Somalia's president to quit after 4 years in power

Fikirka Xorta ah -MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's president said Monday he is resigning as the head of his country's U.N.-backed government after four years of leading one of the most violent, impoverished countries in the world.

Abdullahi Yusuf made the announcement in a speech Monday before parliament in Baidoa — one of the only towns controlled by the weak government. The speaker of parliament will stand in as acting president until elections are held, he said.

"When I took power I pledged three things," Yusuf said in his address, which was broadcast on radio across the country.

"If I was unable to fulfill my duty I will resign. Second, I said I will do everything in my power to make government work across the country. That did not happen either. Third, I asked the leaders to cooperate with me for the common good of the people. That did not happen," he said.

He said he would hand in his resignation letter later Monday.

Yusuf's administration failed to bring security to the war-ravaged nation and now only controls pockets of the capital, Mogadishu, and Baidoa. A powerful Islamic insurgency controls most of the country.

The most aggressive Islamic insurgency group, al-Shabab, have made dramatic territory gains in the past few months.

The U.S. State Department says al-Shabab's leaders have links with al-Qaida and are harboring men who conspired to blow up American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya 10 years ago, killing hundreds.

13 years old Somali girl raped and later accused adultery then killed. Please help her family

Fikirka Xorta ah - We all heard the news about the 13 year old Somali girl (Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow) raped and later accused of adultery and killed in Kismayu, Somalia, by Al-Shabaab and supporters.

Some of you may view this news as propaganda to discredit the Islamists ruling the area. But my colleague Fathia Absie of VOA Somali Services had spoken to the father of the victim and confirmed the details of the report to be true.

We have several volunteers helping the girls family to move to a safe place, away from those in charge of the area, as they were threatened after spoken to the media.

A young Somali immigration lawyer from Atlanta has taken the case and we would like to have a fund raising dinner in Washington DC area in few weeks. My friend Fathia has written letters to different places including OPRAH and we are hoping to get some responses.

Please spread the word and help us pressure those in charge of the area to never do such a horrible act again.
To get updates for upcoming events, plans, or to read the background stories, please visit the blog that I have created for Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow. You are welcome to comment, write and/or otherwise send relevant materials electronically or digitally.

Also, if you would like to be part of th team or to volunteer in anyway you can send an email to vteengirl@gmail.com

Click here to visit: http://justice4duhulow.blogspot.com/

Recipients of the 2008 STARS Impact Awards Announced

Fikirka Xorta ah - The STARS Foundation, a London-based charitable foundation which works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children around the world, is pleased to announce the three recipients of the 2008 STARS Impact Awards.
Click here to read full article

Somali President to Resign, Officials Say

Fikirka Xorta ah - The president of Somalia’s beleaguered transitional government, a former warlord who has been steadily marginalized over the past few months and widely blamed for his country’s deepening crisis, is expected to resign over the weekend, several Somali officials said on Wednesday.

President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed faces a litany of challenges: a powerful Islamist insurgency; a rancorous Parliament that is threatening to impeach him; a united front of Western diplomats who say he has gone from the being the solution for Somalia to being the problem; and neighboring countries, such as Kenya, that have gotten so fed up with him for blocking peace efforts that they are preparing sanctions against Mr. Yusuf and his family.

“Yusuf was an obstacle to peace,” said Ibrahim Isaaq Yarow, the transitional government’s deputy information minister. “The parliamentarians were congratulating one another today when they heard the news that the president is resigning.”
Click here to read full article

Frazer Meets With Feuding Somali Leaders -

Fikirka Xorta ah - Jendayi Frazer held separate meetings with Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf and Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein at the airport in Kenya's capital, Nairobi Monday.

There was no immediate word on what was discussed.

President Yusuf attempted to fire the prime minister a little over a week ago. The prime minister rejected the move, and the Somali parliament voted to support Mr. Hussein the next day. However, a group of about 80 lawmakers today declared that the vote was illegal.


Click here to read more

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African Union holding talks on Somalia chaos

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — The African Union is holding talks on the violent chaos in Somalia.

The AU says its peace and security council is discussing Monday how to boost the group's peacekeeping force in the country.

The AU has fewer than 3,000 peacekeepers in Somalia — there are meant to be 8,000.

Ethiopia has troops in the country protecting the weak Somali government, but it recently announced it would withdraw by the end of this month. That will leave the government vulnerable to Islamic insurgents, who began a brutal insurgency in 2007.

