Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur Warsame Wararka naga soo gaaraya magaalada Muqdisho ayaa tibaaxaya in daqiiqado yar ka hor wakhtiga magaalada Muqdishu markuu ahaa 11:40 habeen xoriyadiisa dib u helay Siyaasiga Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur Warsame oo labdii maalmood ee ugu danbeeyey u xirnaa madaxda dalka ugu sareeya. Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur ayaa caawa lagu wareejiyey 40 xubnood ka tirsan Odayaasha dhaqanka ee Beelaha Hawiye,kuwaas oo si adag u dalbaday in xoriyadiisa shakhsiga ah loo soo celiyo Siyaasiga Somaaliyeed ee Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur Warsame, iyagoo kulan ay la qateen maanta Raisal Wasaaraha Dalka Mudane Xasan Cali Kheyre ay u sheegeen in aanu Cabdirxamaan wax denbi ah qaranka ka gelin, lakiin uu u xiran yahay fikirkiisa siyaasiga ah oo kaliya. Xariga Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur ayaa magaalada Muqdisho ku soo kordhiyey khalkhal iyo culeys siyaasadeed iyo mid amni

MOGADISHU, Dec 20 (Reuters) – Some Somali lawmakers said on Wednesday they plan to impeach the president in a mounting political crisis that could put the fledgling government on a violent collision course with one of the country’s most powerful clans. The political turmoil endangers fragile gains against the Islamist al Shabaab insurgency and could derail the government of President Mohamed Abdullahi. Universally known by his nickname “Farmajo”, the dual U.S.-Somali citizen took power earlier this year in a U.N.-backed process. The Horn of Africa state’s parliament adjourned last week until the end of February, but some legislators want it to reconvene on an emergency basis, lawmaker Mahad Salad told Reuters. “Ninety-six lawmakers have asked the speaker to reopen the session so that the impeachment against the president kicks off. The president is accused of violation of the constitution, treason, destruction of the federal states and so on,” he said. The letter had not yet been delivered to the speaker. There are 275 lawmakers and two-thirds would have to vote against the president to impeach him. The motion follows a deadly raid on Sunday on the home of an opposition leader, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, who ran for the presidency against Farmajo. Somali security agents arrived at his house around midnight and engaged his guards in a firefight, killing five people. The minister of security said Warsame resisted arrest and he would be charged with treason. He appeared in court on Tuesday but no warrant was shown for his arrest, a witness said. A Wednesday court hearing was postponed until Thursday. The information minister did not return calls seeking comment. A statement from the security minister and attorney general said they were “investigating the crimes of Somalis who were involved in treason, terror and the destruction of government systems”. POWERFUL CLAN Warsame comes from Somalia’s formidable Habar Gidir clan, which is spread across south-central Somalia. Although both his supporters and the government stress that his detention is political, rather than a clan issue, it will further sour relations between the two sides. If that sparks fighting it could split Somalia’s security forces, which are composed mostly of clan-based militias. In September, a battle between the police, intelligence, and military killed nine people in Mogadishu’s Habar Gidir district. “It’s a lose-lose situation for the government. If they pursue this, they face a showdown with the Habar Gidir, who are powerful, wealthy and well-armed and provide many units in the SNA,” said a Somalia security analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity, referring to the Somali National Army. “If they back down, they look weak. It’s very hard to see how the administration could survive this crisis.” In August, a joint U.S.-Somali raid in the town of Bariire killed 10 Habar Gidir members. The U.S. military said they were Islamist militants but clan elders said they were civilians. In May, a soldier accidentally killed the minister of public works in a case of mistaken identity. A Habar Gidir clan member, the soldier was sentenced to death, angering clan members who felt that blood money should have been accepted. POLITICAL PROBLEMS Somalia’s new government has won plaudits from diplomats for trying to assess the extent of mismanagement and corruption in the armed forces and the International Monetary Fund has praised it for fiscal reforms. But at home, the government has many problems. It has hired and fired a string of top security officials. Al Shabaab militants, skilled at exploiting clan divisions, stepped up a campaign of deadly bombings in Mogadishu. One October bomb killed more than 500 people. A split between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, both of which have supported Somali factions, has fuelled a spat between the president and leaders of Somalia’s regional administrations, damaging security cooperation. This month, the U.S. government announced it was suspending aid to most of the military over accountability concerns. Now many parliamentarians are angry that a government that promotes itself as reformist is arresting critics like Warsame, said Abdirizak Mohamed, a lawmaker and former security minister. “MPs are concerned about freedom of expression and association. This was an unnecessary crisis when they already had a lot on their plate.” (writing by Katharine Houreld; editing by Mark Heinrich)

Dowladda Soomaliya ayaa goor dhoweyd dammaanad ku sii daysay Siyaasi cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakur Warsame oo Habeenkii Axadda lagu soo qabtay weerar ay Ciidanka Nabad Sugidda Soomaaliya ku qaadeen gurigiisa. Go’aanka Dowladda Soomaaliya ayaa yimid kadib markii magaalada Muqdisho laga dareemay kacdoon ka dhan ah madaxweyne Farmaajo oo ay horkacayan xildhibaanno iyo siyaasiyiin ka soo jeeda Beesha uu ka dhashay cabdiraxmaan cabdishakuurs,sida aan xogta ku helnay. Madaxweynayaasha maamul goboleedyada Galmudug iyo Hirshabeelle ayaa xukuumadda Soomaaliya ka dalbaday in ay siidayso Siyaasigaan si loo qaboojo kacdoonka Beesha uu ka dhashay oo la sheegay in ay ciidamo urursi bilowday. Dhinaca kale Guddoomiyaha gobolka Banaadir Taabit Cabdi Maxammed oo kulan la qaatay odoyaasha dhaqanka Beesha uu ka soo jeedo Cabdiraxmaan cabdishakuur ayaa ku qanciyey in ay xaaladda dejiyaan oo ay qayb ka noqdaan wada-xaajoodka markii dambe lagu siidaayey Siyaasiga. Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakur ayaa loo haystay dacwad ku saabsan qiyaano qaran,waxaana shalay la soo taagay maxkamad ku taalla magaalada Muqdisho,laakiin xaakimka ayaa dalbaday in caddeymo loo keeno dacwadda. Muddo 24 saac ah oo uu xaakimku qabtay ayaa dhammaatay,iyadoo aan maxkamadda lagu celin,taasna waxay xeer ilaalintu cudur daar uga dhigtay in warqadda maxkamaddu ay subaxnimadii Arbacada soo gaartay,waxaana dhegaysiga dacwadda loo dib dhigay Khamiista berri ah,inakstoo caawo damiin lagu siidaayey. PUNTLAND POST The post Ded deg: Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur oo dammaanad lagu siidaayey. appeared first on Puntland Post.

Digreeto kasoo baxday xafiiska Madaxweynaha dawladda Puntland Dr. Cabdiweli Maxamed Cali Gaas oo magacii lagaga bedelay Xeer Madaxweyne Lr-151 December, 20, 2017 Wakaaladda Wararka dawladda Puntland. Madaxweynaha Dawladda Puntland. Markuu arkay: Dastuurka dawladda Puntland. Markuu arkay: Tala soo jeedinta Agaasimaha Guud ee Wakaaladda Wararka dawladda Puntland, Wuxuu Xeeriyey: Waxaa magaca Wakaaladda Wararka dawladda Puntland loo bedelay Wakaaladda Warbaahinta iyo Horumarinta Teknoolajiyadda dawladda Puntland. Xeerkani wuxuu dhaqan gelayaa markuu Madaxweynuhu saxeexo, wuuna saxeexay Madaxweynuhu.

