Shariif Ahmed might had good intensions , but was not up to the job. Waxa uu yidhi , " Areey dabagaale ayaan dabin u dhigtay Maroodi ayaana iigu soo dhacay". As you said every where the worst among us are in power or running the government. Three years ago, a man who visited Mogaishu told me that . " anyone with small integrity would not join the Damujadiid group", I did not believe then, but now I realized how they destroyed both the dignity and integrity of the whole nation.

Free and democratic nations do not rush to build false alliances for cash. It must be based on mutual interest . Only despots and corrupt politicians do. I agree Russia has no place in Somaliland or any where else in this region, at the same time these gulf countries are not nations but banks with oil money. They never do any thing benevolent or merciful any where. They would have brought couple of thousand Syrians or other refugees. In 1960, Taiwan was the primary nation representing the Republic of China and many nations were forced by American's to deny the 700 million , people's Republic. Somalia disagreed and opened it's embassy at Teinamen square. We had relations with both China and USA. As Che said , we need an anchor state that protects our interest and survival at this stage. Hassa Sheikh and the oligarchs in Mogadishu will sell us all for nothing. For the last four years he gave up every thing and got nothing in exchange . Siilaanyo and company are also following the same foot steps. They both signed this Emirate base , yet no one in Somalind knows. Four years hare just finished and Al-shbaab is at the gates of Mogadishu. What have all these nations have done other than Turkey?, where is the Somali army, where is security? We need a real change.