Somalia's lawlessness also has allowed piracy to flourish off the coast.

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Somalis may be leaving Minn. for jihad, USA Today reports

Fikirka Xorta ah - MINNEAPOLIS — Mohamud Ali Hassan once told the Somali grandmother who raised him that he'd become a doctor and care for her.

The Somali immigrant, who moved to the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" when he was 8, had good grades at the University of Minnesota and called Muslims to prayer at his mosque, where he also slept during the holy month of Ramadan.

But on Nov. 1, Hassan disappeared, as have a dozen other boys and young men here — two days after another young Muslim from Minnesota blew himself up as a suicide bomber in Somalia.

Click here to read the full article

A short path, from Gaza to Somalia

Fikirka Xorta ah - As the defined period for the Gaza cease-fire comes to an end today, preceded by a new cycle of violence, Israelis are being treated to a predictable dose of political posturing and chest-thumping. "We must do something, exact a price," we hear. Yes, the rocket fire needs to stop, but there is no military answer to this predicament.

To recap: For most of the six months of the cease-fire, relative quiet prevailed, and life returned to near-normal for the residents of Sderot and environs (though not for Gazans, who remained under siege). Then on November 4, an Israeli operation sparked a new round of dangerous, if controlled, violence - characterized by occasional Israeli strikes and incursions, matched by Palestinian rockets and shooting across the border.

Click to read the full article

Impeachment Proceedings Begun Against Somali Leader

Fikirka Xorta ah - Somalia's parliament voted Wednesday to begin impeachment proceedings against President Abdullahi Yusuf, another sign that his U.S.-backed government is unraveling.

"This is the end of the government. This is it," said Mohamed Amin, a member of an opposition coalition that has a majority in parliament.

Yusuf's government began disintegrating almost from the start two years ago, when it was installed with the might of the Ethiopian army and help from the United States.

Click here to read the full article

Shift attention to Somaliland

Fikirka Xorta ah - The situation in the Horn of Africa is rapidly reaching crisis proportions and specifically United States policy towards the one time Somali Democratic Republic needs to be reformulated on the basis of something other than the series of unrealistic assumptions on which it has hitherto been predicated.

Recent events have underscored the deteriorating security conditions faced by the international community as a whole as well as by the Somali and their neighbours, it is time to concentrate on Somaliland, the one part of that geopolitically sensitive space where there is still a peace to be preserved.

Click here to read the full article

Chasing Pirates Into Somalia Gets Approval From UN

Fikirka Xorta ah - The U.S. will take the lead in coordinating efforts to combat piracy coming from Somali territory, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said after the United Nations authorized the inland pursuit of brigands.

The Security Council voted 15-0 to adopt a U.S.-drafted text that permits all nations and regional organizations -- with the consent of Somalia’s provisional government -- to “take all necessary measures that are appropriate” to deter piracy.

Click here to read the article Or watch report below.

Somalia’s President Appoints New Premier: Kenya to impose sunctions on Somali President

Fikirka Xorta ah - Somalia’s transitional government plunged into deeper turmoil on Tuesday when the country’s president defied the Parliament by appointing a new prime minister and the Kenyan government reacted by threatening sanctions.

President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, a former warlord who is steadily losing credibility among diplomats and foreign officials, had tried to unseat the prime minister earlier this week. The parliament overwhelmingly rebuffed him. So on Tuesday, Mr. Yusuf announced that he had unilaterally selected another prime minister, who would be in charge of forming a new government, which Mr. Yusuf would swear in himself.

Click here to read the full article

Analysis: To Beat Somalia's Pirates, Fix Their Country

Fikirka Xorta ah - One of the world's worst humanitarian disasters, Islamic terrorism and rampant human trafficking have all failed to draw the world's interest to Somalia. The return of piracy to the high seas, however, has.

The Somali pirates have attacked more than 100 vessels in the waters leading to and from the Suez Canal this year, and earned tens of millions of dollars in ransom. Today they are holding 17 ships with around 300 crew members off the Somali coast.

And at a weekend security conference organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Bahrain, headquarters to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, opinion appeared unanimous: to fix the pirates, fix Somalia. "We haven't been as involved in Somalia as we should have been," Britain's Defence Secretary John Hutton told the BBC. "This is the consequence."

