Increased engagement Puntland Information Minister Abdihakim Ahmed Guled said of Gabose’s statements: “We welcome the openness of the new government in Somaliland and its aim to solve the problems in peace and negotiations. Puntland and Somaliland have agreed to work together to tackle common security threats “On our side, we are happy to hear that the Somaliland government is ready to work with us on security matters because at this time, there are new groups in the region who are killing Muslim people in mosques. These groups have in the past carried out suicide attacks in Hargeisa as well as in Puntland's port of Bosasso." Meanwhile, there have been international moves to increase engagement with both Somaliland and Puntland, most notably by the United States, which plans to send more diplomats and aid workers there. “We think that both of these parts of Somalia have been zones of relative political and civil stability, and we think they will, in fact, be a bulwark against extremism and radicalism that might emerge from the south,” Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnny Carson said on 24 September. The US has stressed, however, that this initiative does not mark the beginning of a process to recognize Somaliland’s independence. Commenting on the US move, Sally Healy, an associate fellow of the Africa Programme at Chatham House, told IRIN: “Both territories are quite effectively administered by authorities that are hostile to Al-Shabab and the spread of extremism in Somalia. Their strategic position is important in terms of the security threats emanating from the Gulf of Aden. “They have important and influential diaspora communities in the west. So it makes a lot of sense for the US to do business with them instead of putting all their eggs in the TFG basket, which remains extremely fragile.”

SOMALIA: Somaliland and Puntland to cooperate on security Photo: Hassan Mahamud Ahmed/IRIN Common enemy: Both Puntland and Somaliland fear the spread of Islamist insurgency such as Al Shabab HARGEISA, 28 September 2010 (IRIN) - Somaliland and Puntland, once-warring territories in northern Somalia, have unprecedentedly agreed in principle to work together to tackle common security threats. Troops from both entities have clashed over disputed borderlands in the past. They also differ over the issue of sovereignty: Somaliland unilaterally declared independence in 1991, and Puntland, while asserting a degree of autonomy, recognizes Mogadishu as its own, and Somaliland’s, capital. "You can't choose your neighbours, whether it is a region or state; for this reason, from now on, we are going to work with the Puntland state of Somalia, in terms of security of the [Horn of Africa] region,” Somaliland’s Interior Minister, Mohamed Abdi Gabose, said on 26 September in the Somaliland capital, Hargeisa. "Of course this does not mean we unite with Puntland or the other conflicted areas. We will discuss the [security] issues later," he said. “From now on, we [somaliland] want to work together on security matters because it seems there are anti-peace groups who want to threaten our peace,” he said. The rapprochement follows renewed clashes in July in Galgala, an area on the Puntland side of the border, between Puntland’s security forces and troops loyal to Sheikh Mohamed Said Atom, a leader of an insurgency accused of having links to Al-Shabab, the main Islamist group fighting Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Atom and Al-Shabab have both denied such links exist. "Of course the [somaliland] government has its worries when it comes to the Galgala war because if these groups win or fail, either way it is not good for Somaliland because if they win they may try to enlarge their presence deeper in Somaliland," said Gabose. Hargeisa is faced with another security concern – an armed group claiming to be fighting to liberate – and which is named after - the Somaliland border regions Sool, Sanag and Cayn. The group rejects the legitimacy of Somaliland’s government and sovereignty and says it has set up its own administration.

^^^lol. At times a question is an answer to another. The point if you want me to simplify it for you is that this man Sharif lacks basic principles and that with his lack of education and ignorance is why the situation is becoming ever worse for the poor Somali’s.

^^^NinaNC you are beautifully naïve. Next you will say "where does it say don’t drink Alcohol with world leaders?" This is not about shaking hands, its aboyt the hypocrisy with which these Ala Sheikh clowns operate in. The same way they duped all the useful ****** in Mogadishu which they still kill, maim and plunder wealth of on a daily basis.

Originally posted by NinaNC: The chief looks sharp as he gracefully shakes hands with some of the world's most powerful leaders. Correction powerful ladies have more rights than ordinary ladies then ? Sharif's hypocracy "Oh he is a pious Shiekh" should be discussed my dear. Anyhow how u doin sporty spice, how are things with you?

^^^Funny how this dude only turns up when there is news about Sharif Hotel. Indeed there is a method to his "madness".

^^^The Show in Madrid was the best yet..

^^^lol: Half the Parliment would walk out. Dont you know these men are very religious and dont belive in mingling with women?

FROM THIS I dont shake the hands of women TO THIS To shaking hands with her

It's not that we are questioning the handshake but what we are rather questioning is Sharif's principles in here. Before he would not shake hands with any Somali women and now he's all over the place getting closer and closer! I think it means Somali women are dumb, and those who belived him and carried AK 47s for his cause were dumber..

