Somaliland: The Inevitable Conclusion to the Talks with Somalia Monday, 16 December 2013 12:36 Submit to Delicious Submit to Digg Submit to Facebook Submit to Google Bookmarks Submit to Stumbleupon Submit to Technorati Submit to Twitter Submit to LinkedIn Signing never to be implemeted agreements in Turkey/fileSigning never to be implemeted agreements in Turkey/file By: Sayid Madar Somalilandsun - Twenty two years after self-declared Independence and twelve years after the ratification of Somaliland's constitution by popular vote, the democratically elected Government of Somaliland (GoSL) headed by its fourth president Ahmed Siilanyo had finally been given the opportunity to open dialogue with the internationally accepted President of the Somali Federal Government (SFG), Hassan Sheikh. Talks were inevitable and have been highly anticipated by the Somaliland Govt and the citizens of Somaliland who finally have the opportunity to finalize the reality after waiting decades for a credible Government to be formed and acknowledged by the International community. Somaliland is considered a self-governing autonomous region of Somalia even though it was one half of the former Somali Republic which was formed by voluntary union of British-Somaliland and Italian-Somalia; this formation disbanded after the Somali Civil War which the Socialist Military dictator Siyad Barre was held responsible for the massacre of an estimated 75,000 Somalilanders. During my several visits to Somaliland, to this present day there are still vivid reminders of that period whether it's the memorial in Hargeisa of the MIG which desecrated Somaliland's capital Hargeisa to naturally occurring reminders such as bones appearing on the riverbank every time the rivers flow in both Gabiley & Hargeisa. These talks have the ability to provide a platform for acknowledgement of the atrocities as well as compelling the SFG to realise the reality on the ground. Turkey initiated the first round of talks between the two sides to 'open dialogue' in Ankara on April 13th. The talks concluded with a memorandum of understanding known as the 'Ankara Communiqué. The Ankara Communiqué consisted of seven points which both side agreed which can be viewed on the Turkey's Foreign Affairs website. Unfortunately the talks didn't yield results in terms of breakthroughs from both SFG and GoSL, this deadlock became evident when SFG authorised an airplane to land within Somaliland's territory breaking point seven of the Ankara Communiqué. This led to the GoSL grounding all UN flights in and out of the country. This issue was resolved July 7th – 9th 2013 in Istanbul which both parties held further talks to rectify the situation. An agreement was reached which was to create a joint-control body which manages both airspace based in Hargeisa however this was reneged by the SFG which discreetly signed another agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The final talks was expected to take place in November however due to Political turmoil within the SFG which subsequently led to the ousting of its PM Saciid Shirdon, the talks were delayed on several occasions. Somaliland's FM Mohammed Bihi Younis who was the former Deputy Joint Special Representative for UNAMID in Darfur emphasized during an interview with a Somali news outlet that "... Somaliland is ready and has been ready for a while" reiterating that the conclusion of the talks will be "Somaliland and Somalia living side by side as neighbours and brothers as two countries as it has been over the last two decades." On the other hand, the SFG's President Hassan Sheikh proclaimed "We will do our best and unite with our brothers from Somaliland by early next year." In my view, this proclamation by President Hassan isn't just reckless, but almost borderline delusional as it is completely devoid of the reality on the ground in Somaliland. President Hassan has set the bar very high for himself which he'll soon realise. Somaliland unlike Somalia has stability which many argue is down to democracy. I agree to an extent that democracy is a factor which ensures a sense of national unity, participation and representation. The idea that Somalilanders will reunite again with Somalia to form another Somali Republic is a dream held closely by Somali Nationalists that are predominantly located within former Italia-Somalia who aspire to reunite all Somali speaking regions whether it's within Ethiopia, Kenya, Somaliland or Djibouti. Their arguments tend to be incompatible with the concept of democracy as they strongly feel there shouldn't be a choice. They believe there should be one Somali speaking country irrespective of freedom and choices. FM Behi Younis with Ban Ki MoonFM Behi Younis with Ban Ki Moon To understand the difficulty of a reunion with Somalia, I will address some hypothetical situations. Let's say for argument sake the GoSL agrees to reunite with Somalia to re-establish the Somali Republic again, this agreement would have to clear a few hurdles and acknowledge that:

Ma walaalki baaa

Dagaalo khasaare fara badan geystay oo Maalintii labaad ka socda Gobolka Shabeellada Hoose iyagoo ku fiday deegaanno cusub Axad, December 15, 2013 (HOL) — Dagaallo khasaare nafeed oo fara badan geystay ayaa maalintii labaad ka socda deegaanno ka tirsan gobolka Shabeellada Hoose ee Koonfurta Soomaaliya, iyadoo dagaalladan ay si xowli ah maanta uga socdaan deegaanno u dhexeeya degmooyinka Jannaale iyo Awdheegle. Wararka laga helayo gobolka Shabeellada Hoose ayaa sheegaya in 10-qof dad ka badan ay ku dhinteen dagaalladii maanta ayna ku dhaawacmeen in ka badan labaatameeyo qof, kuwaasoo qaarkood dhaawacyadooda la geeyay isbitaalka weyn ee degmada Marko. Deegaanka Busley oo ku dhow degmada Janaale ayaa la sheegay in maanta uu dagaalku gaaray, waxaana dadka ku dhintay dagaalka ay isugu jiraan dad rayid ah iyo beelaha uu dagaalku u dhexeeyay oo ay la kala safan yihiin ciidammo ka tirsan kuwa dowladda Soomaaliya. Sidoo kale, wararka ayaa waxay sheegayaan in rasaastii ay dhinacyadu isku adeegsanayeen ay dishay kontomeeyo neef oo xoolo ah, kuwaasoo meelo aan halka lagu dagaalamayo ka fogeyn, waxayna xoolahaa isugu jiraan geel, lo' iyo ari. Iskahorimaadyadan ayaa waxay daba socdaan dagaallo horay uga dhacayay gobolka Shabeellada Hoose, kuwaasoo u dhexeeya beelo dhul isku haysta, iyadoo aysan jirin wax talaabo ah oo ay dowladda Soomaaliya qaaday si loo joojiyo dagaalladaas. Boqolaal qoys oo ku noolaa deegaannada labada maalmood ay dagaalladu ka socdaan ayaa ka barakacya deegaannadooda, kuwaasoo gaaray meelo ka fog goobaha ay dagaalladu ka socdaan. Xildhibaano ka tirsan baarlamaanka Soomaaliya ayaa ku baaqay in dagaalka la joojiyo, iyagoo dowladda Soomaaliya iyo taliska guud ee ciidamada ugu baaqay inay qaadaan tallaabooyin dagaalladaas lagu joojinayo. Guddoomiyaha gobolka Shabeellada Hoose, C/qaadir Maxamed Nuur (Siidii) ayaa dagaalka ku tilmaamay mid nasiib-darro ah, wuxuuna dowaldda Soomaaliya ugu baaqay inay dadaal u gasho sidii dagaalladan lagu joojin lahaa. Sannadkan ayaa waxaa gobolka Shabeellada Hoose ka dhacay dagaallo ay ku naf-waayeen dad fara badan, kuwaasoo u dhexeeyay laba beelood oo taageeryo ka helaya ciidammo ka tirsan kuwa dowladda Soomaaliya oo qaab beeleed u abaabulan.

IGAD Appointed Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey as its Special Envoy to Somalia New IGAD envoy to Somalia Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey Press Release Sunday, December 15, 2013 Ads by BetterSurfAd Options The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) today announced that Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey as its Special Envoy to Somalia. H.E. Ambassador Affey is a veteran parliamentarian and politician who was Kenya's ambassador to Somalia in 2003, facilitated the Mbagathi Somalia peace process and led the Kenyan delegation that participated the inauguration of the Somali Government of president Abdulkassim Salat Hassan. Welcoming the newly appointed envoy, The Executive Secretary of IGAD, Ambassador Mahboub Maalim, emphasized the critical significance of Ambassador Affey's role in consolidating the peace in Somalia and wished him well in this important assignment. Source: IGAD

Thailand bangkok is nice , but some areas are full of rats.

The details are not important he said Somaliland opposition figures were arrested , this is false they were never arrested they were prevented from entering cities. This gaal is telling lies because Somaliland rejected UNSOM political office. The Somaliland government is right to put him and his likes in their place. Another misstep and he should be banned from Somaliland altogether. Somaliland should play hard ball with these UN bureaucrats i applaud the SL government for standing against these crooks. Just like in the 90s when stevenson UN representative at that time insulted Somaliland Cigaal told him i dont have many prisons but i will lock you in my dungeon, if i ever see you again in Somaliland. Gaalkaan Nickolas la baxay should know his place this is not Somalia.

