Some quotes from the pamphlet. "Shakina kuma jiro inay haweenku ragga jecelyihiin, inkasta oo jaceylkooda aanu la mid ahayn sida raggu u jecelyihiin haweenka." "Kaacibku waa gabadha quruxda badan ee ay soo baxsanyihiin naasaheeda." [ ]

Originally posted by Jaanjumow: As far as i read, Kaaraan, Boondheere, Shibis, Yaaqshiid, C/casiis, Galgalato and most of Heliwa, which are majority of what the mucaarad had are under government control. Add that to what the government already control such as Xamarweyn, Singaani, Xamar Jadiid, Waaberi Madina and dharkeenley, that totals up to majority of xamar. Simples Are you sure you know Xamar that well? Singaani?! Xamarjadiid??!! Xamarjajab ula jeedaa, I guess. And Dharkeenleydaana meelee ka timid garan la'ahay. I guess it was degmo cusub la sameeye just before the civil war, Wadajir ka dambeysaa filaa.

Out of Africa Anab Mohamed Issa just wants to bring her autistic son home. He's a Canadian citizen, stranded in Kenya. All he needs is a replacement passport. Ms. Issa is Somali-Canadian. She works two jobs as a cleaner in Ottawa. For almost three years, Ms. Issa has been sending applications, letters, affidavits, forms and photos to Passport Canada. "I feel like I'm standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, throwing paper in," says David Yerzy, a Toronto lawyer who has been working with Ms. Issa. "I'm just very frustrated and depressed." In 2004, Ms. Issa travelled with her 20-year-old son to Bosaso, Somalia. She liked Canada, had been here since 1990, but her son wasn't doing well here. Abdihakim Mohamed is a big man, with disruptive behavioural problems. It was more than Ms. Issa could handle on her own. A psychiatrist in Scarborough thought a change in cultural context might improve his communication and social skills. So Ms. Issa and her son went to stay with relatives in Somalia. After about nine months, Ms. Issa returned to Canada. That's when she made a mistake. She described it, later, in an affidavit: "He was happy staying with my family and they were happy to look after him. However, I did not want to leave his Canadian passport with him because I was afraid it would be stolen. Canadian passports are very valuable in this part of the world and I wanted to keep it safely. I thought this was the best course of action because I have Power of Attorney for Property and I am responsible for his passport. I could not trust him to look after it and there was nowhere safe where it could be kept under lock and key." It was the wrong decision, but understandable. At Pearson Airport, in April 2005, Canadian officials seized her son's passport from her, because it was being carried by someone other than the holder. Fair enough. In 2006, Ms. Issa's mother-in-law in Somalia got sick and was having trouble looking after Mr. Mohamed. Ms. Issa decided to bring her son home. She took him to Nairobi, to apply for a passport at the Canadian High Commission there, which serves Somalia. The immigration officer in Nairobi didn't believe Mr. Mohamed was who his mother said he was; one of the issues seems to be that he didn't seem autistic enough. The photo on his citizenship card was taken when he was younger, although to my eye, it bears a strong resemblance to a more recent photo. Ms. Issa returned to Canada, leaving her son under the imperfect care of relatives in Nairobi. She kept trying to get him a passport. Mr. Mohamed is unhappy in Kenya; his autism and his Somali ethnicity make him vulnerable to thuggery and harassment from the authorities. In April 2008, Ms. Issa got a letter from Passport Canada informing her she was under investigation for her "involvement in attempting to obtain a passport for an imposter in the name of [her] son Abdihakim." But she hasn't been charged with anything. Then, in July, the same agency said she couldn't apply for a regular passport on her son's behalf anyway, because Mr. Mohamed's mental incapacity preceded the granting of Power of Attorney. Passport Canada told her she needs a court order giving her guardianship. Ms. Issa would be happy to oblige -- but that process requires Abdihakim to be in Canada. Her other option, Passport Canada said, was to apply for a passport of limited validity on compassionate grounds. But then, in November, Passport Canada told her that "there remains the issue surrounding the true identity of this individual, which must be resolved before a travel document will be issued." In a particularly pig-headed coda, Passport Canada asked for her help in determining who the man applying for a passport in the name of her son might be. Jean Lash of South Ottawa Community Legal Services has been gathering a pile of affidavits from Canadian citizens who know Mr. Mohamed and can vouch for his identity. Mr. Mohamed has offered to submit to DNA testing, Ms. Lash says, but Passport Canada hasn't taken him up on the offer. "We're not sure what else we can do," says Ms. Lash. "He had a valid passport, which was seized by the government," says Mr. Yerzy, who knows Mr. Mohamed and signed an affidavit attached to his recent photo. "It's not lost. All he needs is a passport renewal." He might be home by now, if it weren't for the slow grind of an entrenched bureaucracy -- and if he were equipped to argue on his own behalf. A spokesman for Passport Canada wouldn't comment on the case, or on what threshold of proof the agency requires when there's a dispute over identity. Ottawa Citizen