Midowga Yurub ayaa ku baaqay in baaritaanno madax-bannaan lagu sameeyo rabshado todobaadkii hore ka dhacay dalka Ethiopia,kaasoo lagu dilay in ka badan 60 ruux oo Soomaali ah. Qoraal ka soo baxay Midowga Yurub ayaa lagu sheegay in colaadda u dhexaysa qowmiyadaha Soomaalida iyo Oromada”ay dhalisay dhimasho badan iyo burbur hantiyeed”,waxaana walaac laga muujiyey in colaaddu sii xoogaysato. Warka uu soo saaray Midowga Yurub ayaa ku baaqay in”baaritaanno madax-bannaan” lagu sameeyo dhammaan rabshadihii dhacay ,gaar ahaanna dhacdadii lagu dilay 61 ruux oo Soomaali ah. Colaadda ku salaysan soohdinta ayaa muddo dheer u dhexaysay qowmiyadaha Soomalida iyo Oromada,taasoo keentay in marar badan ay dagaallo qaraar dhexmaraan. PUNTLAND POST The post Midowga Yurub oo ku baaqay in baaritaan lagu sameeyo Soomaali lagu laayey dalka Ethiopia appeared first on Puntland Post.

Kids living at the Urtehagen Orphanage Center in Burao, Togdheer, received new provisions from Dahabshiil Group this week. Dahabshiil provided blankets, jackets and warm jerseys to about 80 boys and girls given shelter and education by the center on Sunday. Handing over the supplies to the Center authorities and guardians, Ahmed Adan, Director of Dahabshiil Togdheer, said ‘This winter is proving to be particularly harsh, and we have felt that kids at the orphanage must have been hit harder. Thus, this small token to help them weather the inclement season”. Mr. Adan further stated that Dahabshiil Group will continue to monitor the situation and provide more according to prevailing conditions in both the near and far future. Both guardians and children at the Center expressed their delight at the timely gesture Dahabshiil Group provided. “This comes at a time winter is ravaging all of Somaliland putting the lives of the more vulnerable like ourselves at risk,” one of the kids, expressing the gratitude of his friends, said. The Center is one of many dotting at and on the outskirts of a number of cities in the fledgling republic whose inmates is beset by a winter which appears to be more fierce than its predecessors in over ten years past.

Hamdia Ahmed took to Twitter to share history-making news. She’s the first Miss Maine contestant to wear a hijab and burkini during the pageant. According to her profile, Hamdia was “born in Somalia,” and “raised in a refugee camp in Kenya.” She took part in the pageant this December and wore exactly the looks that she wanted to. In one photo, she donned a gold long-sleeve gown with a light pink hijab, and in another, likely for the swimsuit portion, she wore a burkini. She tweeted: “I competed in Miss Maine as the first Muslim girl with a Hijab. I slayed my hijab.” While this is a milestone achievement for the Miss Maine competition, this isn’t the only pageant where a woman embraced modest fashion, and made headlines. Last November, Halima Aden wore a hijab in the Miss Minnesota competition, and went onto become a celebrated high-fashion model. Later, Muna Jama made history by refusing to wear a bikini during the swimsuit portion of the Miss Universe competition, opting to don a kaftan instead. Though a few brands like Nike and American Eagle are now including hijabs in their repertoire, and incredible young women like Hamdia and Halima are pushing for them to be more visible in pageants and fashion magazines alike, we still see stories of discrimination against Muslim women — specifically related to their hijabs — every single day. There’s no denying that Hamdia did, in fact, “slay” her hijab and we loved every minute of it. TeenVogue

Ismail Omar Guelleh says academic cooperation with Turkey growing every day Djibouti’s president, Ismail Omar Guelleh(L), awarded an honorary doctorate by Turkey’s Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University (AYBU) in Ankara, Turkey on Dec. 20, 2017 ANKARA —Djibouti’s president, Ismail Omar Guelleh, was awarded an honorary doctorate by Turkey’s Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University (AYBU) on Wednesday. Addressing a ceremony at the university’s Etlik campus, Guelleh said cooperation between universities in Turkey and Djibouti was growing every day. At least 520 Djiboutian students are currently enrolled in Turkish universities, the president said, adding 13 of those were studying at the AYBU. “When I consider the politicians who have been awarded this title before me, I feel even more honored,” he said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was also awarded an honorary doctorate by AYBU in 2015. The university rector, Metin Dogan, said AYBU was not only honoring the Djibouti president but also “a strong politician and a person who has dedicated his life to the freedom and prosperity of his people”. The AYBU is a state university established in 2010. AA

Strengthening economic partnership will take center-stage during Djiboutian president’s visit to Turkey Turkish Ambassador to Djibouti Sadi Altinok DJIBOUTI–Economic partnership will take center stage during the upcoming visit of Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh to Turkey, says Turkish Ambassador to Djibouti. Ambassador Sadi Altinok told Anadolu Agency with regard to the visit, slated to begin Tuesday, that although the active relations between the two countries dated back only five or six years, “there are excellent memories regarding historical relationships [and] these good feelings can link us to the future.” Altinok explained that Djibouti was always at the center of the routes taken by the Ottomans as they passed through the Horn of Africa, where they had been present since the 16th century and established influences in Ethiopia’s eastern region of Harar in particular, and to some extent in the historic trading city of Zeila, which is in present-day Somalia. “And for the past six years, we have been working actively to develop these relations,” he said and mentioned a 2009 visit of President Guelleh to Ankara, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reciprocated by visiting Djibouti in 2015. Altinok emphasized the importance of these visits, during which a big number of issues were discussed in addition to the signing of a number of agreements. He added that these agreements resulted in Turkey’s decision to provide developmental assistance to Djibouti, with two projects currently in progress in this Horn of Africa nation: the constructions of a mosque by Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and a dam. While the mosque project “is socially and architecturally important,” the ambassador said, the dam construction, duly named “the Ambouli Friendship Dam”, in the flood-prone valley of the Ambouli River was vital as it would serve to prevent floods and provide access to much-needed water in a perennially water-scarce region. The water to be retained in the dam would help the people in the area, Altinok said, “so they can start launching developmental projects in such areas as agriculture and fishing, among others.” Making Djibouti an economic hub The ambassador went on to explain that Ankara has, of late, decided to help turn Djibouti into an economic hub, an idea favored and supported by Djibouti, whose government has already allocated a plot of land close to the newly finalized Doraleh multi-purpose seaport to be used as “Turkish Economic Zone.” “Turkish authorities are now working on ways and means to make the economic zone operational. The Turkish government is in contact with the Turkish private sector to that end,” he said. “It is not an easy task, though,” he went on to say; “because private sector depends on free will and they need to be made to understand the issue of feasibility.” Altinok also noted that the Turkish private sector had finally started paying attention to Djibouti especially following the new term of President Ismail Omar Guelleh, which began on April 8, 2017. “Though currently slow-pace,” he said, “private Turkish companies are taking on projects in Djibouti. They started to get involved in the business life of Djibouti. Now we have four to five medium to big companies engaging in the construction sector, and more importantly, we have a logistics company from Turkey’s Izmir province coming to Djibouti and establishing its business.” Altinok said that all these new developments and the attention and interest shown made him very happy, adding that Turkey regarded Djibouti as an entrance point to the Eastern Africa region in particular and the continent of Africa in general. Foundation laid for strategic partnership All the recent developments, according to the ambassador, brings Turkey “to a point of view that Turkey brings to Djibouti: a strategic, economic partner.” “Of course, this leads us to a state of mind [to think] that Turkey supports Djibouti’s ambitions to become a hub in the region. It comes naturally.” Although small both in terms of its surface area and population of less than a million, and poor in terms of natural resources, Djibouti is situated in a mightily strategic geographic location, the Turkish ambassador pointed out. “The strategic implications of the country are hugely important not only for Africa, but all of the world. It sits in the middle of the world,” he said, explaining Turkey’s decision to help Djibouti economically — a country too small to sustain much economic activity on its own. AA