I think he was talking about Jamaal?

Co cooperation comes when there is common understanding and relations between the countries entities and regions, it will take decades for Somalis to evolve in a social sense there is some understanding. Somalis do not have the perception that they are destined to cooperate for the larger good atleast not the elites nor do they believe their interests are intertwined. The War has ripped apart the once so homogeneous society there is a disastrous tribal war going on in the lower shabelle as we are speaking. Allot of soul searching need to happen for Somalis to sing together by the way they might sing together but they dont mean it.

Samafal its easier to bring down the wall between the Somali weyn clans:D Somali diid is a wrong phenomenon no one has monopoly over this Somali identity. Unless you believe the cambuulo eating Muqdishaawis and the Pirates in Eyl they have monopoly over the word Somali. Than perhaps you are maybe right since every negative association in the media reflects them Black Hawkd down and Captan Philips:D

Business wise or politically?

Alshabaab still reaches Mogadishu and its still breaches through the Amisom walls and carries out deadly attacks inside the city. And they still can do it with more than 20.000 African union troops in and around Mogadishu. The Somali government cannot wait longer they need to build a new government and get a new interior and defense minister and better intelligence officers.

Iskahorimaad Xalay ku dhacay degmada Yaaqshiid & Qarax lala beegsaday Ciidammo ka tirsan kuwa Dowladda Somalia Axad, December 15, 2013 (HOL) — Ugu yaraan shan qof ayaa ku dhintay weerar iyo qaraxyo ka dhacay Muqdisho, iyadoo dagaal culus uu xalay ka dhacay degmada Yaaqshiid, gaar ahaan jidka warshadaha. Dagaalkan oo dhacay xalay saqdii dhexe ayaa yimid kadib markii kooxo ka tirsan Al-shabaab ay weerareen saldhig ay ciidamada dowladdu ku leeyihiin meel ku dhow isbitaalka Carafaat ee Muqdisho, iyadoo dhinacyadu ay isku adeegsadeen hubka fudud iyo midka culus. “Xalay waxaan kusoo toosnay dagaal culus oo ka dhacaya degmada, hub culus iyo mid fudud ayay dhinacyadi isdhaafsanayeen, waxaana saakay la arkay maydadka saddex qof,” ayuu yiri goobjooge ku sugan xaafadda uu xalay dagaalku ka dhacay. Inkastoo aysan dowladda Soomaaliya ka hadlin haddana xaaladda ayaa ah saakay mid daggan, waxaana ciidamada dowladdu ay baaritaanno kawadaan xaafadaha ku dhow halka uu dagaalku ka dhacay. Sidoo kale, qarax xooggan ayaa waxaa xalay lala beegsaday ciidammo ka tirsan kuwa dowladda, iyadoo la sheegay in qaraxan ay ku dhinteen in ka badan laba askari oo ka tirsan ciidamada dowladda. Weerarradan kala duwan ayaa waxay kusoo beegmayaa xilli maalmo ka hor uu magacaabay madaxweynaha Soomaaliya ra’iisul wasaare cusub oo lagu wado inuu dhawaan xilka kala wareego ra’iisul wasaarihii hore ee Somalia. Magaalada Muqdisho ayaa waxaa labadii sano ee ugu dambeeyay tan iyo markii ay Al-shabaab isaga baxday degmooyinka gobolka Banaadir ka dhacayay qaraxyo, weerarro iyo dilal qorsheysan oo ay geysanayaan xoogag taabacsan Al-shabaab. Xukuumaddii hore ee Soomaaliya ayaa waxay dhowr jeer sheegtay inay ka hortagtay weerarro ay maleegayeen xoogag taabacsan Al-shabaab oo dhowr saldhig ku lahaa Muqdisho.