Click here to read the full article

Terror suspect's case drags on 5 years after arrest in Minneapolis

Fikirka Xorta ah - Mohamed Abdullah Warsame's pretrial detention is one of the longest for a terror-related case since 9/11, raising questions about how the courts handle such cases.

On a cold December morning five years ago, FBI agents knocked on the door of a basement apartment in northeast Minneapolis, and Mohamed Abdullah Warsame answered.

He let the agents in to talk, and later they took him to another location to talk more. He hasn't been home since.

Click here to read full article

Pirates in Skiffs Still Outmaneuvering Warships Off Somalia

Fikirka Xorta ah - ON THE ARABIAN SEA — Rear Adm. Giovanni Gumiero is going on a pirate hunt.

From the deck of an Italian destroyer cruising the pirate-infested waters off Somalia’s coast, he has all the modern tools at his fingertips — radar, sonar, infrared cameras, helicopters, a cannon that can sink a ship 10 miles away — to take on a centuries-old problem that harks back to the days of schooners and eye patches.

“Our presence will deter them,” the admiral said confidently.

Click here to read to full article

Somalia's MPs back sacked premier: They gave him vote of confidence

Fikirka Xorta ah - Somalia's parliament has declared the sacking of the prime minister illegal and passed a confidence vote in him by a huge majority.

President Abdullahi Yusuf sacked Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein on Sunday, saying he had failed to bring peace.

But the president said he would comply with any decision by parliament.

Hundreds of people have also demonstrated in the capital Mogadishu in favour of Mr Nur, carrying his portrait through the streets.

African Union Commission head Jean Ping condemned the dismissal and Mr Nur said it was an attempt to derail UN-sponsored peace talks with Islamists.

Read full article

Somalia President Fires Prime Minister

Fikirka Xorta ah - Somalia's government was near collapse Sunday as Islamic insurgents accused of having ties to al-Qaeda vowed never to negotiate or share power with the Western-backed administration.

Somalia's president fired the prime minister Sunday, saying he failed to bring security to a nation struggling with a violent insurgency and political turmoil. (See TIME's top 10 news stories of 2008)

Click here to read the news

U.S. military considers options to deal with Somali pirates

Fikirka Xorta ah -- The Pentagon is looking at options, but there are no plans for U.S. forces to go ashore in pursuit of pirates in Somalia, a spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday.

Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently asked the military to look at "what options and alternatives are available from a purely military perspective" to deal with piracy off the coast of Somalia, Capt. John Kirby told CNN.

Pentagon officials are shying away from a direct endorsement of a proposal the United States is circulating at the U.N. Security Council that calls for countries to "take all necessary measures ashore in Somalia, including in its airspace," to counter piracy.

However, Kirby said the Pentagon is not doing any current planning to launch attacks against pirates on land or in the air.

"We are not looking at how to implement the resolution," Kirby said.

The developments come after Somali pirates release a Greek chemical tanker they have held since October, a piracy monitor said Saturday.

"The MV Action was released by pirates," said Andrew Mwangura, head of the Seafarers Assistance Program in Mombasa, Kenya. "She is currently limping to safe waters (and) it is feared that three crew members lost their lives under questionable circumstances."

Circumstances of the release were not immediately known.

Pirate attacks in the waters off Somalia have shot up this year, with pirates staging increasingly bolder attacks on ever-bigger targets. So far this year, pirates have attacked almost 100 vessels off Somalia's coast and successfully hijacked nearly 40, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

Freight and cargo ships, cruise liners and private yachts have all come under attack. In many hijackings, pirates take the crew and passengers hostage while they demand a ransom.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the military is still looking for an international solution to the piracy crisis. One top U.S. priority, according to U.S. military officials, is new legal measures that would ensure anybody detained by the U.S. military could be turned over to a country in the region for prosecution. That could be a meaningful new deterrent, according to the officials.

Senior U.S. officials said the United States wants a United Nations force, not a multinational force, in Somalia. A multinational force requires manpower, resources and money which are not available right now, the officials explained. In addition, no nation has come forward to meet the requirements of a multinational force. A U.N. peacekeeping operation, the officials said, is a more realistic option.

The United States is working on text for a second U.N. resolution which would authorize the stabilization force, two senior U.S. officials told CNN. Some countries, and the U.S. military, are having problems with the wording. The resolution calls for a force to replace the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the officials said. It would be used in Mogadishu and the surrounding areas to help stabilize the government to allow it to deal with the piracy issue.

