lol strange- where are you going with this?? Not it is boring- much like all NGOs and INGOs P.s. Your worst story EVER

" this event representating Khatumo, Awdal and Makhir communities of Toronto and Ottawa, Canada." I could not get past that- The plain truth is people in those regions dont have the time or luxury to bother with whatever you are parading. Disapora folks who have nostalgia feelings towards "Somalia" will always do their continuous fundraising, partying and flag waving to keep their own dreams alive whether about clan pride, unity or otherwise- the reality on the ground marches to its own beat and in accordance to their NEEDS. The same goes for Disapora Somaliland and Puntiland folks too. I have been to caynabo, LA, Badan, Eerigaabo, Yagori and lots of villages around that area- as an International election observer and two further occasions for a literature campaign to build libraries and most recently as a research consultant; All I saw and heard were villagers going about their business and daily life. Their attitude is wiixi waxaan na siiya ayaan raaceyna. As for Awdal- if you could not keep Samatar or offer him anything for all his Somali-weyn believes- then you have even less to offer people who are the furthest away- at least Makhir meelaya, then sool and sanaag and work your way slowly to Awdal- what exactly do you think they are going to do now? carry their land and jump over the rest for what reward and purpose other than the rantings of dirac wearing women signing in the Diaspora,and self interest men who want to make a business out of them?! Go and visit them- see how they live- give them the money, otherwise it is just hot air and feel good rhetoric's- which are not worth the sand they walk on.

Loool Juxa- the amount of reer waqooyi people going back to Xamar, selling their proterty, opening new business. Horta the whole of Hargeisa business is over in xamar stablishing franchies over there and linking up with local companies- ciid walba ciid aya ku xidhetey. You need to go Xamar Juxa and be my link! Adam Shikh is beautiful and amazing- small community, at one with nature, but you may get bored- too much of a miyi for some people. I go there to shut down, sight see and hiking [which people find strange]- you come back with a different prospective all together.

Yes- we just hike our clothes and step on stepping stones to cross lol, just kidding- the water disappears as fast as it appears- runs down the hills all the way to the sea. Such waste. Only small puddles remain on bases of hills or dung areas.

Somali well lets hope the bubble burst soon or it would be another Angola. Adam- not that I know of- with that in mind you shall be perfectly fine in Hargeisa or anywhere else- dont let the Diaspora online fidi ku diri scare you. The reality is Somali's true to their nomadic nature roam all over the place. Juxa was amazed when she came to see me- I think she was expecting in la shiido or dhagax lagu turturo :D but aside from crude honesty- there are no other risks to your wealth, health or safety.

I love rain- but I hate the mosquitos and strange looking creatures it brings out- not to mention lacking of town flood management. I was at home for 7 days- didnt leave my house- then I stepped out for a short walk on the 7th day.

^^^Agree and very true- but they would need to get a different set of black faces- we can agree for Bashir and Adan- their acting career- at least as pirates is over. We might see them in a new blockbuster about master minders of something else in time though

It depends on what you are doing- if you are a unionist advocating for the destruction of SL or have Political voice and motivation dont come, but regular folks walk around with diverse views and go on about their business. Garowe- all I know about that place is they cook beer with water rather than frying it and full of ultra-religious vocal men- girls always come back complaining about how many layers they have to wear in the heat. lol When you think of going?

I saw this earlier and could not stop laughing; Bashir- why would a real pirate be giving interviews to these white people for a bit of change when he is a pirate and rich! lol logic! LAzy journalist- serves them right! Although Jamal has obviously now killed off their business!

Per month- but Im sure a few more months- 6-7 anf those prices will become weekly!! Huge price rises. OF course if you have local connections you can rent in the none secure areas for $150-$300 but only for the brave souls willing to cross to the side where the normal community lives with all its risks. Lol @ Notting Hill- Well it wont be the same luxury as notting hill.

It is an expensive time to go Adam. Places with high security and filled with Diaspora is around $3,000- $2500 rent for the whole house- so depending on how many people sharing- $500 is a good estimate.

SalamAlikum. I feel blue and restless- it wont stop raining, the mosquitos are attacking me endlessly, I have tons of work and I feel like a hostage in place full of crazy and deluded men pretending to be important officials. Even the arrival of my long awaited reward only cheered me up for 4hrs before some good for nothing official ruined my high! Alhumdulilah cal kuli xaal as my dear edo says. So how is everyone!

IT has changed owners a while back- now owed by the same folks who are shareholders of fox news. Therefore dont expect too much- they no longer report both sides- It is all about America.

Well the MEETING is before the Independence celebration- but yes still a Riwaayad. JB: I find these new posters creepy- I mean really- yaa hargeisa joog ee loo xoog sheeganaya?

Lol Tillamook, that you think ANYONE in the international community- particularly IGNOs want a stable Somalia is a joke itself- no one wants the cash cow to dry up- not Kenya, not Ethiopia, not the UN, not no one. The conditions in Somalia are perfect for meeting the requirement for aid. I find it strange that anyone cares about Somaliland at this stage, at all- We have a tendency to get ahead of reality, at the moment, MOG, Kismayo and Puntiland balance aya lala liita and you want to add more pis*sed off people into the equation.

