^^ Only faith related topics. I have enough danbi of my own without dragging young Oba into more.

^^ I already clarified that point with you the other day when I was going on about Fowziya and that central banker. No worries there. Oodweyne;911005 wrote: Ngonge, Still, playing the clever game in here, eh, bro. No, as you know I was never a devout believer of that London talks, as in here of SOL there is plenty of evidence of that. However, I did gave them the benefit of the doubt on a understanding that we are going to be informed the strategical position we have as we go in into this talks. But, unfortunately, since, I am (you may not believe this) well connected insider with Somaliland foreign policy advocate groups, I have learned to my horror our case is as flimsy as it has look in that day we have signed that London declaration. Furthermore, there was that further development along the lines of effectively taking very unhealthy attachment with Djibouti to the point of almost (and for all practical purpose) "subcontracting" our foreign policy to that dictator in Djibouti. And, this of course, did also came as a shock to the system. Specifically knowing how that little dictator in Djibouti was always a sworn enemy of Somaliand. And, finally, if you add all of the above to how they were sleep at the switch when Somalia was recognized in a broad day light without so much of whimper from them, or for that matter having no idea how that will effect them profoundly going forward, then, you can say, that really was to me the final proverbial last straw that have broken the back of the said camel, particularly in so far as my tolerance of this government endless failure is concern. Now, is that something that you can compute in your cynical way and say to yourself, that, perhaps, our Oodweyne may have an unassailable case in here, particularly, against our government. Or are you yet again going to play your usual game of pretending that you really can't see what the fuss in here is all about, bro. I can't help it, guru, I have to keep disagreeing with you here until you "show me the money", as it were. I mean you know that I despise the "waxa la yedhi" style of argument and yet you keep plying me with endless waxa la yedhi stories and expect me to take your words for it. No can do, saaxib. If you've gone so far as to air the SL government's laundry in public, you may as well give proper details, saaxib. Where does Djibouti come into it and according to whom? As for the talks, you originally objected but then were full of praise for the wording of communique. That, to any old passerby looks a tad more than mere benefit of the doubt. Naga daa hadaba and talk straight, saaxib. What changed? What is the problem? What proof have the "waxa la yedhi" informers of yours given you to change your position here? p.s. I already explained my view on the Obama recogniton. That was ALWAYS on the cards for the post transition government of Somalia.

oba hiloowlow;910986 wrote: Im not against SL walahi iyo bilahi laakin i know for a fact somalia meel kala tagi meyso Define a "fact", Oba.

*Blessed;910964 wrote: So unlike you to the miss the point!? *raises a brow* Not at all, ayeeyo (I thought this: gave my intention away). I was just taking a short cut and getting rid of an argument that would have come in three pages later.