before I started writing this article I was trying to convince Faadumo Dayib to abandon her bid to run for president of Somalia. This so called indirect election does not favor outsiders or first time political participants like Faadumo. The vote buying and the corruption reached unprecedented limit in the Somali history. President Hassan put in the parliament his own staff, friends and family. It really looks bad for all involved. No one knows when they will hold , but we all want this drama to end . This week we all heard the news that Ms Faadumo Dayib decided to quit her candidacy for president. She rightly decided to look ahead of the future and prepare for the 2020 election which could be one person one vote, unless the incompetent leaders procrastinate and then again, we all end up another gerrymandered election. First of all , she is not the first or the only Somali female who run for the highest office. There are and were many capable Somali women who achieved many goals before her. It was Ms Caasha Ahmed Cabdalla who fought inside the parliament during late President C/laahi Yusuf's term without fear of the Ethiopians soldiers or others. There was another Caasha, who for twenty years fought for women and children during the height of the civil and made a lot of tangible results , she is MP Caasha Xaaji Cilmi . If there is any Somali woman who has both the education, ability and the cultural knowledge of the land and the people , it is Fowsiya Haaji Aadan, the first Somali foreign minister of our time. Having said that, Faadumo is a unique individual who achieved a stardom or celebrity status due to some favorable media attention both in the region and the international media. She looks like an original Somali with " Diric" and scarf worn modestly which reminds all of us about our lost heritage and tradition. I am not one of those who dwell on race, for me , culture, geography , citizenship and tradition is what connects people----look at Amin Amir, his color is brown, yet , no one is more original Somali than him and his family. Having said that , Faadumo somehow represents that symbol of the Somalia we all knew. Sometimes , when I look back the culture, tradition and history we Somalis destroyed along our state, I watch some you tube clips of the past, like the Young Hibo Nuura, whom people describe as the " the beautiful , black pharaonic of the Somali coast" ( jawharadii madoobayd ee xeebta Soomaaliyeed) and become nostalgic of the past. Faadumo reminds all of us that originality of our people. Any way, Faadumo could use her recently found celebrity status for the good of all Somalis , especially for women's health, education and participation of the political life. She could join the parliament-- if Hssan Culusow does not steal her seat--and raise her voice. Observing what is going in Mogadishu, it is difficult to even win a seat. I am self, was tempted to travel to Mogadidhu last August, but was prevented by my wife. One of the Suldaans who were nominating the Somaliland contingent in the Somali parliament is a close uncle. They called me to fill a position vacated by fellow sub clan member , and I thought about it. I told my wife that I would leave enough money to cover the mortgage for a while and if things does not work out I would come back to my business. I had a friend to run the business while I am away, but I could not convince her. If your wife and family does not support your agenda, certainly you can not succeed. My sister in law who knew only Djibouti , Borama and Hargeisa said ," Why are you going to these places were people are killed every day ( Huuno Xamar iyo dhulkaas manaqaane hadaad rabto in aad soo yare nafisto maad Borama iyo Hargeisa iska yara gaadhid"). Who can blame them, for them Mogadishu is a foreign land. They don't know that Mogadishu is the power center of the land and in order to affect changes in the Somali situation, someone must face Damujadiid and company. Another northern friend who came from Mogadishu also discouraged me. He said " if you want to spend your days secluded in a hotel ,and collect $1700 a month for lodging security and food , be my guest". One more thing, he continued, "these idea of talking and denouncing the misdeeds of Damjadiid will kill you within days, and no one will cry for you( waan ku aqaanaa oo afkaaga ilayn haysan mayside). If you can not correct any thing and secluded in a hotel, what is the use of participating, besides, when was the last time you heard a member of parliament come to television and say something bad about Hassan Sheikh? , well that was long long time ago. Since she renounced her candidacy for president , and does not in the game any more, we should not be dwelling about her and other activities or how she became so famous , so , we wish our sister Faadumo Dayib good luck and keep your love of your people and land for ever. Mohamed C. Farmaajo. Like most Somalis who were tapped to be prime ministers, Mr. Farmaajo was not a career politician or even someone involved with Somali politics of yesteryear . In order to replace the politically connected but slow moving Cumar Sharmaarke, the two Sharriifs of the Islamic court (Sharrif Ahmed, and Hassan), decided to bring an independent person from the Gedo community. First, they approached C/qadir Aadan Jangeli, who was member of the Hiil-Qaran party at the time. At that same moment, his brother and former member of the military government , Dr. Mohamed Aadan Shiekh died in Italy, and he did stop some where--I do not know where-- probably in Mogadishu , and discussed the post with the Shariifs. Since C/qadir Jangeli was a former civil servant who knew very well both about the country and the manipulations exercised by the neighbors, he forwarded his conditions, including his freedom to pick capable cabinet members. In other words , he was not a kid in candy store who would be mesmerized by being appointed a prime minister. He also told them about his membership of Hiil-Qaran party, and at the time , we were told that he forwarded few names including General Jamac Mohamed Qalib--a man Ahmed Samatar called the toughest and most capable man who could stabilize Somalia. As soon as they heard about his team and intentions, The two Shariifs, changed their mind and decided to find another man from Gedo. They decided to focus on rookie individuals who did not know about their games , but they settled on unknown but resilient guy from Gedo. Finally Mr. Farmaajo was chosen by president Shariif Ahmed. While Farmaajo lacked experience, he had enough education and good will to succeed. Like many people of his generation who established themselves well within the American system , he was very comfortable and did not need a job in Somalia. He did not seek the job, but the job came to him. He was also a man who had seen the country in her better days. While the Somalia of eighties had share of it's problems, definitely it was proud and independent. Just like my generation, he did believe that Somalis should not carry the water for no body but for their own people. Sinnaantaan la magac ahay Sanku-neefle ma oggoli Inuu iga sarrayn karo Inkastoon sabool ahay Haddana waan sarriigtaa Sacabada ma hoorsado Saaxiib nimaan nahay Cadawgayga lama simo SOOMAALI BAAN AHAY Socdaalkaygu waa meel Sahaydaydu waa dacar Soohdintaydu waa caan Seeftaydu waa cudur Naftuna geedka iga suran SOOMAALI BAAN AHAY His approach was swift , and he targeted immediately the security of the city and arranged the army. He divided the city in eight zones and he personally led the operations to push the insurgents out of the city limits. With army general Dhagabadan , may Allah bless his soul--he was killed in a hotel after the mercenary supplied Al-shabaab stormed his room, he fought for hours before he was killed--and intelligence director Ahmed Faqi, they liberated the city with help of Ugandhan and Somali army. He put his main effort for the salary payment of the Somali soldiers. He pushed all the way to Marka and Lower Shabeelle. Then, in order to fix the confidence deficit of the nation and his government, he demanded that the U.N envoy Mahiga should move to Mogadishu to conduct his duties rather than land the airport , meet people and fly back to his comfortable Nairobi office. In the horizon there was a hope for the good. When the deadline for the Shariif government got closer, Farmaajo convinced the president to extend their term through the parliament unilaterally for one more year and finish their agenda. Many including Mahiga objected this new unilateral moves of the Farmaajo government. If the Somali army in connection with Ugandan army kept moving and eliminated Al-shabaab both from the capital and surrounding regions, the huge project of the Amisom and neighbors to earn billions in salaries for their armies were jeopardized by Farmaajo and his government. Through Shariif Hassan, the speaker of the parliament, Mahiga and the Ugandan leadership decided first to object the extension. Eventually they accepted with conditions , emphasizing that neither the speaker nor the president should be sacked during this time, but the intransigent prime minister must be sacked. The two Shariifs eventually accepted his resignation and appointed a new prime minister. His strength. He paid the salaries of the soldiers on time and built an effective albeit small number of Somali army. His cabinet was lean and small , and he tackled al-shabaab insurgents in pro active ways. Almost every week the intelligence people were disrupting and arresting insurgents with bomb making material in their save houses. The extremists were under pressure daily. With less than a year Farmaajo showed progress in many fronts, yet with all that achievements, he could not hold to his position for many apparent reasons. His weakness that brought him down. He took a knife in a gun fight. Many people including most of the diaspora Somalis do not know how much the country has changed since the early nineteen nineties. Mr. Farmaajo , did not understand the caveats attached to the "Transitional Federal Government of Somalia" title. The international community , through the U.N envoy and the Amisom army, directly run the country in this period. During his confirmation, Speaker Shariif who objected his lean cabinet, demanded that the vote of confidence for the prime minister should be a secret ballot ,rather than the traditional hand raising . That issue dragged for weeks, and eventually the Nairobi based bosses resolved the issue. From that early incident on , Farmaajo fought an uphill battle against Shariif Hassan and tried to replace him with another leader from Baidoa --Madoobe Noonow. The naive Farmaajo did not know how many obstacles Shariif Hassan has passed since 2004, including Embagati, Jowhar, Baidoa, Asmara and Djibouti. He is a typical street smart Somali with little education, but with a lot of charisma and throat cutting business mind. . He not only challenged then president c/laahi yusuf, but almost derailed his agenda with constant maneuvering and back stabbing. We could all appreciate how C/laahi was tough and more experienced politician than the novice Farmaajo. In order to prevail against Farmaajo, Mr. Shariif Hassan allied himself with U.N envoy, the Ugandan led Amisom and the Nairobi based order. The prime minister, did not had the necessary alliance to challenge not only Shariif Hassan,and Ethiopia, but the Ugandan military leadership who were calling the shots in the war against Al-shbaab. He forgot that it was the Ugandan tank that made Mogadishu hospitable in 2011. He pushed too hard, and the push back against him was strong. Since he grew up in the era of his uncle Siyaad Barre, he probably thought he could get his way by eliminating his opponents without consequences. To be fair ,if we examine the Somali situation of 2011, it was a tough time to lead a fragmented country and, at the same time reconcile with so many opposing interests. . In this tough times, you need a leader who would willing to swim with sharks and survive. Emotions, nationalist pronouncements and willingness to do the right is not enough. He exposed himself too much and, When the going got tough, he could not even survive Shariif hassan. In conclusion, Mr. Mohamed C. Farmaajo and many other decent Somalis could not win this so called indirect election. It is not all about money and deal making, but also building alliances and having a solid base to start your campaign. The only people who can muster money, regional alliance and connections are those inside the government, which makes this race between President Hassan Sheikh and Prime minister C/rashiid Sharmaarke. In this race the wild card is Sharriif Hassan Sheekh Aadan. South West president Shariif Hassan Sh. Aadan Did you guys remember the eighties song of the late Bob Marley, "I shot the Sheriff but I didn't shot the deputy", of course. In this pages we have no intentions of shooting anyone , but Shariif Hassan is a tough guy who could shoot his enemies without hesitation just like the other violent groups in Mogadishu, namely the Terrorist mercenaries of Al-shabaa, criminal war lords or the Damujaddiid. If you read the auto biography of late president C/laahi Yusuf in his book " struggle and conspiracy (Halgan iyo Hagardaamo)" Sharriif Hassan almost eliminated both C/laahi and prime minister Geedi in a plot organized by the Islaamic court. I do want to go in to details, but somehow C/laahi Yusuf survived the assassination attempt and the next day, Shariif Hassan flew to Dubai, then Asmera, Ereteria and finally Djibouti. If that plot succedded he was would have became the president . He may seem a soft talking benevolent, yet he is carrying a deadly blade, no wonder they call him "Shariif Sakiin". Through Sharrf Hassan we all learned a valuable lesson about the street smart Somalis and how they conduct their political business. They have little or no education, but they could defeat easily anyone from the diaspora who thinks they could come and start from the top without going the local test. In Hargeisa, Muuse Biixi defeated the international diplomat and Darfur veteran Mohamed B. Yoonis. Who knows , he may even defeat C/raxman Cirro in the next election in the manner he approaches people. This week he went to Awdal and went straight to the community of Vice presidential candidate Mohamed Cali . With his traditional " Go' iyo Macaws" clothes he sat and chatted with the people at ease , while Cirro is hiding behind close doors. Shariif Hassan was originally a " Qat" trader. In the Somali culture Qat traders are not only savvy businessmen, but they are gamblers who would do any thing to make a deal. Also, Qat being a commodity that could not last fresh after 48 hours when it arrives the Somali territory, the trader must do many tricks to sell his product before it would rot. If the market is overflowing, he would give you the Qat less half the price and you do not have to pay right away( waar markaad lacag hesho iska bixi , haddana iska qayil). The whole sellers trust their traders and some times they are willing to cut their loses in order to continue the business . It is like a casino or the gambling business where they allow you to spend and loose, and pay them latter. A man who is trained in this business would easily out smart a novice from he diaspora, for Qat trader , money is nothing but a tool to do business. in 2010 , when he was the finance minister , Shariif Hassan showed his generosity---it was not his money-- and openness with elders and local people. A former member of Parliament told an encounter between Shariif Hassan and local members of the " Unaka community". He said " five elders came to see president Shariif Ahmed to ask the usual never ending Somali " Shaxaad" and the president gave each hundred dollars", since the offices of both Shariifs were inside Villa Somalia, they also stopped by Shariif Hassan's office and asked some money. The Shariif asked them how much the president gave them, and when they told him the amount, he gave them each a thousnd dollars. Before they left , they all said , " Areey Shariifnimada iyo Madaxweynahaba Igaarkaan aa iska leh". Roughly meaning " this man should have both honor and the presidency instead of their nephew".. Southern Somalis love to take money, but are not generous when it comes to giving others, but this Shariif is the exception. When Prof. Ahmed Samater went to Mogadihu to run for president, immediately the gossip about his party and group was out in the open. We in the diaspora work hard for our money and we are not willing to give it away easily. The good Professor used to complain about the hungry mouths of Somalis who just want to take and take it. In Mogadishu they said , this group is very tight with money , " waar kuwan Hiil-Qaran la leeyahay waa kuwa gaajo ah oo habeen keliyana lagama cashaynayo". In another famous incident, a former diaspora resident and minister of the constitution, C/raxman Hoosh, tried without success to prevent former warlords and illiterate members of the old guard from becoming members of the parliament. He said, anyone seeking to be MP, must have a high school diploma or else he will be disqualified. In an open microphone, a heated exchange took place between the minister and Shariif Hassan. Shariif Hassan waxa xa uu yidhi ," Shahaada dugsi sare maa umalanaysaa in ay naga horjoosan karo, saxxiib suuqaa laga soo gadanaa waana la imaanaynaa". He told him clearly that they would buy the diploma from the market and you can do nothing about it. In all his political challenge , the Shariif always wins. In 2012, the U.N envoy told him to stand down and allow Mohamed Jawaari to be the speaker and he accepted. Another former rival and opponent , Madoobe Noonow from the same political gropings of the Shariif tried to form a regional goverment consisting of six provinces including the south west and Jubba region. The Kenyans, president Hassan Sheikh and the U.N all wanted the South West regions of three provinces while Jubba would form it's own region. The Shariif campaigned with three region formula and easily defeated the ambitious Noonow whose community is one of the largest in the Jubba region, and lost again with the "Shariif the blade". There is more to this Shariif than the eyes could catch , but we should leave it there . My conclusion is he will be the next president or he will decide who should be the next president . He is controlling alomst 30% or more than 68 members of the lower house , and when you add the the upper hose he has about 80. Which could easily swing the bendlum to whom ever fuilfills his conditions. Some are saying that he is favoring Hassan Sheikh , while others say that he will oust the Damujadiid and select Cumar Sharmaarke. Despite what people say, Hassan is controlled from Ethiopia and the U.N , and he will vote which direction they tell him to vote. One thing is for sure, if this Shariif becomes president , Somalia would be managed directly from Nairobi and Ethiopia in a manner never seen before.