Xaakim ku sugan gobolka Florida ee dalka Maraykanka ayaa joojiyey in la musaafuriyo 92 qof oo Soomaali ah,kuwaasoo la sheegay in waaxda Socdaalka Maraykanka ay muddo 48 saac ah ku xirtay diyaarad gudaheed,kadib iskuday fashilmay oo lagu doonayey in Soomaaliya loo musaafuriyo. Garsooraha oo lagu magacaabo Darrin Gayles ayaa joojiyey in la musaafuriyo,kadib markii qareennada u doodaya dadkaan ay soo gudbiyeen dacwad ka dhan ah,Waaxda Socdaalka Maraykanka oo ay ku eedeeyeen in ay”si banii’aadannimada ka baxsan” ula dhaqmeen 92-da qof oo ay muddo 48 saac ah diyaarad ku dhex xannibtay. Dadkaan oo ay ku jiraan qaar sannado badan ku noolaa Maraykanka, ayaa 7 bishaan Dec loo musaafuriyey Soomaaliya,laakiin waxaa dib loogu celiyey Maraykanka kadib markii diyaaraddii sidday ay cillad ku timid xilli ay transit ku ahayd garoonka diyaaradaha magaalada Dakar ee dalka Senegal. Qaar kamid ah 92 ruux ayaa sheegay in mas’uuliyiinta Waaxda Socdaalka Maraykanka ay ku amreen in aysan ka soo bixin diyaaradda muddo 48 saac ah,taasoo jirkooda ku keentay xanuun saa’id ah iyo dhiig-roor ku yimaaday kala-goysyada. Sidoo kale waxay sheegeen in lagu khasbay in ay ku kaajaan kuraastii ay fadhiyeen. PUNTLAND POST The post Xaakim ku sugan Maraykanka oo joojiyey in la musaafuriyo 92 qof oo Soomaali ah. appeared first on Puntland Post.

Digreeto kasoo baxday xafiiska Madaxweynaha dawladda Puntland Dr. Cabdiweli Maxamed Cali Gaas oo magacii lagaga bedelay Xeer Madaxweyne Lr-151 December, 20, 2017 Wakaaladda Wararka dawladda Puntland. Madaxweynaha Dawladda Puntland. Markuu arkay: Dastuurka dawladda Puntland. Markuu arkay: Tala soo jeedinta Agaasimaha Guud ee Wakaaladda Wararka dawladda Puntland, Wuxuu Xeeriyey: Waxaa magaca Wakaaladda Wararka dawladda Puntland loo bedelay Wakaaladda Warbaahinta iyo Horumarinta Teknoolajiyadda dawladda Puntland. Xeerkani wuxuu dhaqan gelayaa markuu Madaxweynuhu saxeexo, wuuna saxeexay Madaxweynuhu. =DHAMMAAD= XAFIISKA, WARFAAFINTA, WACYI-GELINTA, HIDDAHA IYO DHAQANKA EE MADAXTOOYADA DAWLADDA PUNTLAND. The post Madaxweynaha Puntland oo Digreeto Magacii Kaga Bedeley Wakaaladda Wararka Dawladda Puntland. appeared first on Puntland Post.

Ra’iisul Wasaaraha Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya Xasan Cali Khayre oo ka qeyb galay sannad-guurada 74-aad ee aas-aaska Ciidammada Booliska Soomaaliyeed ayaa hambalyo u diray dhammaan Taliska iyo qeyaha ciidamadda Booliska munaasabadda 20-ka December awgeed. Mudane Khayre waxuu tilmaamay muhiimadda ay ciidanka Booliska u leeyihiin Qaranka islamarkaana ku amaanay sida geesinimada leh ay u gudanayaan waajibaadkooda. Isagoo ubax dhigay taallo loo sameeyey askartii ku shahiiday falkii argagixiso ee dhowaan ka dhacay dugsiga tababarka Booliska ee Jen. Kaahiye. “Waxaan hambalyo u dirayaa Taliska iyo heerarka kala duwan ee Ciidanka Booliska Soomaaliyeed oo aan maanta u dabaal dagayno sanadguuradii 74-aad ee ka soo wareegatay aas-aaskooda. Ciidanka Booliska Soomaaliyeed waa hooyadda dhammaan ciidammada kala duwan ee Soomaaliya leedahay”.Ayuu yiri RW Khayre. Ra’iisul Wasaare Khayre ayaa sheegay in Boolisku yahay halbowlaha nabadda iyo dhowrista sharciga, isagoo ugu baaqay inay laban laabaan waxqabadkooda, ayna feejignaadaan har iyo habeenba, si looga hortago dhagarta caddowga, loona baajiyo dhiiga shacabka oo ay kooxaha nabadiidku sida micno darida ah u daadinayaan. Waxaa goob joog ka ahaa munaasabadda xubno ka tirsan labada gole, gobolka Benaadir, saraakiil, diblomaasiyiin iyo mas’uuliyiin kale, iyadoo halkaasina lagu soo bandhigey gaade ka ciyaar qurux badan oo sameynayeen ciidanku. The post Sawirro qurxoon: Sidee ayey Muqdisho uga qabsoontay Sanad-guurada 74aad ee Ciidanka Booliska appeared first on Caasimada Online.

A spokesperson for the Gadaffi family has said that Saif al-Islam Gadaffi, the son of the former Libyan leader will contest in the upcoming presidential elections. Basem al-Hashimi al-Soul told the influential local media agency, Egypt Today, that Saif al-Islam has the support and credentials required to end the chaos that has gripped Libya since the overthrow of his father Muammar Gadaffi in 2011. “Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the former Libyan president, enjoys the support of major tribes in Libya so he can run for the upcoming presidential elections due in 2018,” said Libyan Tribal Chief and spokesperson of the Gaddafi family, Basem al-Hashimi al-Soul Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the former Libyan president, enjoys the support of major tribes in Libya so he can run for the upcoming presidential elections due in 2018. Al-Soul says that a platform to launch the former first son’s presidential campaign will soon be launched. “The platform includes some procedures that Saif al-Islam hopes the United Nations would adopt to help Libya move from the incumbent transitional period to stability.” Today, Libya is grappling with insecurity as different factions control different parts of the country. Saif al-Islam Gadaffi hopes to unify the factions and restore peace and stability in the country that was once prosperous under his father’s rule. “Saif al-Islam plans to impose more security and stability in accordance with the Libyan geography and in coordination with all Libyan factions,” al-Soul manifested. This development follows the weekend announcement by the Eastern Libyan military commander, Khalifa Haftar, that he ‘would listen to the will of the free Libyan people’, interpreted as an indication that he might run in next year’s elections. The United Nations backed Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) has indicated that elections may be held in mid-2018. “We believe that presidential elections will be held in the middle of 2018,” Mohamed Siala, GNA foreign minister, speaking to foreign reporters at the Valdai Panel Discussion in Russia. Saif Al-Islam was released in June this year after six years of captivity by a militia group in the Libyan town of Zintan. He had been captured in November 2011 after the fall of his father’s regime, and he was subsequently sentenced to death in absentia by a court in Tripoli. Following his release, the International Criminal Court ordered for his arrest and surrender, which was backed by the GNA. He is wanted by the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity during his father’s unsuccessful attempts to put down the rebellion that eventually led to the fall of his regime. The United Nations is supporting the voter registration process as it seeks to reconcile rival factions and relaunch a political transition that would lead to new polls. The UN Libya mission has previously said it hopes elections can be held by the end of next year, but has also acknowledged complex security, political and legislative challenges to organising a vote. Libya last held elections in 2014 but the results were disputed, deepening divisions that emerged after the country’s 2011 uprising. The poll led to an escalation of armed conflict and to rival parliaments and governments being set up in the capital and the east. Source: – Africa News The post Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam to run for Libya president in 2018 appeared first on Caasimada Online.