The force would not be explicitly set up to go after pirates, according to the officials. Some countries (including the U.S. military) have problems with the idea and are still discussing language on composition and deployment rules of engagement, according to two senior U.S. officials.

In the past, the United States has conducted air strikes in Somalia to pursue suspected al-Qaeda targets. However, to go after pirates in the same manner would take a new U.N. resolution. Piracy is a criminal activity but is not considered terrorism.

Ethiopia - Interview with Ambassador Brook Hailu Beshah*

Fikirka Xorta ah - The African continent has witnessed several critical events this year that have escalated political tensions and increased security concerns. In Zimbabwe, despite losing an election for the first time in the country’s history, President Robert Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF party are holding onto power, by cracking down on the opposition and refusing to cooperate in a peace agreement for unified governance.

In Somalia, lawlessness continues to dominate the land -- and the seas. Several attacks on ships off the coast of Somalia have captured the attention of the international community. Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea over the border grew as the UN peacekeeping mission withdrew. And in Sudan, the political conflict between the north and the south continues to boil.

Additionally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has returned to war, and Kenya is learning the hard lessons of keeping together a heavily divided government.

"We live in the 21st century where self-determination and independence of peoples is respected. My expectation is Somaliland will be accepted—recognized by African, the USA and by the European countries in the immediate future." Says, Ambassador Brook Hailu Beshah in the interview.
Click here read the whole interview with the Ambassador

World Spy Agencies: What do you know?

Fikirka Xorta ah - We have compiled small info about the current active spy agencies that areworld stage players. Our Sirdoon or Intelligence gathering blog has this list.

Click here to read

Somalia: "War Crimes Devastate Population", Human Rights Watch

Fikirka Xorta ah - All parties in the escalating conflict in Somalia have regularly committed war crimes and other serious abuses during the past year that have contributed to the country's humanitarian catastrophe, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Human Rights Watch urged the United States, the European Union, and other major international actors to rethink their flawed approaches to the crisis and support efforts to ensure accountability.

The 104-page report, "So Much to Fear: War Crimes and the Devastation of Somalia," describes how the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG), the Ethiopian forces that intervened in Somalia to support it and insurgent forces have committed widespread and serious violations of the laws of war. Frequent violations include indiscriminate attacks, killings, rape, use of civilians as human shields, and looting. Since early 2007, the escalating conflict has claimed thousands of civilian lives, displaced more than a million people, and driven out most of the population of Mogadishu, the capital. Increasing attacks on aid workers in the past year have severely limited relief operations and contributed to an emerging humanitarian crisis.

Click here for: summary and recommendations
Click here to download the report
Click here for: Summary and recommendations in Somali

Dhalinyaro Somalida Minnesota oo laga cabsi qabo inay dagaal u dhoofeen

Fikirka Xorta ah - Wararka ku saabsan in dhalinyaro Somali ah oo ku nool dalka Maraykanku ay ka tagaan gobolka ay u badan yihiin ee Minnesota oo ay dagaalka ka holcaya dalkooda ka qayb qaataan oo qaarkood is qarxiyaan ayaa soo badanaya.

Waxaba ay ciidanka dembi baadhista ee federaalka ee FBI loo yaqaan caddeeyeen in ku jiraan baadhista arrintaas.

Waxay soo celiyeen maydkii intii ka soo hadhay nin is qarxiyay oo lagu sheegay Shirwac Axmed. Waxa la leyahay wuxuu ka mid ahaa kooxdii bishii Oktober 29-keeda ee sannadkan saddexda meelood ka qarxiyay Somaliland. Waxana halkaas ku dhintay ama ku dhaawacmay dad aad u badan.

Haddaba waxa toddobaadkan la aasay ninkaas dhallinta yar oo ka mid ah tiro dhallinyaro la layahay oo waalidkood iyo qaraabadoodu ay maalintii Sabtida ee bishan December 6 ku kulmeen xarun Bryant Cole la yidhaa oo jaaliyaddu ku shirto. Magacyada meesha laga qakhriyay ayaa waxa ka mid ahaa saddex dhalinyaro ah oo laba jaamacadda hadda galeen mid kalena uu dugsiga sare ku jiray. Iyadoo si dadban loo eedeeyey koox aan la magacaabin oo madaxa ka xadday dhallintaas.