Saalax, it is all about politics. The Saudis were doing this to Somalis for twenty years. They did ban Somali livestock without any regard of how their decisions would hurt people. There is no scientific mechanism or conditions to fulfill. The Saudis are neither friends nor clients. It is a despotic Sheikh who got some power to abuse people. When dictator C/fataax Al-sisi took over Egypt, they offered billions of aid with no humanitarian or friendship reasons other than to destroy the Egyptian Brotherhood party. Last month they suspended a monthly shipment of free oil they have given to the Sisi for the last few years after the dictator made rapprochement with Iran. from 2013, up to today, they gave the Egyptians about $ 25 billion worth of donations. Suddenly they found out all that aid was wasted . This feudal monarchy is supplying armed groups in Syria ad other places while fighting those Muslim groups who are trying to gain power through election and democratic means. Those who are unjust will not rule the land or prosper in the long term. I can assure the Saudi monarchy would not last in the coming modern times. The time has come for Somalis to find different markets.

I think the Gabooye thing could be eliminated easily if the new geeration of Somalis started inter-marrying. I do not know about you guys, but as a young man if I had met and liked a girl from that group, I would have married without question. I brought to the diaspora myself, other than myself, who has the power to reject who I want to marry. If she is Muslim and Somali that is good enough. The best way to eliminate is for the so called sheikhs who keep talking about cloths and beard should tackle these social issues. Maybe they should lead by example and marry one themselves.

Prpf. Omar Enow, May Allah bless his soul. The truth really hurts. After listening his remarks, we Somalis should not accuse anyone of discrimination or bias, because we practice that better than anyone else. I am not sociologist , but the issue of race always revolves about culture and economic power. If Africans were rich and technologically advanced like the Japanese, everyone probably would have claimed them. For example , in apartheid South Africa, the third world Chinese were considered colored, while the first world Japanese were equal with whites. Another fact is we are culturally different than the Swahili Kenyan, the South African Zulu or the Nigerian Yoruba. I could even go further and say that the killing and murder of Somalis by South African masses has some racism and resentment. For example, we have something in common with the Ethiopian Christian than the Lebanese Christian, it is all about certain affinity. Here in the diaspora , I could get along with the Ethiopian, Sudanese or the people from east Africa , compared to the west Africans. The Urban Jareer Somalis who shared both culture, religion and life style with other Somalis, could have easily married other Somalis. I have seen Somali women who married an Italia or French nationals and their families did not mind, probably for financial reasons. Any way, the case of this professor is compelling and just. It is time we do some soul searching and move away from the primitive parts of our culture.

At the end of 2014, a delegation from the Kremlin, Ruusia arrived in Hargeisa. They were presented as businessmen looking deals in fishery and aviation industry, but according to intelligence sources, they were representing the highest levels of the Russian defense ministry. President Ahmed Siilaanyo arranged Chief of staff and place minister Hersi H. Hassan and foreign minister Mohamed B. Yoonis to meet with delegation. The Russians, without hesitation forwarded their plan immediately . They wanted to build a base in Berbera. Since Berbera port is located among the most strategic area of the world, the Russian, for their future plans in the middle east , Indian ocean and the Red Sea wanted to lease from Somaliland in exchange for something big for the Somaliland government and people. Mr. Putin had seen the weaknesses of the Obama administration and wanted to get one more base in the region to augment his bass in Tartus Syria. The ministers were shocked that a powerful nation who is member of the security counsel has came to knock their doors for a deal. The ministers conveyed their fears of the western powers of the Russian presence in the region, so they said , " what are you willing to exchange since we would be taking a huge risk?". The Russian said that they would be willing not only to recognize Somalialnd, but would convince another dozen or so countries ,where they have both political and economic influence to follow suit. The Russians went even further and offered about a billion dollar aid of development and infrastructure. According to this report, they mocked the piece meal aides of the west to Somaliland and offered a life changing aid both for the port and other infrastructures. The ministers received the document explaining the Russian deal and promised to consult more and meet in the future. In order to enhance future cooperation, in the spring of 2015, the Russians invited the Somaliland soccer players to participate a tournament of football for unrecognized countries in Abkhazia, Georgia. In order to participate, the Russian embassy in Addis Ababa even accepted the Somaliland passport and stamped their visa for travel to Moscow. http://www.sdwo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/cagayare.jpg http://www.sdwo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image-ba716761dee09473765cdd1daaa73ebf030a81bc4c33226c5bce697cf936500a-V.jpg As soon as the Russian delegation left Hargeisa, a simultaneous meeting among western intelligence took place in London and Washington. They moved swiftly to dismantle any future Russia deals with somaliland. They did not even bother to notify the Mogadishu based Somali government or the Somaliland administration. Instead, they called one of their client states in the region, The United Arab Emirate , especially Dubai rulers, and asked them to take over the port before the evil Russians take over the land with unforeseen consequences. The Gulf rulers who have ignored Somalis for the last 25 years suddenly became the new darling of both Somalia and Somalilnd. Since the gulf sheikhs do not operate as institution , but a family , they decided to approach the issue of the Berbera port as a matter between two families. Immediately they called a young man called Baashe Morgan, who is the son in law of the Somaliland president and started their conquest quickly. These Emirates, believe that every thing has a price regardless of people or country. They begin their campaign by giving Baashe the keys to a million dollar house and named him the envoy of Somaliland in Dubai. Then they put aside about another $32 million for the mission. Those ministers who sat down with Russian were fired or resigned for one reason or another, and a new minister of foreign affairs with other allies, including Faysal Waraabe begun to negotiate the new deal with Dubai world port. In their first meeting , they gave the minister and his delegation a $15 million dollar signing bonus named in Somaliland as the money for the pen ( xaqul qalin). No one , including the Somliland parliament have seen the fine print of the Berbera port deal, yet pressure was applied to everyone to speed up the deal. Many people have welcomed the deal in order to modernize and increase the port capacity, while others were fed up with the port manager who run the port for 20 years as his own shop. The main problem is few people including all of us knew that there could be probably no investment coming from the gulf. Maybe the whole issue was to keep out the Russians and buy some time. One thing is clear that Berbera and the whole Somali territory is a Jewell in this strategic region. If these enterprising Landers were in charge of Mogadishu and the Somali government , they would have probably achieved a lot more than the hapless Damujadiid flying in Addis three times in one week.

He soon may start abusing the Oromo on behalf of the Tigray which will lead to more enmity among the Oromo. The ORomo are talking to other Somalis to keep leash on ILLey.

Che, for what is worth , in your previous comment you did mention how The ONLF is crucial for the future of the region. Also, the OG community have been murdered and abused by him for a long time. Another issue is the Tigray themselves are probably planing the civil war. Since they are in charge, they are well aware of these crimes. The ONLF and other Somalis in the region should not wait until the last minute " when the Sh...t hits the fan" as you said, so since Cabdi Illey can not be allowed to be part of the future because of his crimes, the ONLF should start to be inclusive now and enlarge the movement among other communities.

Mooge, That was how we grew up. Depressed people, sick people or even people with anxiety used to go to the mosque and read the Qur'an to find company with Allah. It is all about the doctrine of the Wahabis. Among the huge oceans of Islam, they consider themselves as the few. They do not smile and they are not open. Many have underlying issues of marginalization, anger and isolation. They should be encouraged to talk to people. I can assure most of these are mentally sick people who should be helped. It is also a huge contradiction for a Somali whom his country is in a mess trying to harm those who rescued him.

Hibaaq, sister welcome. My own niece is graduating from Engineering this coming April. She is one of the few women in the class let alone being Muslim woman. If you are planing to go back home after education, definitely you will prosper. My main advice is that there is hard work and many long ours of study ahead of you. You must have the backbone and toughness to face many challenges coming both from the education and the cultural purists. You should know there are many here i North America who achieved many rare things. Good luck.

