The Minister of Information & National Guidance H E Abdirahman Abdilahi Guri Barwako has issued decisions, appointing Heads at several departments at the ministry. Hon. Musa Jambir has been named as the new Manger of Somaliland National Television replacing Mr. Khader Mohamed Akule. Hon. Omar Mohamed Farah has been appointed as the new chairman of Somaliland News Agency and has replaced Hon. Husein Kurdi. Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Jama aka Alolay has been named to head of Dawan newspaper replacing Mr. Sayid Osman Madar

As with the light railway, the reality of the Ethiopia-Djibouti link is dashing high hopes. Furi-Lebu Station, outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. There are numerous examples of the successful and tangible manifestations of China’s Africa policy all across the continent. Two recent projects have placed a spotlight on Ethiopia, where the Chinese presence is overwhelming: the first modern light railway (tram) system of sub-Saharan Africa in the capital, Addis Ababa, and the Addis-Djibouti railway, connecting the landlocked country to the maritime trade routes of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. In this two-part analysis, we evaluate these Chinese investments after visiting these projects in January 2018. Part 1 looked at the light railway; below, we explain our findings on the Addis-Djibouti railway. If you have ever been to any of the newly built railway stations in China, you will not be surprised by the interior of the waiting hall at the Furi-Lebu Station. Though smaller in size, it is designed using the same standards, even using the very same colors and displays. The only difference is that it was built in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to serve as the first station of the New National Railway Network in Ethiopia. While the media covered the brand new Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway connection after its completion, there were loads of question marks in the story that we wished to unravel. In order to do so, beside searching for sources and conducting interviews, we decided to travel to Furi-Lebu Station to find out everything about the project humanly possible. Enjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. Just $5 a month. The first wall we bumped into was determining the location of the station. While it was finished and inaugurated at the end of 2016, few had a clue about its whereabouts. Luckily, our driver (recommended by a superb Czech Ethiopia expert, Jan Záhořík) made a few calls and drove us out of the city to the middle of nowhere. This is not an exaggeration. It took nearly an hour and a half to get to the station from Addis Ababa (outside of rush hour, and without road construction, the trip probably could have been 20 minutes faster. The roads were not finished on the last 3 kilometers of the trip, so we had to take dirt roads in order to arrive at what is billed as the country’s brand new main station. Furi-Lebu Station, viewed from a distance. Photo by Istvan Tarrosy. The Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway is a roughly 759 kilometer-long railway connecting the capitals of Ethiopia and Djibouti. Constructed between 2011 and 2016, it was financed by the Ethiopian government and by a loan from China’s Exim Bank. Details are not quite clear, but according to an article published by one of the embassies of Ethiopia, the total cost of construction reached $4.5 billion, at least half a billion more than originally planned. According to various sources, China’s ExIm Bank offered a loan of around $2.4-3 billion. In 2017, the Ethiopian Railway Corporation (ERC) faced financial issues without having finished the project and the connecting infrastructure on time. According to reports, ERC had a stunning $3.7 billion in debt at the end of 2016, and had already started to repay those loans — without a functioning railway connection. Apparently, Ethiopia decided to build a railway network with standard gauge railways, replacing the old colonial meter gauge lines, and the Addis Ababa-Djibouti route is the first one to be finished. As an official commented (all sic): The reason why the trunk lines had not been built is that the Ethiopian government’s focus was on building the main railway line […] The construction of the trunk lines was not included in the contractual agreement. We first had to build the main line. Since the trunk lines are many we would need to conduct a study and build them later based on the study. We would connect the railway line to industrial zones, dry ports, national depot, and private depots. So the rail connection was inaugurated in October 2016, and ERC was already paying back the loans from the summer of 2016, yet the railway failed to start operations in 2017. It was only on January 1, 2018 that trains started to operate – still with substantial challenges, as you will see. The outside of Furi-Lebu station. Photo by Istvan Tarrosy. After arriving at the station, there was no activity and we bumped into a second wall: soldiers guarding the seemingly empty station. Since there is no other way you can buy a ticket before going to the station, it was quite interesting to see that our driver had to come up with a story in order the enter the massive, eclectic but impressive building. The lack of infrastructure was clearly visible at the station itself as well. While there were ongoing construction work, and according to the plans, a new line of the city’s light railway system will also terminate here, the area was quiet – nearly abandoned. From the outside, nothing indicated that this was a Chinese project, but as mentioned above, inside the station we definitely had the “Made in China” feeling. The ticket office was at another part of the building, separated from the waiting hall, with four out of eight ticket windows open. Considering the lack of interest at that time of the day, even this was a bit too much. The women at the ticket office were nice; we even learned that as foreigners, we should pay more for tickets than Ethiopian citizens. After the women spent more than ten minutes calculating the prices, a young Chinese male supervisor arrived to check if everything was okay. We chatted a bit with him in his mother tongue, which the Ethiopian staff members enjoyed. As was the case with light railway system, this railway is also operated by a Chinese company — in this case a consortium of two companies, the China Railway Group (CREC) and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CRCC), which were responsible for the constructions as well. Their job now is to operate and maintain the line, and also train local personnel for an undisclosed fee until 2023. The waiting hall of Furi-Lebu station. Photo by Istvan Tarrosy. After leaving the ticket office, we paid a visit to the waiting hall through the main entrance. It was empty, with locked doors leading toward the platforms. After taking a few photos, we were kindly asked by one of the soldiers to leave. Train operation is still unpredictable. According to the timetable, passenger trains are to leave Addis on every odd numbered day, but in January there were still problems with keeping to the timetable because of collisions with various animals on the way as well as occasional power cuts – despite the fact that the system had been tested for more than a year. As for the freight trains, there is still no reliable information about the amount of goods transported through the railway from Djibouti, but since the main station there is also outside of the city proper, there are a few pessimistic opinions about the operation. According to official data, the freight trains can move up to 3,500 tons at a time, but the actual transports will not be able to reach the desired capacity for many years. This project, similarly to the light railway system, is failing to meet its original goals, which has quite alarming financial consequences. While the light railway was mainly constructed in order to ease Addis Ababa’s traffic issues, this railway was built in order to help the landlocked country to reach maritime trade routes, and also to import much needed fuel as well in order to boost the economy. Failing to generate income needed to repay the loans might have negative consequences for the ERC and thus on future projects, not to mention the Ethiopian government. At the same time, it is of utmost importance that Ethiopian connectivity – and that of the entire continent – has been developing rapidly in order to bring some more benefits from the global economy and to ease prevailing disparities in the transnational global system, if only by a little. For this reason, China-built infrastructure projects are obviously welcomed by African governments. The frequently asked question, however, will stay with us: Are African agencies equipped to make sound choices about what the best option is, and under what circumstances development should take place? Dr. Istvan Tarrosy, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Pecs, Hungary. He is Director of the Africa Research Centre and Secretary of the Africa Sub-Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Dr. Zoltán Vörös, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor at the University of Pecs, Department of Political Science and International Studies. The Diplomat

