What a coincidence/ Just listening to Pat Buchanan. He is talking about Syria, Turkey and Iran. The man makes lot of sense, but since he is out of Netanyahoo empire, can't influence much. Trump after the election stays as far away from Pat Buchanan. He appreciates and respects Nixon more than Reagan, but he repeats Reagan just to keep americans listening.

Could past history be affecting Eritrea? All those in Eritrea, by location, when coastlines were critical to empires, fell one by one to service of colonials. The Eritrean for example went to fight for Italy where Italy faced the most Resistance. The Eritreans and Ethiopians for example know what is today Puntland more than any other Somali area (The Eritreans with the Italian side and the Ethiopians with the resistance . The Eritreans also know the Italian part of Libya more than any other part, since they went and served there. No other colony, even India to the British has contributed so much to colonizers. When ever Egypt was up, also was welcomed in Eritrea at least with some of the nationalities. I think leaders have these things in the back of their mind. Gaddafi gave so much help to Isayas, but Isayas did not even attempt to help even family members of Gaddafi let alone his army. Isayas was too afraid of America and Britain he did not even try through Egypt human help. Ade Muse reminded Isayas of the history when Isayas was working against TFG and Puntland in 2006. History is cruel. Never compeletly disappears, even with dollar power, petrol power...it always shows up in unexpected way.

It sure looks like the 19th century all over again. Every one and anyone that has two feet some of them even wabbly feet are walking to the horn of Africa. From startup Asian countries to old and ailing Europeans to even South Americans are walking even with help of canes to horn of Africa. The bridge between Yemen and Djibouti is I think the trigger. It is the Suez canal of this century. Yemen lost its government over it and the Somali man in Djibouti refused to renew UAE port management for next 20 years. Who ever build that bridge will be the British empire (some French) for suez canal. Just as the clan and sub clan institutions preserved strong local government will be the key. Even the spaghetti Swiss swear by local government. To much energy and time is being wasted on big countries and empires, while those who are ahead are moving away even faster.

These rare earths, stones minerals are most dangerous. DRC can never recover from the problem. Some companies from America and Europe simply hire mercenaries make some deals with a local and kill some other people. Remember the cutting hands mercenaries in Cameroon for diamond until the world threatened and Debeers now hides in Israel. These are products that come with worst consequence than benefit.

It is not possible for him to do anything to GERD, every option is counter productive. The consequences are the Nile will be diverted and then Sissi has to come himself and occupy Ethiopia. The dam does not affect the volume of water except when filling the dam first time.

The Egyptians know they are on shakey ground legally. Ethiopia was not involved in either of these so called agreements of sharing Nile between Sudan and Egypt. What kind of agreement is it that does not involve the country that supplies 85-90 percent of the Nile? Actually Egypt should work towards the security of the dam now. Ethiopian opposition will go and do something, since every incident will be blamed on Egypt. This is very dangerous for Egypt. The only argument most valid Egyptians have is their life depends on it. And no one should threaten them to life or death. Generating electricity does not threaten Egyptians. If I were Egypt I would have offered Ethiopians to fill the dam as soon as they can to benefit from electricity. Egyptians are too weak, selfish and undignified and are asking 10 years to fill the dam. They know and Sudan knows 3 years is acceptable without putting any hardship on Egypt and Sudan.

Simply brilliant. That is what Djibouti, Mogadishu should do as well. The result will be loss for every one, regardless what tranpires in battles. Some governments might fall, some territories might reshape and a lot of people victimized by man or nature with no help. Suldaanka, I understand where you are looking at the situation from, but just an observation. There is nothing in what you have listed that money cannot buy. If Puntland did not want to stick to its principles and alliances, there is nothing beyond Qatar in terms of money to scattle the arrangement you have with UAE. Don't ignore also the fact that even by US, Puntland has been found to be most reliable, relative to other regions and Mogadishu powers as ally or opponent to anyone who is who in that part of the world. As this continues, will also put Illey in uncomfortable position, since he has part of every clan or subclan involved in this. For now he will settle for the Ethiopian federals only to get involved. Why the Shabab and Galmudug In my view, the way Somaliland deals with Puntland is the key to success or failure in any direction. Other Somalis, its easier for them to say that Somalia should be one and should wage war to keep it, but for Puntland its close, is real and will have most say in what happens.