Wasaarada Arimaha Dibada Ee Somaliland Oo Ka Hadashay Qoraal Ka Dhan Ah Xukumada Oo Uu Dhawaan Nickolas Kay U Gudbiyey Qaramada Midoobay+DHEGAYS Added by webmaster on December 15, 2013. Hergeisa(LUGHAYA.COM)-Wasiir ku xigeenka Wasaarada Arimaha Dibada Ee Somaliland Mr:Mowliid Maxamuud Ibraahim ayaa maanta xafiiska shirjara’id uu qabtay waxba kama jiraan ka soo qaaday warbixinta uu dhawaan Nickolas Kay u gudbiyey Qaramada Midoobay ee ku saabsaan in uu maamulku xidhay Gudoomiyaha golaha wakiilada ee somaliland C/raxmaan Cirro. Hada Hoos Ka Dhegayso Hadalada Wasiirk Ku Xigeenka Oo Arimahaas Ka Hadlaya

Somaliland: Waran’ade Urges UNSOM Chief to Tread Carefully E-mail Sunday, 15 December 2013 00:21 By: Yusuf M Hasan Somalilandsun – The UN Special representative to Somaliland and Somalia should stop falsifying facts on the ground during reports to the United Nations Security Council-UNSC. According to the Somaliland interior minister Ali Mohamed Waran'ade the quarterly report presented to the UNSC by Ambassador Nicholas Kay the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) on the 10th December 2013 to the prevailing political status in Somaliland was false and lacked basis thus totally misleading. In his lengthily multi- page report in which he preserved only a paragraph to Somaliland Amb Kay informed the UNSC, "In Somaliland, differences have developed between the Government and the opposition. Opposition figures, including the Speaker of Somaliland's Parliament, Abdurahman Irro, have on occasion been arrested or prevented from travelling. We shall keep watch on the situation in Somaliland, which is heading into general elections in 2015. But since Somaliland continues to reject UNSOM's mandate, our operations there remain on hold" In an interview contacted through Telephone by Dawan media group Minister Waran'ade who is in the UK on official duties said that the Republic of Somaliland, its authorities and citizens are very much concerned by the false information Amb Kay is banding around. "To my better informed knowledge there have been no arrests of senior politicians in the country let alone that of the Honourable speaker of Somaliland parliament Abdirahman Irro as purported by the very uninformed Amb Kay and his UNSOM" said Waran'ade As he acknowledged that the presidential hopeful of opposition political party UCID Jamal Ali Hussein was barred from holding a function in Gabile town, the interior minister said that though he was abroad during the incident his officers prevented the UCID hopeful because he was intent on conducting election campaigns without a permit not to mention that presidential elections shall be held in 2015. Revealing that the administration shall pursue avenues of garnering knowledge from UNSOM on how it attained its very erroneous information on the prevailing political situation which it UNSOM and he Amb Kay "shall keep watch as the country heads into General elections in 2015", Waran'ade urged restraint on the UN body as pertains to insinuations geared towards tarnishing Somaliland's achievements and sovereignty. Since assuming office as replacement of Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, Nicholas Kay has been at loggerheads with the administration of president Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo of Somaliland which denied Kay's UNSOM an operational Base in Hargeisa after arguing that the UNSOM mandate was entirely Somalia related thence nothing to do with Somaliland. Somaliland which withdrew from its 1960 voluntary later turned ugly union with Somalia in 1991 following a brutal civil war with forces loyal to Dictator Siad Barre in which over 60,000 somalilanders were butchered continues to thrive for international recognition while its former partner Somalia continues to thrive in shambles and anarchy. Though Somaliland has become a model for other third world countries through its apt democratization process that has seen two presidential and local council elections and one parliamentary conducted peacefully to international acclaim not to mention attaining peace and security in the very turbulent Horn region Amb Kay in his vengeance against refusal of his UNSOM base in the country continues to lump Somaliland with other regional administrations of the Somalia. In his December 10 briefing to the UNSC Amb Kay outlined his four phased immediate plan of action namely "First the need for wide-ranging national and local reconciliation; secondly, a redrawing of Somalia's political map of eighteen regions into a lesser number of federal member states; thirdly, the finalizing of a new and permanent constitution; and fourthly, democratic elections in all Somalia in 2016 (the first for nearly 50 years)" The ambassador's venom against Somaliland is visibly clear he, having informed on plans to redraw the political map of Somalia as pertains to the "18 regions" a clear reference to the number of regions including the five from Somaliland (North west, Sanaag, Sool, Toghdeer and Awdal) that together with 13 from Italian Somalia were foundations of the collapsed Republic of Somalia. A Further Kay reprisal against president Silanyo's refusal to facilitate UNSOM operational base in Somaliland can be discerned by his indication that his forthcoming four pronged plan for Somalia is in partnership with the weak internationally propped government in Mogadishu. Knowing clearly the irrevocability of Somaliland's sovereignty and the abhorrence of its citizens on insinuations that their affairs are not actually controlled in Hargeisa their capital city but in the Terrorists infested Mogadishu Ambassador Nicholas Kay reported to the UNSC, "On each of these tasks, the UN is actively and increasingly engaged in support of the Federal Government and in close collaboration with member states" While the statement by Somaliland interior minister Ali Waran'ade has seemingly placed the enormous task of proving his false reports to the UNSC, it remains a matter of national importance that Amb Kay be put to task for relevant evidence and in lieu an official apology just as Mahiga his predecessor did following insinuations that Somaliland was a region of Somalia. Related Articles