DJIBOUTI, Feb 22 (Reuters) – Djibouti has ended a contract with Dubai’s DP World, one of the world’s biggest port operators, to run its Doraleh Container Terminal, the president’s office said on Thursday. “The Republic of Djibouti has decided to proceed with the unilateral termination with immediate effect of the concession contract awarded to DP World,” the office of President Ismail Omar Guelleh said in a statement. A DP World spokesman declined to comment. Last February, the London Court of International Arbitration cleared DP World of all charges of misconduct over a concession to operate the terminal, Dubai’s government said at the time. In 2014, the government of Djibouti lodged claims accusing DP World, majority-owned by the Dubai government, of illegal payments to secure a 50-year concession for the Doraleh Container Terminal, the Dubai government said. The president’s office said the contract was ended after the failure to resolve a long-running dispute between the two parties that started in 2012. It gave no other details on the nature of the dispute, but said it took the decision to protect its “national sovereignty and economic independence.” “It should be noted that the Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT) will now be under the authority of the Doraleh Container Terminal Management Company which is fully owned by the government,” the statement said.

Police arrested Mohamed on February 17 and have been holding him without charge Somaliland authorities should immediately release Mohamed Aabi Digaale, the Hargeisa bureau chief for the London-based broadcaster Universal TV, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police arrested Mohamed on February 17 and have been holding him without charge, Guleid Ahmed Jama, chairperson of the advocacy organization Human Rights Center, and Abdullahi Hersi Kulmiye, the East Africa director of Universal TV, told CPJ. Authorities on February 19 brought Mohamed to court, where he was remanded to the Counter Terrorism Unit for seven more days while investigations continued, Guleid and Abdullahi told CPJ. Mohamed was relocated today to Hargeisa’s central police station, Guleid said. Guleid and Abdullahi separately told CPJ that Mohamed’s arrest was likely related to a February 2 story another Universal TV journalist published about conflict in Somaliland’s Sanaag region. Guleid said that some of the people interviewed for the report complained about police conduct in quelling regional violence. “The arbitrary arrest and detention of Mohamed Aabi Digale, simply because authorities dislike his TV station’s journalism, is outrageous and a violation of justice” said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal in New York. “Somaliland should immediately free the journalist without charge and allow him, as well as his Universal TV colleagues, to work without fear of retaliation.” The arbitrary arrest and detention of Mohamed Aabi Digale, simply because authorities dislike his TV station’s journalism, is outrageous and a violation of justice Somaliland’s deputy police commissioner, Abdirahman Liban Fohle, on February 17 told journalists that Mohamed was arrested because the station had aired a report that was damaging to police, according to a video posted online that was translated and summarized for CPJ. CPJ was unable to determine if Abdirahman was referring to the February 2 story. Abdullahi and Yahye Mohamed, executive director of the Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA), told CPJ that Mohamed had previously written a letter to the Information Ministry apologizing for the February 2 story. Somaliland’s information minister, Abdurrahman Abdullahi Farah, referred CPJ to a ministry spokesperson, Yonis Ali, for comment. Yonis today told CPJ that police informed the Information Ministry that Mohamed’s arrest was not related to his journalism, but to security matters. Yonis declined to elaborate on the nature of the security issues, but said that the controversy associated with the February 2 broadcast had been resolved after the ministry received the apology letter, contradicting Abdirahman Libaan Fohle’s February 17 statement. Abdirahman, the deputy police commissioner, referred CPJ to the police commissioner Abdillahi Fadal Iman for comment. CPJ’s attempts to reach the commissioner on his mobile phone were unsuccessful, and he did not immediately respond to a text message from CPJ today. Mohamed’s arrest is the latest case in a deteriorating and hostile environment for the press in this semi-autonomous region of Somalia. CPJ has documented at least five cases of journalists who were detained in connection with their work in Somaliland since September 2017. During the elections in November 2017, authorities also shut down social media sites. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

MOGADISHU– The deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, HE Mahdi Mohamed Guleid received here on Thursday a high level Turkish delegation led by his counterpart, Turkish deputy Prime Minister, HE Hakan Çavuşoğlu who arrived in Mogadishu on working visit. The Turkish Deputy Prime minister is accompanied by members of Turkish govt and businessmen. Hon. Mahdi has said that Turkey is welcomed with open arms as it is one of the closest friend of Somalia in the world. He said that the remarkable support that Turkey offers Somalia is unforgettable.On his part, HE. Hakan Çavuşoğlu, Turkish PM said that he is happy to visit Somalia and the gist of his trip is to portray to the world that Somalia is peaceful and visitable. He has reiterated that Turkey, a powerful nation in the world in terms of military might is standing by Somalia which is recovering decades of hostilities and civil wars that ravaged the country.The Turkish delegation led by the deputy PM is due to hold high level talks with Somalia’s president, Hon. Farmajo and his Prime Minister, Khaire.

