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Posts posted by Old_Observer
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Is somebody trying to invite someone to Somaliland?
And this is call sign between them.
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On 4/6/2019 at 6:03 PM, Holac said:The same old games played by the West. A paradise destroyed.
Yes. Agree, but these paradises should know what ever goes up, must come down. Its the way down that needs to be managed and dictators are worst at managing it.
Dictators and kings like Marcos of Philipines, Haileslasye Ethiopia, do not know when how to quit and pass on to their progeny.
The prime minister is now using the same card Gadafi tried to use. Refugees. The prime minister is saying there are 1 million refugees.
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On 4/12/2019 at 2:12 PM, Oodweyne said:I saw the brutality of Bashir’s regime. Now Sudan can rediscover a lost identity
Nesrine Malik
More than 20 years ago, I hid in a Khartoum University toilet stall with three other students. We held our scarves over our noses to limit the stench, as well as the teargas that was streaming through the doors. A student union election had not gone the way the government liked, and soon the campus was stormed by security forces armed with batons and gas grenades. At one point, security pickup trucks drove around campus apprehending students at random and beating them.
Eventually the campus was cleared, and we ventured out, retching. I remember, as we tried to make our way home down the Nile on the north side of the campus, a long stream of choking, crying and coughing students. Security officers stood in the street, randomly striking students with sticks and batons, meting out humiliating insults as they did. When I walked past, one struck a male student on the back. He teetered. “Where are the heroes?” mocked the officer, as he beat the student again. “I thought you were heroes?” The young man took the blows and never looked back as he walked away.
We didn’t know it at the time, but we would not return to university for more than a year. Omar al-Bashir’s regime simply shut it down, not wanting to risk popular protests brought about by contagion from the student movement. By the time we returned, many students had dropped out or just disappeared.
On Thursday Bashir, the last of the world’s long-term Arab dictators, was overthrown. Not a single one of the 30 years of his rule in Sudan was peaceful. The military officer took power in 1989, responding with brute force and scorched-earth tactics to any dissent. In the major cities, the regime disbanded civil society and set up a police state. In Darfur and other regions, his forces stoked ethnic conflicts in wars that claimed innumerable lives, and earned Bashir an international criminal court indictment and punitive sanctions for the country. And it established an arbitrary sharia legal system that it used to persecute its enemies and impose a grim, sterile order.
And it worked. Between force and co-option, the military regime survived. This June would have marked 30 years since the “salvation revolution”. But a popular uprising, which has built momentum now for almost four months, has denied Bashir of his 30th anniversary. There comes a time in any dictator’s tenure that their magic combination of bribery, brutality, murder, torture and detention stops working. Once that happens, it overtakes any analysis. Thousands had staged a sit-in at the army headquarters for almost a week, demanding the end of the regime. But the pivotal moment came some time ago, when the government failed to provide the basics, as the country nosedived into an economic crisis with record inflation and fuel and bank liquidity shortages. In the past when the poor rose up, the middle classes, those who had suffered the least historically (if they behaved), would not join the uprisings. But the grinding effects of poverty began to appear in more prosperous households and the bargain with Bashir no longer paid off. A government can be repressive or impoverishing, never both.
And so the economic crisis generalised a sense of dispossession that has now tipped into political rebellion. The anger took on a different shape too, one that demanded redress for decades of oppression but is also reaching out for some sort of national reconciliation. The scenes from the Khartoum sit-in showed an urge to capture a sense of a country that has been lost for too long.
Bashir’s human rights abuses elided into something else, the vandalising of a sense of national identity divorced from the government’s own religious and military blueprint. The salvation revolution was also a cultural project, one that exaggerated the ethnic differences between the Sudanese people, and thrived on ignoring the masses by catering to a large patronage network. Over the past few days, soldiers have defected in order to support and protect the protesters against security forces, some in tears as they made the move. Classic old songs and chants that predate the Bashir government mixed with new irreverent humour. Women, who have borne the brunt of the sharia experimentation, came out in traditional gear, harking back to old customs. Volunteers brought food and water, and everything was documented live on social media. It was at once a nostalgic and modern uprising. It has little but the past to hold on to, but knows the present is no longer tenable.
