somali man holds a fish at a market in Mogadishu. New funding from the World Bank is expected to improve production and quality control of the fishing industry in Somaliland. Somaliland Minister of Fisheries Abdullahi Jama Geljire told Sabahi that $1.2 million would go directly to his ministry to develop a registration process and licensing procedure for foreign and local fishing boats and other vessels. "These things did not exist in Somaliland before," Geljire said. "The programme will establish safety guidelines [for quality control of fish] from when it is caught until it is sold," he said. In addition, the programme will teach the ministry and local fishermen how to sort the fish they catch and how to record information on the kinds of fish caught, Geljire said. "It includes trainings for fishery associations on how to serve their members and teach them new fishing techniques," he said. The World Bank has contracted French company SOFRECO to train local fishermen and enhance myrrh gum exports because local companies do not have the capacity to undertake the task, Geljire said. "With regard to economic development, this is the largest [aid] the World Bank has given Somaliland," Ahmed Mohamed Diriye, a monitoring and evaluation expert at the Somaliland Ministry of Planning and Development, told Sabahi. He said livestock, once the backbone on which Somaliland's economy depended, has been declining due to drought and deforestation. "Fishing is an abundant resource that needs investment and can be a substitute for declining livestock, which is losing ground as the main economic backbone," he said. Diriye said part of the programme will involve studying coastal communities in an effort improve the lives of local residents. "Our policy is to create permanent fishing factories so that people can be occupied both in livelihood and work," he said. Fishermen need modern equipment Omar Aden Osman, head of Zakiya Fishing Company, said fishing professionals have many unmet needs. "They have a great need for training to advance their knowledge, and they need help with equipment to store and market fish, particularly freezers and ice makers," Osman told Sabahi. "Our boats are small and most of them are faulty." Osman said fishing gear is not sold in the country and fishermen face difficulties when ordering equipment from abroad. "Since [fishermen] do not have modern equipment, large vessels, freezers or good skills, they do not gain any tangible profits from the sea, and at times they cannot afford to pay for the fuel and food they went to sea with," he said. Part of the $14 million grant will be used to fund the Somaliland Business Fund (SBF), worth $3.6 million, which will be awarded to independent business owners in the form of business development grants ranging between $5,000 and $150,000, SBF official Mohamed Yusuf Elmi told Sabahi. Individuals can submit applications directly on the SBF website. The deadline for accepting proposals is October 25th, and Elmi said they have already received many grant proposals. The money from SBF is expected to be distributed within two years, he said. The World Bank programme will last until 2015 and will also fund programmes for livestock trade, farming, myrrh gum export and capacity building of Somaliland ministries, Geljire said. http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/articles/features/2012/09/26/feature-02

Typical puntlanders, they claim they support the democratic process and the end of transition....unless their chosen people aren't selected. How sad.

Here we go again.....for the 1,000,000 time this week the faux nationalists from Garowe and the ultra unionists call for Somaliland's end. For a nation that's under foreign occupation, facing an insurgency, undergoing humanitarian crisis, piracy and the worst corruption in the world, this preoccupation with Somaliland could be better spent improving what you currently administer. Besides the union was between two equal signatory partners that each had their own sovriegnty, therefore any party can choose to dissolve the union by their own accord. Apparently that fact always seems to be conveniently passed over by unionists.

The dialogue should obviously continue as having a direct line of communication between Hargeisa and Mogadishu would be of strategic benefit to both sides. With that being said, it's becoming apparent that many hardline unionists see these talks a threat since they legitimize Somaliland's interests in self-determination, something that was unthinkable only a few years ago. These talks will likely drag out for years so all spectators should get comfortable. The end result is not clear at this point but the status quo will definitely change.

I like the president but I think it's way too early to give him adulation when he's only been in office for a couple of weeks. I think this is Obama fever all over again. I think it's good to be optimistic but let's judge the man on the track record he builds as president and not on our hopes and aspirations

Jaamac1975;870242 wrote: Simply because he laid a boulder some where and took few PR shot doesn't mean anything , the money came from charity. Somaliland goverment has to be ashamed of using foreign charities as performence of their goverment. The money came from the Gulf Arabs that has nothing to do with Siilaanyo or his goverment 99% of all development from building schools to prison is done by foreigners and the goverment of Siilaanyo just attend once the food is ready and cuts the line and pertend they have donated and cooked the food. Usless PR stunt. The project to build orphanages in urban centers throughout Somaliland is actually a policy wholly designed by Somaliland government's ministry of planning. The orphanages initiative was a key aspect of the Social Pillar of the Somaliland National Development Plan (pg.15) it was however financed through the generosity of the Kuwaiti development agency, but their role was merely to finance local projects already put into place. The reliance on external bilateral and multilateral assistance to finance development projects is to be expected as do many other countries in the continent do as they move through the stages of economic development. I also find it interesting that you fail to mention that the entire budget of Somalia is financed by external aid and that it's security is wholly dependent on foreign troops, where as it is the complete opposite for the government of Somaliland....thought I would just point that out.

Noted. However I was making the point was that judging by the few statements already made by the President, it indicates that he will be approaching the issue from a more nuanced and deliberative perspective than his predecessors. What that will ultimately spell for Somalia-Somaliland relations is unknown but it will surely be interesting to watch.

Abtigiis;869604 wrote: The Sage, you are in denial. Many brainwashed disapora cyber-pundits are in denial too. You will see, the day the South gets a proper government, expect the message you see in this video not in a youtube but thousands marching in Borama, Las Anod, Buuhoodle, Badhan etc. It is why I always say SL need to come up with a fast solution or risk an internal implosion. Edit: - The maid in this house who just overheard this youtube message insults the Awdalites: "Iyagoo SL ah ayey hadana somaliya doonayaan *baas*tariin****tani" This close relative of Faysal Ali Waraabe says. She adds "...iyaguba way na laayeen barigii siyaad barre ee waanu iska saamaxnay". There it goes. If the Awdalites look south, they will become the enemy! My dear Abtigiis, denial is a state where one is unable to accept an empirical truth. Let me show you an example: There is forum poster who masks his venomous feelings towards a group of people with pseudo intellectual arguments aimed at discrediting them, all the while he conveniently ignores that his own country has been in state of peril for two decades yet he will constantly tell you that his country is on the cusp of renewed former glory. Ring a bell? In all honesty Abtigiis, I've never been able to take your arguments against Somaliland seriously ever since those disgusting comments were made about women. Any standing objectivity was thrown out the window as your true colours and feelings were shown.

Mashallah. Congratulations to these students and I hope next years will have an even larger number of graduates

Xaaji Xunjuf;869823 wrote: c) He introduces the possibility that there may not be a union when he says “ Hadiiba aan midowno”. This is a major departure from the script for a politician from Somalia. A politican in Mogadishu actually displaying common sense and accepting reality? I guess things really are changing down there. President Hassan's views are only just indication of the evolving collective conscious in Somalia: that the self determination of Somaliland is something that cannot easily be swayed.

Talk about sour grapes. For someone who make it his imperative that his admin have a key role in shaping the transition, to not attend reeks of bitterness and makes me question his true agenda and commitment to stabilizing the country