Muqdisho (Caasimadda Online) – Madaxweynihii hore ee Galmudug, horena u soo noqday wasiir C/kariin Xuseen Guuleed ayaa su’aal ka keenay in Soomaaliya ay sanadkii 2017 kaalinta koowaad ka gashay dalalka ugu musuqa badan dunida. C/kariin Guuleed oo ahaa mid ka mida saaxiibadii ugu waaweynaa ee madaxweynihii hore Xasan Sheekh, isla markaana la sheego in xilka madaxweyne ee Galmudug uu ku helay lacag dowladda Soomaaliya ku bixisay ayaa is weydiiyey: War halkee Salaaddu iska qabsan la’dahay!? “Sidaan la waxada socono Barnaamijka Xukuumadda ay soo bandhigtay inay ku hawlgaleyso waxaa aasaas iyo gundhig u ahaa la dagaalka iyo ciribtirka Musuqmaasuqa iyo wax isdabamarsiinta xagga maamulka iyo maaliyadda intaba, meel kasta oo ay madaxda sare ee xukuumaddu ka hadleysayna sanadkii 2017dii waxay khudbadahooda diiradda ku saarayeen arinkaas kor ku xusan, bulshada Soomaaliyeed inteeda badanna arinkaas waa u guuxeen waana soo dhaweeyaan…” ayuu yiri C/kariin Guuleed oo soo xigtay warbixinta Hay’adda International Transparency. Wuxuu sheegay in in Hay,adda Caalamiga ah ee Daahfurnaanta ay warbixin sanadeedkeedii 2017 ku sheegtay in Soomaaliya ay gashay xagga qiimeynta dalalka uu musuqmaasuqu dilooday dalka ugu ugu sareeyo dunida, waliba sanadkii 2017kiina uu noqday mid ka sii musuqmaasuq badan sanadkii ka horeeyay ee 2016-kii. Caasimada Online

HARGEISA– Somaliland President, HE Musa Bihi Abdi chaired a meeting of cabinet ministers which took place at the presidency on Thursday morning. The Vice President also was in attendance. The committee of the council of ministers in charge of national security made a report at the session in which they have suggested the best way forward for the prevention of clan skirmishes which are rampant in Somaliland rural areas. The committee said that the major cause of clashes between clans is the dispute which often arise from the resources sharing be it water, land dispute and other political wrangles that lead to fights. The council of ministers have reiterated that there should be justice for all Somaliland citizens in regard to job opportunities be it public or private. The Head of State has that a priority should be given to work over time for the nation. The following points have been agreed within the council of ministers meeting:- The national security committee of the cabinet was given time to accomplish possible remedies aimed at bringing the deadly inter clan skirmishes to end. As part of giving priority to gender, the council of ministers have agreed to give opportunities to females in Somaliland when it comes to job opportunities particularly to govt ministries and other public agencies should give first priority to women. The council of ministers have endorsed that the Civil Service Commission should arrange a particular way for women to be recruited into the civil service so that they should work in ministries. The outcast clans should also be given their opportunities pertaining to jobs and public officials at federal, regional and district level are urged to comply with the order. Finally, the cabinet have seen the significance of applying the rule of law in order the strengthen good governance.

President Musa Bihi Abdi has appointed representatives, director generals, attorney general and who are going to be part of his new government. The announcement was made by through a presidential decree #JSL/XM/WM/222-43/022018, issued from office of the president. This was made in consultations with the constitution of Somaliland particularly article 90 which gives the president the outright executive power to appoint or fire public officials. Deputy Somaliland representative to Ethiopia, Hon. Ayanle Salad has been moved to be the deputy Representative to Kenya. For the first time since Somaliland’s inception, the new president has named a new representative to the United Nations, a post which newly appointed representative is expected to represent a country which is not recognized by the int’l community. No Name Posts 1. Hon. Osman Sheikh Abdi Sheikh Mohamed Kahin Head of Somaliland Road Development Agency 2. Hon. Mustafe Farah Ali Adan Deputy Head of Road development Agency 3. Hon. Muse Hasan Haji Yusuf Head of Quality and Control Agency 4. Ms. Khadra Haji Ismail Yonis (Khadra Haji Gaydh) Assistant of Quality and Control Agency 5. Hon. Mohamed Ali Bille Gulied Director General of Presidential palace 6. Hon. Ahmed Hasan Egal Sahal Somaliland Representative to Ethiopia 7. Hon. Mohamed Warsame Du’ale Somaliland Representative to the United Nations. 8. Mr. Mohamed Abdikarin Omar Ismaiil (Marshal) Deputy representative to Ethiopia. 9. Mr. Ayanle Salad Dirie Deputy representative to Kenya.

Dowladda Soomaaliya ayaa digniin culus ka soo saartay gaari miinaysan oo ay sheegtay in Al-shabaab soo gelisay magaalada Muqdisho. Wasiirka Amniga Xukuumadda Soomaaliya,Maxammmed Abuukar isloow oo maanta warbixin siiyay shirkii Golaha Wasiirada, ayaa sheegay in magaalada Muqdisho uu ku jiro gaari nooca NOAH oo Al-shabaab qaraxyo ku soo rartay,islamarkaana loo ekaysiiyay gawaarida shirkadda Sahal ee ka shaqeeya garoonka diyaaaradaha Aadan Cadde. Isloow ayaa sheegay in Al-shabaab doonayaan weerarro qorshaysan oo ay ka geystaan goobaha muhiimka ah ee ku yaalla magaalada Muqdisho,wuxuuna shacabka ugu baaqay in ay ka digtoonaadaan,haddii ay arkaan gawaari ay ka shakiyanna ay hay’adaha amniga u soo gudbiyaan. Wasiirka ayaa ciidamada Amniga ee magaalada Muqdisho ku amray in ay deg deg ah gacanta ugu soo dhigaan gaarigaas,si umadda looga badbaadiyo dhibaatadiisa. PUNTLAND POST The post Dowladda Soomaaliya oo ka digtay gaari miinaysan oo Muqdisho la soo geliyay. appeared first on Puntland Post.

