Let’s stay with the facts 1. The west doesn’t care about which ethnicity the next PM will be from, they supported Abiy who is an Oromo with a Muslim father. Only Somali’s and some Herreri man Galbeedi had coffee with, seem to care about such nonsense, not understanding Ethiopian political dynamics and what is actually at stake here. 2. The issue that the West does care about is for Ethiopia not to become a ‘China’ like centralised, autocratic and nationalistic state with a planned economy dominated by state run and dominated companies and private sector, and that Ethiopia neither facilitates or enables the real China to gain greater access and inroad in to the wider region of Africa. 3.The TPLF have successfully managed to re-brand and sell themselves, to both the West and some opposition forces, as champions of a different vision of Ethiopia, with a ethno-centric decentralised form of governance in which much of the decision making would be on regional level, which logically would find appeal across the country, ethnic states and with opposition forces. 3. Everyone, including the west, knows that 30 years of brutal centralised and autocratic TPLF rule were quite the opposite of what they are selling us here. 4. But nevertheless do they find appeal and support in the west, and with other states like Egypt, and even support from some opposition forces like the OLA, as the TPLF have the political, military and financial leverage to put a horse in the game and it’s in their interest to challenge the very unappealing political direction of Abiy(see point nr.2), which coincides with the interest of those external and internal actors. 5. Despite the opportunities for wider political affinity and popular support to a decentralised Ethiopian state with much autonomy for the regions and various ethnic groups, no political forces from the Afar’s, Somali’s, Herrari’s and even Oromo’ have been able to form a force and influence the political discourse and present an alternative to Abiy’s model. 6. Most of the politicians and political parties from the Afar’s, Somali’s, Herrari’s and Oromo have been marked by a lack of a unified political vision or even discussion that could form the basis for a political strategy, or forming political alliances across clans and tribes in order to appeal to the masses. Example, look at Jig Jiga where neither ONLF, Mustafe Cagjar and other opposition can’t seem to change the political narrative beyond the usual and futile Reer Abdulle vs. Reer Abdalle nonsense. 7. This lack of an alternative political voice and force, made it quite easy for the current regime, to dominate the political landscape through arresting, intimidating, banning and incorporating the few relevant politicians, and selling uncontested its centralised and nationalistic vision that actually only a small minority of Ethiopians seem to support. 8. Coming back to the subject of the thread, unlike in Somali politics this war and conflict isn’t about the ethnicity of the PM and neither is the solution, it’s about the political direction of Ethiopia. And I am not sure if Somali’s have anything meaningful to contribute to that discussion and direction, as we can’t seem to be able to transcend our usual basic instincts of seeing everything (Ethiopia/Addis) burn (Che), cheerleading a tribe/clan to loot PM/Presidential seats as if they were camels (Galbeedi), ascribing every outcome to alien or western conspiracies (Duufaan), enjoy the Schadenfreude as the misfortunes of others gives us a sense of normality in our own failures (MMA), seeing lights and signs of recognition everywhere when there is not even a glimpse in the dark (Xaaji Xunjuf) or be so emotionally scarred to completely lose sight of the current reality and what is actually going today in the here and now (Khadafi).

Thousands and thousands of Oromo youth have already flooded Finfinne over the last years, being told Finfinne is Oromo and theirs to capture.

Seems like deflection from the recent developments in Guriceel.

Nonsense, there are multitude of possible outcomes then independence alone. Tigray, Amhara and Oromo’s are all land locked African tribes and besides independence of a land locked nation is no guarantee for stability and peace, there are already different factions and in fighting between the armed groups. the international community and neither do other African counties want to see new 3x new land locked South-Sudans engaged in never ending civil wars, as that will be the result of independence having no external enemy, one will turn against eachother. Nevertheless, Something good can come out of end of the all powerful Ethiopian empire, it could also mean a greater greater autonomy and democracy at local level, and devolution of mandates from the central government to the regions and districts. Eventually the PP of Abiy will have to make place both at regional and federal level for the many regional ethnic political factions that he tied to silence, and this is what this war is about, Abiy tried to impose his romantic empire upon the masses.

Is this political?

Excellent move by Puntland, this is will give people to experiment and learn governing by the peoples votes. And surprisingly 1/3 of elected Council members are women. I think only the number of local Councillers is quite excessive, 27 council members for a town of 5000 people, might lead to overkill as all these councillers might expect benefits, influence and status.

Hahaha, AMISOM is not siding with Kenya, but they are preparing for a silent coupe d’estate while Somali government distracted and intoxicated with celebrating the maritime verdict.

Maybe it’s modesty, as one didn’t want to steal away spotlight of those people who have put much effort over the years, think of the Deputy PM and President.

Not quite the same.