Turkey’s Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin on Tuesday criticised United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan for sharing a tweet that targeted Ottoman history and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In a shared retweet, Zayed accused Fahreddin Pasha — an Ottoman governor of Medina from 1916-1919 — of committing crimes against local population and theft of their property. “The Turks also stole most of the manuscripts of the Mahmudiyah library in the city and sent them to Turkey. These are Erdogan’s ancestors and their history with Arab Muslims,” the tweet said. هل تعلمون في عام1916قام التركي فخري باشا بجريمة بحق أهل المدينة النبوية فسرق أموالهم وقام بخطفهم واركابهم في قطارات إلى الشام واسطنبول برحلة سُميت(سفر برلك) كما سرق الأتراك أغلب مخطوطات المكتبة المحمودية بالمدينة وارسلوها إلى تركيا. هؤلاء أجداد أردوغان وتاريخهم مع المسلمين العرب pic.twitter.com/lEynzANQiV — د. علي العراقي (@ali11iraq) December 16, 2017 In response, Kalin criticised Zayed for retweeting a “propaganda lie that seeks to turn Turks [and] Arabs against one another.” “It was Fahreddin Pasha who bravely defended Medina against the British plans then. Is attacking President Erdogan at all costs the new fashion now?” Kalin asked. It is a shame that @ABZayed, FM of UAE, retweets this propaganda lie that seeks to turn Turks & Arabs against one another, again. It was Fahreddin Pasha who bravely defended Madina against the British plans then. Is attacking President Erdoğan at all costs the new fashion now? https://t.co/E9o4u7aSCH — Ibrahim Kalin (@ikalin1) December 19, 2017 Relations between the two countries are already at a low since Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a blockade on Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terror groups and Iran. On the other hand, Turkey has cemented its relations with Qatar by building a military base and deploying troops there. Ankara also helped Doha acquire food products that Saudi Arabia and others had blocked from entering. Who was Fahreddin Pasha? Fahreddin Pasha was the commander of the Ottoman army and last governor of the city of Medina. Nicknamed “Lion of the Desert” for his bravery, Pasha defended Muslim holy city from Arab tribes, which had aligned with the British against the Ottomans. Even after Armistice of Mudros between Ottoman Empire and Allies was signed on October 20, 1918, he refused to surrender. Pasha kept Medina under Ottoman Sultan’s rule for 72 days after the war ended. With his garrison and men facing starvation due to a lack of supplies, he was forced to handover the city on January 10, 1919. The siege lasted two years and seven months. Source: – TRT World The post Turkey slams UAE foreign minister for tarnishing Ottoman legacy appeared first on Caasimada Online.

Ceremonies to mark the 74th anniversary of the Somali’s law enforcement agencies have taken place in all regions of the Horn of Africa nation. A well-executed ceremony to celebrate the establishment of the police was held at General Kaahiye Academy in Mogadishu, the site of a deadly suicide attack that claimed the lives of 17 policemen less than a week ago. Somali Police have identified the suicide bomber who blew up in General Kahiye Police Academy in Mogadishu but say that the name will not be released to the public. Security has been beefed up around the capital with authorities blocking all roads leading to the academy Prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire who attended the ceremony has inspected a guard of honour mounted by police forces who lined up in readiness to commemorate the day. UN envoy to Somalia, Michael Keating, Ministers, officials, MPs and leaders of civil society participated the event. President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo sent congratulatory message anniversary the police. Somali National Police Force is the main civil law enforcement agency of Somalia. Throughout Somalia’s bloody civil war, the police force has been inactive. It was revived just before the establishment of Somali Transitional government in 2004. Somalia police day was founded on 20th December 1943. The post Somali celebrates 74th police anniversary appeared first on Caasimada Online.

Muqdisho (Caasimada Online)-Maleeshiyada al-Shabaab ayaa baahisay warar sheegaya inay dileen Taliyihii ciidamada Howlgalada maamulka Puntland iyo ciidamo la socday. Maleeshiyada ayaa sheegtay inay Qarax la eegteen Gaari Cabdi Bille ah oo wehlinaayay Gaadiid kale oo ay la socdeen Saraakiil Mareykan ah iyo Ciidamo ka tirsan Taliska Howlgalada PIS-ta Puntland. Maleeshiyada ayaa tilmaantay in Qaraxa Gaariga ay kula eegteen duleedka magalada Boosaaso ee xarunta Gobolka Bari isla markaana dadka ay ku dileen ay kamid yihiin ciidamo. Maleeshiyadu waxa ay tilmaantay in Qaraxa ay ku dileen Taliyihii Howgalada PIS-ta Puntland oo lagu magacaabi jiray Korneyl Galayr Xassan Yuusuf iyo sarkaal kale oo magaciisa lagu soo koobay Barkhad. Waxa ay intaa ku dartay in weerarkaasi uu ahaa mid ay ka gaareen dantii ay ka lahaayen, isla markaana ay ku burburiyeen Gaadiid, sida ay baahiyeen. Talaabadan ayaa imaaneysa xili maleeshiyaadka ay Kordhiyeen Qaraxyada ay la beegsadaan Ciidamada Puntland. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho Caasimada@live.com The post Al-Shabaab oo shaacisay inay dishay Taliyihii Howgallada PIS-ta Puntland & Saraakiil kale appeared first on Caasimada Online.