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali children suspected of links to the Islamist insurgency are being held in adult jails where they are vulnerable to abuse, and tried in military courts, Somali families said, backing up allegations in a human rights report. Source: Hiiraan Online

Madaxweynaha dowladda Puntland, Mudane. Cabdiweli Maxammed Cali(Gaas) ayaa maanta amar ku bixiyay in la ilaaliyo hantida dowladda ee u dhexaysa umadda reer Puntland. Madaxweyne Gaas oo hadal ka jeediyay shirkii maanta ee Golaha Wasiirada ayaa ku adkeeyay dhammaan mas’uuliyiinta dowladda in ay xil iska saaraan ilaalinta hantida umadda,gaar ahaanna gaadiidka GD,sida ku xusan qoraal ka soo baxay Xarunta Madaxtooyada Puntland. Hadalka madaxweynaha ayaa ku soo beegmaya,iyadoo Puntland ay gelinayso xilli kala guur ah,islamarkaana ay mudadii xil hayntiisa ka hartay wax ka yar sannad. Dhinaca kale madaxweyne Gaas ayaa Wasaaradda Ganacsiga Puntland u sheegay in ganacsatada iyo shacabka Puntland loo sameeeyo wacyi-gelin guud oo ku saabsan khatarta iyo waxyeellada badeecadaha dhacay u leeyihiin bulshada. Mudane. Gaas ayaa sidoo kale bogaadiyay hawlgalkii ciidanka dowladda Puntland ka fuliyeen magaalada Boosaaso ee lagu fashiliyay dhagartii argagixisada Al-shabaab u maleegayeen shacabka ku nool magaaladaasi. PUNTLAND POST The post Madaxweyne Gaas oo amar ku bixiyay in la ilaaliyo hantida Umadda Puntland. appeared first on Puntland Post.

NAIROBI, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Ethiopia has released more than 1,500 prisoners in its eastern Somali region, government officials said on social media, days after the government declared a state of emergency to try to tamp down unrest in Africa’s second most populous nation. Source: Hiiraan Online

Wasiirkii hore ee Maaliyadda Somaliland Samzam Cabdi Aadan ayaa ka dagtay magaalada Muqdisho, kadib markii la sheegay inay malaayiin dollar ka dhaceen ganacsato degaan ahaan ka soo jeeda koonfurta Soomaaliya iyo kuwo Ajnabi ah, sida ay qorayaan warbaahinada Hargeyysa. Samsam Cabdi Aadan ayaa ganacsi kula jirtay ganacsato South African ah iyo ganacsato Soomaali ah oo ka soo jeeda koonfurta Somaliya kuwaas oo Share ku ahaa shirkado ganacsade oo wadamada Geeska Africa ka shaqeeya. Ragga ganacsatada ah ee Soomaalida warbixintu waxay sheegaysaa inay ehel dhaw yihiin Madaxweynaha Mamulka Galmudug Axmed Ducaale Geelle Xaaf taas oo la sheegayo inay Samsam ugu tagtay Ergo Ahaaan. Puntlandi.com

Muqdisho (PP) ─ Wafdi uu hoggaaminayo Ra’iisul Wasaare ku xigeenka dalka Turkiga, Hakan Çavuşoğlu ayaa goor-dhow soo gaaray Magaalada Muqdisho ee xarunta Somalia, waxaana si weyn u soo dhaweeyay xubno ka tirsan dowladda Soomaaliya. Mas’uuliyiinta Dowladda ee soo dhaweeyay wafdigan ayaa waxaa hor-kacayay Ra’iisal Wasaare ku-xigeenka Somalia, Mahdi Maxamed Guuleed, iyagoo sheegay in booqashadan ay qayb ka tahay xoojinta xiriirka labada waddan. Soo -dhoweyn kaddib, Ra’iisal wasaare ku-xigeenka Turkiga ayaa booqanaya Saldhiga Militari ee Turkiga uu ku tababaro ciidamada Somalia ee ku yaalla deegaanka Jazeera ee duleedka Muqdisho. Dhanka kale, Ra’iisul wasaare ku-xigeenka Turkiga ayaa inta uu ku sugan Muqdisho la kulmi doono madaxda Dowladda Somalia, isagoo kala hadlaya xiriirka labada waddan iyo sidii loo xoojin lahaa. Ugu dambeyn, Dalka Turkiga ayaa ah saaxiibka ugu dhaw Somalia, waxaana si joogto ah Somalia u timaadda diyaaradda Turkish Airways, taasoo xuddun u ahayd xiriirka Somaia iyo Turkiga. PUNTLAND POST The post Ra’iisul Wasaare xigeenka Turkiga iyo Wafdi uu Hoggaaminayo oo soo gaaray Muqdisho appeared first on Puntland Post.

Muqdisho (Caasimadda Online) _ Wasaaradda Amniga Xukuumadda Soomaaliya ayaa sheegtay in Magaalada Muqdisho uu ku dhex jiro Gaari walxa Qarxa sida oo la doonayo in loo adeegsado Qarxin goobo mucayin ah. Wasaaradda ayaa maanta shirkii Golaha Wasiirada ka sheegtay in Gaari nooca NOAH oo loo ekeyiisay Gaadiidka Shirkadda Sahal ee Muqdisho, kaasoo laga soo buuxiyey waxyaabaha qarxa, iyadoo ay ku daba jiraan ciidamada amniga magaalada Muqdisho. Laamaha amaanka ayaa ku daba jira Gaarigaasi Noah-da ah ee ay ku jiraan walxaha qarxa sida uu sheegay siihayahay xilka Wasiirka Warfaafinta sidoo kalena ah ku xigeenka wasiirkaas C/Raxmaan Iidaan Yoonis oo kulankii wasiirrada u aqrinayay Warbaahinta ayaa shacabka Muqdisho u sheegay in ay is ilaaliyaan. Laamaha amaanka ayaa la sheegay inay isha ku hayaan Gaarigaasi ee ay ku jiraan, sida lagu sheegay qoralkii kasoo baxay shirka golaha wasiirada oo uu akhriyey Wasiir ku xigeenka wasiirka Warfaafinta C/raxmaan Iidaan Yoonis. Waa markii ugu horeysay ee Wasaaradda Amniga ay shaaciso gaari lagu daba jiro oo leh astaamo shirkad ganacsi oo ka howlgasha Garoonka Diyaaradaha Muqdisho. Kulanka Golaha Wasiirrada ee maanta oo ka mid ahaa kulamada todobaadlayaasha ayaa warbixinno looga dhegeystay Wasiirrada Xukuumadda Soomaaliya. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho Caasimada@live.com The post Wasaaradda Amniga: “Gaari Qarax sida oo loo ekeyiisay Gaadiidka Shirkadda Sahal ayaa ku jira Muqdisho..” appeared first on Caasimada Online.