Even if the federal government wins this battle against the Tigray forces, the political will of those forces vying for self-determination and decentralization at local level will remain, maybe not waging wars and conquering lands as the Tigray did. And nor sure if the Oromo opposition are capable to take such a political role, but eventually Abiy will have to negotiate a settlement m to keep Ethiopia together.

thousands of Somali’s, including those from SL have been expelled and pushed out from Oromo regions. yet there has been no mass deportations of Oromo workers and entrepreneurs from Hargeisa, Borama and Berbera, as the thousands and thousands of guards, gardeners, barbers and entrepreneurs are still there. On the other hand no SL folks have been pushed out from South-West or Jubbaland for that matter, and yet the SL government has deported 800 south-westerns from Las Anod and announced that even more will be deported from Erigavo (where there is not even a security issue to use as justification). Apparently Oromo’s seem to have more rights then Somali’s in Somaliland. I really can’t make anything else of this.

A prolonged conflict in other Ethiopian regions and weakened centre would not necessarily stop at the regional or ethnic borders, and could lead to fragmentations and balkanisations even with the Somali’s region. Secondly, TPLF and Federal government could still come to an agreement without the Somali’s benefitting from any potential outcome. There are other ways for the Somali’s to get more governing space, autonomy and equitable share of resources from the centre, with less risk of bloodshed and instability for the Somali region and neighboring ethnic states, while ensuring that the Somali interest are not excluded from any future arrangement.

Xaaji, if one would ask around in every urban settlement, village or city, on the local opinions and sentiments, I am sure every native community would happily see other groups or clans who they perceive to be a problem, swiftly be deported. And if one would govern or lead based on local sentiments and evict all those who the locals have a problem with and don’t consider to be native, I don’t think you would have any vibrant cities left. Remember we are talking about urban settlements, not pastoral grazing land or farm land, which is a completely different issue.

Xaaji, maybe you forgot that there is a significant number of your kind living in South-West regions who have been there for decades and even centuries. And how about those in Jabuuti, Jig Jiga, Janaame and Garissa? Do you want them all to be deported back to their native land as well?

Che, bal arintan noo fasir wadiga baryahan laangaabyada Xabashida sacabka u tumiyee?

Nothing wrong with political conformity and consensus between political leaders from the same clan, it would make negotiations and finding balance much easier within the current system that is based on clan arrangements. The issue is if clans can be easily divided based on the latest highest bidders, leading to unpredictable and unstable outcomes which makes it hard to manage or to seek equilibrium. @MMA, How many TV stations do Somali’s have, and how balance is their daily reporting? I suggest you start defending your political employer based on substance rather the only on clan based incitement.

Do the election cost 32 million shilling or dollars?

Obviously foreign politics and dealing with foreign countries isn’t Somaliland strong suite. However Somaliland makes that up in their domestic politics and dealings, seeking broad consensus and inclusive decision making on important matters.

They should advocate for greater democratisation and inclusive decision making in governance on local and regional/state level, rather then try to control or correct the process from central level.

Isn’t this the PM, the Head of Government? What’s wrong with him doing foreign missions restoring the diplomatic ties that Farmaajo seemed to have wrecked. Specially during a crucial phase in which Somalia needs international support in its negotiations with the AU led AMISON force on a new mandate. Or would you rather want AMISOM to expand its mission with a mandate to interfere in Somalia’s internal politics?

It might definitely motivate them. And it will definetly give further leverage to AMISON in their negotiations with Donors and Federal Government.

What’s all the fuzz about, have you even read the document? First of all it’s a communique not an agreement. Second it says nothing else that Kenya and Somalia are intending to discuss a number of subject such as Diplomatic Relations, Livestock, Security, Defense, Education, Agriculture, Blue Economy, etc. And lastly Blue Economy is a container term that also covers Fisheries, Tourism, Maritime logistics, Shipping, Marine Biodiversity, doesn’t mean necessarily Natural resources. The real significant issue that one seems to be ignoring here is that both countries will send back their Ambassadors agains and open their Embassies. And this seems to be a politically mature and sensible thing to do between two neighboring countries.

Many people from those clans did stand up, please do look up about people like aun, Garaad Abdiqani who spoke up against Siyad Barre, Ali Khaliif Galeydh a senior Minister opposing the regime and becoming the most senior political exile, Dr.Mohamed Aden Sheick Health Minister and Parliamentarian convicted for treason and spending years in prison, and who then build the Hargeisa Children’s Hospital that has been named after him. Aden Abdullahi Gabyow former Defence Minister who was jailed and later on led the SPM. And many many others who were Senior Politicians, Military leaders, Artist, Academics, etc opposed him from wll Somali clans. But you need to keep in mind that Somalia was under a military dictatorship in which power was concentrated in the hands of one man, and you will find in each clan people that cheered for him and supported him, and those that opposed him. Somali’s are not bad people, neither are there bad clans but try to look for more facts, listen to different people and what they have witnessed, only then you get a full picture of what happened.

Will ONLF be joining this new alliance?