A whole lot of 'impotent' talk. As long as the 'anti-Somaliland' groups stay outside of Somaliland, travelling one foreign city after another, collecting donations from poor misguided Somali refugees, Somaliland will continue on its steady path of building the only functional state institutions in the region. Let the 'haters' vent... It's all they have. Year after year, things go further South for them...

Well, regardless of your opinions on Matt Bryden or other members of the Somalia Monitoring Group, their mandate has been renewed for another year. Obviously, the powers that be are quite happy with their performance thus far... UN Link

The Garaads which were the angels of just yesterday are now the bad guys?!? Allah, maxaa qurbaha lagu khafiifay....

Originally posted by Aaliyah416: today war cad ayaan usoo fadhistay in aan ka hadloo..no more sugar coating... hadaad reer somaliland tihiin laascaanod ma daneesid..all you want is your recognition and yes you will go as far as occupying our city to get it. But, the world does not revolve around you and your goals. We have our goals..we believe in somaliwayn and we want you out of our regions.It is that simple..hadii wanaag wax tari wayey qofwalba wuu dagalami kara. somalina waxay ku maahmaahda nin shantaada faro ka celin waydey war iga tag waxba kuma fahmo.. salaam Aaliyah416, I respect your honesty. Now let's take your point of 'opposition to Somaliland'. Where does this feeling come from? Honestly, does it come from a love for 'Somaliweyn' or a natural fear of 'Domination' in a new governing structure? That's a fair question, don't you think?

Originally posted by Aaliyah416: ^reer somaliland dont gloat over the fact that we the ssc crew no longer want to be part of puntland. The truth remainds that we never ever wanted to part of your so called somaliland government and never will..but for now you can hope that dream will stay a life...but one day it will come to end..just wait for that one day... salaam Don't worry, sis. We're not too far apart. You just don't realize it yet. At least with us, you can count on 'Binding Agreements'! You might not like us now , but at least give us that...

^^^ And another one leaves the camp... Desertion after desertion... Poor Duke and Co. Maskiin...

Originally posted by General Duke: ^^^Sister, I think that’s an outrageous comment. How many Puntlanders, from every region of the state served and died fighting for SOOL, through out the years? Sub clan talk is meaningless, the problem with SOOL, is the division within the community, and Puntland has played so far made the right moves, we will not kill our own people. Also all this emotions and hyperbole will not do, cool, calculation is whats required, and that’s what Faroole is doing thus far. The talking points are no longer effective even within the 'Tol'. You can only tell a lie so often...

I'm hurt I don't even get a thank you from my Puntland brothers for the 'week and a half' advance notice of the coming report from the Security Council investigating committee. Abaal la'an....

The relevant question, though, is 'How does this report affect Puntland in terms of what it needs from the international community '? Basically, ' Funding '..... ???

U.S. has no plan to "Americanize" Somalia conflict 4:28pm EST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Friday denied coordinating plans by Somalia's embattled government to launch an offensive against Islamist fighters, saying it had no plans to "Americanize" the conflict. Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson described as inaccurate reports suggesting that U.S. officials were ready to get more militarily involved as Somalia's government fights the Islamist al Shabaab, which has been linked to al Qaeda. "The United States does not plan, does not direct, and does not coordinate the military operations of the TFG (transitional federal government) and we have not and will not be providing direct support for any potential military offensives," Carson said. Carson told a news briefing the United States had provided limited military support to the transitional government, but that almost all of this was channeled through an African Union peacekeeping effort. Al Shabaab Islamist fighters attacked government positions this week seeking to seize the advantage before a long-awaited government offensive to drive them out of Mogadishu, the capital. Somalia has lacked an effective central government for 19 years. Western and neighboring countries say it has become a sanctuary for militants. Carson said the United States had provided about $185 million over the last 19 months to support African Union peacekeepers and about $12 million in direct support to the Somali transitional government. "The amounts of money that we're talking about are really relatively small," he said. Funds were spent on communications equipment, uniforms, and to support training of government soldiers by other African countries. The United States also provides about $150 million in food aid to Somalia. This has been complicated by a U.N. World Food Program's decision to suspend work in much of southern Somalia due to threats against staff and al Shabaab demands for payments for security. Carson said the United States continued to seek an "inclusive" political resolution to Somalia's crisis and believed that the transitional government, which only controls a portion of Mogadishu, was best placed to promote one. "The TFG has demonstrated an enormous capacity to survive," he said. (Reporting by Andrew Quinn; Editing by Alan Elsner)

