Blessed, this was the first step towards bringing Somaliland back into the union. The change of law and the fact the big beast of Burco attended is significant. The Turks will hopefully under the AKP, continue to support the Somali people and government. There is unclear end point to the transition and a new Government for Somalia with a stable Mogadishu as it's capital.

That argument holds no water. Djibouti, Ethiopia and other nations spoke, Somaliland did not speak like Puntland and Galmudug. Remember you were all claiming that this was an opportunity for Siilanyu to speak on behalf of secessionist agenda.

^^^^ That was quite amusing cause you must be reading a different communique. Siilanyu, Calin & Faroole attended say patiently & listened. Thus Somaliland was no more relevant than Galmudug or Puntland in the great scheme of things.

So after all the posturing and tough talk. Somaliland was forced to as Xiin rightly stated play by the new rules. Again the average person in the NW of Somalia will benefit being a Citizen of a resurgent Somalia.

This was a big day for Somalia. Now that we had the conference & the final communique all that talk about trusteeships & secessionists erring their day in the sun came to naught. The Garowe principles and the Road Map gained the worlds support and the ending of the transition will not be hampered by warlords, Al Qaeda types and neighboring countries. It will be up to the Somali's to do the heavy lifting and insha Allah move away from the usual failed politics. It's a great day for Somalia, Insha Allah August 20th will be the dawn of the new Republic.

I was worried about Ghadafi's golden gun...

For all the difficulties it has faced, Somalia has the resilience, talent and natural resources to shape a better future K foreign secretary William Hague with officials at Mogadishu airport. Hague puts remittances from the Somali diaspora at £1bn a year. Photograph: Stuart Price/UN The term "failed state" was coined by President George W Bush to be the byword of US policy in Somalia. The country was put on the list of those associated with terrorism and, thereafter, any country that risked relations with Somalia was subject to American sanctions. As a result, the internationalcommunity was dissuaded from having dealings with Somalia, and it became isolated. America's attitude encouraged north-east African powers to perpetuate their strategy of destabilisation, giving them licence to settle accounts with Somalia under the pretext of combating terrorism. They hoped to demoralise the Somalis, to plunge them into a state of despair from which they would never again try to rise. Yet Somalia is not a failed state. It was defeated by the weight of the resources at its adversaries' disposal, but never succumbed. And it is still fighting for emancipation and self-determination. Yes, there is warlordism, terrorism, piracy, and a history of natural disaster. Yes, displacement, refugees and a lack of state authority are problematic. But these issues result directly from sustained foreign intervention and the deliberate fragmentation of the country into fiefdoms, enclaves and tribal territories. That the conflict in Somalia has a local dimension – rooted in oppression, nepotism, exclusion, injustice, lack of economic opportunity and civil disobedience – is impossible to ignore. But without foreign interference, local issues would be less critical; they could be managed and controlled. The reality is that the big powers have relied on Ethiopia, their major ally in Africa, to decide their strategies in the Horn of Africa. William Hague, the UK foreign secretary, implicitly conceded as much in a speech before the Somali community at Chatham House earlier this month. He said: "We know the international community has not always got it right in the past and that we can easily make mistakes, even when our intentions are good." Irrespective of the lack of government regulation and protection, Somalis have formed networks – both within the country and across borders and continents – that are bound together by ties of family and trust. Two major financial institutions that emerged out of the ashes of the destruction are Dahabshiil international bank and Salama bank. Both have their head offices in Djibouti for legal and security reasons. Their services cover all Somalis and all regions to the tiniest village, a feat that would have been impossible under the old government. With the help of such initiatives, Somali capital has migrated to Kenya and Dubai, where Somalis excel in every field. In Dubai, they are the biggest re-exporter after the Iranians. In Kenya, they have competed successfully with the Asian business community and achieved significant results in telecommunications, money transfers, transport and real estate. Their business networks extend to the Middle East, South Africa, Tanzania, South Sudan, Congo and Central Africa. The private sector and non-governmental organisations have supplanted the administration in offering services such as education, health and manufacturing. "Somalis worldwide provide more than $1bn in remittances back to Somalia each year – more than the international community provides in aid," Hague pointed out in his Chatham House speech. What's more, Somalis inject $1bn annually into the economy of Kenya. This is variously due to the high returns offered by Kenya's economy, partnerships with Kenyan Somalis, the sharing of 800km of common border, and Kenya's role as an outlet for Somalia's informal economy. Livestock and agriculture were the mainstays of the Somali economy before the collapse of the state, accounting for around 50% of GDP. And despite the lack of regulation and government protection – and the chaos, natural disasters and fierce competition from highly advanced economies such as Australia and Argentina – Somalia's livestock exports have doubled in comparison to 1990 levels. Neither are the positives confined to economics and agriculture. Somalis in the diaspora have impressive entrepreneurial skills and are highly educated and talented. Nuruddin Farah, a novelist and university professor in South Africa, was a candidate for the Nobel prize for literature. Dr Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf is a judge at the international court of justice. A song by the world famous rapper K'naan was chosen as the official anthem of the football World Cup in South Africa. And distance runner Mo Farah, who is also a British citizen, is the 5,000-metre world champion. Moreover, Somalia has enormous natural resources. It has two as yet untapped rivers. It has 8m hectares of cultivable land. It has a 3,000km coastline, the longest in Africa, full of marine resources. It possesses huge deposits of uranium and other precious minerals. Last but not least, Somalia has substantial reserves of oil and gas; in fact, its reservoir of black gold is understood to be the second biggest in Africa. Clearly, despite the challenges encountered by Somalia over the past 20 years, the country has a lot to offer. It is capable of a rebirth and will one day stand on its feet again to pursue the march of progress, restoring its dignity and assuming equal status with other members of the international community. • Mohamed Sharif Mohamud is the former ambassador of Somalia and the Arab League