Somaliland’s Government perceives it as an opportunity to gain recognition; Somalia’s Federal Government, on the other hand, envisages recognition as a process of tearing the ‘Somali Republic’ apart. Whatever the myths surrounding any rational decision, the world is watching to see whether Somalis mend or break the fence that has divided them for decades. Somalis are anxious to dust off their tarnished name which has been associated with countless ills. So far the financial and political efforts paid to bring a ‘Somali Republic’ from the ruins we have all lived through for the last two generations have not yielded better results. The optimism is still alive though. However, will resumed Somaliland-Somalia talks, scheduled to take place in the mid-March, be a great stride towards bringing an era of darkness to an end? The question of how the talks began dates back to early 2012 when the London Conference on Somalia, held at Lancaster House on 23 February resulted in a communiqué. This document raised ‘the need for the international community to support any dialogue that Somaliland and Somalia’ may concur to define their future collaboration. Somalia Minister for Interior (L) shaking hands with Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs (R), Ankara ©AA Since then, nine rounds of talks have been held away from Somali soil. Sadly, none of the negotiations has brought about any considerable change on the course, let alone respecting the essential agreements such as the control and management of Somali airspace. It is thus apparent that the talks were neither inclusive nor comprehensive. Critics believe that the drive for the dialogue did not come from Somalis themselves. Like previous reconciliation meetings, the endeavour was engineered outside of Somali circles. Thus they lacked the ownership from the onset, and as such, it is believed, that the political architect did not reflect the fundamental priorities on the ground. As a result, both sides accepted the proposals not merely to solve their differences but rather to please the ‘big’ donors, whose interest in this process is not obvious. Selling the Somaliland Cake It is time Somaliland should put up its cake for sale to the world. This is the statement the ordinary Somaliland citizens will tell you based on the assertion that Somaliland’s state apparatus is complete. They claim the constitutional referendum, and ‘one-man-one-vote’ polls were peacefully conducted and, consequently, three presidents have been elected via ballots. Somaliland’s democratic credentials, nevertheless, go far further than a presidential election – the whole set up of the legislative and executive, the capability to model culturally evolved structures with Western-style voting is not heralded anywhere near enough. The development of accountability frameworks moving beyond superficial voting where elites manipulate information is a key achievement itself. It is also known for its good record of observing the rule of law and accepting international codes of practice. Unfortunately, the international community has not paid attention to Somaliland’s remarkable home-grown accomplishments other than a polite diplomatic nod. With this background in mind, many Somalilanders have little or no knowledge of what is on the table. What triggered the sudden shift of Somaliland foreign policy towards holding talks with a Somali government that does not have legal representation and full control over Somalia, when in fact the political context in Somalia is still a failed state, rings an alarm bell. Somaliland public is worried whether their cause for self-determination will be undermined as with the former union in 1960 when elites made deals for themselves without due reference back to the people. The result, as before, Somaliland will fall into traps without prior consensus and proper groundwork. The opponents can translate the recent conversion as ‘Somaliland’s commitment to independence’ is revocable. If so, then it materialises that the final course of the talks will be pre-determined on the concept that it could result either in a mutually satisfactory form of merger or an agreeable divorce. Somalia no longer has the appetite Somaliland’s quest for an independent state is a slap in the face of the Federal Government of Somalia. Mogadishu administrations, as they have repetitively contended, are not ready to open a Pandora’s Box and the conviction that they hold the Somali unity at heart remains the ‘most divisive and emotive’ dimension of the talks. What is Somali unity? A return to the chasing of the five points on the star of the flag? The government undoubtedly claims sovereignty over the entire territory of the former Somali Republic, including Somaliland. It is false consciousness which might bring matters to a head. Their foot-dragging reactions on the talks are meant to spoil the diplomatic atmosphere and fail the entire process. ‘At a crossroads’ Neither side has given the talks the essential weight they deserved. Their lack of sincerity and seriousness made the past negotiations bear no fruits. Although it is understood they are both struggling with the economic and political predicaments at the moment, the Federal Government of Somalia does not appear to have any particular enthusiasm for the talks as the security challenges have overwhelmed them. The political setting in the Horn of Africa may also be unconducive to successful talks. ‘Somali Unity’ is an issue of a political sensitivity which, it is presumed, the neighbouring countries will not be candid about given the historical implications this has had in the Horn of Africa. Some critics consider keeping the status-quo could serve as a temporary solution till the political dust settles. As such or because of the fact, the notion of the talks between Mogadishu and Hargeisa offers a cursorily reasonable method of addressing the question of Somali Unity. In practice, Somalia will talk the talk but will not walk the walk. Somaliland, on the other side, is unwilling to commit itself to such political risk because they are unsure of the integrity of their negotiating partners. Nonetheless, both sides have no audacity to face each other, except possibly to demonstrate the futility of dialogue. For a meaningful conclusion to be reached, it is proposed the new leadership in Somaliland and Somalia, Presidents Muse Bihi and Farmajo respectively, must be genuine about the talks and put their diplomatic egos in the background. A neutral third party, who has no stake in the procedure, should be invited by both sides to make sure the talks are fruitful. Abdikadir D. Askar is a Chevening Scholar from Somaliland pursuing an MA Conflict, Governance and Development at the University of York.