Oodweyne;910960 wrote: ^^Saaxiib, you are too intelligent to play this simple man with us in here. So lets for once play straight bat in here. And by that I mean you are really clued up enough to know the difference between "facilitator" of a talk (which has no larger legal standing than what the participants of the talks collectively grant him) on one hand. And that of "mediator" , which has a legal standing of his own quite apart from the what the participants of any talks can grant him prior to any talks. And the reason I am belaboring this point is that in the talks between Somalia and Somaliland we have an "ad-hoc facilitator" that has no legal standing to even comment on who is at fault if talks failed. While on the other hand any mediator of the kind the Israeli/Palestinians have, is in a position to quite call out, if and when the talks fails, and in that eventuality who is it that was at fault. Of course there is no telling whether any given "mediator" can do for you any good as Palestinians are founding out to their cost. But, still it's foolhardy to go in to a talks with anybody without having any legal recourse from those who have asked of you to do this talk in the event such talks collapse. Particularly in the sense of them signing off themselves as a "mediators" , so that their legal standing will be clear to those who are talking in their presence. And that is why this holy-grail notion of saying the international community (IC) ought to facilitate our talks is an "empty shell" without specifically defining a "given a mediator" between the two people that was suppose to be talking to each other and most crucially of all it is an empty shell without the "terms of reference" of that mediator has, if and when the talks fail. In other words on one side of the argument stand a well establish process of how to do this sort of talks with international community (IC) being actively party to it, which is the case of having a "define mediator" . And, on the other side stand a process whereby you basically ask any nation you can think of to rent their good offices as the passing facilitators of that round of the talks, without them legally incurring any "obligation" for your talks, if and when said talks fail. Hence, it's pity that as an educated man like yourself, you still can't see the woods for the trees for this simple argument. But. as you say, since you are simple man, perhaps, you easily found yourself been fobbed off by the headline title of the talks between Somsaia and Somaliland which was put about by the London's declaration without scrutinizing to any degree the finer point this government we have in Somaliland deliberately decided to muddy it, so that at least the average Farax back home in Somaliland will not be any the wiser. But, still, be that as it may, of all people, I really expected better from you, bro. Regards, Oodweyne. You're reducing the whole issue to semantics, saaxib? Indeed I am intelligent enough to know and understand how things work. Further still, I can also understand when semantics are needed and when they're not. Do not at all misunderstand my "simple man" comment above, saaxib. When I have a question, I am simple enough to ask it without the need for any second guessing or conjecture. Wax fahan. The London and the Istanbul Conferences were major events that were attended by many nations of the world and with the blessing of the United Nations. It was not a maqaaxi meeting between a group of geel jires. The communique made clear that there were two sides who must talk and that the IC will help them in these talks. The two sides AGREED to talk. Only once these talks fail would they need someone to mediate. Now forget all of this and tell me what is your problem here today. For if my memory serves me right (and it almost alway does) I remember you being satisfied with the terms of the communique and the way the talks were meant to take place. I refuse now to think that you chose to change your mind just because Obama sat with Hassan. What is the problem, guru? Spit it out.

^^ Almost all Muslim countries except Saudi Arabia have a public holiday on that day (so young Oba may not be alone there). Isn't that some sort of celebration?

^^^ Was it an official visit? (ask Xaaji X what he thinks).

^^ I could never run a country, saaxib. I never could tell if I'm right wing or left wing most times. Morning to you and evening to Rahima (salaam to you both of course).

^^ I am a simple man, saaxib. When I don't know about something, I ask.

Xaaji Xunjuf;910742 wrote: Yes there is a clan look You make it sound like some sort of fashion show, saaxib. The Hargeisa look: brown is the colour of choice here. The Xamar look: it's the season for colours and contrasts. Out go the camouflages of last year and in come a riot of yellow, green, red and the bluest of blue. The PL look: last year's black obsession has been replaced with aqua The O look: from shoeless collection of last summer, we have moved on to the full suits of Nairobi boardrooms

^^ Morning Juxa. I am in a good mood today and that's why I sat back and allowed you to be first in. I seek no ajar for this good gesture.

Nonsense, bro, is the cheap line you are desperately clutching in here. Particularly so that you could safe the embarrassing blushes of the current government of somaliland which was caught with it's pants down. I already asked you what the problem was in several posts of mine but you have not answered me yet, saaxib. I don't need to confirm or deny that I am in support of the Kulmiye goverment becuase that's beside the point here. Furthermore you do know there has not been one single country that came forward to be the "legal facilitator" of the said talks between somalia and somaliland. And by that I mean a mediator that has a legal standing similar to ones the "meditating powers" in the Palestinians and Israel case, have. It might be my dodgy memeory but I'm sure there was mention of the Brits, the EU and Norway asfacilitators of the talks. In addition, the UAE also played its part. Again let me remind you that is pity for you to try that silly story about British volunteering to do anything in here. For I know (and I hope you know) that they said the talks are between Somalis and in the event you guys are not agreeing on anything then the international community (IC) should be referred back to. Is it really silly story? Err, did the first talks not take place in the UK or were we dreaming that one? Naga daa dee. Saaxiib, it really has passed the midnight time when you should of stopped carrying the "political water" for this failed government we have in Somaliland. And therefore desist writing in glowing terms it's cheaply cobbled together foreign policy which mostly is animated by a desperate attempt of getting rich quickly as anything else. Unless, of course, there is something else you are not telling us in here, bro. Read my previous replies, saaxib. Here I am taking you seriously and giving you proper replies yet you keep letting me down by talking about midnight and political waters. War wax sheeg dee. p.s. I read your "waxa la yedhi" stuff about the coffee shops of London and stories of Kulmiye supporters bragging to you about this or that. I needn't say how disappointed I am in the level you're stooping to here, however, I would love to get to the bottom of this and find out what rattled you so much as to get you to argue in such a strange way saaxib. It is not at all like you.

