Westerners have different meanings for the origins of "tying the knot" (congratulations by the way), but I always picture a girl wrapping her belongings in a bundle as she makes her way to her new house.

^^ This is a leaf-free thread. War even Alpha is rumoured to have quit.

^^ Maya ma haysanayo, ama qaado ama meel ku tuur; ha ii so celin uun oo labadaydii gacmo ha isku dirin. Yes, I am back and fully refreshed.

It's obvious that a significant number of poeple in that country (including tearful iley) liked the man! Now we move on to the next person and his new group of lovers. C'est la vie!

^^ Hada waan ku amaanayay, paranoid waaxid.

Nairobi (Kenya) - What is at stake as Somalia votes? A number of countries from the region have strategic interests in Somalia that are at variance with each other, even though they have come together under the umbrella of the African Union Mission in Somalia, Amisom, to defeat Al Shabaab and stabilise the country. In theory, regional partners want a strong central government that would permanently end the Al Shabaab threat, chase foreign terrorists from Somali soil, and end the insecurity that plagued the region since the collapse of the Somali state in 1991. In theory also, the partners would like to see the will of the people of Somalia reflected in a free and fair election. However, the different countries are still trying to influence the outcome by quietly lobbying for candidates they believe will serve their strategic interests best. For the member states of the East African Community, the continued conflict in Somalia has brought piracy and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Piracy in the Indian Ocean has caused a sharp increase in the cost of transportation of goods. The declaration of the East African coast as a “war risk zone” has attracted huge insurance premiums, and resulted in longer voyage times and job losses. World Bank loans to countries in the region to finance naval patrols are estimated to have reached $55 billion. Outside the region, the United States, Yemen, Qatar, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia have been watching closely as the term of the transitional government comes to an end. Once neglected by the international community, the increase in piracy and the entry of Al Qaeda made Somalia an international problem. Meanwhile, Amisom is preparing to capture Kismayu — the last bastion of Al Shabaab — an operation that, if successful, will set new parameters in the intervention. According to Dr Muhammed Ali, an expert on the politics of the Horn, the intervention in Somalia is a diplomatic tool for the countries of the region to prove that they can succeed where a UN mission failed in the early 1990s. The states directly interested in and affected by the Somalia election are Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, and to some degree, Tanzania. Other countries with troops in Somalia are Sierra Leone - which is working with Kenya in Sector 2 in south Somalia - as well as Nigeria and Ghana. The US has been supportive of Ethiopia and the Amisom forces, and would like to see Somalia stabilise after the elections to ensure that the country does not continue to be a haven for terrorists. Dr Ali says major players in Somalia have been evaluating leading candidates in the presidential elections, with a view to backing those they believe will take care of their national interests. However, the lobbying has been quiet in order to avoid a repeat of the complaints that emerged after the 2004 Somali elections, that were held in Nairobi, where Ethiopia was perceived to have influenced the election of Abdullahi Yusuf. Recent terrorist attacks by Al Shabaab in Kenya have brought the Somali crisis uncomfortably close, while an illicit parallel trade network worth millions of US dollars thrives between Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate and Mogadishu. A legitimate government can be expected to formalise this parallel economic system. Dr Amukowa Anangwe, a lecturer in conflict management and international relations at the University of Dodoma, says that even though countries in the region have varied interests and will be backing different candidates, the decisive influences in the elections will be the candidate’s clan and money. Sources that have been following the behind-the-scenes lobbying say Kenya favours Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, a former lecturer in the United States, whom Nairobi sees as capable of introducing professionalism into Somalia’s global relations. Nairobi has recently been uncomfortable with President Ahmed Shariff, who initially opposed the intervention of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) last October. Apart from the perception that he is yet to fully sever links with some ultra-religious groups in Somalia, President Shariff does not support Kenya’s push for a semi-autonomous region of Jubaland in the south. Prior to the intervention, Kenya had been training Somali soldiers with the intention of deploying them in the proposed Jubaland, an area which was meant to act as a buffer zone between Kenya and the rest of Somalia. However, Kenya’s Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Richard Onyonka said the country is not backing any candidate because Nairobi wants the Somali people to choose whomever they want as president, and the Kenya government is ready to work with the person who is elected. “Kenya has no objection to President Shariff. There is a consensus in the region that nobody is going to work a miracle after elections; the priority this time is stability, which can be achieved by continuity,” Mr Onyonka said. The Uganda leadership is seen as being close to President Shariff, who visits the country frequently for consultations with President Yoweri Museveni. Uganda has the biggest troop contingent in Somalia and wants to see continuity in leadership, given that a change could disrupt the military gains made by Amisom. Last week, President Museveni, while meeting the UN special representative on Somalia Augustine Mahiga, said Uganda was ready to support Somalia as the country nears an end to the transitional period. “The road has been bumpy, with many tasks to be accomplished. However it is good for the region to know that Somalia is heading for a new government,” President Museveni said in a statement. Apart from Uganda, President Shariff secured the support of South Africa during the recent AU summit in Addis Ababa, where Somalia voted for the new chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Djibouti, whose population is almost purely Somali, has cultural and kinship relations with Somalia. The first peace meetings after the collapse were called by Djibouti, leading to the formation of the first transitional government in 2000. Regional experts say Djibouti has always wanted a functioning government in Somalia, because the factors that destabilised Somalia could also destabilise Djibouti. Many Somalis who fled the war have taken up Djibouti citizenship. According to the new Amisom plan, Djibouti troops were set to take over Sector 4, which includes Hiraan and other areas currently controlled by Ethiopian forces. Burundi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have also thrown their weight behind President Shariff. Burundi, which together with Uganda has battled Al Shabaab in Mogadishu since 2007, has suffered the highest number of casualties among Amisom forces. Ethiopia has been in perennial conflict with Somalia since the 15th century, so the stability of Somalia is seen to aid national security. Indeed, Ethiopia has made fighting Islamism in the Horn part of its foreign policy. Ethiopia, historically, has been wary of pan-Somali nationalists because of the sizeable population of ethnic Somalis in ******, where secessionist groups have been operating for decades. Then there is Eritrea, which despite not having forces in Somalia, is also interested in the presidential outcome. Countries in the region have accused Eritrea of supplying arms to Al Shabaab, a charge the Red Sea country has denied. According to Dr Ali, regional states have discovered that it is better to engage Eritrea because once Amisom dismantles Al Shabaab, they would not want Eritrea to give refuge to the militia’s leadership to regroup. Uganda has been engaging Eritrea for the same reasons. The US’s main interest is to ensure Somalia is no longer a launching pad for terrorists, which poses a direct threat to its business interests and lives of US citizens, especially in Kenya, where the US has its largest investment in the region. A recent executive order from US President Barack Obama states, “Somalia constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.” Despite having been in conflict for more than two decades, the recent discovery of oil and other minerals has sparked interest in the region in participating in the exploitation of Somalia’s mineral wealth. Apart from oil, Somalia has uranium, and largely unexploited deposits of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt and natural gas. http://www.afrika.no/Detailed/22084.html