Originally posted by Peace Action: Mintid, According to you, the situation is grave for Faroole and Puntland, so what do you think the consequence will be and don't be clouded by clan rivalery? Peace Action, Clan rivalry? I beg to disagree. What I believe in (Somaliland) is actually a multi-clan experiment. Having said that, the report will have little short term effects since the West has planned a containment policy for the whole Somali peninsula. Frankly, they don't really care about us (the Somalis) as long as we don't destabilize their bigger anchors in the region such as Ethiopia and Kenya. However, Puntland under Faroole has gotten serious about the search for external development assistance for the region, independent of power in Mogadishu. This is where this report can prove dangerous to Puntland's ambitions. Rightly or wrongly, Puntland has become too closely associated with the problem of piracy affecting significant global trade in the region. It's one thing to have rumors swirling around of the connection between Puntland authorities and the Pirates in Somali 'mafrishes' but another to have an official Security Council report stating this! This has contributed to the inability of Faroole to receive Western developmental assistance in the past year or so.

Some say the sacking of 'Diana' is linked to the damning UN Security Council report linking Faroole personally with the Pirate gangs. 'Diana' and PIS have extensive reporting and intelligence links with the West (and in particular with the American clandestine services) & could've potentially fingered Faroole as the godfather behind the majority of the piracy in the Horn. I bet Cowke didn't receive that intel from his 'exclusive, insider sources'

Originally posted by Che -Guevara: ^LooooooooL@Mintid...the gravity of the situation is not as bad as you want it to be. Obviously, the Puntland Authorities do not agree with Che and find the gravity of the situation quite serious.... Here's the BBC interview with the Puntland Information Minister defending his administration against the accusation: BBC Interview

And for those who are not literate in Somali, here's the English version of the Puntland press release: Somalia: Puntland Government Continues Anti-Piracy Campaign, Rejects Monitoring Group Accusations 11 Mar 11, 2010 - 5:58:32 AM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ministry of Information, Communication, Culture and Heritage Government of Puntland Tel : +252 90 794315/ +252 90 397794 E-mail : info@puntland-gov.net Web: www.Puntland-Gov.net Reference is made to a New York Times article (“Somalia Food Aid Bypasses Needy, UN Study Finds”) published on 9 March 2010, whereby the renowned U.S.-based newspaper cited a still-secret report drafted by the U.N. Monitoring Group regarding a number of issues in Somalia. According to the Times article, the U.N. report alleges that the President of Puntland had “extensive ties to pirates in the area, who then funneled some of the money they made from hijacking ships to authorities’’. The above is a huge nonsensical accusation; a feeble attempt to defame the president that requires to be proven. The Government of Puntland has not received a copy of this U.N. report yet, but the Government’s position on piracy has remained consistently clear since the election of the current government. To highlight our commitment to combat and eradicate the scourge of piracy, the President of Puntland H.E. Abdirahman M. Farole declared a campaign against all forms of piracy throughout Puntland territory. The President underscored this state policy in a U.S. Congressional hearing in June 2009. The incumbent Puntland Government has arrested a large number of pirates; so far, 154 have been convicted and are serving long sentences in correctional facilities across Puntland, while 50 more are waiting for trial. Furthermore, Puntland police units continuously raid suspected pirate hideouts in major towns often leading to more arrests and the confiscation of weapons, ladders and communications gear used by pirate gangs. The incumbent administration ensures the coverage of the above-mentioned anti-piracy efforts in both local and international media; the last such coverage was as recent as the 9 th day of March 2010. The Government also sponsors a social campaign designed to discredit piracy and the proceeds of the loot of the pirates also forbidden by Islamic law. Puntland’s Islamic scholars and community activists are leading this social campaign to prove that pirates have brought nothing except cultural, social and religious degradation to the Somali society. These efforts to combat pirate gangs on land have yielded success. Puntland can proudly claim that the culture of piracy is universally rejected throughout Puntland and that caused many of the pirates to move away from Puntland territory. Our anti-piracy partnerships cooperation with NATO alliance (EURONAVFOR) is well known among leading nations such us USA, France, Spain and Britain, as well as the international media. Therefore, we strongly condemn the piracy activity, not only in Somalia but also all over the world. At the same time, we strongly condemn this baseless allegation, which is a politically motivated slander and defamation of Puntland and its leadership. We believe that these derogatory remarks are made by certain elements in the IMG who have accustomed to do these shameful allegations in other organizations in the past but now have infiltrated this UN mission (International Monitoring Group). We finally request that the President of the Security Council, in the event that the accusations contained in the leaked report is authentic, to send a fact finding mission to conduct an independent and thorough investigation of these unprecedented accusations. We demand that the Security Council hold the authors of these fallacious accusations accountable for their actions. We expect from the international body (UN) not to tolerate impunity within their own organizations. Link