But despite the moving army defections, the announcement of Bashir’s removal came from a military that intends to take control. This is bad news for Sudan, as none of his generals are untainted by Bashir’s record. Sudan also has a legacy of ethnic and tribal tension that was not invented by Bashir. Without the complicity of the affluent class, he would never have survived so long. And despite the iconography of women on the frontline of the uprising, the government’s victimisation of women was aided by a society steeped in misogyny.
But a country in such moments needs to project a vision, an idealised version of itself, something to aspire to. And so the world watched as the Sudanese people camped, chanted and dodged bullets until they succeeded in doing what an entire international human rights industry has failed to do: toppling Omar al-Bashir’s government. The future is still to be plotted, but in the meantime, those who took part in the uprising have answered the question the security officer asked when he lashed us as we left a besieged university campus all those years ago. Here are the heroes.
• Nesrine Malik is a Guardian columnist
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I saw the brutality of Bashir’s regime. Now Sudan can rediscover a lost identity | Nesrine Malik | Opinion | The Guardian
WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM
The last long-term Arab dictator has been ousted by the people, says Nesrine Malik.Its more like, the Military hijacing the whole thing. But its better this way, than the country being destroyed. Too many conflicting forces that cannot live or work together. Middle man came and relieved them all.
Their military looks like neutral and saving the country when in the precipice.
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If the comedian wins in Ukraine, he has a good chance of stopping the war. Few are profiting, but the country is going down and further down.
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13 hours ago, Suldaanka said:The UK was instrumental in helping secure close to 89 companies that will be building their distribution centres in Berbera Free Zone. These companies include Indian, South Korean, Japanese, Singaporean, Belgium and Ethiopia.
Berbera Free Zone will be officially open for business in the next few months.
They have all the connections from the British Empire. You have a big community there. I was always wondering, what is the problem?
Better late than never. Security and order is what they need the most.
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On 4/8/2019 at 12:31 PM, Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar said:Xaaska madaxweyne Ismaaciil maa loola jeeda gacantaas?
It seems like she will hasten his downfall. He is tired and weary nowadays, so it seems she has a considerable influence on him.
I was really surprised when Xasan Aaden Samatar out of no where started blurbing out and over-praising her in his speech in Muqdisho. Madax badan ayaa meesha fadhiday islaantaas amaanteeda uuba la soo shirtagay. Then I realized it is her who might be paying all his bills since he moved to Jabuuti in recent years.
MMA that is too intrusive. lol
Good thinking.
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On 4/6/2019 at 6:54 AM, Suldaanka said:In what seems to be a reply of Mogadishu 1991, is playing out in Libya's capital Tripoli.
General Khalid Haftar's forces have entered Tripoli this morning and have cut off the Airport from the city.
Prime Minister Fayez has control of the main port. And the two sides are preparing for an all out war.
It is most likely will end up dividing the city into two much like Aided and Mahdi.
Both Italian colonies. What a coincidence.
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Which planet do these people live.
Don't they live in UK. Never heard of NE, never heard of Scottish, Irish Welsh
Don't they live in America?
Don't they live in India?
Don't they live in Canada?
Why is tribalism bad in Somalia, but great in America? Inferiority complex of some is amazing. Use it for efficiency. If you want something positive done, its great organization, natural to get a tribe to do something.
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On 4/10/2019 at 12:15 AM, galbeedi said:This Cumar Bashir guy must select a successor as soon as possible. Is it the water these Arab guys drink? . When will they realize it is over. He rule 30 years, and have the power to put his own man on the top and hold elections.
The world had changed and the nation must be saved or the chaos neocons will destroy before it is too late.
The Sudanese nation must be saved from the coming disaster.
That is great point.
They did just that. They even called it a coup just for good measure, which split the opposition already and confused all the countries that were salivating at destroying the country.
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6 hours ago, maakhiri1 said:Change is not happening where it matters for Arabs.
EGYPT AND KSA
Not possible with America and Israel commanding.
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Sudanese are experts in regime change. Never had any disasters. They have done this many times.
This looks transition more than a coup.
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Did someone ever post this on site where Farmaajo or his internet army can see it?