^^ It doesn't work that way dee. You either have to say something about Juxa or at least mention Qardho for this thread to pick up again.

^^ As things stand, I would agree with you on the dowlah. However, since Al Shabab refused to sit down (with no conditions) and attempt to broker peace, I give the 'cudurdaar' to the dowlah that claims it will be gobbled up and spat out if it does not seek help from outside. p.s. The pissing on part applies to all of us, not just Al Shabab. When we're dead, dee bisad walba ayaa nago kaaji doonta (mise bisadaad garan wayday? mukulaal nooh, mukulaal).

^^ Keep up dee. I said I relish informed discussions in reply to Yunis's query as to my reasons for searching for Xabashi websites. There are a couple of good articles on that site but, like I said, the Xabashis there seem to be even madder than our Osman.

Che -Guevara;858995 wrote: Zenawi was never relic. In any case, his Siilaanyo and the rest will miss sitting on that famous seat. When it comes to Zenawi, they are all praises. Siilaanyo is hardly unique in this instance. Oh, so you're talking about Siilaanyo? Actually (and I'll understand it if you find that hard to believe), I was never impressed with the old man. You got me on the entity part but not on Siilaanyo. I always expected him to be all talk and no trousers and he, for the most part, proved me right. Of course, he's not as bad as the Imam but, still, a man that does not place much value on justice does not impress me that much. p.s. They will all sit on that chair again. In fact, they'll probably all go to the fuenral anyway.