^^ RVP: Age: 29 Apperances: 382 Goals 175 Suarez: Age: 25 Apperances 312 Goals 179 p.s. It's not about what anyone says, saaxib. It's about what they SEE. The only reason nobody gives Suarez the credit he deserves is because of the diving and racist stories not his football ability.

^^ Rubbish. Suarez is better in every category, saaxib. He can play on the left, he can play on the right, he can play as a false nine and he can play as a number ten. He works harder and can dribble. He singlehandedly carried this Liverpool team for the entire season so far. RVP had Alex Song setting up his chances last season and a tasty United team doing for him this season. And guess what, despite all of that, Suarez is only a couple of goals behind him in the charts. War bahasha barta dee.

Nonsense, Guru. The vague wording of the talks was not THAT vague is to allow for the picture you paint here, saaxib. Read it again and see how clearly it insists upon the talks and the IC’s role in them. There is no ambiguity about the distinction between the two sides; there are no hidden traps and no obligations on either side to toe any other line than that of engaging on honest and progressive talks. As for your emphasis on the US’s recognition of Somalia, I still insist that nothing has changed here. The US and the International Community have made no secret of their desire to see Somalia saved from itself, saaxib. Their support and participation in the Somali peace process (Garowe 1, 2, 3...etc, etc, etc) was there from the start. Their insistence on an end to transition was there for all to see. Add to that the support for AMISOM, the setup of financial management bodies and the active increase of foreign embassies in Somalia and even you would be able to see that the Obama meeting did not come out of nowhere. However, all that propping up was taking place on one side (as you say) whilst all along Somaliland was allowed to remain as it is and was appeased with the promise that the IC will simply facilitate talks between them and the TFG (or its replacement). Isn’t that what is taking place here? What did SL concede here, saaxib? What does it stand to lose?

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - A group of Eritrean soldiers laid siege to the information ministry on Monday and forced state media to announce a call for the release of political prisoners, a senior intelligence official said. There was no immediate indication it was an attempt to overthrow the government of Eritrea, which has been led by Isaias Afewerki, 66, for some two decades since it broke away from bigger neighbor Ethiopia. The renegade soldiers forced the director of state television to make an announcement, the Eritrean intelligence official said. "The soldiers have forced him to speak on state TV, to say the Eritrean government should release all political prisoners," the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity. There was no immediate official comment. The United Nations last year estimated that 5,000-10,000 political prisoners were being held in the secretive Horn of Africa country, which is accused by human rights groups of carrying out torture and summary executions. Dozens of soldiers with two tanks surrounded the ministry building in Asmara, regional diplomatic sources said. They said state television and radio had gone off air. The gold-producing Red Sea state, which declared independence from Ethiopia after a long war, is one of the most opaque countries on the continent and it restricts access to foreign reporters. Eritrean opposition activists exiled in neighboring Ethiopia said there was growing dissent within the Eritrean military especially over economic hardships. "Economic issues have worsened and have worsened relations between the government and soldiers in the past few weeks and months," one activist told Reuters. The United Nations' Security Council imposed an embargo on Eritrea in 2009 over concerns its government was funding and arming al Shabaab rebels in neighboring Somalia - charges Asmara denied. Gold companies with mines or projects in Eritrea include Sunridge Gold Corp, Nevsun Resources Ltd and Chalice Gold. (Additional reporting by Tesfa Alem Tekle in Mekele; Writing by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)

^^ War wuu kula saaxiibaya dee. He's showing you that he remembers your height even after all this time. Wax fahan.