RAS AL-KHAIMAH, 19th December, 2017 — H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah, today received Abdul Qader Mohammed Hatami Sheikhi, Somali Ambassador to the UAE, on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the country. The Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah welcomed the Somali diplomat and wished him success in his future tasks, hailing his efforts in promoting the existing relations between the two countries in several areas. The meeting was attended by a number of sheikhs and senior officials. WAM

MOGADISHU- Some Somali lawmakers said on Wednesday they plan to impeach the president in a mounting political crisis that could put the fledgling government on a violent collision course with one of the country’s most powerful clans. The political turmoil endangers fragile gains against the Islamist al Shabaab insurgency and could derail the government of President Mohamed Abdullahi. Universally known by his nickname “Farmajo”, the dual U.S.-Somali citizen took power earlier this year in a U.N.-backed process. The Horn of Africa state’s parliament adjourned last week until the end of February, but some legislators want it to reconvene on an emergency basis, lawmaker Mahad Salad told Reuters. “Ninety-six lawmakers have asked the speaker to reopen the session so that the impeachment against the president kicks off. The president is accused of violation of the constitution, treason, destruction of the federal states and so on,” he said. The letter had not yet been delivered to the speaker. There are 275 lawmakers and two-thirds would have to vote against the president to impeach him. The motion follows a deadly raid on Sunday on the home of an opposition leader, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, who ran for the presidency against Farmajo. Somali security agents arrived at his house around midnight and engaged his guards in a firefight, killing five people. The minister of security said Warsame resisted arrest and he would be charged with treason. He appeared in court on Tuesday but no warrant was shown for his arrest, a witness said. A Wednesday court hearing was postponed until Thursday. The information minister did not return calls seeking comment. A statement from the security minister and attorney general said they were “investigating the crimes of Somalis who were involved in treason, terror and the destruction of government systems”. POWERFUL CLAN Warsame comes from Somalia’s formidable Galmudug clan, which is spread across south-central Somalia. Although both his supporters and the government stress that his detention is political, rather than a clan issue, it will further sour relations between the two sides. If that sparks fighting it could split Somalia’s security forces, which are composed mostly of clan-based militias. In September, a battle between the police, intelligence, and military killed nine people in Mogadishu’s Galmudug clan district. “It’s a lose-lose situation for the government. If they pursue this, they face a showdown with the Galmudug clan, who are powerful, wealthy and well-armed and provide many units in the SNA,” said a Somalia security analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity, referring to the Somali National Army. “If they back down, they look weak. It’s very hard to see how the administration could survive this crisis.” In August, a joint U.S.-Somali raid in the town of Bariire killed 10 Galmudug clan members. The U.S. military said they were Islamist militants but clan elders said they were civilians. In May, a soldier accidentally killed the minister of public works in a case of mistaken identity. A Galmudug clan member, the soldier was sentenced to death, angering clan members who felt that blood money should have been accepted. POLITICAL PROBLEMS Somalia’s new government has won plaudits from diplomats for trying to assess the extent of mismanagement and corruption in the armed forces and the International Monetary Fund has praised it for fiscal reforms. But at home, the government has many problems. It has hired and fired a string of top security officials. Al Shabaab militants, skilled at exploiting clan divisions, stepped up a campaign of deadly bombings in Mogadishu. One October bomb killed more than 500 people. A split between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, both of which have supported Somali factions, has fuelled a spat between the president and leaders of Somalia’s regional administrations, damaging security cooperation. This month, the U.S. government announced it was suspending aid to most of the military over accountability concerns. Now many parliamentarians are angry that a government that promotes itself as reformist is arresting critics like Warsame, said Abdirizak Mohamed, a lawmaker and former security minister. “MPs are concerned about freedom of expression and association. This was an unnecessary crisis when they already had a lot on their plate.” Reuters

Saldhig ay ku leeyihiin kooxaha ku dhuumalaysta buuraha Calmadow Deegaanka Madarshoon oo qiyaastii 30 KM ka durugsan tuulada Galgala ayaa xalay saqdhexe waxaa weeraray ciidamada amaanka Puntland ee PSF, waxaana wararku sheegayaan dagaal culus inuu halkaas ku dhexmarey labada dhinac Alshabab iyo Ciidanka. Sarkaal ka tirsan ciidanka ayaa u sheegay Warbaahinta PUNTLAND POST in lagu dilay weerarkan ku dhawaad 20 ka tirsan maleeshiyadda Alshabab oo ay ku jiraan saraakiil Ajnabi ah, wuxuuna sheegay inuu kooban yahay khasaaraha dhinacooda. Dhinaca kale warar madax banaan oo laga helayo Galgala ayaa sheegaya jiritaanka gaari ciidanku leeyahay oo miino la kacday maanta ayna ku dhinteen ka mid ah askarta. Kala soco PUNTLAND POST wixii faahfaahin ah. The post Ciidanka Puntland oo dilay ku dhawaad 20 ka tirsan Alshabab appeared first on Puntland Post.

Qaar kamid ah Xildhibaannada Soomaaliya ayaa Arbacada Maanta sheegay in ay qorshaynayaan Mooshin xilka qaadis ay ku sameeyaan madaxweynaha Soomaaliya,kadib xasaradda siyaasadeed ee ka dhalatay xarigga cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur,taasoo keeni karta in ay isku-dhacaan Xukuumadda iyo mid kamid ah beelaha waaweyn ee dalka,sida ay soo werisay Wakaaladda Wararka Reuters. 96 Mudane oo ka tirsan Golaha Shacabka Soomaliya ayaa Guddoonka Baarlamanka ka dalbaday in la qabto kulan aan caadi ahayn oo xilka qaadis loogu samaynayo madaxweyne farmaajo oo ay ku eedeeyeen in uu Dastuurka jebiyey,islamaarkaana ku kacay khiyaano qaran. Hadalka mudanayaasha ayaa ka dhashay,weerar ay Axaddii Ciidanka Nabad Sugidda Soomaliya ku qaadeen guriga Siyaasi Cabdiraxmaan cabdishakuur oo horay u soo noqday Wasirkii Qorshaynta Soomaaliya,sidoo kalena kamid ahaa musharrixiinti xilka madaxweyne ee doorashadii u ku guulaystay Maxammed Cabdullaahi Farmaajo Warku waa socdaa The post Deg deg: Baarlamanka Soomaaliya oo sheegay in ay xilka ka qaadayaan Madaxweyne Farmaajo appeared first on Puntland Post.

Layla’s journey has been anything but easy. She’s a refugee from the eastern Somali Region of Ethiopia, which she and her husband fled because of conflict and persecution in the early 2000s. They eventually found a temporary home in Saudi Arabia, where they had children and stayed for seven years — before Layla’s husband was deported in 2010. Her employers helped her family escape to Syria. “I began to start my new life,” Layla says. “My kids had a little education at home.” But before she could truly settle, civil war erupted in Syria, contributing to one of the worst refugee crises of our time. Layla made the difficult decision to once again flee the country where her family lived, walking for two to three days to the Turkish border, where she ultimately learned of her husband’s death back home. Despite unspeakable hardship, Layla’s story does have a happy ending — one she’s able to tell herself in a new video from the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), a legal aid organization advocating for refugees around the world. With the help of IRAP, Layla and her family are currently resettled in the U.S., where she finally has a newfound sense of stability and security. “Maine is so nice,” she says through a voiceover in the video, animated by media production company agency Wondros. “I feel like my home, and better than my home, because I live safe.” IRAP launched Layla’s video Wednesday with a strong message: The U.S. refugee resettlement program is under attack. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will start to hear oral arguments Thursday in the case of Jewish Family Service v. Trump, resulting from a class action complaint filed in November against the Trump administration’s latest restrictions on refugees. The restrictions effectively halt the refugee resettlement program for 11 predominantly Muslim countries; the complaint calls for a nationwide injunction against the refugee ban. “The narrative we’re trying to push with Layla, who is already a resettled client, is that if these restrictions were to go into place, her family wouldn’t have been able to reach safety,” says Sarah Blume, communications assistant at IRAP. “The U.S. has always been a model in refugee resettlement — kind of a humanitarian leader in the amount of refugees we have resettled.” Somalia, for example, is one of the “higher risk” countries on the list, meaning acceptance of Somali refugees would be subject to decisions on a case-by-case basis after a 90-day review period. If these restrictions were in place at the time, Layla and her family’s resettlement to the U.S. would have been extensively delayed, Blume says. IRAP is fighting the ban, in part, because the restrictions roll back a robust U.S. resettlement program. President Trump dropped the resettlement quota from 110,000 refugees (the number the Obama administration set at the end of 2016) to 45,000 — the lowest it’s been in decades. “The U.S. has always been a model in refugee resettlement — kind of a humanitarian leader in the amount of refugees we have resettled,” Blume says. “Beyond that, we feel that these newly implemented refugee restrictions will make it even more difficult to resettle that number.” Not all hope is lost. In addition to the multiple legal battles against the ban, Blume and IRAP hope the video and Layla’s story will encourage viewers to share their voices, and speak out against discrimination of refugees and Muslims in the U.S. and abroad. You can donate to impactful organizations, sign up for alerts and information on more tangible ways to take action, and call your representatives to voice your concerns about policies directly affecting the resettlement program. “The main thing we want to get across is that if these restrictions were in place today, Layla and her family would not be able to reach safety,” Blume says. “Beyond Layla’s story, it’s important to understand the hardships that these folks go through.” http://mashable.com/2017/12/20/refugee-mother-video-irap-resettlement-travel-ban/#q7TgGz_Lxmq0