The paper run an editorial about it today. ____________ Overseas nightmares Canadians setting off on overseas travels may worry that they will lose their passports, cash or credit cards. Few fret about losing their identities, however. But that is apparently the nightmare that awaited two Somali-born travellers in Kenya, where they are trapped and unable to leave for Canada because Ottawa does not believe they are who they claim to be. It's a dilemma that would be familiar to Franz Kafka's famous character, Josef K, who wakes up one morning and, for reasons never revealed, is arrested and prosecuted for an unspecified crime. It's also a situation that highlights the failure of the government and its officials to assist citizens in trouble. Indeed, if the claimants are the citizens they – and their friends and relatives in Canada – say they are, it shows a laxity toward civil rights that is unbecoming of a democracy. If the two are faking their identities, their cases could have been cleared up promptly by taking steps that would allow them to be identified through the routine fingerprinting, dental records or DNA tests used in domestic cases. Instead, they have been left wandering in a bureaucratic wilderness. Suaad Hagi Mohamud of Toronto was to leave Kenya nearly two months ago, when Nairobi airport officials, claiming she didn't look like her passport photo, had her arrested. Released on bail, she found that Canadian consular officials had confirmed the Kenyans' suspicion that she was an imposter. Until last week, they ignored her pleas to prove her identity by taking her fingerprints. Meanwhile, Abdihakim Mohamed , a young autistic man, has been stranded in Kenya since 2006, while his mother in Ottawa has vainly attempted to obtain a passport for him. The original was seized by Canadian officials when she brought it back with her on return from Kenya a year earlier – she claims for safekeeping. Passport Canada has since denied Mohamed a new one until his "true identity" is established. But officials have ignored his offer to take a DNA test. There are signs that both cases may now be close to a resolution, as media interest has grown and pressure has built on the government. But a lack of aid for Canadians in trouble overseas is unfortunately not unique. In spite of Ottawa's own declarations that "Canada has long sought to support Canadians abroad" and that "assisting citizens who are living, travelling or preparing to travel abroad is one of the defining aspects of the consular services of every nation," the government seems to regard its help as optional. The foreign affairs ministry's briefing for travellers reminds us that each year Canadians make more than 100 million trips abroad, and that they should be well prepared for the emergencies of the 21st century before they leave. What they don't say is that once there, they may be on their own. Or at least at the mercy of officials, and a government, whose opinion determines whether or not they warrant help. The hallmark of a democracy is that its citizens are free to come and go as they please, and in safety. Fulfilling half the equation is not an option for the government. Toronto Star

Waxyaabo badan aanan ogeyn ayaa jiro. It is not madoow and caddaan, or as it seems. Teeda kale Kanada right-wing regime ayaa powerka heysto. They don't give a rat's **** about hyphenated 'Canadian.' I am glad, though, they are a minority government.

Afsoomaaligaan kii xiligii Caraweelo nooleyd lagu hadli jiray miyaa. Sarbeeb waaye waa u jeedaa, laakiin Ingiriiska lagu qoray buugaagta Shakespeare oo Afsoomaali camal ah u egtahay.

And I thought for once she did not include the links to her blog in the thread's post -- until I clicked the only link provided.

Having been to Xamdi last night with friends and again tonight to the new Bilaal restaurant with other friends, I can now attest labada maqaayadood waa laba mataano maqaayadood. Only difference being Bilaal space ahaan kistoo ka weyn. Saak, you should check out Bilaal. Cuntada Xamdi isku si ah kariyaan. Heck saxanka, bakeeriga, qaadooyinka waa kuwii Xamdi camal even. And it got more space than Xamdi.