This area is always tied up in knots over forming a region and regional government. When ever they quarel any side is blaming and accusing..Puntland, Somaliland, Mogadishu, Jigiga, Ethiopia, America, France..you name it. What exactly is the problem? Each village wants Mogadishu the SFG to be on its side, yet Mogadishu the city as city has same problems anyway. First order of business in this area should be in total friendship with Puntland and Somali Kilil. Without that nothing will work. Even if this area has many connections to Mogadishu, Mogadishu is too far and too big to be dealing with villages that look in all directions.

Ethiopia, the largest country in the Horn of Africa, is worried by a number of issues. Prime among them is the success of Eritrea, Addis’s sworn enemy, at breaking through the isolation that it had suffered since its independence from Ethiopia in 1991. Asmara had taken advantage of the war in Yemen, turning away from its former allies, the Houthis, and granting Arab coalition forces access to its military base at Assab, which it has leased to the UAE. Asmara has also relinquished its support for the terrorist Al-Shabaab Al-Mujahideen movement in Somalia in exchange for joining the bloc of countries that have declared an embargo against Qatar. This has opened the doors to Egyptian and Gulf arms, according to the Europe Centre for Foreign Policy Advice. http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/288381/World/International/Tensions-in-the-Horn-of-Africa-Shifting-regional-a.aspx Eritrea is copying the Egyptians perfectly. There is nothing to be trusted as principle. Everything including one's dignity and historical connections is for sale. The Eritreans should never ever go against Sudan. Half a million Eritreans were living in Sudan. They were not camped. They lived almost same as citizens. Worked, went to school, it did not matter christians or moslems no difference. Yet the Ethiopians organized a big festival to say thank you to the Sudanese, while Eritrean dictator on behalf of Israel and America established Eastern Front using his own army, interfered in Darfur.

Some good news out of a bad situation: SFG is investigating and will make public the result. Apparently the worst part of the removal was this: The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday condemned the demolitions, and said the fate of those evicted did not fit with the progress Somalia has made. “Not only did these people lose their homes, but the basic infrastructure that was provided by humanitarian partners and donors, such as latrines, schools, community centres – has been destroyed,” said Peter De Clercq, head of OCHA in Somalia.

Bravo Turkey and Thank you. Turkish state agency, aid organization to bring clean water, health services to Ethiopia’s Afar Thursday January 18, 2018 The State Hydraulic Works and Turkish aid organization Association of Friends of All Africa (TADD) have sped up efforts to help Ethiopia's Afar region, where people suffer from the lack of clean water and shortage of doctors. The organization will send volunteer doctors to the region, who will arrive in the African country in January and stay for two weeks to conduct at least 5,000 medical examinations, 200 surgeries, 800 dental examinations and 500 circumcisions. Specialists from the state agency will also be there to bring help to the region for clean water, TADD said on its website. The specialists will examine possibilities to bring constant supply of clean water to the region via the major Awash river passing through the state, an official for TADD told Daily Sabah. Those who wish to help the organization for medical supplies can make a donation on its website.