Injustice might destroy Jigjiga sooner rather than latter. Looking at the dysfunction of the Somali government in Mogadishu with the constant bombing of the Al-shabaab terrorists, one way or another , I did praise the tough stance of Mr. Abdi Cumar in my previous articles. Having watched the fragmentation of the Somali people and the endless mess, I mused that a benevolent and tough dictator might be the medicine for our ills. Also having seen some of the developments done in the region, especially roads and electricity, I did supported his rule. At the same time I did denounce his constant massacre of defenseless Somalis on both sides of the border. Rather than accept the tribal ,yet pro independent and freedom fighters of ONLF , I preferred the dictator for fear of chaos and another Somali civil war . Because of our own biases or what we like to hear, sometimes we ignore the evil in front of our own eyes. If one is abusing the wrong or the rival tribe , we try to make excuses for her/ his crimes. The Somali people came a long way to be persecuted, humiliated and oppressed in 2016. . I knew some of his atrocities, yet I did cover up for him in the name of stability. Depute the negatives and positives about Cabdi Illey, the biggest reality that we can not escape is he became a tyrant who is oppressing Somalis in a way never seen before in our history. I did talk to a friend who visited both Addis , Jig-jiga , Borama and Hargeisa lately. He said , he had never had seen an ugly form of oppression and dictatorship than the one practiced i Jigjiga---- probably the worst i the world. I asked this gentleman to describe some of the most heinous crimes that is going on in the Somali zone. He said. " I do not know which one to compare, because , i have never seen anything similar., but I could probably compare North Korea with primitive nineteen century system", he continued, " While we were all familiar with the illiterate Somali soldiers of our times who neither read or write, the Somali Zone paramilitary soldiers patrolling the biggest city in the land are the most ignorant and cruelest in the history of probably statehood". He said from Addis the capital through Oromis region and up to Harar, the Ethiopian soldiers you encounter are professional and courteous . They call the elder Somali, Ahmra or Oromia travelers mam and dad, and they would not even ask them to stand up. They might ask few questions to the young men whom they might suspect of immigrating to the high seas , but, they are professional in their interaction. As soon as you enter the Somali region, the land is barren with drought and the people you encounter are without mercy just like the landscape. He said , " Somalis wish the federal rule of Ethiopia extended in their region rather ruled by the merciless militia". As soon as you encounter the check points, The illiterate soldier who could not read a passport or any other document , will start not only swearing and insulting everyone including mothers and grandmothers, but would kick and hit people without no apparent reason( Soo deg istlaantaadan gurguuranaysa, adowga la gubye). The first welcome would seem hell on earth. If you ask them to be merciful to elder mothers, expect a jail cell which could last weeks and months( weligay gumaysi intaa leeg ayaad dhul Soomaaliyeed ku arki isma lahayn). As narrated by the witness, he said , the most surprising thing was the meeting between Mohamed C. Cumar , the president of the Somali region of Ethiopia and the local people of the city. Like most dictators , he keeps talking for hours and the Meqrib prayer came. Since the Maqrib prayer can not be postponed , people were preparing to leave and preform their duties toward Allah. The problem was who would dares to ask the dear leader to stop---no one. "Car yaa nin rag ah oo u sheegi kara in Saladii maqrib joogto" When the righteous ( Qurbajoog) diaspora member tried to remind, he was told , to keep quite or else ( Waar rag kaa horeeyey baa lagu cunay Saalladii baa joogtee Afkaaga hayso). His erratic behavior is known to the locals . He says . " In a coffee shop, if people do not know you, they will just get up and leave rather than being reported to the dictator. No one will talk ill about him in public for fear of being heard" . He continued, " the four hour trip from Awbare to Jigjiga takes days by constant road blocks and abuse". In most Somali cities tribal connotations and name calling became familiar in the last twenty five years, but according to this traveler, in Jigjiga, it's cruel and ugly form of Somali tribalism is practiced. Over 90% of developments go to the tribal regions of Cabdi Iley. Even Qabri Dahar, a town of less than forty thousand people have built an airport, where Awbare, Shiniile and other major towns with hundred of thousand people have zero infrastructure. When people ask this injustice and the open looting of public funds and developments in one tribal region among many others , they will says , " well, we are cashing the blood of our tribe" ( waar meesha dhiiga beesha ayaa lagu joogaa oo wax lagu cunayaa). From Mogadishu, to Garoowe and Hargeisa, we used to hear tribes claim that they paid a price for the power they got or demanding the right to rule because of the sacrifices they made against the military government, discarding totally the destruction and damage they did to the nation and people. Well, folks those bragging rights from Garoowe or Hargeisa are foot notes or minor issues compared to what the is going on in zone five. When the budget comes from the federal government 200 elders arrive to collect the money. Regardless of what the USC says about the ownership of the capital, Mogadishu is and always will be a Somali town. if you subtract the terror and her corrupt politicians, no one can distinguish you from your your other Somali brothers and sisters. In fact, it is a well known among Somalis that, unlike Garoowe or Hargeisa, in Mogadishu, no one will ever ask you which tribe you are or where you from among it's residents. You will be among the millions of Somalis roomig the land although the Al-shabaab terror network may kill you for other reasons. In Garoowe, there are no Al-shabaab and you can settle in any hotel or residence , and intermingle with locals and feel the sense of Somalihood. Despite some open tribal discussion which locals consider normal, you will be at home with your people without any fear of being singled out . In other words it is a free Somali town . In Hargeisa, everyone may complain about the dysfunction of the Siilaanyo government, or the connection of the ruling class, but eventually every group might get some of the taste of the food. You could go to Burco, the home town of Ahmed Siilaanyo and insult both his tribe and government, and latter have a Qat session with the same group you were insulting. In Somalialnd , you can talk unless you are a journalist talking about the misdeeds of the ruling class. Even a journalist will be out of the jail after few days in the dungeon. An Awdalite who was supporting Suldaan Wabar last year went to Burco to visit a friend who was working with an NGo, and he said that, " I talked openly with the Habro in Burco about my support of Awdal state and other issues" yet , He said ,they were not hostile or agitated about it and said " Guys, cool down, the old man will leave tomorrow ( Waar OdayganSiilaanyo wuu iska tagayaaye buuqa inaga daaye nimankiinan oo meeshan yar dab ha inaga gelinina). While government institutions seem to be disappearing in Hargeisa, the people are shaping life and liberty, and Hargeisa is free just like Borama and Berbera. In other words, both Mogadishu, Garoowe and Hargeisa are the land of the free Somali nomad. The free Somalis who went through a lot for the last twenty five years are shocked about the Jigjiga oppression. Another, subject the traveler raised was the resentment, hate and contempt other Somalis in the region have for the ruling tribe. Imagine if 75% of the people feel wronged or oppressed which in turn may create a unforeseen consequences. Another issue is Cabdi Illey sent thousands of Somali Liyu police to Oromia region in northern Dire-dawa and the regions south of the capital Addis which might bring hostility toward Somalis in the Zone. Jigjiga is a police state with tens of thousand in jail. There is no doubt most of those in jail are the presidents clan and are accused of undermining his rule , but as soon as they are released , they become salaried members of either the police, public service or just collect money and renounce their opposition. According to this eye witness, thousand of people have lost their properties to give way for people who either got the looted money or forced to make way for someone from diaspora. He said , " I have met many angry people who were contemplating revenge against the ruling people and those who looted their land within the city at the exact moment they get an opportunity. In other words , If Cabdi M. Cumar does not change his repression and looting , an unforeseen apprising may happen in the Somali Zone in the near future. Not now, but the moment the Ethiopian government weakened, the Somali zone could face with what Somalis witnessed in 1991. I do believe Mr. Cabdi Cumar can reverse this oppression and looting with small gesture of justice and equal distribution of the wealth. He should know that it is the will of God that unjust systems do not last after one generation .If your neighbor who neither worked hard and earned his wealth nor got education too deserve the power and wealth he got, resentment , hatred and hostility will follow. When this resentment accumulates among thousands of people, it will explode and no one will be able to explain why normal people are behaving and acting this way toward their fellow Somalis. I think the leadership of the region have both the means and the power to do minimal justice and fairness to avoid clashes within the communities. There is fear now , but one day that fear will disappear and neither LIyu police nor tribal militia would be able to control.

An elder gentleman who came from Hargeisa last month said that " Haddii aanu isbedel xagga maamulka ahi iman Soomaaliland waxa suurta gal ah in loo soo gurmado". Government institutions have collapsed, courts and judicatory have lost trust long time ago. In the afternoon, people are arrested for one reason or another in the afternoon, and after they kept you in police station at night , you must pay to be released in the morning. Even your own Suldaan will jail you if you refuse paying his dues. In some ministries, people have changed hands five or six time. They are just dismissed without explanation. As minister Baashe said some are "ilma Barre" or untouchables who would refuse to take orders from their superiors. They say in the Soomaali region, the latter leader is always worse than the former. If you begin with Aadan Cadde of 1960 to Hassan Sheikh Mohamuud of today, that statement is truly the reflection of what happened for the last 56 years. Here in Somalinad Cigaal was the best, and from there things went down the hill. If the Landers were against dictatorship and tribal power, they should have formed a system that required institutional checks against unlimited executive power. Limitless power and greed is the earmark and the foundations of primitive society. As the elder said, if change of government and system does not come early, expect bad news . This group of politicians in Somaliland have wasted twenty years of institution building . .

She is the rule not the exception.

Siilaanyo just fired minister Baashe for telling like it is. This kind of statements about governance and nepotism should have been investigated. In any normal system , this kind of corruption and nepotism brings governments down. Another useless shuffle Number eight. That time has come to call back those colonial powers to teach us again what government means.

He is probably mentally sick, or a brain washed Wahabis. After Looking his contradictory journal message , I consider him a mental case. Why would "scared Muslim" kill innocent people who have done nothing to him. I do believe that there are large number of Somalis who are mentally sick especially those who left the country for the last ten years. Al-shabaab uses a lot of them for bombings and suicides. By the way this Cartan guys looks older than the 18 years attributed to him by authorities. Things were getting better for the Somali youth lately especially on the Canadian side, yet this kind of terror acts shows that we must do more to educate and warn our youth It is sad..