By Dr. Hussein Mohamed Nur Who were the culprits? Crimes against humanity are deliberate acts taken as part of a systematic campaign that accuses human suffering or death on a large scale. Crimes against humanity are any specific acts deliberately committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian or against an identifiable part of a civilian population. For the first time between 20 November 1945 and 1 October 1946, the Nuremberg trials were held for prosecutions of war criminals (the prosecutions of prominent Nazi Germany politicians, political, judicial and economic leadership). However, recently the International Court of Justice (ICJ) made prosecutions through the International Criminal Tribunal and International Court of Justice for the former Yugoslavia. The law of crimes against humanity has primarily developed through the evolution of customary international law. Unlike war crimes and genocide, crimes against humanity are not codified in an international convention as yet. But there is currently an on-going international effort to establish a treaty. This is led by an initiative on crimes against humanity. The crimes against humanity include torture, extermination, prosecution, ethnic cleansing against identified groups on political, racial, ethnic, national grounds etc. In the 1980s crimes against humanity, acts were committed in a widespread manner and systematic attacks against the civilian population in Somaliland. The acts took place before and during the eruption of the war in the North (Somaliland). As many as 50,000 (though other estimates show that about 200,000 civilians – men, women, elderly and children) were killed indiscriminately. “Almost everybody is missing a relative”, as remarked by the Chairman of the Somaliland Investigation of War Crimes Commission (WCIC), Kadar Ahmed ‘Like’. The conflict in the North formally ended when Somaliland withdrew from its union with Somalia. But the perpetrators and culprits (war criminals) who committed the heinous crimes against humanity are still at large at the present. Though many of the officers of the previous dictatorial regime were killed in fighting in the North, others are alive either in exile as refugees like the brutal Colonel Awes Geddow (who shelled Hargeisa mercilessly) ‘the destroyer of Hargeisa’ and General Mohamed Said Hersi ‘Morgan’, ‘the butcher of Hargeisa,. General Mohamed Ali Samatar, the ‘architect and destructor’ of the North, passed away recently in the USA (buried in Mogadishu’s Defence Headquarters). Colonel Mohamed Ali Barre ‘Canjeex’, the executioner of more than 50 young professionals and students at the Gezira beach (previous part), is still changing domiciliary homes and residential countries in the diaspora (Kenya, Syria, lately Saudi Arabia etc.). Colonel Yusuf Ali ‘Tuke’, ‘the butcher of Gabiley and Arabsiyo’ in the 1980s, resides in the USA and waiting for prosecution the same pattern as General Samatar. Many others are known to have been involved in massacres and directing genocidal acts of civilians well before and during the conflict in the north. They are now being haunted by the nightmares of their past inhumane crimes and genocidal histories. General Mohamed Ali Samatar, a long time fugitive war-criminal, was identified by US citizens, the plaintiffs, of Somaliland origin who managed to bring him to the law and successfully prosecuted him in the US Court of Justice, the case of (Yousuf v Samatar) which had a long-term history in the US courts having went through battles in all the courts of the US, i.e., District Court, the court of Appeals and finally through to the Supreme Court. The case was initiated in 2010, in accordance with the Federal Law. The Court of Justice informed the defendant that he could only appeal to the General Defence Law of the country. After fighting the case for a considerable length of time, Samatar finally buckled and gave up accepting liability before Judge Leonie Brinkema, a US Federal Judge, for torture, extra-judicial killing, war crimes, and other human rights abuses committed against the civilian population during the regime of Siyad Barre. The lawsuit was finally concluded in the US Courts. Senator Patrick Leahy, the lead Democratic sponsor of the Torture Victims Protection Act (TVPA) spoke in support of upholding the importance of the human rights law and, therefore, to bring any other suspect with regards to this issue to court. Apart from Bashe Abdi Yusuf (Bashe Abdi yare) and his colleagues, there still are other surviving culprits of the widespread and systematic campaign of human rights violations carried out under the General’s tenure in office. (The article continues below)

The author changed the title of this article from “Will K-2 be different then K-1” giving them the benefit of the doubt. Hence then there were some positive actions, emanated from K-2 administration. It was mainly ‘houses cleaning’ just cleaning some of the enormous fraud left by K-1? The people cautiously welcomed this move in spite. This optimism did not last longer after the SDF- so called Somaliland Development Fund appeared from Dubai. This newly serviced SDF thing created a lot of suspicion and controversy. Some people even call this- “Somaliland in the Auction block”. Others call this as “money laundering Scam.”Some characterized the whole thing as treasonous act committed by K-1. Many people voiced their frustration against K-2 accused them by saying that if they are not part of the Scam they should take action by expelling Morgan and sa,ad! That is said, this SDF thing needs an honest explanation. Where is “draining the swamp mantra”? People are wondering! On the optics side of things so far not bad as far as K-2 administration is concerned; aside from the recently serviced secret companies run by Somaliland oligarch, known corrupted individuals and embezzlers of all time who are still in K-2’s administration! Kulmiye- 2’s effort to drain Kullmiye-1’s swamp is so far not there despite its superficial otherwise selective move from here and there! If K-2 succeeds to undo what K-1 has done to Somaliland, which is recovering and bringing back what has been embezzled, ransacked and stolen from the poor people of Somaliland and send perpetrators to jail they will get the blessing of Allah and that of the people. However and after all that good effort and even if K-2 succeeds in this praiseworthy effort of cleaning their house left by K-1 they only put Somaliland where K-1 took over power from Riyale’s administration! Although it is good if they do this, nonetheless, real work was not done because nothing was moved. Nothing new happened thereafter. Things were brought back where they were before K-1 assumed power! Still people will support K-2 by merely un-doing the havoc K-1 has dome to Somaliland. Their new effort to right the wrongs K-1 did is going on; assuming they are digging out Somaliland from the deep Hole K-1 dumped Somaliland people and country. In physics, work is done only when force is applied to an object and the object is moved through a distance. Here in Kulmiye 2 real work will be done when and only after kulmikye 2 debugs the evil deeds Kulmiye-1 has done to Somaliland and do more, nevertheless this job may take the whole period of President Musa’s tenure. Kulmiye 1 has dug a black hole for Somaliland which extended for seven years. If Kulmiey 2 honestly wants to undo what Kulmiy- 1 has done and start the un-digging, they still did not do any work for Somaliland! The house cleaning Kulmiye 2 has started is just that, cleaning their dirt. If and when they did that then real work may or may not start! What a dilemma we are all in. that is said, let us give them a time to do what they are supposed to do while watching them like a Hawk. Let us give them the time needed. Let us give them the benefit of the doubt. We can do that, don’t we? Will Kulmiye-two Gaslight people as Kulmiye-1, the Mother, did? Gas-lighting is a psychological phenomenon. It is a form of manipulation which persuades you that what you see is not what actually you see and what you hear is not what you hear! These are not the reality. The reality is what I or we tell you! “It is a form of manipulation to an individual or a group hoping to make them question their own perception and sanity. It is a tactic in which a person or entity make them question their reality in order to gain more power” {Wikipedia} it works! It worked for Kulmiye 1! And most likely K-2 may tempt or may not tempt to pursue gas lighting! Any one is susceptible to Gas lighting let alone the divisive clan ridden poor Somalis in Somaliland and everywhere. Will Kulmiye-2 be susceptible to Dunning-Kruger effect as K-1 was! Will they Replicate or Save themselves and Somaliland from this phenomenon? Well, the more travelled road is easier to travel than the less travelled road. Well, we shall see. Siilanyo’s collection-{ government personnel,} hopelessly suffered “Dunning-Kruger effect!.” it is a cognitive bias. In the field of psychology Dunning–Kruger effect is when people of low ability assess their ability as greater than what it is. They suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly assessing their cognitive ability as greater than what it is. Boasting that they know everything when they know little or nothing! “the miss-calibration of the incompetent stems from an error about the self. {From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia} Moreover, let the government and the opposition each do its designated work for Somaliland and not for self unlike what K-1did! Ibrahim Mohamed Mead Ottawa, Canada meadgd@gmail.com However, peace and prayers. Note: Muj. Mohamed Kahin, hosted a dinner to a group of people who reside or resided in Imperial Hotel Hargeisa for the occasion of been nominated as Minister of Interior. The author was among those invited. In that occasion the author reminded the new Minister that “unified fore is the right way to move Somaliland forward” the author also asked him to pass this messages to the new President, ,Mr.Beexi. Mr.Kahin seemed that he understood the essence of the author’s message which was “Unite the people by listening them and by addressing their concern.”