galbeedi, There is nothing confusing about it. America and Britain are brothern, but always in competion as well. Exxon and British Petroleum competed forever, even overthrew governments against each other. The difference is the compeition is done with rules. If Britain has interest in a country, America may not be in totally happy in the power structures of that country, but will not deal in a rough way with that country. If Israel has interest in Eritrea, but Ameica doesn't, America may not be dealing with it, even not helping with anything, but will not overthrow it. The French almost made a mistake with Ghele. I don't know if you remember, but the time he fired the Afar guy that is ctually responsible for the freetrade area, ports plans etc. The French who were closer to Afar wanted to bring some court cases against Ghele in France. Once he outplayed them with support from their competitors the whole thing disappeared since he could remove them from Dgibouti. The British would never have been involved in Syria even with security, but for America and France (Lebanon). Do you think America is not going to punish Germany for raising the profile of YUAN? About Shaba1 or 2 or different. Since Shabab has a lot to do with ICU, Ethiopia would be excluded in its creation, but some Arab countries are not excluded. What do you think would have seemed impossible than Israel dealing with ISIS? under different names. Somebody is playing games in Afghanistan as well with ISIS there gaining strength. All the opposition in Ethiopia (from outside) have foreign western citizenship. 2 organizations work with Soros foundations. As for being more than one person, what can I say. What is so special that this forum required an organization or group to participate? I am one person, this is the only forum I participate and I chose this, since its a site I take a look from time to time since the days when Somalia was at real cross roads and almost made it during ICU-TFG days.

Suldaanka, This is good competition between Somaliland and Somalia if done peacefully. How about after the competition of ministerial visits by both sides, the competition becomes who can build more schools, more clinics etc. Wouldn't that be great then we see who gains the trust and brotherhood of these villages.

This is more than a cry for a goat. (A Somali saying made famous by Illey) U.S. Congressional delegation to visit Khartoum on Sunday January 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - A delegation from the United States Congress would arrive in Khartoum on Sunday on a three-day official visit at the invitation of Sudan’s National Legislature, said parliament speaker Ibrahim Ahmed Omer National Assembly building in Omdurman Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum Wednesday, Omer said the Congressional delegation would meet with the Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Salih, ministers of the economic sector, speaker of the National Assembly, opposition parties and the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS). According to to Ashorooq TV, Omer added the visit comes at the invitation of the parliament, saying the delegation would be hosted by the Sudanese businessman Bashir Hassan Bashir. He pointed out that the Congressional delegation would discuss ways to promote bilateral relations between the two countries as well as exchanging ideas on the political, economic and security issues of common concern. Omer further said they would ask the delegation to lift Sudan’s name from the U.S. list of states sponsors of terror particularly as Sudan is making significant efforts to combat terrorism. He added the delegation would also discuss the implementation of the national dialogue outcome. Last October, the U.S. Administration permanently lifted 20-year-old economic sanctions against Sudan citing positive actions on humanitarian access and counter-terrorism However, Washington left other sanctions in place for the time being, including those against individuals with arrest warrants related to atrocities committed during the conflict in Darfur. Also, it didn’t remove Sudan’s name from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Sudanese officials insist on the need to remove Sudan from the list of terror states, pointing that the country cannot benefit from the debt relief and international development aid without this measure. But Washington insists on the need to improve Human rights, religious freedom and other freedoms in a way to create a conducive environment for the opposition group to take part in the ongoing constitutional process after the signing of a peace agreement with the armed groups. The two countries are engaged in a five-track process towards the full normalization of relations.

Its is savage and cowardly against a woman, but if some of us think its a Somali thing. Its not only common in the west to intimidate, kill and maime female journalists, those who live in America will remember Trump campaign manager resigning for the same reason. The journalist woman in Malta shreded to pieces recently comes to mind. Women journalists are assumed to be more dangerous at investigating and more influencial at diseminating, even if few of them.

In deed an art. When Meles was prime minster, Omar Ghele one day went on Television and Radio and declared that to all Ethiopians, Djibuti is your country, if need be we can even join the Federal system. Meles was just melted, Ethiopian officials were confused and confounded as to what has happend in Djibouti. But Meles was equally brave and smart, arranged a quick interview by Ethiopian television and Radio and stated that Mr Omar Ghele is as Ethiopian as I am and Djibouti has best of Ethiopia at heart. Isayas of Eritrea could never even utter saying we have the same ancestry with Ethiopians let alone to say we are one country. Ghele is investing in Dirdawa, and when that city becomes wealthy and develops, when it comes into play between the 3 Regions (Somali, Hareri and Oromo), he will come in handy.