I see some one is angry, Somaliland boils the blood of many we know this by now calling for its demise for 2 decades what has it got you a refugee camp in Kenya? Ethiopia is the one your beloved ONLF are defecting to and your diaspora are finding refugee to now and days.

Madaxweyne ku-xigeenka Somaliland iyo Dawladda Faransiiska oo ku dul shiraya Markab Badda Cas taagan.. December 15th, 2013 12:31 PM | NEWS Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on delicious Share on digg Share on stumbleupon Share on reddit Share on email More Sharing Services bre-300x300Hargeysa(SBN) Madaxweyne ku-xigeenka Somaliland C/raxmaan C/laahi Ismaaciil Saylici oo ay weheliyaan masuuliyiinta Gobolka Saaxil ayaa kula shiraya Dawladda Faransiiska Markab weyn oo saaka ka shiraacday Duleedka Dekedda Berbera. Lana oga ujeedada shirka u dhaxeeya Dawladda Faransiiska iyo Somaliland, hase yeeshee sida ay waaheen ku heshay ilo wareedyo xogogaal ah waxa manta magaaladda Berbera laga dareemayey diyaarado kuwa dagaalka ah oo ilaalinya Markabka Faransiiska. Madaxweyne ku-xigeenka Somaliland ayaa sida ay wararku sheegayaan waxa ku wehelinaya gudaha Markabka saraakiil ay ka mid yihiin Taliyaha Ciidanka Ilaalada Xeebaha, Maareeyaha Dekedda Berbera Eng: Cali Xoor xoor, Maayarka C/shakuur Cidin iyo masuuliyiinta Gobolka, laakiin lama oga dhinaca Faransiiska cida saran Markabka. Ilo wareedka Waaheen warka siiyey waxa ay sheegeen in ay Markabka markii uu fuulay Madaxweyne ku-xigeenka Somaliland uu u shiraacday dhinaca Badweynta gaar ahaana waxa la sheegayaa deegaanka Karin in ay ku sugnaayeen halkaas oo la filayo illaa afarta galabnimo in ay ku sugnaan doonaan. Dawladad faransiiska ayaa aad u danaysa Somaliland, waxaanay la leedahay xidhiidh joogto ah iyadoo hawlgalo ka samaysay Aasaarta Taariikhiga ah, Arrimaha dhinaca la dagaalanka Argagixisada iyo budh-cad badeeda, waxaana lagu wadaa kulanka socda in ay arrimahaasi ka mid yihiin. Dhinaca kale, waxa maalmahan soo baxayey in Shirkadd Faransiis ahi ay danaynayso in ay la wreegto maamulka Dekedda Berbera, iyadoo ay soo baxayaan warar is-khilaafsan oo midkood sheegayo in ay Qaybo ka mid ah Xukuumaddu taageersan yihiin in lagu wareejiyo, halka kuwo kalena ay ka soo horjeedaan. Arrinta maamulka Dekedda Berbera ee ay shirkadda Faransiiska ahi doonayso ayaa la sheegayaa in Xukuumaddu si weyn ugu kala jabtay, illaa hadana ma jiro war rasmi ah oo ay ka soo saareen arrintaas, iyadoo ay dhawr jeer soo noq noqdeen saraakiisha Shirkadda Blore oo maamusha dekeddo ku yaala Qaarada Afrika…

Some one needs to bring down the berlin wall in Galkacyo

The Zack;991164 wrote: Yea After you updated the wiki article. I corrected it, no go back and check again. Somaliland is not and will not be a country. The sooner you get that, the better for you. One clan can't be a nation. Its still there , and there is nothing anyone can do about it certainly not the defeated lot.

When you search several countries on wikipedia it shows Somaliland separate in the African continent.