Tanaaba ka daran: Faransiiska gaabnida badan suu u fiirinaayo dey. Shaxaarigii weynaa Talyaaniga asagana ma yareysto. And the Canadian prime minister: So Canadian being boring. Garabaati toosiskiisa ayuu ku mashquulsanyahay, dadka kalena wey nuursanoyaan, even indhayar guy.

Qof dibad ka yimid in uu yahay waa laga garanaa jirkiisa. Qofkii shaki ugu jiray in uu Soomaali ahayna ookiyaal u baahanyahay. Garkiisa laga arkaa. Inay soo bandhigaana ma fiicneen, haddee soo bandhigaayaana inay ka dhaqaan ahayd dhiigga, dhaawaciisana qariyaan, jirkiisana asturaan. Acuudi bilaahi, Soomaali bahalo wada noqdeen.

Geellka, kamoon. Warkaan waa jiraa. It happens all the time, even tan haddee run ahayn tan, which is an actual run. Qoorta la iska goynaayo iyo waxaas waa jirtaa. Waajid ayee ka dhacday a few weeks ago. My own hooyo was there then. Their beheadings included an elder man who fought in '77 war against Xabashis. He lost a leg during -- and might have sacrificed his -- that national struggle. His crime? Their allegation against him being 'jaajuus' for dowladda. Whatever that meant. Maxkamad la isma saaraayo, dacwo ma jirto. Nothing. Wey sameyaan, kamana xishoodaan waxaan iyo wax la mid ah.

Toronto the Good saan mee u ekaatay. Darn. Also we can't play a nice, flawless banooni on the park -- cooska is overgrown since it hadn't been cut for few weeks. Darn.

Bisinka. Horey waan u iri, haddana waa ku celinaa: Cabsi ayee rabaan inay xoog dadka ku maamulaan. Horeyna waa u qoray, haddana mar kale aan qoro: Amar taagleen, dadka ka cabsiin, argagaxisnimo will not work in Soomaalis. Soon or later meel ma gaarayaan.