Spain:Madaxweyne Shariif oo dhoola cadeynaya ayaa gacanta ka salaamey wasiirada Gaashaandhiga Spain (Sawiro) Posted by admin on September 28th, 2010 Madrid(Puntlandi.com)Wasiirada Gaashaandhiga Spain Carme Chacon ayaa si diiran usoo dhaweysey Madaxweyne Shariif, madaxweynuhuna isagoo dhoolacadeynaya ayuu gacan qaadey oo salaamey wasiirada ka dibna waxey isuraaceen goobtii shirka(Sawirada hoos ka daawo) Kooxda Xiriirka Caalamiga u qaabilsan Soomaaliya uu ka furmayey oo ku taal bartamaha Magaalada Madrid.

”…Arintaas waa mid aan soo dhoweynayno sababto ah Puntland iyo Somaliland waxaa ay ka tirsanyihin Soomaalida.in mucaawino dheeraad ah la siiyo labadaas maamul waanu soo dhoweynayna…”,ayuu yiri. Maamulada Puntland iyo Somaliland ayaa si wadajir ah usoo dhoweeyey taageerada Dawladda Maraykanka u balanqaaday inuu xoojinaayo.

Dawladda Federaalka oo Soo Dhoweysay Taageerada Maraykanka uu Siinaayo Puntland iyo Somaliland September 28, 2010 Wasiirka arrimaha dibadda Dawladda Federaalka ee Soomaaliya ayaa ka hadlay hadal dhowaan kasoo yeeray masuul ka tirsan Dawladda Maraykanka kaas oo ku aadan in Xukuumada Washington xoojinayso taageerada ay siinayso Maamulada Puntland iyo Somaliland. Mudane Yuusuf Xassan Ibraahim Dheeg oo la hadlaayay warbaahinta Horseed Media ayaa sheegay in ay soo dhoweynayaan taageerada Maraykanka uu u balanqaaday Puntland iyo Somaliland isagoo sheegay in ay ka tirsanyihin Soomaaliya. ”…Arintaas waa mid aan soo dhoweynayno sababto ah Puntland iyo Somaliland waxaa ay ka tirsanyihin Soomaalida.in mucaawino dheeraad ah la siiyo labadaas maamul waanu soo dhoweynayna…”,ayuu yiri. Maamulada Puntland iyo Somaliland ayaa si wadajir ah usoo dhoweeyey taageerada Dawladda Maraykanka u balanqaaday inuu xoojinaayo. Kaaliyaha Xogheyaha arrimaha dibadda Maraykanka u qaabilsan arrimaha Afrika Mr.Johnnie Carson ayaa dhowaan shaaciyey in maamulada Puntland iyo Somaliland ka caawinayaan dhanka Caafimaadka,Waxbarashada iyo beeraha. Horseed Media

^^^No adeer he did not make another prediction since that time. He was so sure of himself. Anyhow I know this is getting to you, and since you have not responded to the US stance, and the Gaboose proposal I shall continue, and enjoy it as well. Somaliland is moving away from the secessionist position, because it has to.

Originally posted by NGONGE: ^^ Take all the space you want, saaxib. It'll only get quoted in the future. Yeah indeed, like how I am quoted on the dangers of Al Shabaab, Sharif Ahmed's failure and that Puntland would defeat easily the Al Shabaab in Galgala. Yup and how we quote your Guru when he predicted without any doubt that Somaliland would be recognized by the world no later than November 2003..

^^^Indeed but the men they mention and the website Somalimidnimo is even worse. They were all friends once, and Shabelle was the biggest mouth piece for the clan courts. Now they are history and can not get over it.

Originally posted by Thankful: The international community is using Puntland as a model for how the rest of the country should run! Indeed, the International community has realised the tru path to peace. Which is Somaliland, Puntland with two other states, and Mogadishu as the Federal capital...

NGOONGE: Guys, guys, please give Duke some space. He's seen something I have seen you rattled, Norf quite, Xaji Xunjuf admitting for once that his precious flag is no more than a secessionist flag. I have heard Gaboose twice propose to work with Puntland, now you know who Dr Gaboose is right? I have also seen with my own eyes the US Admin declare openly that they will support in what they term “greater engagement: with the two Norther States of Somalia.

Originally posted by Xaji_Xunjuf: so we can tour all the way with our secessionist flag to the outskirts of bosaaso. Xaji at least you are admitting this flag that you have is only a secessionist flag and not a recognized, legitimate or a real nations. Unlike the Somali flag. : You can bring Disneylands flag to the outskirts of Bosaso for all I care.

^^^Well said... Xaji adeer dont belive us here is the US position.. Engagement with Puntland and Somaliland is part of the second track, he added. "We hope to be able to have more American diplomats and aid workers going into those countries on an ad hoc basis to meet with government officials to see how we can help them improve their capacity to provide services to their people, seeing whether there are development assistance projects that we can work with them on," Carson said. "We think that both of these parts of Somalia have been zones of relative political and civil stability, and we think they will, in fact, be a bulwark against extremism and radicalism that might emerge from the South." But Carson said the United States will follow the African Union position and recognize only a single Somali state. Thus Somaliland has to move to where Puntland is and not the other way round. Poor secessionist it will be a painful hangover...

Rememeber the days when his group did not even look at Somali women, due to their religious beliefs? The two great Shiekhs of our time, Shiekh Sharif & Maulana Yusuf IndaCADE. "I am ready to die for my beliefs?

Up close and up close