Transport and Road Development Minister, Abdilahi Abokor was convicted and sentenced three years imprisonment by a regional court in Hargeisa. HARGEISA— Member of Somaliland House of National Assembly calls on the parliament should vet before approving four newly appointed cabinet ministers in Musa Bihi’s new administration. The minister of transport & road development, Abdilahi Abokor Osman has been found guilty by regional court and was sentenced three years imprisonment barring him to hold cabinet portfolio. The minister of Labor and family affairs, Ms. Hinda Jama Hirsi and the minister of agriculture, Hon. Ahmed Mumin Seed have not had educational qualifications to hold these aforementioned cabinet portfolios. The ministers have not finished high school therefore the constitution bans them from being ministers as they lack qualifications. The defense minister, Hon. Isse Ahmed Yusuf Adale is against the aspirations of Somaliland’s statehood. The national constitution bars the above mentioned ministers to hold cabinet ministers due to their qualifications, guilty over crime and being against Somaliland’s secession from Somalia. The MP said that the ministers have not fulfilled laws stipulated in the national constitution. Hon. Abdikadir Askar has asserted that videos are available on the defense minister who announced to wage war against Somaliland. The defense minister has committed a national treason and instead of offering a cabinet minister then he deserves to be brought before a court of trail. Deputy chairperson of Somaliland’s Finance committee of the house of assembly, Hon. Abdikadir Askar Hasan made the remarks in an interview with Geeska Afrika, a local Somali newspaper in Hargeisa. He further demanded from the new administration to disclose the debt that it inherited from the previous government led by Ahmed Silanyo. The MP has strongly opposed the ministers to assume office before the approval of parliament and the constitutional has been breached. The deputy chairperson of finance committee has called on Musa Bihi’s gov’t to publicly disclose the amount of debt it received from the former Silanyo administration. The Agriculture Minister, Hon. Mumin Seed has not finished high school

Dowladda Puntland ayaa sannadkii saddexaad maamuustay maalmaha loo asteeyay ka wacyigalinta bulshada sidii loo yaran lahaa Umul-raaca hooyada ee waqtiga Dhalmada. Madaxweyne Gaas ayaa Saddex sano ka hor ku dhawaaqay Barnaamij loogu magac daray [CARMA], kaasoo ujeedkiisu ahaa in lagu yareeyo dhibaatooyinka soo wajaha hooyooyinka, kasoo ay saacidaysay hay’adda UNFPA. Xaflad lagu qabtay Jaamacadda PSU ee magaalada Garoowe, ayaa lagusoo bandhigay warbixino, khudbadao ka hadlaya, sidii loo yaran lahaa dhibaatada xilliga dhalmada soo gaartay hooyooyinka. Madaxa UNFPA ee Soomaaliya, NIKOLAI BOTEV, ayaa sheegay in xukuumaddu dedaal ku bixisay sidii loo yaran lahaa tirada dumarka ku dhinta waqtiga Dhalmada, isagoo xusay in CARMA, waxbadan ka badashay arrintaas. Wuxuu intaas ku daray inay ka shaqayn doonaan tallaabo kasta oo lagu yaraynayo dhimashada hooyooyinka Soomaaliyeed. Cabdifitaax Faarax Waloore oo ah wasiir ku-xigeenka wasaaradda Caafimaadka Puntland, ayaa tilmaamay inay u doodi doonaan xuquuqda hooyada, isagoo fariin u diray xarumaha gaarka loo leeyahay ee ka shaqeeya caafimaadka in hooyadii Uur leh ee u timaada ay u tilmaamaan xarumaha loo diyaariyay. Wasiirka Caafimaadka Puntland, Cabdinaasir Cismaan Cuuke, oo soo xirmay munaasabadda, ayaa carrabka ku dhuftay in waqtigii la sameeyay Barnaamijkan kadib ay is-badashay tirada sannadkasta ee hooyada u dhiman jirtay Umul-raaca isagoo intaas ku daray inay sameeyeen goobo loogu talo galay in xaaladaha dumarka Xaamilada ah lagula socdo. Cuuke ayaa hooyinka ugu baaqay inay tagaan goobaha caafimaadka waqtiga ay Uurka leeyihiin si loola socdo xaaladooda, taasina ay tahay habka kaliya ee kor u qaadi kara caafimaadka Dumarka Xaamilka ah. Waxaa jira gabdho tiro badan oo laga keenay gobollada Puntland, kuwaasoo la baray ilaalinta hooyada, taasoo ay gacan ka gaysatay hay’adda UNFPA, waxaana kamid ah Fartuun Maxamed Muuse, oo dhigata Jaamacadda Boosaso islamarkaana si mutadawacnimo ah uga shaqayso xarumo caafimaad oo ku yaalla magaalada Garoowe. “Kahor inta aanan baran Umulisanimada, waxaan la kulmay hooyo Dhiig-baxaysa, ma awoodin inaan ogaado xaaladeeda, waxaa aan ku taliyay kaliya inaan dhaho ha la geeyo goobaha caafimaadka, balse maanta marka aan bartay cilmigan, waxaana awooda inaan caawiyo hooyo rafaadsan, tusaale waxaan iigu filan in la iigu yeeray hada markaana bartay cilmigan hooyo umushay oo Abidii ku jirto, waxaan awood u yeeshay inaan bad-baadiyo. Wasaaradda Caafimaadka Puntland ayaa sheegtay in tan iyo 2013-kii ay tababartay Gabdho gaaraya 320 kuwaasoo loo diyaariyay sidii ay wax uga qaban lahaayeen dhibaatada Umul-raaca hooyada. Waddanka Soomaaliya ayaa kamid ahay meelaha ugu badan ee hooyadu ku dhimato waqtiga Foosha, taasoo loo sababeeyo arrimo Caafimaad yar iyo aqoon la’aan haysata bulshada, waxaana qiyaas la sameeyay ay tilmaamaysa in 100,000 [Boqolkii Kun] ee Dumar ah ay Umul-raacaan 732, taasoo ka dhigan in 13-dii cunug ee dhasha, waxaa dhimata hal hooyo. The post Puntland oo xustay Ololaha ka hortaga Umul-raaca hooyada [CARMA] appeared first on Puntland Post.

