On 18 May 2009, the self-declared ‘Republic of Somaliland’ marked eighteen years since it proclaimed independence seceding from the rest of Somalia. Even after nearly two decades of self-rule, however, the international community remains hesitant to recognize the breakaway territory as a functioning sovereign state. Yet Somaliland leaders remain undiscouraged by the apparent lack of enthusiasm and inaction by the international community, including, most importantly, the African Union (AU). As a result, the messages coming out of Somaliland often refer to ‘the irreversible independence’ or almost of ‘no return to the union with Somalia’. Somaliland’s claim to statehood is being made on the basis that the territory has had historically separate status for a brief period following independence from Britain in June 1960. The next month, in July 1960, the former colonies of Italy and Britain voluntarily established a unitary nation-state known as Somalia. Almost immediately the leadership in Somaliland regretted this decision and begun to wage a secessionist struggle against Siad Barre's misrule for two decades. Barre's forces pursued Somaliland armed movements killing tens of thousands of people and destroying infrastructure in the region. This experience of brutal political repression and military atrocities fostered the emergence of the Somali National Movement (SNM) in 1981, which waged a secessionist struggle, leading to the collapse in 1991 of the Somalia state and the eventual declaration of independence by Somaliland. Since then, the Somaliland government has been persistent in its pursuit of official recognition. It declared the territory a ‘Republic’ in 2002 and wrote to the AU asking it to send a fact-finding mission to see the viability of the de facto state. In response, the AU dispatched, between April 30 to May 4 2005, a mission led by its former Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission Mr Patrick Mazimhaka. Later the same year, in December, Somaliland’s President Dahir Rayale Kahin submitted a formal application for admission to the AU, pleading for recognition as a fully active member of the continental body. Despite the lack of international recognition, Somaliland has the primary constitutive components evident in most nation-states including: an internally accepted political system; institutions of governance; a police force; and its own currency. But the lack of recognition has significantly impeded the territory’s overall progress. In this regards, the AU observer mission report had noted that ‘the lack of recognition ties the hands of the authorities and people of Somaliland, as they cannot effectively and sustainably transact with the outside to pursue the reconstruction and development goals’. The AU fact-finding mission has also concluded that the situation was sufficiently ‘unique and self-justified in African political history’ and recommended that the AU ‘should find a special method of dealing with this outstanding case’. Following the above rather sympathetic gesture, president Rayale, on 16 May 2006, met with the then AU Commission Chairperson, Alpha Oumar Konaré to discuss Somaliland’s application for membership. Somaliland authorities’ argue that their claim is consistent with article III of the OAU charter and article IV of the Constitutive Act of the AU, which states that the Union shall function in accordance with the principles of respect for the borders existing on achievement of independence. They also infer the experience of other states, including in Africa, acceptance of self-determination, such as recognition given to Bangladesh, Eritrea, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia. Given the AU’s sensitivity about the maintenance of colonially inherited borders, the 2005 mission report could be seen as exceptionally sympathetic. But so far the organization has taken no further concrete action. Instead the AU’s current efforts are focused overwhelmingly on south/central Somalia. The organization in 2006 deployed a peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in support of the fragile Transitional Federal Government (TFG), that is presently battling with Islamist insurgents. In effect, since president Kahin had submitted an application for membership four years back, there is no breakthrough at the continental organization or at member states level. Regardless of the lack of progress on formal recognition, Somaliland still attracts significant attention, as the region occupies a strategic position near the world’s major oil transport routes and major power wants to see it guarded carefully. Consequently the self-declared republic has established political contacts with a number of countries. Ethiopia and the UK insist that Somaliland deserves encouragement and support as the self-proclaimed state has provided an area of relative stability in the volatile Horn sub-region. In a similar context, Somaliland has also established significant contacts with Belgium, Ghana, South Africa, Sweden, and Djibouti. Moreover, in early 2007, the European Union sent a delegation to discuss future cooperation; while President Kahin led his own delegation and attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala, Uganda. In December 2007 the Bush administration also considered whether to back the shaky transitional government in Somalia or to acknowledge the less volatile Somaliland secessionists. Recently the UN special envoy to Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, was quoted as saying: ‘We will open a new UN political affairs office in Hargeisa …[and] this office will further advance UN funding support to Somaliland in the fields of maritime security and counterterrorism.’ However, before Somaliland gets recognition by the rest of the international community, it needs full and formal legal recognition from the AU. Since President Kahin has submitted a formal application pleading for recognition four years back, there is no breakthrough at the AU or member state level. While it is normal to feel sympathetic to Somaliland’s agony in this process, it is equally understandable to see the rationale behind why the AU remains indecisive on the matter. There are indeed risks for the AU to say ‘yes’ to Somaliland’s request for recognition and set the ‘wrong precedent’. At least from the Union’s perspective, the principal objection against recognition is the strong reservation African governments have about revising borders inherited from colonial times. This is a legitimate concern that cannot be ignored, given the heterogeneity of the majority of African states and the possibility that many may face with the proliferation of similar ethnic and secessionist movements. Other potential risks relate also to the nature of the relationship that is going to be forged between Somaliland and Somalia. Central in this case is whether the two will create friendly relations, through which mutual recognition will be exchanged. Currently, there is a serious threat of Islamists controlling most of the territories of the South and central Somalia. Such elements could aim to infiltrate Somaliland, de-stabilise it and take it over with the support of local Islamists. Moreover, Somaliland is in dispute with the neighbouring autonomous Somali region of Puntland over the Sanaag and Sool areas, some of whose inhabitants owe their allegiance to Puntland and could lead to further destablisation of the sub-region. To conclude, Somaliland has persevered for 18 years as an independent state, hoping that it will one day get the attention of the international community, especially that of the AU. The debate whether the breakaway territory deserves recognition as well as the implications of it continues. Coupled with its electoral crisis, presently it has become clearer that without recognition, it remains hard to tell how long Somaliland’s relative peace and stability can last. It is critical, therefore, that the international community shows foresight. In particular, the AU has yet to act decisively on the matter. Meanwhile, the people of Somaliland still continue to live with the agony of waiting to hear from the decisionmakers whether they will be a recognised “Republic” or not.