I thought the civil war was over.

How so are you saying the Somali government should not rule galkacyo pirate boy what happened to we are nationalist Somaliweyn slogans:D

Somaliland ministerial level delegation leaves for the UK LONDON-Somaliland Foreign Minister Mr. Mohamed Biihi Yoonis accompanied by the Minister of Commerce and International Investment Mr. Mohamed Abdilahi Omar have embarked on working visit to UK on Saturday. The Somaliland ministerial level delegation departed from Egal International airport on Saturday leaving for the UK although the aim of the trip has not been disclosed to the press. The media at large did not aware of the visit by the ministers but according to Hadhwanaagnews reported said that the UK government requested the two ministers to come to Britain in order to discuss on issues ranging from the talks between Somaliland and Somalia and the UK government is meeting with the ministers to talk with them about issues relating to the bilateral ties between the two countries.

Also a great day for the Kenyan Somalis

Lets give the Prime Minister a chance shall we he is not even inaugurated approved by parliament he hasn't even formed his government Somalidu deg deg badana.

Kenya: An African success story? As the former British colony celebrates 50 years of independence, we ask if it is still haunted by legacies of the past. Inside Story Last updated: 13 Dec 2013 14:38 As Kenyans marked half a century of freedom from British colonial rule this week, they reflected on the country's emergence as a regional economic heavyweight. If 1963 was the dawn of a new era, then Kenya today can be seen as basking in the sun. But corruption, crime, inequality and the threat of ethnic unrest are still casting long shadows, tempering the anniversary celebrations. "In his independence day speech [in 1963] President Jomo Kenyatta made a pledge that has since been ingrained in every school child's mind," said Al Jazeera's Peter Greste, reporting from Nairobi. "The new government would, he said, eliminate three great scourges - poverty, ignorance and disease." I don't think it means a lot to us, because we are still unemployed we have no jobs, we have no hopes … As we watch the president speak today ... we [are] still facing the same struggles as we were facing 50 years ago. Boniface Mwangi, a Kenyan photojournalist But 50 years on, there is still "a huge gap between what Kenya's politicians promise and what they deliver," Greste added. "Of course that is a common complaint everywhere, but here it has created such a disconnect that the entire political system is now dysfunctional." Even so, thousands turned out to celebrate Kenya's golden anniversary at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on Thursday. President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the crowd, as his father Jomo Kenyatta had done in 1963 after becoming the first Kenyan to lead the East African nation. "The freedom we enjoy today was earned by the blood of patriots and their sacrifice must never be in vain," Uhuru Kenyatta said "As we recognise the important role they played in our nation's history we must remember the greatest honour that we can give them is to live by the high ideals that they envisioned for Kenya." Kenya is considered one of Africa's so-called 'Lion Economies'. The International Monetary Fund expects Kenya's economy to grow by 5.9 percent by April 2014, accelerating to 6.3 percent through to 2015. A population boom has quadrupled the number of Kenyans since 1963; the population now stands at 43 million - but it is a young country, with 80 percent of Kenyans under the age of 35. Life expectancy is four years above the average for Sub-Saharan Africa at 60-years-old, but number this has remained the same since the mid-1980s. Mobile phone use is seen as a good indicator of African technological progress. Kenya leads the pack, with 71 mobile phone subscriptions for every 100 citizens. But at 50 years old, is the country suffering from a mid-life crisis, haunted by legacies of the past? And how is the focus on President Kenyatta's impending trial before the International Criminal Court influencing events at home and perceptions of the country abroad? To discuss this, Inside Story, with presenter Sue Turton, is joined by guests: Binyavanga Wainaina, a Kenyan author and journalist, and winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing; Stephen Howe a senior research fellow in History and Cultures of Colonialism at Bristol University; and Boniface Mwangi, an award-winning Kenyan photojournalist, who won praise for his images of the post-election violence of 2007 and 2008. "We are in a place where we've come through quite a battle against very conservative and retrograde elites, to start to define how to stretch out of those constraints by a new constitution. Those for me are the territories that are quite exciting, that the country that I begin to see looking possible is breaking out of the habits of the constraints that the colonial [powers placed], and in that process we have a lot of chaos and a long way to go, but it's an adventurous type [of chaos]." - Binyavanga Wainaina, a Kenyan author and journalist http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2013/12/kenya-an-african-success-story-2013121383414114411.html