From the Horn of Africa, a Ray of Hope Ask people what they know about Somalia and most will probably start talking about pirates, terrorists, and Black Hawk Down. Not many would think to mention democracy or free elections as well, but they should. Last month, Somaliland -- an impoverished sliver of territory that has maintained de facto independence from Somalia since 1991 -- held elections that put the democratic pretenses of its neighbors in the Horn of Africa to shame. The presidential election was described by independent observers as free, fair, and peaceful. Even more remarkable, a veteran opposition politician, Ahmed Silanyo, was declared the winner and the incumbent president, Dahir Riyale Kahin, handed over power to his rival. This is headline news that unfortunately hasn't made the headlines. In terms of human rights, the rule of law, and good governance, the whole region is moving in a grim direction. Somalia, which has not had a functioning government since 1991, continues to be ravaged by indiscriminate warfare, with major regional implications illustrated by the recent bombings in Kampala. Ethiopia, once seen as a country taking tentative steps toward democracy, is settling into a dictatorship after the ruling party won farcical elections in May with 99 percent of the vote. In Kenya, a coalition government that was cobbled together in the wake of fraud-riddled elections in 2007 is now paralyzed by corruption and political infighting. Eritrea's brutally repressive government has earned its country the nickname "North Korea of Africa," while tiny Djibouti has languished under the same leadership since 1999. Only Somaliland has chosen a different path. None of this has come easy. These elections were supposed to have taken place more than two years ago, and at various points along the way it seemed that they might not happen at all. The government has not always chosen the democratic path either. It has regularly used illegal "security committees" to imprison people without fair trials, and it has at times harassed independent journalists and government critics. Government institutions are weak, and the rule of law is often more of an aspiration than a reality. But for all that Somaliland has been a peaceful and comparatively democratic place for 19 years now, against great odds and with precious little support from the outside world. Western governments have been focused on potential security threats emanating from Somalia for several years now. Since 2006 most of the country has either been mired in brutal fighting or firmly under the thumb of abusive Islamist militants. The outside world, including the US government, has largely united behind Somalia's moderate but ineffectual Transitional Federal Government (TFG). But in spite of all the outside support and the presence of thousands of African Union troops that are helping it in the fight, the transitional government only manages to control a corner of the capital, Mogadishu -- and even that is under constant threat. In practical terms the primary effect of outside intervention in Somalia has been to perpetuate a bloody military stalemate in the capital in which all sides have devastated the civilian population, forcing tens of thousands to flee. The US for example, actually shipped mortars to Mogadishu even though they have been used primarily to pound civilian neighborhoods. But in Somaliland -- the only area of relative stability and peace inside Somalia's international borders--the US and others have looked on with interest but have not developed any kind of coherent policy to build on the territory's impressive democratic gains. Somaliland's government has long argued that the world should recognize it as an independent country, a cause shared by all three of its major political parties. But whether or not the recent elections strengthen their case, it is well past time for Western governments claiming to be interested in restoring peace to Somalia to start finding ways to help build on Somaliland's many still fragile achievements. The US and other governments should capitalize on the rare moment of hope and opportunity the elections represent, and both assist and pressure Somaliland's government to redress serious flaws in the territory's nascent democratic system. Helping the Somaliland government establish stronger and more impartial courts -- and pressuring it to eliminate the abusive security committees -- would be a good place to start. The unending tragedy in Somalia should not blind concerned governments from the real possibilities in Somaliland. Chris Albin-Lackey is at Human Rights Watch and was a researcher on the Horn of Africa at Human Rights Watch from 2008 to this year 2010.

Che, you can't compare state which in reality is combined in buhoodle village, to somaliland & puntland which were made for many numerous reasons , and not because of some self interest opportunist politicians, you just have to look at the disunity among the SSC which many do not even agree with xakltoosiye since they know his on the wrong path, have you asked yourself why did the head of Gutada Ismail Miire, - Keyse Abdi Yusuf Quitted?

Che, i think you missed the point, i wasn't talking about SSC as whole but it's leadership is a opportunist political failures when lost the puntland election and once again couldn't make the cut in somaliland's political field what did he do? cry fake somaliweyn screams in the village of buhoodle calling for destruction, you have to understand where this xaklotoosiye is coming from to see the bigger picture of what this SSC is about.

Ferguson, threadkan waxa lagu talagalay "SSC" maha ONLF iis qabo marka duqa. PS it's funny how you shread crocodile tears whenever SSC is cornered with some home truths.