Thank you. The good think is we have a well educated and connected group here in SOL. I did not even heard about these problems until you mentioned. I did google , and found out the risks. "Canada is the only country in the G7 that does not have a law in place to protect people from discrimination based on their genetics. Considering that there are more than 33,485 genetic tests available, and counting, the lack of protection affects everyone. Medical science is unlocking a database of life-saving information, but Canadians face a major barrier to obtaining that information.". I guess we have to wait until the law changes.

Udub was founded by late president Cigaal, who by intent and purpose planned UDUB to be like SYL and wanted his party to take hold from Hargeisa to Boosaaso and Baidoa. It was a long term plan of his which was not fulfilled by his unexpected death. Anyway, Gamal , as a young energetic economist and political novice, he tried to take the party of Cigaal and Rayaale to the next level. By 2010, The party already had the largest sitting members of the parliament and even after defeat--- it has the second largest voting block in Somaliland. He seemed fit as the leader of the next generation of leaders who could move people to the next level of economical progress and social development. He was a self made man. He graduated from the ivy league university of Harvard and worked as an executive for City Bank in many foreign capitals. Every thing he earned , he got without nepotism or favors from his tribal friends. We all thought that someone as young , modern and educated will introduce a different kind of thinking that centered on rule of law, meritocracy and the never reachable economic development. The problem was before he could do any thing , first he must pass the corrupt rulers of Udub including former president Rayaale. Just like Siilaanyo transferred the Kulmiye party to Muuse Biixi without contest, Rayaale and his stooges decided to transfer UDUB to an old guard that represented both greed and status quo--Cali Waran Cadde. Waran Cadde convinced former vice president Ahmed Yassin--- a God fearing decent man -- to set up a formula that could eliminate anyone who does not have deep pockets from the leadership. Being an influential minister for almost ten years, he thought no one can match his money and connections for the leadership. So , they told anyone applying for the Udub leadership to deposit $380,000 dollars that will be used for the coming campaign. Ahmed Yassin followed the rules set by the party's central committee and proceeded. Then, the unexpected happened. Jamaal, a young economist with deep pockets, showed up and deposited the required money without hesitation and campaigned for the leadership. Waran Cadde never intended to put the money, but wanted only to keep others out and then bend the rules as he always did both in Somalia in the eighties and now in Somaliland. The deadline passed, and Ahmed Yassin was forced to hold the election of the leader as was planned. When the members convened to cast their vote, Waran CAdde cried foul and boycotted. Those who followed the rules voted and elected Jamaal as a leader. Then he called his old master Raaale (they were both former intelligence officers) and asked to intervene. Here is how it went down: WC : madaxweyne hawshii aan isku ogayn waxbaa ku dhacay, madaxweynenimadaydii aan isku diyaariyeyna khatr bay ku jirtaa. R: oo sawtaan wax walba kuu salaxay ee aan meel kuu dhignay lacagtii aad ololoha ku galasay iyo xubnihii golaha dhexe labadaba. WC: Lacagtii way igu baxday , cidna ma filayn in ay igu qabsato. Gaban reer Berbera ah oo uu Suufigii Ahmed Yaasiin wato ayaa yimid , lacagna wuu wataa ee adeeroow hawsha wax igala qabo. R: oo hadii uu lacagtii la yimid dadkiina doorteen maxaan yeelnaa?. WC: Madaxweyne, Hargeisa kaalay oo waxaad tidhaa UDUB cidna ma iibsan karto , wiilkan yar ee Gamaalna xisbiga dhawaan ayuu ku soo biiray. R: Adeer wax Sharci ah oo horjoogsanaya qof xubin ahi in uu isa soo sharaxo miyaa jira? WC: Igu daa anigaa si qarsoon u bedelaya sharciga xisbiga oo waxaan ku soo darayaa in qofku uu ugu yaraan laba sano xubin ka ahaado golha dhexe inta uusan isku soo sharixi hogaan. R: Adeer sow sharcigu hore looma dejin ma hadda oo doorasho lagu jiro ayaa la bedeli karaa?. WC: madaxweyne, hawshani waa tii aynu weligeenba biyaha hoosteeda u soo mari jirnay markaanu sirdoonka ahayn kow dhe, Wax internet ku qoran oo meel loogu hagaago lihi majiro, cid aan inaga ahayn oo faraha ku haysaana majirto. Waxaad igu sugtaa sharcigii oo aan bedelay. R. Waa tahay ee bal hawsha ha inagu fashilinin. WC: madaxweyne, hal arin oo kale ayaan kaa rabaa. R: adeer maxa dhiman?. WC: waa in aad timaadaa oo wadaadkan Ahmed Yaasiin aad iga qabataa. R: oo maxaan u sheegaa saw ninkii hawsh waday ma ahan. WC: Hargeisa kaalay oo waxaad idaacadaha u sheegtaa ," xisbiga UDUB lama gadan karo waa in di loo eegaa doorashada Jamaal. R: adeer armuu xisbigu is qabsadaa oo burburaa?. WC: Ma burburayee, Ahmed Siilaanyana waanu wada hadalnay ee mar soo gaadh Hargeisa. In politics, If you plan something and the unexpected hapens , like people electing the other guy, you cut your loses, lick your wounds and make the best efforts to unite your party and wait for the next. You can not deconstruct what happened or you will both lose as it did . Rayaale stayed in Paris for almost a year without even coordinating with his deputy Ahmed Yassin , and for the last minute decided to help his former corrupt lieutenant. The honorable Ahmed Yaasiin protested and pointed the finger how Rayaale ignored the rebuilding of the party and showed up the last minute to destroy what was left. While the dispute was going on in late 2011, Siilaanyo decided to speeded up the municipal elections. Here you had a group that refuses to hold elections for president and parliament for seven years, deciding to hurry up the local elections in order to destroy UDUB. Udub was finished, even though it had 38 members sitting in the parliament. No one tried to correct the flowed system where the largest party sitting at the legislator became unaffiliated . Rather than hold the parliament vote and figure out who could manage to get elected, they used the municipal election to eliminate a party from the parliament. In Hargeisa, everyone probably got paid to keep quite and pretend nothing significant happened. Waran Cadde went from Rayaale to the new boss Siilaanyo and never looked back and the weak and slow moving Rayaale came to Hargeisa many years latter and said , " I made a mistake when I denied the party to Jamaal and C/rashiid Mataan, I did know that Waran Cadde would be satisfied just to be a minister". Well, it was too little too late. In the meantime, After the UDUB disaster, Faysal Waraabe, who was wounded and left for dead after his party was replaced by Wadani and Cirro, needed help from anyone who could save his shop for the next election. He did talk to anyone who could listen, but almost everyone refused to join and ride a caravan driven by Faysal waraabe ( waar waraabe waxba ku darsan mayno, ilayn waa intaas oo uu anaga dib noo cunaaye). He courted and sweated talked the young Jamaal who also wounded by the corrupt oligarchs of UDUB, and convinced him to be the candidate of the UCID party. Before Jamal could become a candidate , he must spend time and treasurer to help UCID fight among the ten or more parties vying to be the last three standing. It was monumental task that needed money and campaign. With the help of C/rashiid Mataan, Jamaal and his camp succeeded to make UCID among the three finalist parties. For the second time, corrupt oligarchs and insiders of the ruling party decided to undermine Jamaal and his party to prevent open contest. Faysal WAraabe, the same man who rode the shoulders of Jamaal during those tough times , decided to switch camp and sell the party to Kulmiye. As they did during UDUB quarrels, they gave UCID to Faysal without proper legitimate means. The desperation of the ruling Kulmiye have no boundaries. They decided to eliminate a legitimate forward looking party of Jamaal and made the party the sole ownership of one single clown man. Faysal knows he has zero chances of winning anything , yet he decided to use the party as a microphone to insult and harass people. Now fast forward to the latest events and what is happening to the double time victim Jmaal Cali Huseen. As we hear in the media , Mr. Jamaal was the guest of honor of the wife of president Siilaanyo and also met and discussed his future with Ina Biixi. Common sense dictates that Mr. Jamaal would not be seeking accommodations with those who undermined his party and the people in general. I heard that he was seeking financial compensation for the money he spend in UCID for the last five years. What he must realize is that the compensation money Amina Weris promised to him is not her's but the people's money. Mr. Jamaal, What at stake here is your credibility and honor in your future endeavors. Some may try to convince you to vote with your sub clan today in order to appeal to them tomorrow, but that does not fit your ideals and the expectations of the people. I would like to give you my small advice , free of charge of course. Unlike what African dictators and oligarchs think, life continues after elections, and there will be many more opportunities to succeed in your political dreams. So far , the people of Somalilnd consider you as a decent and honorable man wronged by a corrupt political system that rewards the incompetent, greedy and corrupt politicians who keep recycling out dated ideas. There would a time when the people might decide to clean the house and throw out the old guard. On that note , you must keep your slate clean without undermining your support and your future. The people of Somalind are suffering with three years old drought especially in the east , and the people are calling these drought Kulmiye, just like they called others as " Dabadheer' and other names. While droughts come and go , in our Islamic tradition , consistent drought is bestowed usually among the lands where injustice and greed is the norm. I would not suggest to you to join any political party in Somaliland , but if you decided to jump these slow moving trains, do not reward those who have undermined both your former political parties and the rule of law. Good luck Mr. Jamaal , you may need it.