Originally posted by Juxa: JB you are not worried about the laptop but what is on it! over the years you have been collecting files on everyone you know, anigu waan ogahay. Is that what you do ? ,,, ehem ,,,

We have a suspect here on SOL ....... Juxa should be questions. Call the MI6

Afternoon ...................... A bit cold ,,,,,,,,,, No sign of my laptop ,,,,, Nervous ....

Reerkiinu ma baradhaa basal iyo ma xawaash baa Ma timir la boobaa buskud iyo liin baa ma bacadle weyn baa Baroortiyo xanuunka taahiyo qaylada badan Bugta iyo sokeeyihii maa idin baday dadkiinii Xigtadii maxaa Ba'shay shisheeyana maxaa baray Ma birba calaashadeen ?

U wlc sxb ,,, this is a great move and i hope others will follow.

What you see here is not just two persons facing each other. The artist made different pictures which looks like what we see now from distance. Look closely and discover the truth about the picture. Tell me what you see .............

Ceerigaabo (HWN) Tan iyo Waqtigii gumaystaha ayaa hadal haynta dhibaatadda wadada isku xidha magaalada Ceerigaabo ee xarunta gobolka Sanaag iyo Magaaladda Burco ee xarunta gobolka Togdheer ayaa ahayd dhibaato soo jireen ah oo aan wax lataaban karo laga qaban. 1960 ka hor ayaa wadadaas gumaystihii ingiriisku ka samayey Marin Carro Tuur ah , oo dhaantay hadda xalada ay tahay wadadani, oo gaadiidka kala gooshi jirey xiligaas, kuwaas oo qaadi jiray badeecadaha kala duwan ee gobolku u baahan yahay. Carro Tuur waqtigaas la samayey ayaa gabi ahaanba Burburay, iyadoo gaadiidkiina ka diga rogtay wadadaas, meelaha qaar ayaa laga dareemi karaa khadkii wadada ingiriisku dhigay oo aan haatan la’is ticmaalin maalin, iyadoo waqtigaa ahayd wado fiican oo dhibta gaadiidku kala kulmi jiray ay yarayd. Gobolka Sanaag waxa ku xidhnaa ganacsato farabadan oo badeecado kaladuwan kaasoo qaadijiray xeebaha gobolkaas gaar ahaan magaalooyinka Xiis iyo Maydh oo ahaa xaarumo ganacs, marsooyinkan gobolka xeebihiisa ku dherernaa ayaa badeecadaha kasoo degi jiary, gaadhi jireen gobalada dalka oodhan iyo waliba wadamo katirsan Geeska Afrika.Gebi ahaanba goobahaas ayaan hadeer wax ganacsi ahi kajirin. Ganacsatada gobolka Sanaag ayaa haatan kalasoo dega badeecadahooda magaalooyinka Berbera iyo Boosaaso taasi waxa ay keentay inay gaadiidka kusoo fool leh gobolka ay dhib badan kala kulmaan wadoonka udhaxeeye Ceerigaabo iyo magaala ganacsiyeedka uu gobolku haatan ku xidhan yahay. Hay’adaha deeqda bixiya ee dalka ku sugan ayaa ku andacooda inay sabab utahay wax yaabaha ay deeqaha ugaadhsiin waayaan ay ugu wayntahay wada la’aanta,deeqa aad utirabadan ayaa soo gaadha dalka kaas oo xukuumada ku guul daraysatay inay hay’adahaas ku cadaadiso samaynta wadada isku xidha magaalooyinka Burco iyo Ceerigaabo. Waqtiyada ugu daran ee ladareemo dhibaatada wadada ayaa ah xiliyada ay roobabku ka hooraan gobolka gaar ahaan xiliyada guga iyo dayrta.waqtigaas ayaa gebi ahaanba waxa xanibma gaadiidka ukala goosha magaalada Ceerigaabo iyo magaaloyinka kale ee ay gaadiidku uga soo qaadan badeecadaha gobalka,sidoo kale xilayadaas waxa cirka isku shareera ascaarta wax walibana qaali ayaay noqdaan arintaas oo ay sababtay hakadka ku yimaada gaadiidka badeecadaa kala waarida. Sanadkii 2002 ayaa hay’ada shaqaalaha aduunka ee magaceeda layidhaaho International Labour Organization (ILO) ay ka bilowday mashruuc lagaga shayqaynayo wadada, barnaamijkan oo laga bilaabay saddex goobood oo kala ah duleedka magaalada Ceerigaabo, tuulada Yufle oo 18km ujirta magaalada Ceerigaabo iyo magaalada Ceel-afwayn oo iyana kadurugsan isla magaalada Ceerigaabo 90km. Hay’adu waxay barnaamijkan oo wadada lagu dhigaayo carro tuur dib ugu bilawday gobalka horaantii sanadkan aynu kujirno ee 2009-ka gaar ahaan labo gobood oo kala ah magaaladda Ceerigaabo iyo tuulada Yufle. Waqtigan xaadirka ah ayaa meelihii shaqada ay ka fulisay hay’adani iyadoo kaashanaysa maamulada dawladaha hoose ee deegaanadaas ayay yihiin meelaha ugu ladan ee gaadiidku si dhibyar umari karo lagana dareemi karo in wax laga qabtay. Si kastaba ha ahaatee arinta dadwaynu aaminsan yahay ayaa ah in wada xaumadu tahay Aafada ugu daran ee gobolka Sanaag haysata.