It seems the Puntland authorities are finally waking up to the damaging repercussions of this report. Here's the response from the semi-official website of the current administration: PL oo codsatey in loo soo diro barayaal 11 Mar 11, 2010 - 8:40:59 PM Warbixin si qarsoodi ah loo heley oo dhowaan ay daabacdey jariidada New York Times ee kasoo baxda cariga Mareykanka ayaa waxaa cambaareyn dusha uga tuurey dowladda Puntland. Qoraalkaan Jariidada qortey ayaa waxaa laga soo minguuriyey warbixin guud oo hay'ada la yiraahdo UN Monitoring Group ka diyaarisay Somalia wax-na kaga sheegtey sida laga soo xigtey New York Times in "Madaxweynaha Puntland xiriir qoto dheer la leeyahay burcad badeedka ka howlgasha degaanada Puntland kuwaasoo kadib qeybo kamid ah lacagaha ay madax furashada u qataan u soo gudbiya dowladiisa." Wasiirka warfaafinta Puntland Mud.Cabdixakiim ayaa ku tilmaamey eedeeyntaan mid aan sal iyo raad toona laheyn islamarkaana ah mid lagu ceebeynayo madaxweynaha iyo shacabka Puntland una baahan in la cadeeyo. Mud.Cabdixakiin oo saakey la hadley laanta Af-Somaliga ee BBC ayaa sheegey in dowladda Puntland weli helin nuqul kamid ah warbixintaan balse tilmaamey iney gacan ka gaysteen diyaarinta warbixintaan canaasiir caadeysatey cambaareynta Puntland kuwaas oo ku dhuumanaya magaca hay'adaha QM. Qoraalkaan jawaabta ah ee kasoo baxey dowladda Puntland oo ahaa mid adag ayaa lagu sheegey in maamulkoodu dagaal kula jiro sidii loo ciribtiri lahaa burcad badeedka iyo dhamaan dadka qafaasha shisheeyaha iyadoo wax tageero ah aan laga helin beesha caalamka. Dhinaca kale qoraalka kasoo baxey Xukuumadda ayaa lagu sheegey in Puntland ku faani karto ololaha dhinaca wacyi galinta ah kaasoo hoos u dhigey howlaha burcad badeedka kana dhigey wax ceeb ah oo maanta dhlinyaradu ka xishooto in la sheego. Dowladda Puntland ayaa dagaalka ay kula jirto burcad badeedka ku markhaati gashatey ururada ka howlaga xeebaha Somalia sida Nato oo kaashaneysa EURONAFOR, wamadamada Mareykanka, Fransiiska, Spain iyo Ingriiska gaar ahaan saxaafada caalamka oo booqasho joogta ah ku timaada degaanadeeda. Warsaxfedeekaan kasoo baxey Puntland ayaa Wasiirka Warfaafinta ku codsadey in baarayaal caalami ah oo madax banaan loo soo diro Puntland kuwaasoo xaqiijinaya ineysa wax ka jirin beenta ay dhoodhoobeen IMG. Mr.Cabdixakim ayaa sheegey in kooxda la sheegey in warbixntaan diyaarisay wax booqasho ah ku imaan Puntland islamarkaana aysan la soo xiriirin Xukuumadiisa isaga oo waxba kama jiraan ku tilmaamey in New York Times waydo cid ay kala hadasho Xukuumada si ay jawaab uga bixiso qoraalka IMG. Ugu dambeyntii Warsaxafadeedkan ayaa lagaga codsadey QM in talaabo laga qaado shaqsiyadka qora warbixinadan aan salka laheyn islamarkana loo ogolaan in magaca hay'adaan wakiilka ka ah shacab weynaha caalamka si khaldan loo isticmaalo awoodaheeda. AKHRI: Warsaxdeefdka Puntland [English] GAROWE ONLINE Link

