Ace of Spadez;910129 wrote: The more things change, the more they stay the same. It is comical to say the least to witness the same old hostility year in and year out with no end in sight. I’ve been hearing these lines for the past 22 years: “Somaliland is carro [insert qabiil here]” “Somaliland cannot survive economically” “Somaliland is a foreign creation – Ethiopia, UK, etc.” “Somaliland does not exist, it is Gobolka Waqooyi Galbeed” “Somaliland will crumble as soon as Somalia gets a legitimate government” “Somaliland will come back to the fold when the international community lavishes Somalia with developmental aid” “Somaliland has been rejected by the international community, and therefore cannot be sustainable” All these taunts have hit a crescendo this week. Somalia finally has a recognized government and will be afforded all the aid that comes with it. So that must mean Somaliland is dead in the water. One solitary photo with Obama and Somaliland has effectively been hobbled permanently if not trashed in the annals of history as an aberration. The popular belief is since Mogadishu will be pulling the purse strings, it will dangle some carrots in front of Somaliland and the people will rush en masse like lemmings. Unfortunately for my friends from Somalia this phantom hope that Somaliland will cease to exist will not come to pass. I must apologize for being the bearer of such bad news. For all intent and purposes, nothing has really changed for Somaliland. Somaliland has been receiving aid under the name Somalia since 1991 and will continue to do so. In fact, it will get it directly. Yes, you heard me, directly. Point 5 of the Somaliland-Somaliland communiqué in Chevening House gaurentees this: “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; “. So in a nut shell, if when more aid comes for Somalia, Somaliland will get its share directly, what incentive does Somalia have to entice Somaliland with? The answer is a big fat nothing. In fact even the ones who had some hope of Pan-Somalism be it out of sheer convenience or clannish calculus; the likes Prof. Samatar & Prof. Galeydh came up empty handed going 0 for 2. Now the reality in the Horn of Africa is that Somaliland has shown it is economically, politically and culturally viable existing for the past 22 years. It is also evident that it controls nearly every major city within its borders from Zeyla to Lascanod, Ceerigaabo to Borama, Xuddun to Gebilay and therefore in possession of its territory. So the question is then if Somalia does not have any muscle to subdue Somaliland –since it is being propped up foreign and neighbouring countries’ forces – and has no economic incentive – since Somaliland will be getting its aid directly– what is left for Somalia to do? I think the most pragmatic solution is that of Rahima; live & let live. There is no putting this genie back in its bottle. The die is cast. Time to move on I say and lets go easy on the negativity. Now, for those from Somaliland, as much as I would philosophically agree with Mr. Mohamed Hashi, or Mr. Oodweyne, or Mr. Warancadde about not entertaining any talks with Somalia, I am inclined to agree with President Silanyo on this matter. The simple truth is people make decisions with their stomach not on principle. Mr Mohamed Hashi can wait until year 3000 for the recognition of Somaliland, because he is a man of principle, but the likes of Mr. Buurmadow cannot. So what should a responsible government do? It must deliver development for its people so that they may not be enticed by fools gold that might have otherwise become enticing. We’ve always received aid in the name of Somalia, it is no secret. To take a pre-emptive strike to negotiate in getting your share of aid without relinquishing your sovereignty is a master stroke. In fact I believe President Silanyo has effectively inoculated Somaliland from the defections that would have come had they not taken this step as people complained about the lack of development vis-à-vis with Somalia. I know offense is the more attractive way to play, but playing defense goes a long to set one up for victory. Our issue is not with winning battles, but winning the war. The journey we’re on is not one day but we’re in it for the long haul. The last interview Mr. Ibrahim Maygag Samatar gave was to continue to build our nation and strengthen our democracy and make our country a better place, with or without recognition. Let us not lose sight of the bigger picture. The temporary fission caused by the local elections will subside and the disaffected will coalesce under the two national opposition parties. Patience always wins out, as the Somali saying goes “Hadii Degdegsiimo Door Noqdaan, Kaadsiiyana Kiish Lacag ah Bay Noqdaan” I fully agree. I'm tempted to sack my guru and employ you in his place now.

I am here. morning.

^^ I am really lost here. What exactly changed this week to make you and the Guru go against the Kulmiye government this strongly? Nothing really changed. SL is stillt he same SL that took part in the first talks (the talks that Waraabe was part of, I saw him with my own eyes). So why was he (and you) ok with it back then and why are you talking about the world ending today? p.s. This is also why I teased you about defection the other day, Guru. Blessed, the man was in the team that took part in the first talks too.

*Blessed;909962 wrote: NG, actually the law doesn't do much to protect the human dignity of domestic servants and much of the abuse is as a result of the manner in which hiring a domestic help is handled. The level of power an employer has over their employee is not comparable to other nations. A jaariyad in Burco has more rights . I don't disagree with you there, ayeeyo and I have seen most of this stuff first hand. However, this a story for another time and bringing it here makes it sound as if slavery and the treatment of maids is one and the same. It is NOT. Maaddeey, you are talking about exceptions to the rule saaxib.

Oodweyne;909499 wrote: ^^^Aah JB. The mirage of clever-by-half politics never ceased to end in hargeisa elite conversations. Perhaps while they are planning and executing that brilliant move from their end they may like to notice how the latest move by US had effectively made any regional diplomatic deal on our part with others in terms our recognition that much harder to pull it off now. But I guess the easy life of the elites in hargeisa has way of telling one what moves others make in a distant capitals do not effect one for the worse. But we shall see in the fullness of time. You're jumping the gun again, saaxib. Hassan Sheikh meeting the US president is neither here nor there. It's all about the talks. That's where you'll either get recognised or stitched up. Don't get spooked by photo ops, guru.