Dhagax-Tuur, the typical red neck is no different than the Somali nomad . I do not buy the western propaganda of pointing fingers to other cultures and their women. No one can deny the empowerment of women in terms education and employment in the western countries, but Domestic violence against women and abuse is rampant in the west than any where in the world. On the issue of Donald Trump, the writing was on the wall. The young and innocent collage girls might be enthusiastic to vote for woman president,or angry about his behavior, but the so called rest belt, battle ground state or the typical American women does not put any weight about the so called grabbing of Mr. Trump. Forget about the media talk of suburban women being upset about his grabbing of women or his foul mouth. Who do you think a woman would choose, between a soft spoken gentle homosexual or a nasty loud mouth man who may take her upstairs?.I bet she will take the real man. You know what, let us leave this woman thing there before I get in to trouble. Any way, How can anyone blame them. The media vultures were scaring people about Zompie like killers of ISIS and terrorists who might strike any time. They told people about the cave dwellers of Mosul and Afghanistan coming to America to murder them. In the American movies there are only bad guys and good guys, and to confront the bad guys you need a tough nasty SOB to defend you--some one like Bruce wills. So, the American men and women have chosen the nasty man to defend them.

Thanks guys. It is really more educational, especially the results submitted by Blue, Che and others. The biggest surprise for me is the lack of middle Eastern connection. So far most of the results are unique East African, North African and others. This DNA results might prove wrong the Somali legends of the Arab traders landing the Red Sea and intermarrying with local Bantu's , and in turn producing The unique Somali race. I don't know where to find , but a Somali historian wrote a book while ago claiming that the Somali ethnic group is alder than the so called Arab traders of yester years and pointing toward the Egyptian Pharaoh and North Africa. It has always been the inclination of Somalis to attach themselves to Yemanis and Arabs probably because we share faith. While there is nothing wrong to be connected with different people and regions where you may share culture and faith and geography, the Somali nation, stretching from the northern Dire-Dawa Ethiopia to lake Turkana Kenys is not only huge but unique. . If it does not involve any health insurance or other issues, as Miss Blue says, we may all do the teat and find out.

Horaa loo yidhi waa " badow , bunduq iyo Dolar haysta. Sidoo kale waa beledkii xarakada iyo dooda. At the same time , it is the land of the free and opportunity. I would rather go and live in America than Russia, Dubai or Lagos, Nigeria. When I read the expanding conspiracy websites who keep parroting the evil's of America and the so called world order , while praising the despotic Putin , i shake my head. The freedom of speech, hate and many other things can exist only in America. Go to Russia and figure out if Putin likes free press or the constant abuse thrown toward American presidents.

She was the one who hand picked Muuse Biixi. I think the British government is guilty by facilitating the looting of the foreign aid given to Somaliland . Rather than build roads , water reservoirs and medical clinics , most of the money donated by the gulf ended up in London. The British government must convince the wife of president Siilaanyo to quit interfering the election and the foreign aid in Somaliland. If I were the opposition, I would have hired a lawyer to dig deep and find out about the million dollar houses in London and Dubai. Dadkani ma dhergayaan miyaa?.

I was very busy this week and rather than shoot a quick answer like Che, Holac and others do, i was trying to write a long drivel about Trump but, was unable due being tired. any how , It is hard to put all his supporters in one box. Some were cultural value voters pushing back against the excess of the progressives who went too far. They got the gay marriage and their other demands, but they went to next step to annihilate their opposition. They are demanding for what they calling " the third gender" and bathroom wars which Obama spent the last two years pushing against everyone. People are saying enough of this. A black president, a women president and then who knows , maybe a transgender one. Obama, After 2012, decided to play save and rule by committee. He neglected millions of blue color people in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. The democrats and Obama were pushing a new religion called climate change, while eliminating energy , coal miming and industrial jobs. It is an angry political populism rejecting republican wars, left wing culture and anti immigration. The 20% deplorable s, racists or tribalists always exited in any society regardless of color, but this time , the working class joined and rejected the liberal elites who are more concerned with climate change , transgender issues and Obama's indecisiveness in foreign policy. Obama was sensible leader who atoned the crimes that George Bush committed and showed the gentle side of the country, but his dithering leadership style created chaos and never ending wars in the middle east. Rather than face military issues, he deploys drones while using mercenaries as foot soldiers--Kurds, Amisom soldiers, Sunni tribal militia, and others. It is also the repudiation of the media and their all know attitude. Would be Trump voters did not respond to surveys, and they were likely the new voters who did not vote for decades. Hilary Clinton was one of the most qualified candidates in the American election , but years of right wing media bashing and the constant smear of corruption made her an old guard that is incapable of change. My only fear is that during the campaign he acted as a bully, and bullies always target the weak and those who ca not defend. They rarely face tough opponents, or powerful targets , and as of lately , the lowest hanging fruit for both crazy right wings nuts and sensational media is Islam and Muslims. God forbid if some kind of terror bombing happens, Trump may forget all those trade, NATO and other issue and victimize innocent American Muslims. On that note Muslims must organize and use the American constitution and laws to defend against the excess of Trump. Here in Alberta some Somalis I did talk said that Trump presidency might boost oil energy and jobs which will keep the Somali unemployment very law. " waar waynu cashayn ninkani hadii uu yimaado". One more thing, I am An Erdogan guy so, I hope Turkey will also fare better under Trump than Obama, which in turn might help Somalia stand up with their feet. As you can see, there are many conflicting interest of both for and against Trump. Also, America and the west must accept when other countries elect their own leaders regardless of how they feel about his policies, faith or culture, especially the Muslim world. If a loud moth swindler who never paid taxes, or never showed any temperament can lead the most powerful country in the world, then we must accept whom ever the people of middle east and Africa choose as a leader. No panic, in these days, the calendar year became so quick. Four years will be over soon, besides, if the Trump camp would have lost the election, things could have gotten ugly. So let the deplorable's have the keys to the palace and see how they fare in the complicated American system with it's balances and checks. If I get some time will right a longer version of my argument.