Jigjiga—The President of Somali state in Ethiopia, His Excellency, Abdi Mohamoud Omar, has ordered today the release of 1500 prisoners. Most of those political prisoners including the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) members who were in detention at Jail Ogaden, the most notorious state prison who will receive their liberty through the general amnesty offered by the regional state president, Abdi iley. The move taken by the president coincided with Ethiopia’s Federal Govt which has released 700 inmates including high profile prisoners who were detained for political cases. The pardoned prisoners had been sentenced to jail terms for a variety of offences. The pardon comes within the framework of the keenness of the President to give the pardoned prisoners a chance to start a new life, and alleviate the suffering of their families. The Ogaden National Liberation Front is a separatist rebel group fighting for the right to self-determination for Somalis in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The ONLF, established in 1984, demands for the autonomy of this region and has claimed responsibility for several attacks since the beginning of 1994 aimed at Ethiopian forces in the area, which the government considers a region under the new federal system. The Somali state in Ethiopia commenced talks with Ogden National Liberation Front (ONLF) in order to end the long standing armed conflict in the region.

Shirkii Golaha Xukuumadda Dawladda Puntland oo uu shir-guddoominayey Madaxweynaha Dawladda Puntland Dr. Cabdiweli Maxamed Cali Gaas, ayaa waxaa looga hadlay arimaha, Amniga Dalka, Habka Hubinta Badeecadaha, Ilaalinta Gaadiidka Dawladda gaar Gaadiidka G D ah. Xaaladda Amniga Dalka: Golaha xukuumadda Dawladda Puntland ayaa warbixin ka dhageystay wasaaradda amniga Puntland, isla markaana wuxuu Madaxweynuhu si gaar u bogaadiyay ciidankii hawl-galka ka fuliyay Degmada Boosaaso oo ka hortagay xubno Al-shabaab ah oo doonayay inay dhibaateeyaan shacabka Puntland iyo ciidanka Booliiska Puntland. Habka Hubinta Badeecahada: Golaha Xukuumadda Dawladda Puntland ayaa ka dhageystay warbixin wasaaradda Ganacsigga Puntland qaabka hubinta tayada iyo bad-qadka dhammaan baddeecadaha dalka soo gelaya si looga ilaaliyo shacabka Puntland qatarta iyo waxyeelada baddeecaha dalka la soo gelinayo, waxayna wasaaraddu caddeysay in hannaanka tayo dhowr Puntland uu la mid yahay hannaanka tayo dhowrka Barigga Africa, sidoo kale wuxuu Madaxweynuhu u sheegay Wasaaradda in loo sameeyo shacabka iyo ganacsatada-ba wacyigelin guud oo ku saabsan khatarta iyo waxyeelada badeecaha dhacay ama sumaysan ay u geysanayaan caafimaadka bulshada. Ilaalinta Gaadiidka Dawladda ee G D ah: Golaha xukuumadda Dawladda Puntland ayaa ku dheeraaday ilaalinta hantida Umadda gaar ahaan gaadiidka G D ah, wuxuuna Madaxweynuhu ku adkeeyay dhammaan golaha inay mas’uuliyad saaran tahay golaha xukuumadda ilaalinta dhammaan hantida Dawladda.

Muqdisho (Caasimadda Online) – Inkastoo ay horey u fashiltamatay isku day lagu doonayo inay isku arkaan madaxweynaha Soomaaliya Maxamed Cabdullaahi Farmaajo iyo Guddoomiyihii hore ee Gobolka Banaadir Thaabit Cabdi Maxamed ayaa haddana wararka hadda soo baxayo waxay sheegayaan in arrintaas dib loo soo cusbooneysiiyey. La taliyaha Madaxweynaha ee dhanka Siyaasadda Maxamed Axmed Nuur (Tarsan) ayaa hadda wado olole cusub oo lagu doonayo in lagu heshiisiiyo Madaxweyne Farmaajo iyo Guddoomiyihii xilka laga qaaday. Tarsan oo xiriir dhanka Taleefoonka ah la sameeyey Guddoomiyihii hore ee Thaabit oo ku sugan dalka Turky ayaa ka codsaday inuu aqbalo inuu la kulmo Madaxweyne Farmaajo si looga wada hadlo xiisadda taagan iyo sidii uu Thaabit ula shaqeyn lahaa dowladda Farmaajo. Thaabit Cabdi Maxamed ayaa la kulanka Madaxweyne Farmaajo ku xiray shardi ah in Madaxweynaha la waydiiyo sababta keentay inuu ka baxo ballantii ay wada galeyn inta aan la dooran oo aheyd in Gobolka Banaadir loo sameeyo Maqaam isla markaasna arrintaas looga dambeeyo Thaabit. Thaabit ayaa ku doodayo in isaga laga gardaran yahay isla markaasna looga baxay ballantaas uuna doonayo in arrintaas wax laga waydiiyo Madaxweyne Farmaajo. Tarsan iyo xubno kale ayaa la kulmay markaas kadib Madaxweynaha waxayna waydiiyey su’aashii uu Thaabit usoo dhiibay, wuxuuna Madaxweynaha sheegay inay sax tahay ballantaas lala galay Thaabit, Balse uu isaga deg deg ka dhig wixii dhan xilli ay saaran yihiin culeysyo badan. Sidoo kale Madaxweyne Farmaajo ayaa sheegay inay weli ka go’an tahay inuu Thaabit noqdo qofka kaliya ee keeni doono Maqaamka Gobolka Banaadir, wuxuuna codsaday in si deg deg ah loo kulansiiyo labadooda. Thaabit ayaa la filayaa inuu maalmaha soo socdo soo gaaro Magaalada Muqdisho, waxaana la qorsheenayaa inay labada dhinac yeeshaan kulamo xasaasi ah oo lagu xalinayo waxyaabaha taagan si meesha looga saaro mugdiyada jiro. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho Caasimada@live.com The post Dadaal lagu doonayo in lagu heshiisiiyo Farmaajo iyo Thaabit oo socdo iyo Guddoomiyihii hore oo shardi adag ku xiray appeared first on Caasimada Online.