Africa, Fowziya was the first, I'll soon be obsessed with the banker fellow or others that follow him. Wax fahan (starnge that you who stamp your feet with anger every time Norf says hello to Xiin have not uttered a word against Fowziya or anyone else). Guru, The SL government, whilst not sharing its intentions with me or you have always made it clear that their bottom line was recognition and that they will never unite with Somalia. In fact, despite all the progess in Somalia and all the questions being raised the issue of the talks still remains about one between two sides. Nothing has changed on that front, saaxib. Well, unless you're privy to any new information. The one thing that worries me about the SL government, you and all Somalilanders is the passive way in which you (and they) view the defection of Fawziya and others. An FM and a central banker are not sideway jobs, saaxib. They are important jobs that may help undermine that SL cause (though I doubt they would derail it). Now you're talk of stupor and what not may be true but doesn't this apply to you too, saaxib? Maxa loo xishoonaya?

^^ He will speak soon and when he does, this site is going to be full of bueatiful topcis.

^^ Guru, Is your gripe with Siilaanyo about the botched elections or foreign policy? If the first, I can understand your furstrations. However, I will simply remind you of Riyaale and his winning of his own elections by 80 votes. You can't have it both ways, saaxib (waa give and take). If it is about foreign policy, well the Siilaanyo adminstration may have changed tack but they have always maintend that no scenario exists where they will willingly join Somalia. So what's the problem? On my part, when I say that I have an itch that's urging me to pull the blue flag, I am lampooning the silence in SL about the defection of Fowziya and others. I mean, there was a time when people used to lob eggs at anyone that would say a good word about Somalia, never mind become their central banker or FM. What's with the sudden politeness and why blame the government for your own silence? (it's not one or two either and the timing matters greatly). Africa, You're forever angry, saaxib. (did they sort that college out yet?).

^^ Hold your horses, saaxib. Nothing happend yet but a there are questions and answers to be had (for all sides). p.s. Though the blue flag is emerging from under my bed it is not yet fully hoisted next to the SL one (nor is that one at half mast yet).

Oodweyne;909323 wrote: Mintid, I wish I was that confident about the elites of somaliland as you are. In other words even in here of SOL we have the likes of Norf, Ngonge and JB (with his contribution of saying bacaac to everything) telling you with straight face that everything is hunky dory back in somaliland whether it is our foreign policy or whether it is anything else. Hence I fear our people decided to be in a deep slumber where this sort of issue is concern. Assumptions, assumptions guru.

^^ An Arab woman in Mecca spoke to a man? Err, you ARE making it up! *Blessed;909063 wrote: Slavery was abolished in KSA? Bah! You can nitpick, ayeeyo, but by the law of that land slavery is illegal. Do not mistake mistreatement and cruelty (which are both awful awful things) to the open and accepted practice of one person OWNING another. Such a thing, as far as I am aware, does not exist in Saudi Arabia today.

^^ Warya, aniga (as the guru says) Carab Casiir baan ahay, why pick on my contemplations of a blue flag and not on the "historic family" poeple?

^^ I am not as short sighted as you, adeer. Plus, I'm not sure that Siilaanyo is THAT lousy. I mean he got you crying your eyes out for months now.

^^ I have not, saaxib. I mostly interact with Somalis online (family man and all that, nooh). The point I am making is that regardless of the government being right or wrong, the fact remains that there is some sort of stand off at this point in time and this government will have appease it's opponents in order to move forward.

^^ It's very heavy on my side of town and my office balcony has turned all white. Nice when you're indoors but ugly and deadly outside. p.s. I'm buying some henna on my way home. I expect lots of respect from now on.

^^ Guru, That's what I thought too, Guru. But when Fowzia is one minute forming an SL political party (meaning she's full of SL principle) then defects to become the Somali FM, one begins to wonder saaxib! Stoic, In the current climate, it is very hard to reach any solid conclusions, saaxib. It's all well and good for one to be patriotic and bang the drum of belonging, however, the recent defections coupled with the progress taking place in Somalia present us with a new set of questions that need urgent answers. Where do we go from here? (I, of course, have always reserved the right to hoist my blue flag up at the sign of any stagnation in the SL cause).

Guru, The pendulum is swinging strongly towards the Somali side. If Fowziya and this other guy who hail from known and respected families in SL and probably having strong affinity and knowledge with the place have switched sides, what happens to little old me? My blue flag is tattered and gathering dust but it firmly remains under my bed and the recent events in Somalia lead me think that it might be time to bring it out. What do you say, Guru? Why shouldn’t any of us do a Fowziya and embrace the greater Somalia idea? If able men like this bank manager chose to go that way, why not you and I?

^^ Marxaba, marxaba shar ma arke. Hope you're enjoying this glorious Friday, saaxib.

^^ Kadaaba! (that means lying girl in Arabic). I am in old man and I have never seen any love, dedication or respect for my greying temples from you. Bax!

I am late this morning. I apologise. Morning all.

^^ I don't think Siilaanyo has a choice there, Guru. His government will have to "correct" itself even if it were not in the wrong.

^^ Back then, it did not matter if they were illegitimates. Safety was in numbers.

^^ War he knows dee. Wuu is waalaya, which is why I quoted his own words back at him.

^^^ Alpha Blondy;908827 wrote: arabs are the worst type of colonisers. they eat away at your brain. these arabised slaves can't even count up to their 5th grandfather and they have the nerve to bother you at Dubai airport. uskag fooqal uskag. It means the bit I qouted in bold there.

^^ You get my point though. When the Imam is silent, they're all silent.