Qoraalkaan tries to clear the air and explain the issue. Who are the Gatekeepers of the Somali Community? Omar Jamal, Executive Director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center, is the go-to guy for media coverage of Somalis in Minnesota. But does he really speak for Minnesota’s Somali community? Last week, Jamal participated in a protest accusing Minnesota’s only Muslim civil rights organization, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) of impeding an investigation into the missing Somali youth. The protest was organized by Abdirizak Bihi, Jamal’s colleague and an uncle of Burhan Hassan, one of the missing Somali young men. I, unfortunately, know Bihi all too well. When I ran for Mayor of Minneapolis, I caught Bihi, who was working for McLaughlin’s campaign, running around the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood telling Somalis not to vote for me because “she is a lesbian.” This didn’t damage my campaign because I actually received more votes. It did however completely kill my romantic life (don’t get me started). I know who I am so I could care less of others’ opinion of my sexuality, but I was appalled that Bihi would use hate toward the GLBT community to gain political power. Not surprisingly, Bihi’s irresponsible tactics against the Somali community have also found their way into the media. In a WCCO interview, Bihi said, “They [Abuubakar Islamic Center] curse us [burhan’s family]. Call us infidels, because simply we spoke up for our son…Now we can say yes, that they do have something to do with it because they're always acting out in a sinister way." ( http://wcco.com/loc al/somali.teens.deat h.2.1035157.html) The FBI hasn’t indicted anyone in the disappearance of the missing men, yet Bihi offered conjecture and speculation that the mosque is involved. He also accused the mosque of a hit job on his nephew simply because he feels they are “always acting out in a sinister way.” The question is: where are the facts? Bihi is, according to Somali community leaders that I know, not representing their views. The Somali community’s lack of engagement with the media allows Jamal and Bihi to run amok spewing allegations that only harm the Somali community. These self-proclaimed leaders cannot differentiate feelings and conjecture from facts. Their accusations are inconsistent and personal. Jamal and Bihi alleged that CAIR-MN is ‘impeding the FBI’s investigation’ by informing the Somali community of their right to remain silent and have an attorney present when questioned by federal law enforcement. This attempt to intimidate and shame the Somalis into giving up their constitutional rights is atrocious. Having an attorney present to avoid unfair prosecution is reasonable and responsible behavior, especially for individuals who already fear law enforcement due to negative experiences they’ve had in their homeland. According to a February 2009 Minnesota Public Radio story, “Rights groups say Somalis being stopped, questioned,” a CAIR-MN representative told the story of a Somali man stopped by agents while walking and invited into a car for questioning: "There was one agent sitting in the front seat and another agent in the back seat….he was bombarded with questions. He just answered "no" to everything. He was just so scared.” Lying to federal law officials, even if you’re scared, is a felony. This man needed to invoke his right to remain silent and have an attorney present. It would ensure him to understand his rights, and to be comfortable to answer the questions truthfully. This process builds trust and nurtures Somalis to engage the greater community instead of hiding in fear. No one should be ashamed or ostracized for asking for an attorney, especially when it’s their constitutional right. According to CAIR-MN’s publication, ‘Know Your Rights and Responsibilities as an American Muslim”: “American Muslims strongly support law enforcement and the protection of our national security…..If you know of any criminal activity taking place in your community, it is both your religious and civic duty to immediately report such activity to local and federal law enforcement agencies.” CAIR-MN has been offering trainings in the Somali community long before the Somali youth disappeared. The trainings are offered by both Muslim and non-Muslim attorneys (including law professors). The information CAIR-MN is sharing with the community is no different than the information offered by the ACLU. Bihi and Jamal definitely have a right to speak for themselves, but speaking for the thousands of Somalis in Minnesota will warrant questioning of their intent, credibility and integrity. They must be held accountable to their statements. The protest against the civil rights group received media coverage. The Star Tribune’s headline read, “Somalis take to the street to protest group's actions.” Did the protest really represent the Somali community? According to a press conference the following Saturday, organized by over a dozen local Somali organizations, it did not. The Somali organization leaders asserted that the vast majority of the individuals protesting last week were the elderly with limited English skills. When approached by Somali leaders afterwards, they stated that they were told to protest against an “anti-Somali group.” When asked, most did not know the name of that group they were protesting. At the press conference, Somali leaders voiced support of CAIR-MN. Somali Community Link Radio Host Zuhur Ahmed said, “CAIR is always available to help Muslims and Somalis with legal, immigration and job issues, and they don't show up only when the media is around like some others who call themselves activists.” United Somali Movement Vice President Aman Obsiye said, “All [CAIR] is saying is that Somali-Americans are equal to all other Americans. We have the same civil rights as other Americans have...These attacks on CAIR are not from the Somali community.” http://www.startribu ne.com/local/4800535 2.html Many Somalis turn to CAIR-MN for help and these false accusations won’t stop CAIR from getting the job done. The real victims in the story are the families that lost their sons. If they are trying to get answers about their missing youth, they’ll need better spokespeople than Jamal and Bihi, who have absolutely no credibility with people that can actually help them. Star Tribune

Relief after woman stranded in Nairobi fingerprinted A Toronto woman facing jail in Kenya says she feels relieved after Canadian officials finally took her fingerprints to help settle her identity. "I feel a lot better," Suaad Hagi Mohamud said yesterday by phone from Nairobi, where she has been stranded for seven weeks, eight days of that time in jail. "I really want to come back home." Canadian consular officials, who for six weeks refused to have anything to do with the woman, took her prints and asked her such questions as where she lives, who her boss is at the ATS courier plant in Etobicoke and who is looking after her 12-year-old son in Toronto. But they did not indicate when they might match her prints with those on her original Somali refugee application made 10 years ago. "They said they would get back to me," she said. Mohamud, 31, was about to leave Kenya on May 17 after a short visit when airport officials stopped her for not looking like her Canadian passport photo – a common ruse for soliciting a bribe, she says. The Kenyans jailed her. She was released eight days later on $2,500 (U.S.) bail, pending trial. On May 21, the Kenyans notified the Canadian high commission of the arrest. A week later, a Canadian consular official wrote Kenyan immigration to say "conclusive investigations" confirm the arrested woman was an imposter. The official sent them the voided passport to help with their prosecution. For weeks, Mohamud – or the woman posing as Mohamud – begged the Canadians to take her fingerprints but they refused to return her calls. "That's all we're asking," family spokesperson and Toronto radio host Kawnayn Hussein said on hearing the prints had been taken. "It's somehow encouraging for us," said Mohamed Dalmar of Ottawa's Catholic Settlement Centre, who has worked for three years on a similar case. Koronto Star

One more reason I love this:

Come to think of it, no. I had seen quite a few mataano sisters, but never males. What is even more surprising is that we have the name 'mataan' for male twins, but not its equivalent in female twin sisters.