While there are some technical issues that must be resolved in due course, the time has come to conclude this election on time in November 30,2016. The Hiiraan issue is resolved and that tough stubborn Ugaas Hassan was silenced and the loud microphone has been taken way from him, yet the biggest culprit to drag this election for months is no other than president Hassan Sheekh. In order to achieve his return, he even orchestrated a phony war in Gaalkacayo. Rather than build the Somali army, he expanded the Amisom forces to the peaceful regions of the country. Gaalkacayo, does not need Amisom, it needs Somali brothers and neighbors resolving their problems without foreign interference. Now, let us finish this long topic. For the last few weeks, the campaign scene has been very quite, other than few noisy pretenders , not much is happening in the open . That does not mean the campaigning is over. In these kind of indirect elections, every thing is done under the water. It is a lesson we all learned from Hassan Sheikh, who acted as under achieving school teacher , charming and smiling to everyone, while quietly signing binding financial contracts from the members of parliament and sending emissaries door to door. Cumar C. Sharmaarke. In October 15, 1969, after the murder of president C/rashiid Sharmaarke, Somalia changed forever politically and the nation lost the age of innocence and entered a new age of uncertainty. Before the assassins bullet took away the beloved president, no blood was shed in the Somalia of sixties for political reasons , other than for the defense of the country. . In the war of 1964, which was happening during the election period, then prime minister C/rashiid Sharmaarke said , " we will vote with one hand and will fight with the other". Unlike the Siilaanyo government of today, where elections are delayed regularly with no apparent reason, that election was concluded without delay, and that same prime minister was replaced by another after the election, when he lost a vote of confidence in the parliament. He did not complain , but regrouped and won the presidency in 1967. In that era of democracy and rule of law, Both presidents and prime ministers were changed peacefully and the country was progressing slowly. The end did not justify the means. Those who lost , regrouped and competed again. The 1969 revolution jump started the dormant Somali nationalism , introduced socialist ideas of nation building and revived the Somali culture. It built roads, the military and the education. Regardless of what good or bad the Somali military revolution did , they lacked good foundation, balance and democracy. Unlike the civilian government, they were always paranoid and had the fear of loosing power, and when they were challenged by the opposition groups , they could not handle the pressure, yet the most powerful government Somalis ever known was the military government of the seventies and eighties. A Somali playwright who feared the destruction of the system and the rule of law , composed a song in the late sixties, warning the consequences of the agitators. Abwaan Hassan Sheikh Muumin said: Dalaal nimada diintiyo Dastuurka iyo xeerka haddii dabool la saaro Dawo bukootay weeye He said , the medicine itself , who supposed to cure people, will become sick if you discard the rule of law and the faith of the nation. Discarding the rule of law was the beginning of the destruction, followed by the introduction of Wahabi ideology and extremism of today. For more than forty years, Somalis were trying to find their way back to that age of innocence were people debated , voted and co-existed peacefully. Faith in Allah and Islam was clear and simple, while beauty and the pride of Somalis were felt by both friends and strangers. If you do not believe me, just read the speech the late American president John F. Kennedy gave in November, 1962, at the reception of late Somali Prime minister C/rashiid C. Sharmaarke. Kennedy said: "Many years ago, Sir Richard Burton, the great explorer, described the people of Somalia as the Irish of Africa. He was speaking of their extraordinary beauty of person, vigor, intelligence, and general uniqueness among the surrounding people. We understand that, Prime Minister, and this has increased the warmth of our welcome to you". "We were very fortunate in the generosity of nature here. But in his country, lacking water, lacking a good many means for sustaining their population, the Prime Minister is building his country, maintaining its freedoms, its sovereignty, and attempting to make it possible for his people to enjoy a more fruitful life. This is an extraordinary adventure for any nation. We are particularly pleased to have one of the architects of this adventure, the Prime Minister, who played such an important part in its fight for independence, in the development of the constitution, in the maintenance of freedom, and now in the efforts to produce a more fruitful existence for his citizens". Yes , we are a unique people who have a distinct color, culture and language. The key word here is also "maintaining freedom and sovereignty". Somalis , that has been always the character of the Somalis whether they were in Hargeisa, Nugaal, Ceelbuur or Jubba. The free willing nomad rooming the peninsula without interference. The great poet Yam Yam said: The moving times The successive days Reflect over the seasons If you are a learned person Go back to the annals of history Who is Somali? I am on equal footing with equality Not allow a single soul to be superior to me I don’t employ deception and confer them as gifts I am Somali! That is why it is heart breaking to see Somali leaders competing who could give away more of the freedom and the sovereignty of the Somali nomad. Compare Hassan Sheikh Mohamuud to that long gone generation of proud Somalis. The current prime minister, Cumar Sharmaarke hails from that grand tradition of his father. He may not have the character of his father , but he should have the history and tradition to lift his people from division, anarchy and hopelessness. By becoming the president of the third republic ( 1960 was the first, 1969 second and 2017, the third republic) he could remind the Somali people about that long gone era of normalcy. Since he is a man of few words and moves , it is hard to judge about his character and intentions, at the same time , he does not appear to have warmth and energy. While addressing the media when he declared his candidacy, he said, " in this term , I was dealing with all the acrimonious issues of regional states, election and security issues". It seems he has done nothing to increase the security issues of the country. When you talk to the insiders who are well aware of the deep seated problems of Somalia , you would certainly prioritize your future outlook of the country differently. They would remind you the long way Somalia came from at this point in time and how it is important not only to find a decent leader, but one that could hold together the competing and rival tribes of Somalia. Cumar Sharmaarke may not be a tough president who could defeat the enemies of Somalia, but he could definitely be a leader who could symbolizes harmony , peace and unity. In this nation , every thing is measured by tribal rivalry and the fear of domination from the wrong tribe who controls the state power. If you are seen as the enemy of their tribe, you could be doomed before you even start to implement your national agenda. Mogadishu -- as the hot bed of insurgency, anarchy and criminal profiteering -- is the typical place any leaders agenda is undermined by different coalitions with competing interests( Waa meesha lagu fashiliyo dawladaha burburkii ka dib). Unlike many residents of Mogadishu --who would claim that the city belong to them because of some tribal lineage--Mr. Sharmaarke is born and raised in Mogadishu. In fact, his own father settled in the city as a boy and attended Quraanic schools in the city in the early thirties. If Somalis were non tribal society, he could have been considered a native son of that town since his family spend there over 80 years there. Even by judging in the Somali standred, he can claim both Puntland and Mogadishu. In southern Somalia, if you exclude the military coup of 1969, the political class came from those two regions of the country. Mr. Sharmaarke could bridge the gap between the competing tribes of the "D' block and the communities of USC. These two groups have undermined the national progression of any credible government institution. Some are louder then the others. This current prime minister is neither loud nor tribal. Both Somalis, and the international communities are looking a real change in Somalia. Insurgency is growing in the country side , towns are changing hands in every week and the Somali army is no where to be seen. The smiling president gave away every thing to the foreign forces including famous Somali bases that the Somali army needed badly for training and logistics. He gave away Hallane base, Balidoogle base and jaziira corridor. He was a yes man, yet those same guys he gave the shop, want to kick him out of Villaa-Somalia. It is the typical religious movements claiming to be pious while mixing corruption, power and tribal loyalties. Somalia needs a clean break from Al-shabaaab, Al-Itihaad, Ahlu Sunnah, and Al-islaah. I said in these pages many times that we Somalis are not sophisticated enough to navigate all these foreign centered Islamic movements and their agents. The old saying of the western business community, with the slogan of " you build , they will come", is true to the Wahabi movements and others. The American military does not mind chasing these wild dogs throughout the world. The former architects of the war on terrorism would like these global campaigns to continue regardless of the outcome. Of course , because of what happened in 911, security threat posed by extremists does exist, and the American nation want to confront them around the globe, but that threat could be defeated in intelligent and coordinated manner. On the other hand, the Wahabi wild dogs who defy logic and humanity could be found easily every where. In America , Those who profiteer from the war of terror are determined to keep their campaign as long as possible, leaving behind a trail of destruction in the process. Here in Canada, the third safest country in the world according to global ratings , was almost made fearful by the former conservative government in order to win elections. Rather showcase their economic achievements and other strengths to campaign , they chose to victimize the peaceful Muslim community of Canada and the Syrian refugees who were helpless. In the western hemisphere no current refugee was ever committed any terror, yet the public was made to be fearful. The African command center based in Djibouti has conducted over six hundred mission across the region in 2015. Drones, the best weapon of the Obama administration, is flying constantly to target these groups every day. While they were chasing Al-qaeda in Yemen from the skies through drones, The Huthies-- a sectarian militia tied with Iran-- took over Yemen without notice. . Rather than strengthen the nation state and build local armies, they are satisfied about the drone kill of a terrorist leader and his company. In Somalia , former president Shariif Ahmed-- one of the leaders of the Alla Sheikh Islamic movements--could neither suck the air out of the insurgency nor resolve the problem of Al-shabaab after he was made a president of Somalia. His presence only emboldened the terrorists. This kind of actors would never have a chance in peaceful Somali politics. So, the time has come to throw all these ideologies from the Somali political discourse. By eliminating these groups , you will also keep out the enterprising foreign armies from around the globe. Do you believe a Sawahili Kenyan from central Kenya or a poor Djiboutins who hides in their bases will pacify Somalia?, I do not think so. Bring together those gun tooting Somalis, from Mudug, Hiiraan, Bay and Gedo , who parade their useless technicals against their own brothers, while avoiding Al-shabaab and their cohorts. Pay the Somali army to do the job. Otherwise, Just like the egg and the chicken, first the Wahabi shows up , and then the foreign army follows. For the last ten years, people around the world became familiar with the whistle blowing cite called Wikileaks, who publish classified secrets of