His government seems in ICU of politics. Intensive care not Islamic courts.
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Not sure if applicable.
The 1984 Famine/starvation was in Tigray and another province south of it. In Tigray they were awarded 2 years ago by UN as the most greened. A gold medal.
The help they got was water usage technologies from Israel, program management and consulting by Britain and some other countries maybe Turkey or Germany.
Now you can see in pictures how green it is.
The people were paid wages in cash and in kind to work on it for few years. This while doing their other work as well. Herding their animals, farming their plots..etc.
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8 hours ago, Suldaanka said:The UAE is holding IOG by the balls, so to speak.
It is designed to make Djibouti tow the Western line and not go too far with China.
Not so fast.
Ethiopia may have share or part ownership and Ethiopia was exempted in the exclusivity for certain size, volume, distance from Doraleh..etc. Example exclusive port for meat and live animal. Another port for Potash..
Djibouti can also go to Sweden or Swizerland for another court, unless the jurisdiction was mentioned in the agreement.
Note that Russia was ordered to pay 50 Billion for the oligarch, but Russia said was political case and made it unenforceable.
This case is also political. Even the vulgar talk of UAE can come back to serve them ill.
The Chinese would never have invested, had they received any doubt from their lawyers.
UAE is just bluffing for the most part on this. Only the Doraleh is in dispute and Ghelleh knows the worst amount that can come from it.
As long as Ethiopia draggs its feet or has no money to use Eritrea or road to Somaliland, Ghelleh is safe.
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7 hours ago, Holac said:Somaliland is so hot, it turned into a desert.
lol
In that case some rain is due. Who will rain in on their hottness, Puntland, Djibouti..?
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7 hours ago, Oodweyne said:One of the thing I forget to add is that the French's company call Total (and I am sure of it you know them well) are "sniffing" around in major investment in Somalilland in the Gas and OIl sector. Literally they want to be the first one to strike gold with their drilling exploration and production in Oodweyne's area.
And it will be a bad publicity, of course, if the Somaliland's government treats badly this French Bank by saying to them go get your money from IOG, particularly when they are in turn are saying, that, Mr Ina-Gelleh-Arab took the loan from us with his then assets in Djibouti.
Hence, it's bad reputation for Somaliland to be known as the place where French companies are given a raw deal. Which means, Somaliland can ill-afford that, really.
So that is also a consideration for Somaliland to contemplate and reflect on. Which means, it will be best to say to this French Bank, well you have a case against Mr Ina-Gelleh-Arab, right? Well, bring it on to the Somaliland's court, which is what the French bank wants, anyway.
So that is why the government are treading carefully in here in the hope the French's State will not discourage the likes of Total not to put a major and heavy investment in Somaliland, next year. Which will be the case if this French bank is treated badly by our court system or by our government in the mean-time, with its case against Mr Ina-Gelleh-Arab.
Did the visit from Eritrea recently affect the case lately in a negative way?
This case has been going on for long time. Me thinks recent political developments with UAE, Ethiopia, Ghelleh visit to Mogadishu, Eritrea...may have brought the case to the fore.
What do you think?
I would say invite the Bank to open branch in Somaliland. Is it allowed? The Tigray did not allow Bank and telecommunication to foreign. That was one of their biggest disagreements with America and EU.
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6 hours ago, Holac said:It is always better to be the big shark that can't be "thrown" around.
Somaliland may have the best government in the Somali peninsula, but the reality is that Laandheerism is still played in its halls of power. I like Djibouti as a country, but I believe this businessman is facing deportation today because he is from a minority clan.
I think, its less to do with clan. The case is with the boss of the palace, the woman. Even IOGelleh has no room to apply his DONness. Its the lady herself. Women make terrible Dons.
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9 hours ago, galbeedi said:So Mr OO,
The TPLF is in play in these moves. A well funded opposition could topple Assias.
Is this true or the Eritrean dictator is in panic?
Afwerki is into the same ways and tools he uses when in trouble. Religion. Mind you all his protectors and funders are Arabs/Moslems yet he oppresses and isolates the Moslems in his own country. But the population is OK, much better than him.