^^^He aint laying maan..

Bossaso has taken the lead...

I am travelling today. Thus would be fantastic to hear some positive news from this project.. I feel good already.

lol@ the map,Galkacyu is leading thus far...

Thank you for the update!

Carafaat;793088 wrote: Dukey, let me put it diffrently. Galkacyo and you are being loyal and solidair to an alliance that has been not so loyal to Galkacyo latelty. In fact ou are being hold captive and while Mudug is regarded as the ignorant hinterland of Puntland. Where even the small Qardho has a bigger say and stake in the State, while you are declaring youw own city as a hostile frontline instead of a metropolitan city and capital of Central Somalia. Never mind. You won't undestand sxb. You are being true to your Mudugian ignorance. Aside from insults, what have you just stated? Adeer give it a break, you keep moving the goal post and only end up confusing yourself. Galkacyu is fine,Mudug is ok and Somalia is coming back.. Insha Allah Khair.

Coming in from the cold.

Carafaat;793072 wrote: They were welcomed in GAROWE indeed. Unfortuantly there is an ugly clan line in that city marked by the simple fact thaty the 2 admins, while the people are one, one city. Why can't you say its wrong and there should be one admin NOW, how many more assasinations, militia figghting have to die before you realize what is right and what is wrong today! Rather then using the peace agreement of 20 years ago as excuse to do nothing and wait for anothjer assasination and more lawlesness. Again nonsense. I have stated to you that the people of Mudug share many things, religion, kinship, nationality like many other Somali's. They have differences, minor political ones that has been exasperated by the Somali Civil war. Thus if their leaders are willing to meet up in all places Garowe and work out the national political issues together with other parties, does that not rubbish your whole argument? As for one admin for Galkacyu, that's a minor issue compared to what these men were discussing last week. As you were soldier.

Carafat, what ever makes you happy. What matters to me is the Somali Republic again on its feet.. Thats what will make me truly happy..