Suldaan, I think our brothers in Puntland misunderstood expansion of warehouses to mean expansion of the port. But even this claim contradicts their previous argument that Bosasso rivals Berbera in capacity. I guess Google Maps with its satellite imagery is not available in their respective residences

Che, I will make a little fun bet with you that the project will not commence (expansion of the port by WFP). The U.S. has put a hold on most WFP projects for Somalia. That's what the spat between the UN spokesman and Susan Rice(U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.) was about two weeks ago. Google it and get informed The U.N. doesn't have its own independent funds, it has to be provided by donor states and Uncle Sam is breathing fire over the WFP and Somalia situation. If I was Puntland, I would not associate myself with WFP till this blows away. Just a word to the wise...

Somalia: Puntland Government Continues Anti-Piracy Campaign, Rejects Monitoring Group Accusations 11 Mar 11, 2010 - 5:58:32 AM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ministry of Information, Communication, Culture and Heritage Government of Puntland Tel : +252 90 794315/ +252 90 397794 E-mail : info@puntland-gov.net Web: www.Puntland-Gov.net Reference is made to a New York Times article (“Somalia Food Aid Bypasses Needy, UN Study Finds”) published on 9 March 2010, whereby the renowned U.S.-based newspaper cited a still-secret report drafted by the U.N. Monitoring Group regarding a number of issues in Somalia. According to the Times article, the U.N. report alleges that the President of Puntland had “extensive ties to pirates in the area, who then funneled some of the money they made from hijacking ships to authorities’’. The above is a huge nonsensical accusation; a feeble attempt to defame the president that requires to be proven. The Government of Puntland has not received a copy of this U.N. report yet, but the Government’s position on piracy has remained consistently clear since the election of the current government. To highlight our commitment to combat and eradicate the scourge of piracy, the President of Puntland H.E. Abdirahman M. Farole declared a campaign against all forms of piracy throughout Puntland territory. The President underscored this state policy in a U.S. Congressional hearing in June 2009. The incumbent Puntland Government has arrested a large number of pirates; so far, 154 have been convicted and are serving long sentences in correctional facilities across Puntland, while 50 more are waiting for trial. Furthermore, Puntland police units continuously raid suspected pirate hideouts in major towns often leading to more arrests and the confiscation of weapons, ladders and communications gear used by pirate gangs. The incumbent administration ensures the coverage of the above-mentioned anti-piracy efforts in both local and international media; the last such coverage was as recent as the 9 th day of March 2010. The Government also sponsors a social campaign designed to discredit piracy and the proceeds of the loot of the pirates also forbidden by Islamic law. Puntland’s Islamic scholars and community activists are leading this social campaign to prove that pirates have brought nothing except cultural, social and religious degradation to the Somali society. These efforts to combat pirate gangs on land have yielded success. Puntland can proudly claim that the culture of piracy is universally rejected throughout Puntland and that caused many of the pirates to move away from Puntland territory. Our anti-piracy partnerships cooperation with NATO alliance (EURONAVFOR) is well known among leading nations such us USA, France, Spain and Britain, as well as the international media. Therefore, we strongly condemn the piracy activity, not only in Somalia but also all over the world. At the same time, we strongly condemn this baseless allegation, which is a politically motivated slander and defamation of Puntland and its leadership. We believe that these derogatory remarks are made by certain elements in the IMG who have accustomed to do these shameful allegations in other organizations in the past but now have infiltrated this UN mission (International Monitoring Group). We finally request that the President of the Security Council, in the event that the accusations contained in the leaked report is authentic, to send a fact finding mission to conduct an independent and thorough investigation of these unprecedented accusations. We demand that the Security Council hold the authors of these fallacious accusations accountable for their actions. We expect from the international body (UN) not to tolerate impunity within their own organizations. Garowe Online