Waabsi.com Federalism did not work in '50s. C/qaadir Soobe ka daalay suu meel walba ula taagnaa in '60s, too. And now it won't work. Soomaaliya dal federal lagu dhaqi karo ma'aha. Federal dad kala jaan ayaa iskugu yimaado, not Soomaalis.

Qarxiska ka dhaaf igaarka. By the way, Iitob (Etob) restaurant ma tagtay wali?

Read this on the paper the other day. On the newspaper, qofta sawiradeeda driver licence, healthcardka and citizenshipka ku dhaganaa. In a way isku muuqaal jiro uma eko. Probably leenka walaasheed ama qaraabo kale soo siisay baasaboorka ku qarxay u maleynaa, and now the real "Sucaad" dacwoonoyso. Probably. It is sad, though. Is woman held in Kenya who she says she is? If a passport, driver's licence, OHIP card and citizenship certificate are not enough, Suaad Hagi Mohamud is ready to give fingerprints to prove who she is. The Toronto woman jailed in Kenya after being told she no longer looks like her four-year-old passport photo says proving her identity is easy. "When I applied for Canadian citizenship, they took my fingerprints," the Somali-born woman said yesterday by phone from Nairobi, where she is out on bail pending trial. "They can match them." She has already tried to prove her identity using all her other photo ID, plus credit and bank cards as well as a Humber River Regional Hospital user card. Her ex-husband, 12-year-old son, dozens of neighbours and her local MP – former immigration minister Joe Volpe – have all vouched for her in Toronto. But the Canadian government does not believe her. Last week, Ottawa issued a single terse sentence: "Following an extensive investigation, officials at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi have determined that the individual arrested by Kenyan authorities is not Ms. Suaad Mohamud Hagi." For reasons stubbornly not explained, a doubt raised by a Kenyan airport official as the woman prepared to fly home after a visit has somehow escalated into Canada's rejection of her identity. Canadian officials have refused to answer questions central to the mystery: Is the real Suaad Mohamud missing? Who is the arrested woman? Why does Canada disbelieve her story? Why can't fingerprints be taken? In the sole departure from the official line, Canadian High Commission first secretary Liliane Khadour last night requested a meeting tomorrow, Mohamud phoned yesterday to report, though the purpose of the meeting was not explained. The stranded woman was preparing to leave Kenya on May 17 after a two-week visit with her mother. Airport officials stopped her, jailed her and after eight days released her when a friend posted $2,500 (U.S.) bail. African-born travellers commonly offer airport officials money to avoid hassles, a practice that might explain her problems, Mohamud said in one of several phone interviews this week. "I am Canadian and I refused." But Nairobi police also stop people on the street to inspect identification papers, expecting a bribe, she said. "Since I got out of jail, I have been stopped seven times and I have paid every time." Frustration among Toronto Somali immigrants over the case is mounting, said Kawnayn Hussein, host of the popular Somali-language weekly radio show Midnimo (Unity) on AM530. "I told my listeners, `This could happen to you.'" Toronto friends recognize the phone voice from Nairobi as genuine and fear either jail in Kenya or deportation to Somalia, said Shukri Abdi, a neighbour who agreed to look after Mohamud's son for two weeks and is still caring for him after nine weeks. "I can bring together 50 people to identify her," Abdi said. "She is outgoing. She has a job (at an ATS courier warehouse). Everybody knows her." Kenyan high commission officials in Ottawa did not return repeated calls over two days. Toronto Star

Any war ka bilowdo "ma dhabaa..." badanaaba sheeko kutiri kuteen waaye.

Wixii dhanba waa soo aruurisee, waxba ma u reebin. Banaanka hala iskeeno ama anaa ku keenaayo mee maroysaa sheekada?

Eternal Moonwalk is one such cool site dedicated to him.

Mar mar waxaa isdhaheysaa Soomaalida ku fiicneyd inay xad la wadaagaan dal Shiinaha camal ah. Markaas ogaan lahaayeen micnaha dal iyo dad madaxbanaan qiimaha ee leedahay. Dadkaan iyo kuwa lamid ah ee dal madaxbanaan la'aanta heyso, sida Tamils, Tibetans, Reer Kurdish and Karen people of Myanmar ayaa og qiimaha dalkaaga iyo dadkaaga xoriyadooda wada dhameystiran leedahay. I like their flag. It is the closest flag to ours.