the nations and their leaders around the world. What almost every Somali and many people around the world missed is that one of the first secret cables of Wikileaks was the interception of foreign governments about the order former leader of Al-shabaab and AliIthaad Sheekh Hassan Dahir Aweys made in 2006. He ordered his movement to use criminals and other anarchists to use for the killing and assassinations of the government leaders. As you can see because of the Wahabi presence of our country, we became the eye of the storm. The prime minister is not a member of these movement as far as I am concerned, and will represent the original moderate, benevolent, merciful, and traditional Islam that we all grew up. When their was a calamity we all went to the Imams to sooth and reassure the people, and the pious people who were the custodians of the religion were always respected. They neither took part or fought the tribal wars or political ones. Everyone wished his daughter to be married to a religious man even if he were the poorest among the people. It could be difficult to turn the clock back , but we want to get rid of today's movements for the sake of our own survival. It was almost close to fifthy years that our country changed after the assassination of the dully and legally elected government. As I said , his election will remind all of us that era of peace and harmony is in our sight. In order to hold on to power, president Hassan started a tribal campaigns that incites and revives all wounds of tribal conflicts. Also some useless websites , run by warlords, are crying foul by pitting tribes against one another. They are even claiming that foreign nations like Turkey---who has done a lot for Somalia--- or UAE have their favorite tribes. One thing is a fact, that every Somali, regardless of his tribe, has a right to run and rule this country( Reer hebel Xukunka ha laga Illaliyo ma shaqaynayso). in the late nineties, I was cab driver in one of the big American cities in the south west, and in that scene met hundreds of Somalis from different part of the country. We spent hours sitting in a huge airport parking lot waiting for fares. Everyone had his own ways to kill time, and in those days, there were no smart phones or advanced electronic equipment to spend time with other than reading books. For me, I approuched the Somalis whom I thought to be intelligent, educated and politically oriented. I did not spent much time with Awdalites or those from Hargeisa, because , I was seeking someone who could tell me something I do not know or had a different perspective of Somalia. That was when I met the "Reer Mudug, Baidoa, Burco, Boosaaso , central Somalia and Mogadishu". I remember the Reer Mudug from Puntland and Galmudug were always at the same table debating, and liked each others company regardless of their disagreements. I met guys from Baidoa who were insisting talking " Af Maay" language. I told them for trade reasons , progress and cohesiveness of the people , it is our best interest to speak one language, having seen the power of the English language in America. On that contest , I met many Puntlanders who opposed the Carta conference of Djibouti and the whole project of establishing a Somali state in Mogadishu. Way back in early 1999, they were campaigning for decentralized federal state and always feared a strong state led by someone from south central Somalia. I was a fervent supporter of the Carta conference and the TNG led by C/qasim Salaad. When I confronted these Puntlanders seriously about their antagonism of the TNG, and what I assumed to be their anti Somali agenda, they explained with conviction about their reluctance to join the bandwagon. One of them, his own father died in the liberation movements of NFD in Kenya in late sixties , and he was raised by family members. Another one told me that his own brother was executed in Hargeisa in 1978, by political reasons, while others had abandoned their homes and businesses after the collapse of the state in Mogadishu. One older gentleman who was not interested in politics, but understood the consequences of power and Somali politics said , " you know what , my only goal in a peaceful Somalia is , to open my own small business, have some tea with my friends, and after the Maqrib prayers , go home without the fear of the security forces coming after me in the middle of the night, because of what i said or did". When I listened to these stories, my holier than yours attitude of Somali nationalist talk was subdued. The same thing could be said about the people of the SNM community who were rounded up in Jaziira beech and murdered because of which tribe they belonged. Some were even belonged to other tribes but, spoke a northern accent. It is one of those issues a united Somalia must address during the union negotiations. After that conversations, I confided with one of my friends who came from a prominent family from the Jubba area. He was from "Reer Raffle Guuled", whose uncle was a very prominent minister of the Somali government in the hey days of the Kacaan. I told him that these Puntlanders should be accommodated and should not be pushed out since we already have the Somalilanders mulling for separation( Waar nimakan waa in la soo dhaweeya, waa dad macquula oo raba in dood laga galo mustaqbalka Soomaalida). He laughed and as we walked around the yard, we approached Some others sitting in a table and as we sat , he said, " Did you guys heard what Signor Galbeedi said today? ( Waar ninkii galbeedi ahaa waxa uu maanta la shir yimid ma maqsheen?, waxuu socdaba nimankii Dhabayaco ee in la soo qabqabto la rabay ayuu yidhi ha la soo dhaweeysto). Most of them not only disagreed with my statement, but others mocked me as naive and out of touch by welcoming the Puntlanders. Somalis always like to be negative. If I framed the question in the opposite direction and said , " why don't we round up these trouble makers from Puntland, many could have agreed with me, even though most of them don't mean what they were saying". Just a few months ago in this town , we hosted the first Somali Canadian to become a member of parliament . Mr. ahmed Husein was a well versed and qualified Somali who spoke well about all the necessary issues Canadian Somalis were facing in terms of jobs, security and foreign aid to Somalia. Rather than share their needs, many of the attendants went out of the topic and made the meting awkward. Some fast talking Sheikh even claimed that Mr. Husein did not get any vote from the Somalis for one reason or other, but Mr, Ahmed himself contradicted them by telling them that without the Somali vote , he could not have won the primaries. Other so called community members said, " if we Somalis voted for those us running for the last municipal elections , we could had at-least elected one city counsel". I was amazed how these people were not only out of touch, but were ignorant of their surrounding environments. In the municipal election the city is divided by wards or zones. To win , you must get the prularity of the votes. There were two Somalis running for counsel seats. One was a 22 years old running in our ward. Somalis are less than 5% of the people who reside the ward, and to win you need almost 15,000. He got only 1,500 votes including all most all the Somalis. Before he ran for office, he never had any prior job ecpereince . He was a young man who just finished school. It was a good experiment not a race. The other one moved from Winnipeg just three years before the election. He did not even live in the city for five years, never had any history , house or business in the city. Neither of them could not get even 10%, yet we have been bamed for their loss. To make the story short, one man even rejected the idea of lobbying foreign aid to Somalia and add the list of specific countries Canada want to help. Waxa uu yidhi Roob hadaan ahaan lahaa Somalia kuma da'een. Sorry for the long winding road I traveled to make the case and let us go back to the story. As the talk progressed, one of the Puntlanders who were a former intelligence officer of Somalia jokingly said, " Since the military government dethroned us from power and made as a pariah that should be hunted, Somalis were still suffering just like us , and these suffering will continue just like the children of Israel who wondered in the desert for many decades" , he continued, " for the stability and peace, we should be put back where we belong and be in charge again"( Waxa uu yidhi Ehlul baytkii ayaanu, nahee Ragoow meeshii Nagu soo celiya, si aad nabad iyo barwaaqo u heshaan). On that note , I believe this son of Mogadishu and Puntland must be made the gate keeper of Somalia. The time has come for Somalis to put aside the tribal pride and the jealousy and welcome back these Puntlanders to be in charge again . As I stated , Mr. Cumar Sharmaarke does not need to be tough or loud. He needs a tough prime minister to kick things and manage the daily business of the government. The president needs to be confident, calm and patriotic. He must build a system of government that meant to last for years to come. As I was chatting a local businessman last week, I mentioned the need for a strong leader in Somalia, and he said , " brother, we need a strong system". He need to reassure the Somali people and the world while avoiding corrupt practices that destroy the credibility of the nation . Mr. cumar also must abandon the illegal tribal alliance the Puntlanders made with Mogadishu area community of Ali Mahdi and company , and find new strategy of pacifying the south central Somalia. The Community of president Hassan and Shariif has ruled enough both as presidents and prime miniters , and the time has come for a change. The Galmudug community of south and central Somalia must be part of the solutions for the future stability and leadership of Somalia. They have been in the opposition long enough, and they should not be kept out anymore. Not only they reside in central Somalia, but have a large presece in Hiiraan, Mogadishu and Lower Shabeelle. They are probably the main forces fueling the insurgency to undermine the Mogadishu leadership. Bring them in . They are tough and they could probably act differently as insiders than outsiders. I do belive C/rahman C.shakur Warsame , Yusuf Garaad or Mohamuud M. Culusow--former central bank governor of Somalia---could be appointed as the next prime minister who could make the new team with president Cumar Sharmaarke. Before we all agree for change of leadership and the campaign of Cumar Sharmaarke, , there are few hurdles that must be crossed. As we speak, the most shrewd and gifted Somali politician of our era, Shariif Hassan Sheekh Aadan, just declared his intention to run for president. This announcement must shake everyone's strategy, as Mr Shariif Hassan controls the largest block of parliament in the country. He must sign the nomination papers of at least 69 members of parliament from South West, that means he is controlling a third of the parliament before he even starts the campaign. My sources tells me that he does not want the parliament speaker position for his region any more, a post held by Baidoa politicians since the formation of Carta government in 2000. He want someone from the "D" block or USC community to take that position in order for him to be president. The fact is no one could become a president or prime minister without the support of Shariif Hassan. Shariif Hassan was a former Khat trader who knows how to gamble , and he is known to be very generous. Any way, this candidacy of Shariif Hassan could change every thing we have been saying for the last few months, including this peace that I just wrote about the prime minister. Finally , I would have loved to finish this topic, but it is only fair to discuss the prospect of Mohamed C. Farmaajo before we conclude. Last week, his party , The Rajo Party, held a well attended meeting in Toronto, Canada. The notables in that conference were some star powers like Amiin Camir and Usur Abraar. The talented cartoonist and the anti corruption crusader and former central bank governor stole the show. We all love Amin Camir and Usur because they are talented and self made Somalis, but the question is, Can they win? Be patent , will try to conclude the next segment and Farmaajo.

He is good man and should be brought back to the party. Mr.Seed is a native of Borama and have strong support in the city. Xaafadiisu waa kuwa noogu ilbaxsan reer Awdal.