Displaced by drought and conflict, rural Somalis have been heading to Mogadishu in their tens of thousands. They get no safety or support and are increasingly targeted for forced evictions, but they are still coming. Source: Hiiraan Online

Ra’iisul Wasaaraha Xukuumadda Soomaaliya Mudane Xasan Cali Khayre ayaa maanta ka qayb galay munaasabad si heer sare ah loo soo agaasimay oo loogu dabaal dagayay xuska sannad guuradii 48-aad ee ka soo wareegtay maalintii la aas-aasay Ciidanka Asluubta Soomaaliyeed. Ra’iisul Wasaare Kayre ayaa salaan sharaf ka qaatay cutubyo ka tirsan Ciidanka Asluubta Soomaaliya, salaan sharafeed ka dibna waxaa Ra’iisul Wasaaraha la soo tusay dhismaha cusub ee taliska guud Ciidanka Asluubta ee KM7, iyadoo uu halkaa kaga dhagaystay warbixin taliyihii hore iyo taliyaha cusub, waxayna sheegayn in dib u dhiska xaruntan ay gacan wayn ka gaysteen ganacsatada Soomaaliyeed iyadoo uu dhismaha ka kooban yahay 93 xafiis iyo 3 hool oo loogu tala galay in lagu qabto shirarka caadiga ah iyo xafladaha. Ra’iisul Wasaaraha Soomaaliya ayaa ugu horayntii tahniyad u diray dhammaan Ciidanka Asluubta Soomaaliyeed meel walbo ay joogaan, wuxuuna sheegay in Ciidanka Asluubta ay ka mid yihiin tiirarka uu ku taagan yahay qaranku, ayna ka qayb qaataan difaaca dalka iyo xaaladaha deg deg ah. Sidoo kale waxuu timaamay in ciidanka Asluubta waajibaadkiisa uusan ahayn oo kaliya ilaalinta iyo daryeelka maxaabiista, balse ay ka qayb qaataan horumarinta iyo dhaqan celinta bulshadda. “Waxaa muuqda horumar iyo yididiilo, lix bilood ka hor halkan waxay ahayd meel cidlo ah, maantana waxaan Indhaheena ku aragnaa billicda ka muuqata xaruntan, taasna waxaa sabab u ah isku tashiga shacabka Soomaaliyeed oo kaashanaya dawladoodda.” Ayuu yiri Ra’iisul Wasaare Khayre. Ra’isul Wasaaraha Soomaaliya Xasan Cali Khayre ayaa mar kale bogaadiyay ciidan Asluubta iyo doorka ay ku leeyihiin wax qabadka dalka, wuxuuna ku wargaliyay in ay dar-dar galiyaan howsha ay ummadda u hayaan. Waxuu kaloo dadka Soomaaliyeed u sheegay in ay iyagu dowladnimadda ay gacantooda ku jirto, aayaha iyo mustaqbalka ubadkoodana ay ka tashadaan.

Baardheere (Caasimadda Online) – Wararka laga helaayo Degmada Baardheere ee Gobolka Gedo ayaa sheegaay in degmadaas ay ku dagaalameen Ciidamo Itoobiyaan ah iyo Al-shabaab oo weerar ku soo qaaday saldhig ciidamada Itoobiya ay ku leeyihiin afaafka hore ee garoonka diyaaradaha ee Degmada baardheere ee Gobolkaas Gedo. Dagaalkan ayaa waxaa la isku adeegsaday hubka noocyadiisa kala duwan, iyadoona dhawaqa rasaasta si aad ah looga maqlayay xaafadaha kala duwan ee degmadaasi. Dagaalka ayaa ka dambeeyay, markii Al-Shabaab ay dhowr jiho ka weerartay saldhig ciidamada Itoobiya ku lahaayeen garoonka diyaaradaha Baardheere, waxaana dagaalka uu qaatay saacado. Wararka ayaa sheegaya in dagaalamayaasha Al-Shabaab ay dhowr jiho ka weerareen garoonka diyaaradaha, balse ciidamada Itoobiya ayaa iska difaacay weerarka, waxaana labada dhinac isu adeegsadeen hub culus. Dadka ku nool Baardheere ayaa sheegaya inay maqlayeen madaafiicda iyo qoryaha noocyadooda kala duwan oo la isu adeegsanayay, inkastoo garoonka diyaaradaha uu ku yaallo meel banaanka ka ah Baardheere, ma jirto khasaare dadka rayidka ka soo gaaray dagaalkii xalay. Majiraan faafaahin intaas dhaafsiisan oo ka soo baxeysa dagaalkaasi, marka laga reebo Al-shabaab oo baraha warkooda ay ku faafiyaan ku soo qoray in dagaalkaas ay guula ka gaareen, dhanka saraakiisha ciidamada la weeraray ee Itoobiya ayaa ka hadlin dagaalkaasi iyo khasaaraha ka soo gaaray dhankooda. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho Caasimada@live.com The post Wararkii ugu dambeeyay Al-Shabaab oo weerar culus ku qaaday Saldhigga Ciidamada Itoobiya ee garoonka diyaaradaha Baardheere appeared first on Caasimada Online.