Mintid Farayar;910583 wrote: Ngonge, I know it's hard to keep track of member positions given the huge number of participants in this Forum, however let's be careful with the blanket statements and broad brushes. Speaking solely for myself, the issue is not with Kulmiye, but rather with the continuous failure of Somaliland leadership elites to properly predict and prepare for changing situations since the formation of Somaliland. We've had similar moments during the aftermath of Arta (Abdiqasim's gov't), Mbegathi (A. Yusuf's gov't), Djibouti Accords (Sharif's gov't), and now with Hassan Sheikh. Each time we hear naive statements coming from each successive Hargeisa admin that the new boys in Mog are friends of the cause, etc. And then the other shoe drops and it's back to square one. Something is wrong with the collective brain trust among the elites in Hargeisa and the 'masakiin' who stand out for hours in the sun to vote during each electoral cycle are betrayed(or let down, to use a less harsh term) once again..... I still don't understand what has changed THIS WEEK, Mintid. It was always known that "talks" will take place between the TFG or its replacement (now a recognised Somalia) and SL. So what exactly happened to make you, Oodwyne, Stoic and even Norf begin all this doom and gloom talk? Save for the cosmitc changes taking place in Somalia (new president, new parliment, etc) I don't see anything that changes or cancels out the agreed (to) talks between Somaliland and whoever happens to be in charge of Somalia. Regardless of Obama or SL defection, the fact still remains that the two sides must sit together to clarify their relationship. Furthermore, I don't think anyone in SL (no matter what side they're on) is under any false impressions about those sitting across the table from them in these talks (there are no friends in politics, saaxib. Only interests, like Faisal proved in his rant there and his picture above).

^^ But is it snowing? Juxa, do you know what happens when snow melts? You start getting ice patches all over the place and hips start to break. Wax fahan.

^^ That's the argument I had with Bob. He too reckons that RVP has been the best player in the league so far. I, of course, beg to differ and would argue that Suarez is ten times the player that RVP is. You don't carry a team that has Ferdinand, Rooney, Carrick, Evra, Silva and Hernandez but you do one that has Sterling, Suso, Allen and Wisdom.

^^ It is a lot and it's starting to melt!

^^ Had an argument with Norf and Bob about Suarez last night. I am happy to bring it here and say that he's the best player in the PL today (and at least top five in the world). It'll be a shame if he went to Bayern. p.s. Chelsea don't deserve Rafa. If they were still in the CL, he would have at least got them to a semi final.

^^ Alpha, The Kulmiye attacks have all come because of the election problems. People with an axe to grind found a voice through that botched election to spread this new nonsense about the government and how it plans to give away SL on the cheap. It's all simplistic stuff and nonsense. Xaaji, Doubt any of that will happen, saaxib. Like I said, the worst I expect is a South Sudan case where another referundum takes place and the two sides go their seperate ways. Remember the details of the first talks between the two sides: Agreed that the talks would take place between two sides – the TFG (or its replacement) and Somaliland, in accordance with paragraph 6 of the London Conference Communiqué and paragraph 10 of the Istanbul II Conference Communiqué; Noted the need to adopt a common approach to avoid anything that would undermine the continuation of the talks as defined above ; Committed to the continuation of the talks and called on the two presidents to meet to review progress as soon as possible; Called on the international community to continue to facilitate the talks, including providing the two sides with external experts on legal, economic and security matters; Agreed to share experience on working more effectively with the international community on the use of development and humanitarian assistance for the people of both sides and called for the international community to increase that assistance; Agreed to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, extremism and serious crimes; Agreed to cooperate in the fight against piracy at sea and on land, maritime crime, illegal fishing and toxic dumping; and Reiterated their support for ending the Transition in Somalia. It is TWO SIDES and regardless of whatever happens on one side it will not "undermine the continuation of the talks". In other words, the master plan that resulted in the recogniton of Somalia, the defeat of Al Shabab or the election of Hassan Sheikh is also the one that created these talks and made it clear that SL is viewed as different, seperate and autonomous. In addition, since Hassan Sheikh himself clarified the point that there will be no coercing (politically or by force) of SL into rejoining the union, the only thing left is to persuade each other via the talks themselves. I know and you know that there is no way that SL can be persuaded to join the union, which leaves us with only one option; formal secession. Naga daaya dee.

^^ That's just a preception, Xaaji. Somalia can survive without Somaliland and will. Somaliland can survive without Somalia and does. The two will go their seperate ways at the conclusion of the talks.

AfricaOwn;909564 wrote: NG is using Fowsia as an example for a reason, we got that Caarafat. Is Fowsia your auntie, Africa? I honestly didn't know that, saaxib. I'm not vulgar enough to blame you for the faults of your aunt though. You give me enough excuses to pick on you without needing to resort to such classless attack. Wax fahan.