^^ I do. I want them defeated but when have you ever heard me saying they're not muslim or that their intentions (on the whole) are evil? Waan kuu sheegay dee (inta badan) diin kumaan diidin, farsamadaan ku diiday. Anigu waxaan taaganahay 'qaatilo al lati tabghi' and I consider Al Shabab to be that group.

^^ Which relic and what entity? (Zenaawi is dead, he's not relic anymore). Somalia’s outgoing president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Tuesday sent his condolences to the Ethiopian government and its people following the death of the country’s strong man Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who died in a hospital in abroad on Monday. Speaking at a press conference inside Mogadishu’s main airport, President Sharif said the fallen Ethiopian leader was a significant figure in the Horn of Africa. He said he was in good terms with Meles Zenawi before his death and used to see things from the same perspective despite their past records. The president said they shared common position when it comes to regional security matters, saying they both advocated for lasting peace in the horn of Africa as well as stronger relations between horn of African countries and their people. http://www.bar-kulan.com/2012/08/21/president-sharif-sends-condolences-to-ethiopians-over-zenawi%E2%80%99s-death/

^^ Don't fall over yourself as you rush to make a judgement warya. Where SL leades, usually other Somalis follow. Now lets wait for Imam, Sharif and the others to try to wrest the title of "I loved Zenawi the most" from Siilaanyo.

‘Wuxuu ahaa Hoggaamiye aad u qiimo badan oo ilaaliya nabad-gelyadda mandaqada Geeska Afrika’ HARGEYSA (Somaliland.Org)- Madaxweynaha Somaliland Md. Axmed Maxamed Maxamuud (Siilaanyo) ayaa geerida Raysal wasaarihii Itoobiya Males Zanawi, ku tilmaamay Hoggaamiye weyn oo ka baxay dalalka Mandaqada geeska iyo Afrika guud ahaanba. Madaxweynuhu wuxuu dhambaal Tacsi ah u diray shacbiga iyo dawladda Itoobiya, waxaanu sheegay inay Somaliland ka xun tahay geerida naxdinta leh eek u timid Raysal wasaare Males Zanawi oo saaka waabarigii ku geeriyooday cisbitaal ku yaala dalka Biljam oo uu muddo todobaadyo ah u jiifay xanuun caloosha ah. “Waxaan dalka Itoobiya iyo wadamada geeska afrika caam ahaan uga tacsiyadeynayaa geerida naxdinta leh ee ku timid Raysal wasaare Males Zanawi oo ahaa nin aad iyo aad u ah madax sare oo Geeska Afrika iyo Afrikaba door weyn ku leh xagga Nabad-gelyadda. Itoobiyana waxay ahayd xarunta Midowga Afrika oo dhan,”ayuu yidhi Madaxweyne Siilaanyo. Madaxweyne Axmed Siilaanyo waxa uu intaasi ku daray “Wuxuu ahaa Hoggaamiye aad u qiimo badan oo aad iyo aad u ilaaliya nabad-gelyadda mandaqada Geeska Afrika. Geeridaasi waa mid naxdin leh, waxaanu uga tacsiyaydeynaynaa dadweynaha Geeska Afrika iyo Afrika caam ahaanba. Aad iyo aad ayaanu uga tacsiyadeynaynaa.” Madaxweyne Axmed Siilaanyo oo maanta u waramayay laanta Afsoomaaliga ee Idaacadda BBC-da, waxa kale oo uu ka hadlay cilaaqaadka labada dal ee Somaliland iyo Itoobiya, isagoo arrintaasi ka hadlayayna wuxuu yidhi “Itoobiya aad iyo aad ayay iskugu wanaagsanaayeen Somaliland illaa xiligii halganka. Itoobiya waa dalka ugu balaadhan Geeska Afrika. Somaliland iyo Dalkeeda mar walba waxay ahaayeen Itoobiya waxay ahaayeen labada dal oo mar walba wax iskaga xidhnaayeen. Mar walba wada shaqaynta Nabadgelyada, Ganacsiga iyo xagga horumarka way isku xidhnaayeen Somaliland iyo Itoobiya. Waana laba dal oo aan marnaba sina u kala maarmaynin.” “Waanu ka xun nahay geeridda Males Zanawi, waanan ka tacsiyadeynaynaa Itoobiya, waanan balan qaadaynaa inaanu xidhiidhkii wanaagsanaa ee labada dal ka dhaxeeyay inuu sidiisii u sii socon doono,”ayuu yidhi Madaxweynaha Somaliland. Madaxweynuhu wuxuu intaasi ku daray inay Somaliland aaska raysal wasaarihii hore ee Itoobiya kaga qeyb geli doonaan heerka ugu sareeya. Madaxweyne Siilaanyo waxa uu sheegay inuu saxeexayo buug tacsi ah oo ay Xukuumaddu ka furtay Hargeysa. Males Zanawi oo ku geeriyooday Dalka Biljum isagoo 57 Jir ah, waxa uu tallada dalka hayay illaa 1991-kii. Waxaanu ahaa siyaasi miisaan ku leh gedi socodka siyaasadda ee dalalka mandaqada iyo Afrikaba. Cumar Maxamed Faarax Somaliland.Org/Hargeysa ----- Heh. If diplomacy demands a comment, Siilaanyo could have kept it simple and gave dry condolances instead of this glowing eulogy.