As of today this is the most dangerous situation. German central Bank announced today that it will purchase YUAN which means will reduce US$. The Germans will not have Gaddafi's fate, but expect a lot of friction. Maybe Somalia should also spend some time and effort with EU. For Somalia the stakes are much higher. Turkey and Qatar are growing distance from USA. China will support economically, but no one should expect any military/security support even indirectly against US. Djibouti has France to counter any American unhappiness. Ethiopia has Britain to counter any American unhapiness. If Somalia is going to deepen relations with China, it needs a western country to tame America. Russia would be very much interested, but that would make it even worst for Somalia, where America would create Shebab2 or some other outfit. Turkey would have been the perfect match as it was NATO member and good friend of America, but both issues are negative now at the wrong time for Somalia. What do SOLers think?

Ethiopia maybe poor country, but the Somali region on its own built an International certified airport to spur business to areas that were considered outside the realm a few years ago. There is problems, there will always be problems, otherwise society stops. Djibouti will also invest in Somaliland since they have maxed out on few areas, like ports. All their sea shore is now full of ports 4 and bases. And also its a policy of neighbor be good. They need solid peace on their borders. To some degree you might have picture of old Ethiopia that had 200MW electricty and one university, until the current regime came to power. It also has made itself wanted by Chinese, Americans, British, Germans etc. Can you imagine how big it is to give 200 students a year scholarship. Some of them become Ethiopians and stay in Ethiopia, but even if 25 come back can do a lot.

Dutch government tells highest Eritrean diplomat to leave Wed Jan 17, 2018 / 11:03 AM EST Reuters Staff (Reuters) - The Dutch government has told the highest representative of Eritrea in the Netherlands to leave the country, minister of Foreign Affairs Halbe Zijlstra said on Wednesday. Tekeste Ghebremedhin Zemuy has been declared persona non grata, Zijlstra wrote in a letter to parliament, as the government saw mounting evidence of Eritrea continuing to force tax payments from people who fled the country. A spokesman for the Eritrean Embassy declined to comment on the decision. Dutch radio program Argos last month said Eritrean refugees were being intimidated into paying a "diaspora tax" at the embassy in The Hague, in order to get access to its services, despite earlier orders by the Dutch government to stop this practice. "This is an exceptionally severe measure, meant as a signal to the government of Eritrea", Zijlstra said. "We want to make clear that we don't tolerate these unwanted practices." Zijlstra said he had decided not to close the entire embassy, against the will of a majority in Dutch parliament, as that would make it impossible to help Eritreans. He called on Eritreans to report criminal offences they had experienced at the embassy. (Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Alison Williams)

Its the thinking process. Isayas instead of competing fairly and brotherly with Djibouti, he thought he can destroy Djibouti and leave Ethiopia with no option but him becoming East Africas warlord. He lost that one and never recovered. He tried the same against Sudan, even working with some from Darfur, he lost that one as well. Ethiopia outsmarted him. Ethiopia has now close to 10,000 soldiers in Sudan paid by UN. Isayas lost completely. He thinkered in Yemen against the late Abdella Saleh. He thinkered in Somalia against the late Abdullahi Yusuf. There is nobody around him to tell him that something is wrong. Everyone around him applauds and says yes sir. Downhill. The Somali from all corners including the Somali region had supported him, but he could not stay neutral and try to reconcile the different sides. All he can see was if Somali has any relation to Ethiopia.