Lately, it seems all roads are leading to Hargeisa and Somaliland! I hope some on this Forum don't get a heart attack We're not there yet, but slowly the penny is dropping on some (as Odweyne would say)...

The real policy towards Somalia is: "Qowda maqashii, waxna ha u qaban!"

You fellas, as usual, left out the most telling part of the recommended strategy. "To that extent, the United States might have to invest some political capital in resolving this crisis--in persuading the African Union for example or the United Nations to support an approach that does not involve the TFG . The report has suggested it might be useful and necessary to make one final push, to try to reform the TFG into an institution that can credibly govern Somalia. I tend to think that the TFG might have to run its course before the constructive disengagement strategy can work. But the fact of the matter is that the TFG's prospects are so grim that I think it's only a matter of time . AMISOM [African Union Mission in Somalia] troops haven't been paid in nine months ; several of them have died of malnutrition. The number of casualties that they are taking is sky rocketing. They can't stay in Mogadishu forever. The Ethiopians were pushed out of Mogadishu; AMISOM will be pushed out as well. That's an embarrassment that the U.S. really should want to avoid, and I'm urging the current administration to start thinking on those terms. The current strategy has an expiration date."

Why is Cowke celebrating? Doesn't he know that Garaad Cabdilaahi Garaad Soofe is Garowe's man in the Garaad Conference along with Garaad Saleebaan. Furthermore he denounced the Buurowadal conference at the bidding of the Puntland administration. Garaad Cabdilaahi Garaad Soofe left Buurowadal for Garowe from where he attacked the conference on the VOA. So his sacking, if true, only hurts the interests of the Puntland administration. I guess Cowke's extremely confidential sources didn't share that piece of information with him

Cali Khaliif says: "Anigu waan ka qayb galay shirarkii Burco iyo Borama ee lagaga dhawaaqay Somaliland" yet in the next breath says: "ee waxaan noqonayaa qof fikirka aan qabo (Soomaaliweyn) ay dhab ka tahay.” Now if you're such a dedicated Somaliweyn believer, why did you go to two Grand Shir's reaffirming the independence of Somaliland?? It's very difficult to take most vocal supporters of Somaliweyn seriously due to their glaring contradictions on a daily basis. To paraphrase a Somali adage (maah maah): 'The ears do not hear what the mouth is saying (on the same head)'!!

But GaroweOnline conveniently left out the part concerning accusations of collusion between the top Puntland leadership and the Pirates. That was convenient reporting...

Originally posted by Thankful: I agree that there are no reliable sources. But from what I've been reading from your enclaves websites, it's fair to think that maybe there are some in your government that are in favor of any recognition. We will wait and see if more news comes out! This story has no legs. Don't waste your time, don't waste our time. All your energy will be needed in the public relations disaster from the Security Council report...