You know how Sudan played role in Gadaffi's downfall. Afwerki fears the same.
His defense minister, Afwerki loyalist for life was shot in what some people say attempted coup and may not recover his functions.
Those who welcomed Abiy/Afwerki the most, your Amxara friends are also openly accusing Afwerki in interfering in internal affairs. Their friendship with Abiy as you might known already is also not good.
They had songs for him, they declared he is gift of the all mighty..etc that is all forgotten now.
Afwerki is in panic, because the Amxara whom he thought would fight the Tigray are not going for it. The Tigray cannot do anything now, until America comes to doubt. Abiy going back to china is an opportunity for the Tigray and if he returns to Turkish, then the Tigray will recover since those were two countries where Tigray were really invested their hopes.
No money, no jobs, no internal peace (Ethiopia has close to 3 million IDPs, 2 Million of them since Abiy came to power) and a lot of factoreis not working, some burned during the power struggle....not good.
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9 hours ago, galbeedi said:Why does Abbiy needs Eritrea?. Turkey , Sudaan, Qatar and Somalia could be invincible if Farmaajo joins the alliance without trying to play both sides. Sometimes it is better to make your bed and sleep comfortably.
In Soomaali we say, " Hasha labada Geel jecel, warabaha dhexda ku gawraca'. roughly means a camel that likes to different herds is eaten by the hyena while running between.
With Turkey armies and logistica , and Qatar money everything is possible.
That was the best opportunity for Somalia in a long time and the current government just squandered it, looking for quick and cash money from EU and Arabs.
Turkish were capable in everything:
Construction
Agriculture
Education
and most of all defense.
At this time the Turkish are too busy. Missed opportunity.
Sudan case is understandable. The Americans would not be happy about it. But Ethiopia could have brought them with AMISOM. Sudanese are very generous. They allow Somalis to study and work. They give scholarships.
That is perfect proverb/wisdom speak. and fit for the situation.
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1 hour ago, galbeedi said:Djibouti is a mafia state run by a family. I if you open a shop and become successful, the family will visit you and give you an offer you can't refuse. They will take share by force or take the whole thing. It did happen to Djibouti people all the time. My insinuation of kidnapping is plausible because of the presence of Djibouti secret service in Djibouti and the denial of the interior minister to say that " as the interior minister, I should have known if this case is in the courts or within the Somaliland government" , yet today Muuse Biixi spokesman had contradicted him by saying that the case has been here since September 2018.
Perfect description. The Oromo and Somali are now bringing this method to Ethiopia. Since Eritrea is a one man government, the government does that daily. If you refuse they open shop beside you selling the same products, but no customs, no taxes for them. And they bankrupt you in no time.
Sometimes they stand police people in front of your shop as if somebody has been murdered and no body comes to that street let alone to your shop.
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1 hour ago, galbeedi said:He supposed to say that Ahmed Geele, " lacagta Djibouti looga dhacay waa in qiimaheeda la ogaadaa".
You shouldn't be even opening the case before sending government lawyers to go after Djibouti and resolve the case in Djibouti.
As soon as Ahmed Geele arrived in Somaliland, he dispatched Somaliland elders to Djibouti to resolve the issue and recoup his assets. He was willing to find solutions. Ghelle refused to meet with elders. They went too far and went to See the Ciise Ugaas in Diradhaba, yet Ghelle said that if they come to Djibouti again will arrest them.
The Guy decided to cut his losses and move on. Now they came after what was left his assets in Hargeisa.
This mobster justice.
If you have any window to suggest a solution, I would say the following:
Have something that is not pleasant for the Don and also for Bixi
Send a personal friend of the Don to make a deal
Mr. Arap settles with maybe 10 or 20 percent of what he has in Djibouti with the condition that he forgets there is territory or country called Djibouti even for friend's chit chat
The Don ignores Arap in Somaliland and possibly Kililka
Something like that will work.
Those in Somaliland who are circling are only vultures trying to get a cut in the possible transaction. Public pressure and noise is enough to make these vultures fly away.