Could be ,, and i should say it is a smart one

Two men believed to be linked to a recent attempt to hijack a Daallo airliner in the neighboring Somali port town of Bosaso were arrested by Somaliland state police in the town of Erigavo. The men who have not yet been unidentified were arrested on Sunday morning as they entered Erigavo from Bosaso by car. It is believed that Somaliland police were informed in advance of the men by Puntland authorities who want them to be extradited to Bosaso to face charges. On Tuesday, two men armed with pistols boarded the plane bound for Djibouti at an airport in Bossaso in a bid to kidnap two German passengers. Half-way the flight the pilot outwitted the hijackers and returned the plane and its passengers back to Bosaso where they were met by police. The two hijackers were arrested but Puntland’s internal security minister said a number of others helped them. This is the first of such collaboration between Somaliland and Puntland authorities.

hehehehehe ,,, anigu ilaa aan ka Laas-qoray weliba cuno iima noqotaba. The good think about it is they put "Laas-qoray, Somaliland" on the cover ,,,

Originally posted by Norfsky: Somalia’s main reason for joining the Arab League was to have the backing of an organisation which consisted of 20+ nations to counter the Ethiopian threat which has always had the west’s backing. Which was a complete mistake as nothing such thing happened in real. They could not support Somalia during the 1977 war, they could not provide anything but small trainings and consultants from Egypt. Free travel and an easier work visa process meant that Somalis could live and work in Arab countries at a time when jobs were scarce in Somalia. Money made by Somali expats resulted in small businesses springing up in Somalia. Travel have never been easy for Somalis and they were treated like the rest of the countries. Even Ethiopia have better treatment when it comes to travel to Arab countries than Somalis, not only now but even during the war with Ethiopia. Somalis were called all the names "Abd" and so on. Expeling people was the major import from Arabs to Somalia in all times. I’m assuming trade tariffs between Somalia and Arab countries were reduced due to membership. Well, not sure about this. I thought it is because of the sea border with the Arabs and the long history of trade between Somalis and Arabs. In addition, being Arab League members made it easier for rich Arab nations to provide aid/loans. This can be the main purpose why Siad Barre made the move to join the Arab leage. Yes, they did give loans and provided cash to the big heads but they did not made any investment on the ground. Let's hear why it was a bad move. All the above.

Originally posted by Kuu-Kuun-Laminaa: You should be ashamed of yourself if you have an ounce of respect, these men are Somali traditional elders and represent their respective clans or sub-clans, they are not public figures nor do they represent any collective Somalis, they are not politicians or hold any public post. It is not easy to learn how to respect, one has to be born to respect In which year are you living homeboy ?? I think the Garaad's role is more political now than his usual and cultural duties ,,,, worst is he is even more military than being in the politics. It is not only him though .......... most of them are siyaasiyiin and dagaal oogayaal nowadays.

Wax aan ka jecelahay ma jirto inaan kalluun ku qadeeyo, ku casheeyo oon weliba ku quraacdo hadana nususaace ka dhigto ,,,,,,,,,, I would move to a completely empty island and just live on fish. Dadna ciyaar bay la tahayba ,,,,,

Not even all Eastern Sanaag .............

Yes, they mess up big time, kill as many people as they can then leave ...............

You read the title and it says "HUGE EXPLOSION" u're like "Gosh" and rush to open the thread ,,,, then you find our it is just a hand grenade thrown to somewhere ..................

Not at all ...............

Home ............. in a mysterious way

The very bad move ....................

waa run oo boodhkiiba waataa laga arko ,,