Muqdisho (Caasimadda Online) – Wararka hadda naga soo gaarayo Magaalada Muqdisho ee Caasimadda Soomaaliya ayaa sheegayo inay dib u dhacday maxkamadeynta Siyaasi Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur oo dhawr maalin ku jiro gacanta dowladda markii laga soo qabtay gurigiisa. Sida uu Xaqiijiyey Avv. Tahliil Xaaji oo ah qareenka u doodayo Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur maxkamadda ayaa dib loo dhigay ilaa berri 8:00 Subaxnimo waqtiga Muqdisho. Xeer-ilaalinta ama dacawd oogayaasha C/raxmaan C/Shakuur Warsame ayaa maanta laga sugayay in ay keenaan cadeymo la xariira waxybaaha lagu soo eedeeyay C/raxmaan C/Shakuur oo 17-kii Bishaan laga soo qabtay gurigiisa oo ku yaala magaalada Muqdisho. Guddoomiyaha Maxkamadda Gobolka Banaadir ayaa horey xeer ilaalinta ugu qabtay mudo 24-saac inay ku keento caddeymo eedeymaha lagu soo oogay. Wararka ayaa sheegaya in sababaha dib ugu dhacday ay tahay in warqadii amarka Maxkamadda ee lagu faray in muddo 24 saac lagu keeno caddeymo in loo geeyay Xeer Ilaalinta saaka 8-dii subaxnimo, sidaas darteed ay muddada waqtiga loo geeyay ay ka bilaabaneyso 24-ka saac, kuna egtahay maalinta berri 8-da subaxnimo. Waxaa la sheegay in baaqashada la xaqiijiyeys saacado ka hor waqtigii loo ballansanaa inay maxkamadda furanto sida uu sheegay Avv. Tahliil oo ah ninka u doodayo Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur. Kulamo siyaasadeed ayaa saacadihii la soo dhaafay ka socday magaalada Muqdisho, kaasoo looga hadlayay arrinta xarigga, sidoo kale waxaa la sheegay in qaar ka mid ah Madaxweynayaasha maamul goboleedyada, sida Galmudug iyo Hirshabeelle ay ku booqdeen C/raxmaan C/shakuur Xabsiga. Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur ayaa lasoo sheegayaa inuu diiday ololo ay wadeen madaxweynaha Galmudug iyo Siyaasiyiin kale oo ay ku doonayeen in siyaasigaan lagu soo daayo damiin. Xaaladda xarigaan ayaa cirka isku shareertay, waxaana arrintaas kasoo horjeestay xubno ka tirsan dowladda oo facilkaas ku tilmaamay inuu yahay mid aan waafaqsaneyn Dastuurka iyo Sharcigada u yaalo Soomaaliya. Caasimada Online Xafiiska Muqdisho Caasimada@live.com The post Maxay tahay sababta keentay inay dib u dhacdo Maxkamadeynta Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur? appeared first on Caasimada Online.