^^^Thats much better less prancing around. Mudug and its people had the first and longest lasting peace agreement signed between two powerful rebel groups at the high tide of the war. It has kept and endured, it will be built upon by the people in due time. Its a fact that Galmudug along with Puntland are signers of the Road Map, which aims to have a lasting settlement for all of Somalia. My poor lad, its clear you get confused with tabload news and ignore the real facts. Ask anyone President Calin, Gen Qaybdeed, Mohamed Farah Jimcaale, Ali Hashi Dhoore and 10 others leaders from Galmudug were welcomed in Garowe last week and thus your whole argument is null and void. Try again

Gabbal, insha Allah see you next year in Mogadishu...

Carafaat;793054 wrote: Have you no shame! bragging about clannish divided city, with one neighbourhoud controlled by one clan militia and another in the next. Its the 21st century and some still seem to think as if cities are like pastoral land one can simply divide the admins amond reero. Result, yet another part controlled by a third clan. If you think the truth is bragging or that the facts I outlined to you were insults directed at my relatives highlights only your inadequacies in terms of understanding issues. As I have gathered from your various posts on this topic this Galkacyu thing is a big issue. Again, as I have stated to you, this City has an admin, it functions and its a reflection of the Somali Civil war, hopefully soon it will be over and better days are on the way. Also as I have stated to you before, you don't understand anything regarding this region and people.. Try again lad.

Its been a long time coming. Those many obstacles, the world has at last recognized the biggest problem in Somalia is lack of national institutions.. Thus this world class conference on Somalia is a step in the right direction towards restoring the Republic. The perennial under achievers and wailers are again fighting against this meeting. Some for clan reasons, others for the "faith" and most because that's all they know. They protest, they get angry, the point fingers and they blame. The secessionists are scared, old Britian which they have placed so much faith is letting them down. They understand that a resurgent Mogadishu united with a confident and growing Puntland will be a big obstacle to their decades long project. Somalia as a whole is at a crossroads. The population is poor and blodied, everywhere from Hargaysa to Hiiiraan, from Galgacyu to Gedo, the people are poor, unemployed and most of them don't even remember what it was to have a normal state. We, the spoiled lot, in the comfort of the Diaspora owe it to our people to give peace a chance. In the past I have been a critic of Sharif Ahmed and his administration. From my time in London I was suspicious and wary of the likes of Tarzan (Mayor of Mogadishu) and Yarisow (an aid to the PM, former Minister). Yet today I pray for their success and specially Tarzan, who has given it all to the people of the Capital. I pray that they succeed and that for once we have a capital functioning, orderly and its population at peace. The Somali was born free, yet every where he is harassed and placed in bondage. Today is the time to rise above our petty differences in order to achieve our goal of restoring the Republic. Mogadishu restoration is the greatest activity that we have. Somali's from every walk of life, from every clan must contribute towards its restoration again as the beautiful Capital of all our people. This meeting gives our people and country an opportunity to come in from the cold, to become part of the world once again. The fact that today, the President of Nigeria, with his Goodluck, the Secretary of State of the United States and the Foreign Minister of our our great ally Turkey to name but a few are heading to a meeting exclusively about Somalia is a great start. Lets be hopeful and lets build our nation... insha Allah Khair The Duke

This is a good development. Not sure why people think there will be a perfect solution or systems, as if there are even in the countries that we reside in.. We need to be a normal country,insha Allah we are on the road to being that..

The Sage;793033 wrote: So by your logic when President Abdullah Gul of Turkey visited Cameron in London last November that was a sign that the Brits don't respect him too? http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/wintour-and-watt/2011/nov/21/turkey-recep-tayyip-erdogan Please let's not grasp at straws. o David Cameron in Turkey meeting Erdogan August 2010.. Calling for Turkey to be admitted to Europe.. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1299213/Peter-Hitchens-disturbing-picture-growing-repression-heart-Eurabia.html Alas poor lad, Hague did not visit Hargaysa even once, nor did Hague open an Embassy in Hargaysa. Thus try again