Initially what happened was the government was too constrained in infrastructure, resources and everything imaginable, therefore UN agencies filled a gap in providing services that the state SHOULD've been providing but couldn't. This was done independently by them. After some point instead of going to the ministries to implement projects- they would go directly to the school or the hospital, they would fund consultants to work in the school or hospital who reports to them directly, and that information disappears into the black-hole of information collection. They would prepare yearly balance, refurbishment plans etc and the management of that institution would co-sign off with them. As a result we have an education curriculum for primary schools/secondary that is Kenyan (they didnt even bother replicating it- just reprinted more copies). Each institution was run like a mini-country of its own- we have laws replicated form Afghanistan in the Justice and sector sector. With no regulation they flourished under their Somali local representatives, their overhead cost is ridiculousness and cannot be justified under a peaceful environment. Over the last two years, when ministries got extended funding and expanded into their role, IGNOs resisted, particularly in law making, the Council of Ministers simply returned much needed laws because they were written without their consultation and was replicated from another country. To give the government more legitimacy institution were also asked not to deal directly with IGNOS until they had the expressed consent of the relevant minister and Dr. Saad Shire at the Ministry of Planning set up a rigors yearly evaluation and feed back systems and a very length process for new registrations. The development of the National Development Plan also required them to align their work with the national goals. When they tired to resist, they [somaliland] went above their heads directly to the donors. As a result via the Somaliland Fund- not only is the funding being spent without the use of INGOs (6 private foreign companies bidding for the overall management of the fund who will later subcontract to companies/local or foreign in each sector) but it will also be aligned with the national development plan. For the Somaliland Fund it is UK and Denmark -four year; Private companies normally require either a western registered company with local ties or even local set also to outsource to, or local set up companies run by Somali Diaspora or educated locals. They will manage the fund- the outsource companies are required to implement.

NGONGE;931001 wrote: ^^ War Hassan Sheikh was with them in the plane that flew them back home. After they had their talks, he jumped off as they flew over Villa Somalia. OMG I heard that too. Apparently he is thrill seeker- :D Since hearing this I have new found respect for Hassan Sheikh. P.s. All these Sheikh named people can surely fix a few things!>? Otherwise future lesson, keep away from people named Sheikh. After the national meeting on the 30th and 31st of Somaliland aqoonyahans- we will know if Somaliland is attending this or any future ones. This is the forum which will formulate the long term strategic agenda for Somaliland.

Hardly a blow or a surprise. The UN has found it very difficult to raise funds for SL, although they are adequately funded for Puntland and over funded for South Central (as in they have not been able to spend the money raised despite huge wastage on research, consultants and paying government salary). Also in Somaliland UN agencies have come under intense monitoring to justify their spending and spend it how the government wants- which they dont like, with the Health Minister threatening to kick out WFP and MOI threatening to kick out UNDP, MOE has successfully wrestled the curriculum and the education sector as whole from the grips of UNCIEF. The UN have never recognized or even respected Somaliland (or any Somali authority), they wanted to run Somaliland and provide the government services without any monitoring, consultation or input from the people or government- in fact they went out of their way to undermine and ensure work cannot be done without them. That looks to be coming to an end, which can only be a good thing. Also, the UN offices will stay here as well as the local staff, the white people will go to Kenya and NEW offices will be created in MOG staffed by Diaspora Somalis and managed from Kenya (with the view for full relocation to MOG)- again the sooner Kenya can be bypassed the better and more funds that can be directly used in Somalia. The new aid structure for Somalia will be helpful for Somalia in providing the funds for emergencies and quick reconstruction of institution, for a while the UN will run things until Somalis in Somalia can manage and run their own affairs. (That is assuming the funds dont simply disappear). On other hand Somaliland (and Puntiland in a few years) will be pulling towards private sector companies managing funds and targeting specific sectors. As such now we have KPMG, Adam Smith International, Crown Agents, PriceWaterCooper etc setting up office in Somaliland while bidding for projects from the donors- the middle men (INGOs and NGOs) will be replaced by private companies who work with the government on that area (Security, Education etc). This gives better control to Somaliland but also less room for corruption and wastage. Of course I realise this was a point scoring thread and anyone who comes here is coming to shout something pro their land, so I very much doubt my serious response will matter. Oh well.

:D Lool Ngonge you didnt think I'd last in Somaliland for more than three months- so wax dhabee laga qoori mayo about your predictions! lol

I would make a good dictator- not so sure about this whole democracy and clan bullshid Somali presidents are expected to deal with. I would be like I doooooooont caaare- show me your real qualifications- I dont give hoot who your father is or was.

North sure, would you vote for me>>??? I am already inantan yaar ee meel walba gacanta kula jirta xagey nagnag timii!!

Hey all. YEs I am 2years old in Somaliland! I can't say it has been easy and I have lots of complaints laakin in the words of this lady "AINT NO BODY GOT TIME FOR DAT"

Maxa la isla dhaba yaacaya- really do they need THAT many people to attend a meeting which they dont know the agenda for? I think the badow in them thought we cant waste all these seats on the plane- lets fill it up. All these jetting about with half of the ministers is a joke- they are all needed in their respective posts to do some REAL work. Quit it already with these pointless visits. In their absence the UN is here explaining and promoting their new aid structure, which effectively would mean processing everything through xamar, then Kenya, adding an extra layer but effectively also taking a few steps back from Somaliland. Somaliland and Somalilanders really need to get beyond this whole "the president went to so and so, and was welcome nicely with red carpet and met with a delegation"

She is 12yrs old people- she is hardly going to write something a cirole 50yr would find interesting!!! Let the child be! When you were 12, most of you were playing with dirt/sheep/ball or crying your eyes out for toys.

I wonder what become of this project? I know she took sometime off to have her baby and then I never heard anything else back. It was a good initiative. We need Somali archives not just for arts- so much history lost. I feel sad every time I see 90 something year old person passing away with all their experience, memories and knowledge. Truly depressing.