Elections are not new to Somaliland and the most recent was the presidential poll that has been conducted peacefully on 13 November 2107. This election was interesting and kindled an ecstatic special interest for the outside world due mainly to the political maturity and the dynamics of democratic processes. The international press and media covered the proceedings extensively to the extent the political pundits described Somaliland as the strongest democracy in Africa in general and in East Africa or the Horn region in particular. The election demonstrated strong commitment, responsibility and political maturity of the institutions, national political parties and, not to mention, the people of Somaliland. The election has proven the mellowness of the vigorous democratic governance at work in Somaliland. Since its withdrawal from union with Somalia in 1991, Somaliland has made significant advances in securing stability and security and Somaliland has been commonly signposted as an ‘oasis of peace’ in a region beleaguered by conflicts and political and social instability. History of elections in Somaliland Somaliland has a good track record of conducting peaceful credible elections and power transfers. Elections generally form a core part of the common understanding and practice of democracy. In more than two decades of building democracy in Somaliland, elections have become almost the most critical action of conferring legitimacy to Somaliland governments. In Somaliland democratic processes are never compromised and the credibility and legitimisation of electoral practices form the ritual methods and basis of electoral integrity. Somaliland declared its sovereignty, independence and voluntary withdrawal from union with Somalia during the grand peace conference at Buroa in 1991 when Abdirahman Ahmed Ali (Tuur) and Hassan Essa Jama were elected as interim president and vice president respectively for a term of two years. At the end of President Ali’s term, Mohamed Ibrahim Egal was elected as the second president at the Borama peace and reconciliation conference in 1993 in a peaceful transfer of power process. Egal’s administration oversaw the establishment of a model government and the kick start of the post-war rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of the country. The SNM was officially disbanded as a political movement and liberation front followed by successful programme of demobilisation of SNM forces. In 1997 an indirect non-partisan presidential election contested between the incumbent president, Egal, Suleiman Adan (a veteran politician) and Mohamed Hashi Elmi (a senior SNM leader/politician) was held. Egal was re-elected as president by the majority (over 70%). During Egal’s term and as political maturity progressed and developed as significant progress of democratic initiations took place starting with the constitutional referendum which was held in 2001 as a plebiscite for revoking sovereignty from union with Somalia for which 97% of the public voted. From 2003 impressive list of polls have been recorded. Nevertheless, until 2002 no political associations or national parties existed. The first political party, UDUB (Union of National Democratic Coalition Party) was first formed by the late president Egal who died on 3rdMay 2002. The vice president, Dahir Rayale Kahin, took over the presidency to complete the term (he chose Ahmed Yusuf Yasin). President Rayale immediately jumped on the band wagon of pluralism and multi-party system. Nonetheless, in accordance with the constitution only three political parties are allowed to prevail in the country at any one time but formation of political associations are allowed to be registered to compete for the top three national parties for a specific period. Therefore, six political organisations (UDUB, UCID, ASAD, SAHAN, KULMIYE and HORMOOD) were registered on 15 December 2002 to compete for the top three national parties. The first three that attracted sufficient support were UDUB, KULMIYE and UCID. The first direct presidential election took place on 14 April 2003. Dahir Rayale Kahin of UDUB party won the race. However, what remarkably deserves to mention is that, despite that the defeat of the opposition candidate Silanyo by the slimmest and the narrowest majority (by 80 votes only), Silanyo subsequently conceded defeat, a phenomenon that has never been in the African continent which is an indicative of political maturity and commitment to democratic pluralism in Somaliland. A parliamentary election which was closely observed and monitored by international observers and contested by the three existing national parties (UDUB, KULMIE and UCID) candidates took place on 25 September 2001 to elect members of the Lower House of the parliament ‘Golaha Wakiilada’. The Upper House or House of elders ‘Golaha Guurtida’ is un-elected. To augment and consolidate the political maturity, a second presidential election which was strongly contested was held on 26 June 2010. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo of the opposition party, Kulmiye, won the race by a majority (49.59%). Interestingly, however, Rayale gracefully conceded defeat and officially handed over the power to the newly elected president on 27 July 2010 in a peaceful fashion, which is rarely experienced in Africa, made the world envy. So far in mainland Africa only three states (Benin, Senegal and Zambia) had their incumbent presidents stood down after being defeated in elections) without violence or political disagreements. As pluralistic democracy matured further and gathered momentum, multi-party elections continued. In accordance with the 2011 electoral law, new political associations (UMMADDA, DALSAN, RAYS, WADANI and HAQSOOR) were officially registered to compete with the existing three political parties ((KULMIYE, UDUB and UCID) to choose the three top national parties. KULMIYE, WADANI and UCID succeeded to become the three national parties. On 28 November 2012 a local government election was held in which a total of 2,308 candidates from the three parties (including 140 women) contested for 379 seats. The election was witnessed by 50-strong team of international observers coordinated by Steve Kibble (Progressio organisation) and Michael Wallis (Department planning unit, UCL, University of London) together with Somaliland Focus and the international community that worked closely with the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to observe and monitor the elections. The election passed off largely in peace and Somaliland was congratulated for the lively and enthusiastic elections. Yet another successful presidential election, the third presidential election and the sixth in a row since 2003, has been held on 13 November 2017. This election has been the most dramatic one. It was different from the previous elections in a number of ways. A new technology (iris-recognition biometrics) was introduced replacing the old fingerprint biometrics voter registration system. That made Somaliland the most technologically sophisticated state in the African continent and in the world, to use iris-recognition technology. The technology was chosen because of its reliability, flexibility, and standardization. It also boosted the confidence and trust for its capacity to protect fraud and repeat voting. The election was preceded by a three-week campaign with a series of well-orchestrated rallies taken in turns by the contesting parties. The first ever televised presidential debate in Africa was held in which the candidates engaged in a town hall-style debate as the event was live–streamed from the capital, Hargeisa whereas the media openly covered and allowed to scrutinise the candidates’ policies and performances. The election has been observed by a 60-strong team of international observers from 27 countries together with international partners (UK, Denmark, USA, Belgium, Demark, Finland, the EU, France, Germany, Holland, Norway, Switzerland, and Sweden). On the day of election, a high level delegation from the international community and the international observers visited 350 polling stations in Hargeisa and witnessed the opening, the voting, the closing and the tallying procedures at stations. The Chief Observer and the chairman of the international observers, Michael Wallis, praised and congratulated Somaliland for the smooth conduct of the voting and the peaceful manner in which the people exercised their rights to vote. The NEC has also been commended for their vital responsibility of managing and coordinating a peaceful conduct of the election. Musa Bihi Abdi and Abdirahman Abdillahi Saylii, won with majority (55.1%) as the president-elect and vice president respectively. The results have been acknowledged and accepted by the opposition candidates. Winds of change Elections are means to ends. Through this election Somaliland strongly affirmed and consolidated a consistent pattern in democratisation fascinated by the outside world. It has taken a step further close to de jure recognition. The Scandinavians particularly Sweden, one of the first EU nations to recognise Palestine and one which has also been toying with the recognition of Western Sahara, have emerged with enthusiasm in eying on Somaliland’s independence and recognition in the near future. This election has acted as a major step forward as it has exposed an encouragingly positive signal to the rest of the world and that it could bolster a strong case for international recognition. The political stance of Somaliland is in stark contrast to those of most African countries and especially with its neighbours. The 2016 presidential election in Somalia has been blemished with controversies, fraught, pervasive corruption, sales of votes, and reliance on abundant external funding and support coupled with instability and insecurity from Al-Shabab. Even the one-person-one-vote principle envisaged in 2012 remotely became a day-dream as voters were hand-picked employing 4.5 clan code system that undermines the recognised principles of democracy. Somalia and South Sudan have been described as failed states; North Sudan as a dictatorship and Eritrea, Rwanda and Ethiopia as police states; Isaias Afwerki, first president of Eritrea came to power in 1993 (same time as the second president of Somaliland, Egal) is still in power. In Uganda, Yoweri Museveni has been on the saddle of the power uninterruptedly since January 1986, while Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe has been in power for about 30 years since 1987 as president until he was recently (2017) forced out of office under pressure. Even Kenya, once the East African region’s most vibrant and competitive democracy, clearly struggled in the last two elections marred with violence, re-election and political disagreements. In other African countries (Liberia, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad to mention some among others) elections have been disrupted by flare-up of violence and even with military interventions. Therefore, Somaliland stands out of the pack of African states. Somaliland’s performance in nation and peace building has often been on shoestring. Somaliland currently ranks high in terms of the indices of democratic performance and could act as a model inspiration for East Africa and wider Africa. The winds of change for Somaliland’s political prospects are blowing stronger. Two main political parties in Sweden (the Christian Democrats (KD), a centre-right party and the Swedish Democrats have instantly responded with optimism to the news of elections in Somaliland. The KD Party express eagerness in Somaliland’s recognition and that should be done in in cooperation with the other EU member States and that it is teaming up in cooperation with another three national Parties (Moderates, Conservative Democrat, and the Volks Party or Liberal party) to bring about a motion to the parliament whilst the Swedish Democrats Party has taken the extra mile by voicing a radical approach in support of Somaliland’s recognition as it meets all the requirements that a government should have to be a recognised as a country. Additionally, a Swedish journal, ‘Varden Idag’ commented: “Somaliland’s recognition would serve as a good example of what can achieved when conflicts are resolved with dialogues rather than violence”, a Swedish political activist, Michael Torstensson, vehemently articulated that Somaliland’s prowess in fighting terrorism and establishing a functioning and the most peaceful state in East Africa merits recognition while Professor Paul Wrange (University of Stockholm) stresses that there are no logic obstacles to Somaliland’s recognition and independence. UK is the strongest partner of Somaliland acknowledging and supporting Somaliland’s efforts in commitment to democratic ideals. UK, a long standing friend of Somaliland, has a major stake in the success of the elections in Somaliland investing a significant contribution to the planning, preparation and delivering the biometric voter registration used in the 2017 election. Jeremy Carver, a British international lawyer voiced that Somaliland satisfies all legal criteria for its independent statehood and how it conducted success of elections make it deserve to be recognised. Another British politician, Zac Goldsmith (the Conservative Party, East Midlands), has recently remarked in the British parliament in tribute to the election: “With recent events in Zimbabwe and total chaos in Kenya now, will the Prime Minister join me in celebrating the hugely successful elections this week in Somaliland.” David Concar, another British politician and diplomat (Ambassador for Somalia and Somaliland) unambiguously pointed to the evidence of Somaliland’s impressive records of democratisation and pluralism and congratulated the people of Somaliland and the president-elect, Musa Bihi Abdi on winning the contest. James Carver (MEP and UKIP party) forcefully remarked on the recognition of Somaliland in a debate at the EU parliament at Brielle’s and indicated that there are precedents [(the dissolution of the UAR between two independent states between Egypt and Syria; the dissolution of the union between Senegal and Gambia (Senegambia)]. “Somaliland has taken the path of democracy”, Edna Aden Ismail adds. Somaliland deserves international recognition. Somaliland has proven to be a symbol of peace, security and stability in a region affected with political turmoil. This year’s laudable successful election conducted this year offers food for thought for the African continent in general and for East Africa in particular. The challenges Somaliland’s diplomatic isolation defies it from international recognition and the newly-elected president has no illusions about the complex challenges facing Somaliland (Financial Times, 28th November 2017). The president-elect, Musa Bihi Abdi vows to serve all Somalilanders alike in justice and pledges to broaden development, strengthen and consolidate peace, security, stability and extend democratisation; improve the economic headwinds and pillars of the economy, resources and endowment; seek foreign direct investments; provide basic needs of the society (health care, education, clean water, youth employment etc.). The centrality of international recognition is high on the agenda. The new president stressed the importance to reform the presently sterile talks and negotiations with Somalia and the need for international neutral witnesses and mediators from the international community as well as change the modalities of the negotiations. I wish the best of luck for the new president and his administration. Dr. Hussein M Nur, Consultant (International Development, UK)