^^ War hadal cad i hor dhig dee. Tii uun miyaan ku so noqnoqonayna? cudurdaar ba hadaad meesha keentay, khilaaf baad cadeesay (ogo yaraan); marka xasuuso wixi aan kulaha markaan hadalkan bilownay; anigu kalsoonida Al Shabab ayaan diiday. Waxaan ku diiday, raggano samir kama mooqdo, qiyaasta ka maqan oo xamaasada ku badan. "he may have cudurdaar" waliga kama maqlaysid. Wax fahan.

^^ No, I don't. I relish 'informed' discussions. Couldn't find any here.

^^ I was throwing a rock in the bushes to see what I could scare out, Ayoub. (no need for apology dee). Maadeey, waa tan xamaasada so noqotay. Our main USWAH, using your own words from above, cudurdaar buu keenay. Wax fahan.

Since I didn't get much from here, I went to a xabashi forum and had a browse at what they have to say. They're as mad as Somalis. http://www.ethiopianreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41497&p=230126#p230126

Fulay fooqal fulay. Just because you're getting married does not mean you have to fall ill. مبروك علي الزواج والله يشفيك

^^ Yes but you also said: "There was takfeer in that era, sxb! (and in front of Nabiyu al Raxmah!) and didn't do any thing except that he told the accuser that the accused may have some cudurdaar!." War ha i waalin dee.

If Somalia should have a fair and proper election tomorrow, how far from the 4.5 breakdown will the results fall?

^^ Now you lost me. Isn't that what I've been saying all along dee? War ha i waalin.

^^ Good man. I call him a boogey man because he is just that. He was just one man and Ethiopia's conflict with Somalia neither began nor will end with him. So when I see people cheering his death and placing such an importance on it, I believe I am within my rights to call him a boogeyman. Anyway, what do you think will happen next?

Daqane;858921 wrote: Some times in the name of wit we cab trivialise real issues, refering to him as a bogeyman like he did not exist and did not do the things he did is perhaps something to be gone over by you. Dry your eyes, adeer. The man is dead and no worse fate (in this world) can befall him than that. Now if you want to be grown up and talk about the consequences of his death or changes it may bring to the horn of africa, then I'm all ears. If, however, you want to do a bellydance of joy and wail like an old woman, dee don't get upset when I start mocking. Wax fahan.

Maaddeey;858827 wrote: NG, since you took Ali as an example, let me remind you inaan doorashadiisa iyo khilaafadiisaba laysku raacsaneyn, oo waxaa a soo horjeestay talxa iyo zubair oy saabiqeen iyo qaraabba (zubair) ahaayeen, saasooy tahayna dagaal buu kala hortegay, that was Ali the man Allah loved much and the time was the first century of Islam!, ma fahantay!. I used it as an example for a reason, saaxib. Talxa iyo zubair ma kuffar ba? Om ul mo'mineenka awrka saarneed ma kaafirad ba (other than what some shica may say)? Marka maanta maxa keenay takfiirkan xun iyo kalsoonidan waalan? Muslin in ay isqabsadaan la isku ma haysto, saaxib. Waa wada bashar and bashar make mistakes. Ee waxaan anigu Al Shabab ku diiday axmaqnimadood oo ku kaliftay in ay dadka kale diinta ka saaraan iyo khilaaf walba gacan ku xaliyaan. Wax fahan.