Once hopeful and with so much promise, the Eritrean leader has been too long in power and now has started talking nonesense since no one close to him can tell him he is wrong or advice him against his madness. He is now in a letter blaming America (just for public consumption otherwise Israel is his patron and nobody is going to touch him, even Ethiopia): America started the border war so it can control the Area America is the one applying sanctions, since it prevent from helping Somalia Yet if it was not for America and Algeria, not only the 25km deep in his countryby 1000km across the whole border, but his country would have become protectorate. Wee hour call to washington is forgotten now. Government supporters in Eritrea say "Isayas is the only one in Africa that can challenge America" Just like Iraqi's used to say of Sadam Husien. I hope Somalis do not fall into this trap and expect president Formajo to act animously to Kenya, Ethiopia or Djibouti. There is nothing to be gained at this time. Pres. Isaias to UN SC – “Washington worked to drive a wedge between Ethiopians, Eritreans” President Isaias Afeworki has sent messages to several Heads of State and Government urging them to use their influences in the UN Security Council to redress the injustices perpetrated against Eritrea. In his message, President Isaias stressed that the UN Security Council has the obligation, primary responsibility and legal mandate to ensure and promote the security and peace of sovereign countries and thereby guarantee the maintenance of international peace and security. The President referred to the border war between Eritrea and Ethiopia that raged for two years from May 1998 until June 2000 entailing a huge loss of life and enormous destruction of property. The “border dispute” was a simple ruse as the boundary between the two countries was defined and determined without any ambiguity in colonial times. But Washington feverishly worked at the time, through the State Department, to drive a wedge between the two peoples who have deep historical and strategic ties in order to foment a crisis and micromanage the affairs of the Horn of Africa. Photo – Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki, May 2017 President Isaias went on to highlight that even though the “border conflict” was legally adjudicated on the basis of the Algiers agreement, the US Administration used its clout in the UN Security Council to further exacerbate the crisis and to block the enforcement of the final and binding arbitral decision. The final and binding legal Award was not, however, amendable to alterations through diplomatic maneuvering, President Isaias noted. In the event, the US and its allies concocted a fictitious case accusing Eritrea of supporting “Al-Shebaab” to impose unwarranted sanctions against the country in December 2009 in the name of the UN Security Council. Demonization campaigns that have been underway under the bogus pretext of “violations of human rights”; periodic military attacks launched against the country; and organized criminal networks of human trafficking set up to precipitate and incite illicit migration of Eritrean youth are part and parcel of these schemes of harassment, President Isaias added. President Isaias finally stressed that it is high time that the flouting of the rule of law; the violation of international law; and, the prevalence of the rule of jungle are terminated once and for all. He further reiterated that the UN Security Council is bestowed with the legal obligations and responsibility, above any other body, to remove occupation from our sovereign territories; rescind the unwarranted sanctions imposed against Eritrea without factual substantiation; and, bring to an end the incessant attacks perpetrated against the country through various forms. ********** Source: Eritrean Ministry of Information – June 06, 2017. __________________________________________________ Another African syndrome. These flags could have clothed a thousand children.

Hello maakhiri1, I have passed your warning to some friends from Tigray, much appreciated. They told me will be packing soon. Funny story but true. There is an opposition called Ginbot 7 and now the Amhara are not only abondoning but condemning as well. I get they have never been able to make it from Eritrea to Ethiopia through Sudan. Eritrea does not allow even a mosquito if they can control it to cross across their 1000km border. About 6 years ago this outfit sold "patriot certificates" for 500USD each. They were going to get rid of Tigray in 6 months. Their military leader was nabbed from Yemen on his way to Eritrea and is now in prison in Ethiopia. Not this time either, maybe next time. The ones where all hope was banked this time are in retreat. The Oromo version of Shabab will be controlled by the Oromo themselves. Is more danger to them than to anyone else. I am sure Somalia and Ethiopia will be co-operating since have agreement and Kenya pretty much the Ethiopians can go in themselves if corruption in Kenya becomes obstacle.. And djibouti and Sudan of course is most protective of peace in Ethiopia, since is best and biggest customer. Look how diplomatic he is behind the cameras:

Both agreed on a number of Issues, but I don't think are any issues the SFG would object. No Somali can object to Ethiopia building modernizing a highway No Somali can object fighting Al Shabab (except those who support Al Shabab No Somali can object to increasing the number of Somalilanders in Ethiopian universities No Somali can object to building additional port facilities This are all things that benefit the Somali regardless wether Somaliland is under Mogadishu or not. There is an issue Somaliland raised about IGAD, but is not included in the public information. My Guess would be Somaliland wants to work with IGAD, since its working in some ways with all IGAD countries except Somalia (which there is no publicly known co-operation) and Eritrea is in self exclusion on some disagreement with Uganda over the Somalia deployment years ago. Here is a picture which a friend tried to analyse. As to the president of Somaliland supporting or encouraging its called with his left hand. Its personal preference. Remember Trump did that but Putin didn't and people tried to interpret it. As to the Ethiopian prime minister bowng that is normal Ethiopian culture for elders, Shieks, priests, you bow when greeting. Generally its total Ethiopian culture, but in the north is much pronounced and common across the board. Its considered vulgar and disorderly to greet an elder or community leader without bowing the head or uppe body.

Here is an indication of what the agenda is, by the persons accompanying the president. Foreign Minister (must but rest are by agenda) Army Commander Minister of Interior and Minister of Education Minister of Trade

Monday January 15, 2018 More than 4,000 people are homeless two weeks after security forces demolished camps sheltering internally displaced Somalis Two weeks after being forcibly evicted from their shelters, thousands of vulnerable families are still living rough in the outskirts of Mogadishu. Somali security forces went in and destroyed 23 camps for internally displaced people, housing more than 4,000 Somalis, on 29 and 30 December last year according to the UN. People say they woke up to bulldozers and soldiers demolishing their shelters. “We were not even given time to collect our belongings,” said Farhia Hussein, a mother of nine. “People were screaming and running in all directions. Two of my children went missing in the chaos. They are twin sisters, aged six – thank God I found them two days later.” Hussein, 46, came to the city nine months ago from the Shebelle region. “I was a farmer but I lost everything to the drought and I cannot go back now because the security situation is terrible there,” she said. “I never thought my own people would treat me this way in Mogadishu, I felt like a foreigner in my own country.” The UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (Unocha) said the destruction included health and sanitary facilities, schools, latrines and water points, at a cost of more than $200,000 of donor money. Witnesses say the police and military personnel involved in the clearances beat up anyone who tried to resist or question them. Omar Mohamed, 54, and his eight children now share a makeshift shelter with other families in a nearby camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs). “It was a nightmare. At least my children are alive. I saw a mother who lost her eight-month-old child because of hunger and heat. They were literally sleeping under the sun in the open air,” he said. Mohamed Ismail Abdullahi, district commissioner of Kahda, where the demolitions took place, said: “The eviction was done for the safety of the IDPs since the area they settled was a disputed private land and the eviction order was issued by a High Court, although there was not a proper notice and it was not well coordinated.” Aid workers and journalists were not allowed to film. “Security forces stopped reporters from taking photos. It was done quite swiftly and there is not much [reporting] of the eviction in the local press,” said aid worker Abdiaziz Hussein. Land and property disputes by powerful local clans have been increasing in the city, thanks to booming real estate developments. Displaced people, who mostly come from smaller clans, are often caught up in the middle of the dispute. Famine, conflict and drought displaced one million people throughout Somalia last year alone. Most end up in large towns and cities like Mogadishu where they face being constantly moved on. In 2015, similar large-scale destruction of such settlements took place in the same Kahda district, with more than 21,000 people forcibly removed from their makeshift shacks. The district commissioner said only about 600 families had been rehoused so far and they were working hard to shelter the remaining families. “We managed to secure land, at least for the coming four years, and will hopefully renew the lease or find an alternative solution but our priority now is to help build shelters for those who lost their properties in the eviction and we call upon all parties including the federal government, the UN and other aid agencies to support these people,” he said. Farhia Hussein has been taken in by another displaced family whose camp was not affected. “Imagine sharing a small tent with another family of ten. We are basically sleeping in the open air. There are many charities here but there is not enough support.” Abdiaziz Hussein, who works with a local organisation in the camps, said thousands were in difficulty. “They cannot go back to the camps because the police are still there, guarding the emptied settlements to stop people from coming back,” he said.