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Eritrea accuses Sudan, Turkey and Qatar of supporting opposition Islamist groups
April 3, 2019 (KHARTOUM) - Eritrean government Wednesday has accused Qatar, Sudan and Turkey of supporting opposition radical Islamist groups to hamper bilateral relations between Asmara and Addis Ababa.
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President Afwerki speaks at state dinner on the honour of President Kiir on 18 August 2018 (Photo shabait.com)
Relations between Khartoum are strained for several years because of Khartoum support to Addis Ababa before the reconciliation between the two countries in July 2018.
However, this stunning rapprochement was not followed by a normalization between Eritrea and Sudan as President Isaias Afewerki shunned all attempts made by Addis Ababa saying he wanted to Khartoum to explain why it had accused him of supporting opposition attacks and closed the border in January 2018.
However, relations between the two capitals remained calm as they avoided escalation.
Nonetheless, the Eritrean government on Wednesday morning issued a statement accusing Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Qatar’s operational services of backing the opposition (“Eritrean Muslim League” under the mantle of “Eritrean Ulama’s League/Eritrean Rabita-i Ulama”).
The statement said that the Qatari services funded the groups and neighbouring Sudan has allowed its territory to be used for "the nefarious aims".
"These subversive acts have been ratcheted up especially in the past year with the singular aim of obstructing the peace process and positive developments in the ties between Eritrea and Ethiopia in particular and the whole Horn of Africa region in general," said the Eritrean government
One year ago, on 23 March 2018, Asmara accused Sudan and Qatar of supporting a radical group led by Mohammed Jumma who had plans, according to Asmara, to organize political and military activities against the government of President Afewerki.
Sudanese government did not react to the Eritrean accusations.
Sudan Tribune -
Eritrea Accuses Turkey, Qatar and Sudan
In a press statement released today, the Eritrean Ministry of Information accused Turkey of conducting “acts of subversion” against Eritrea. In addition, it accused Qatar of collaboration by providing “funding and operational services … in collusion with the Sudanese regime which allowed its territories to be used for the nefarious aims.”
The statement explained that “these subversive acts have been ratcheted up” over the last year with the aim of “obstructing the peace process and positive development in the ties between Eritrea and Ethiopia… and the whole of the Horn of Africa.” It added, that at the beginning of this year, Turkey has opened an office for the Chairman of the obscure “Eritrean Muslim League.”
The Eritrean Government has been accusing Qatar and its allies since Isaias Afwerki distanced himself from Qatar, and stood with the Saudi-UAE alliance in the war they are waging in Yemen. Turkey is a major ally of Qatar.
On March 19, PM Abiy made a visit to Qatar but details of his talks with the Amir of Qatar are still unknown. Last year Saudi Arabia and the UAE sponsored the agreement reached between PM Abiy and Isaias Afwerki; both were hosted by the leaders of the two countries to sign the agreement.
Observers believe that “PM Abiy’s attempts to normalize relations between the countries of the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Gulf countries will not bear fruit as long as Isaias Afwerki is involved in it.” Isaias has been either at war, or on a diplomatic rift with almost all the countries of the region.
Until two years ago, Qatar was the major patron of Isaias Afwerki but then he joined the Saudi-UAE alliance at the expense of his long relationship with Qatar. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been boycotting Qatar since June 2017.
In 2018, the UAE provided training for a number of Eritrean ruling party cadres on Internet trolling techniques to fight the media and activists opposed to the Eritrean ruling party. It’s worth noting that the trolling cooperation’s first target was the Eritrean League of Ulema.
In its statement of today, the Eritrean Ministry of Information emphasized the name of the group “Rabita/League”, a phrase it uses to invoke emotional differences between the Eritrean Muslims and Christians.
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As usual an old regime trying to use religious issue to survive telling Christians that Moslems will take over if you don't defend me. Actually that part of the world has the least problems of this kind except what King Haileslassie and now Afwerki tried as means of holding to power.
Somaliland region poet Cabdi Good says his life is threatened after he criticized Ismail Omar Gueleh
in Politics
Posted
Bad idea.
There is enough for both of you.
If you try to bankrupt each other that is quick way for both to go down.
Remember Djibouti is more strategic and more useful as the closest to the gate. There are also more countries invested in Djibouti than in Somaliland or any other.