Che -Guevara, wanu arkii doona mark my words like i said before those guys who estabilished somali suicide cemetery are just bitter and xilaal doon's of self interest, the truth will come out sooner or later.

Xudeedi bal no sheeg why can't Ilkojir step a foot in erigavo the capital of sanaag? or the orangutan mountain endangered species leader atam?

Dear Lad no baboon's to be found in sanaag, look no further then "bari" and it's zanzibar connection particularly bender qassim/Alula areas if your looking for baboons.

Touchy, just tell faroole to take it easy on the orangutan endangered species, or he might see a couple of goats thrown from the cliffs of eyl.

This shall be called the battle of galgala orangutan rebel mountains vs pirates of eyl.

Che-Guevara,somali suicide cemetery will fail to bear fruit as they have no long-term visions for the community they are risking bur rather self interest of petty political failure icons such as xakltoosiye which clearly lost puntland's last elections and he was rejected when he tried to join somaliland's political field especially xisbiiga UCID, his own people rejected him so i can understand where his frustrations are coming from but there is no need to lure his community into death traps.

Che-Guevara, dee maskaxdada koonfurianka cisticmaal Xaklatoosiye can't obvisiouly come to a place fully controlled by sland such as Las anod, Erigavo is out of the question since it's not only controlled by sland but controlled by immediate royal family who are not fond of somali suicide cemetery.

I am not surprised that Xakltosiiye is actually in Buhoodleh village since it's mainly his families stronghold and the base of Somali suicide cemetery, but he knows he can't step his leg on sland controlled bari cities such as Las Anod, Erigavo , wa la qarajiinaya tarantino style.

Originally posted by Hales: Libaahe, isnt the Somali 'suicide cementry' composed of natives, do you not think they have more of a right to determine the path their region takes than foreigners which only has completing old colonial borders to gain recognition in their mind. Also this is post anarchic Somalia everyones a free man, right..? There is some foreign terrorist elements in this Somali suicide cemetery - SSC , i wouldn't wholly consider them as natives.

Che -Guevara, wax la wada ogyahay loma bahna ina fact links so dhiigo,explanation ficaan bu ku siin kara laakinse. 1.Somali Suicide Cemetery operates in buhoodle and near by areas, seening as they only managed to attack operate in buhoodle and widhwidh areas, which recently the somaliland troops routed them out of widhwidh, judging from the battle patterns, and you can see their strongholds and bases. 2.Somali Suicide Cemetery is a landlocked land, that is why you don't see this Somali Suicide Cemetery nonsense in sanaag nor are they allowed to get near to the sanaag shores which is traditionally controlled by three groups which Somali Suicide Cemetery is not one of them, (read richard burtons book on the coastal groups of sanaag then you will know what i am talking about. 3.Lastly Somali Suicide Cemetery economically either depends on the berbera port of somaliland or bosaso port of puntland, and everybody knows that. common sense

Che -Guevara , Somali Suicide Cemetery - is a landlocked place with no port or tax revenues not to mention it's combined in buhoodle, which overall lacks the economical will to even compete with other states if the makhiir project ( which even has a port and sea access compared to -SSC - Somali Suicide Cemetery ) few years back failed what makes you think SSC can do things on their own?

Here comes the "mogadishu superman" to save the somali suicide cemetery -- SSC from somaliland, don't you have other things to worry about such as sheikh dalxis getting trampled over by al shabab as we speak?

Somali Suicide Cemetery = SSC.

Xudeedi, oo haada maxad ka xanaaqday that galgala is in bari instead of sanaag lol? the only minority is you a whole group who rely on 1 minister aka rat teeth lol, and you are owned in erigavo .

He shouldn't have lied about his identity to being with.

Garaad Bari , what has galgala got to do with sanaag when it's located in bari region? apart from eastern sanaag groups and western bari groups having connections.

Sanaag Region of Somaliland and It's districts.

"Wasirka amniga Puntland "Dadka aan u dhalan Puntland waa laga sarayaa "

^^^ dee anigu maan ku arkiin warkan other reliable sland websites such as Oodweyne, hadhwanaag, ramaas, marka war aan huubo maha which is why i said "i am not aware of any sarkaal being killed if there is such thing".

Originally posted by Ferguson: Between unionist and secessionist there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship. One has to do the right thing, and never look back. Allow ubadka noo kori- saado! Love ? I beg to differ.

Originally posted by Ferguson: Between unionist and secessionist there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship. One has to do the right thing, and never look back. Allow ubadka noo kori- saado! Love ? I beg to differ.