Waxa halkaa ka hadlay dad badan oo cadhaysan oo runtii u badan garab ka mid ah ggarabyada siyaasadda Somalida isku haya. Waxana ay si cadho ku jirto u sheegeen in ay dawladda Maraykanka iyo hayadaha nabadgelyada ka codsadeen in carruurtoodii loo soo celiyo.

Tirada dadka maqan ayaa lagu muransan yahay. Waxa dadka qaar ay qabaan in dhallinyaro ku dhaw 40 ay dhoofeen qaarkoodna soo noqon doonaan dhowaan. Waxase hadda runta u dhaw lambar intaas ka yar oo aan toban gaadhayn.

Waxa la soo xiganayaa warar sheegaya in dhallinta maqani ay badankoodu ka wada tirsan yihiin masaajidka Abuubkar Al Sidiiq oo ay ku socoto baadhis. Waxana la sheegay in Iimaamkii Masjidka iyo dad la socday loo diiday inay xajka u dhoofaan oo lagu daray liiska dadka aan duuli karin.

Haddaba arrintan oo murgisay nolosha dadka Somalida ah ee ku dhaqan gobolkaas Minnesota iyo guud ahaan dalka ayaa waxay sii kicisay xiisadda tartanka loollanka siyaasadda ee qabiilka ku salaysan ee Somaliya oo si toos ah u taabatay nolosha dadkan ka fog safka hore ee dagaalka sokeeye.

Is aamin la'aanta sii fogaanaysa ayaa waxay Somalida ku abuurtay colaad raagta oo aan tanaasulaad lahayn. Taasoo taabatay dad deggan meelo aad uga fog goobaha dagaalada.

Xaalka Somalida ayaa aad looga hadlaa beryahan oo jaraa'idka iyo television nada caalamiga ahina ay qaadaa dhigaan. Arrinta colaadda Somaliya ka taaqan oo muddo badan socotay kolbana weji yeelanaysa ka sokow, waxa mashaqada Somalida iftiinka ku shiday budhcad badeeda oo si badheedh ah u afduubta maraakiib waaweyn. Waxayna indhaha adduunka u soo jeediyeen markay qabaseen markab weyn oo saliid u siday dalka Maraykanka iyo mid sida hub culus oo taangiyo ku jiraan.

Waxa toddoaadkan oo keliya maqaallo ka qoray New York Times oo ka mid ah wargeysayada ugu magaca, akhriska iyo awoodda badan adduunka. Isagoo xaaladda Somaliya ku tilmaamay mid ka sii daraysa.

Waxa sidoo kale ka hadlay wargeysa toddobaadlaha ah ee loo yaqaan NEWS WEEK MAGAZINE oo isagu soo jeediyay maqaalkiisa ah, "Libaax Badeedka Biyaha" oo qoray, "Sida kama dabaysta ah ee budhcad badeedda biyaha Somaliya looga tiritiri lahaa."

Siyaasadda Somalida ee murugsan ee aargoosi aano qabiil iyo dhakhso u dhereg iyo maxaad boobtaa ku xididaysan ayaa adduunku maanta aad uga soo taagan yahay. Waxana la sheegay in maamulka cusub ee Madaxyenaha la doortay ee Barak Obama ay Somaliya ku jirto liiska wax qabad ee siyaasaddiisa srrimha dibadda ee ku wajahan Afrika.

Waxana taas ka markhaati ah ballan qaadka uu sheegay in maamulkiisu la shaqayn doono Qaramada Midoobay si loo xalliyo arrimo badan oo gurrucan oo ay Somaliya ku jirto. Taasoo Safiikiisa cusub ee dalka USA u fadhiyi doona UN-ta Marwo Susan Rice ay tahay mid aaminsan in xalka Somaliya ku jiro wax qabad buuxa oo u dhexeeya xubnaha Qaramada Midoobay.

Haddaba xiisadaha kala duwan ee Geeska Afrika ee ay shidayaan danaha is jiidhaya ayaa waxa la arki doonaa in isbeddel weyni ka soo baxo marka u shirka siyaasiyiinta Somaliya ee dalka Djibouti ku gorgortamaya dhammaado. Iyo goorta uu maamulka cusub ee Obama qaado tallaabooyin wax ku ool ah oo ku saabsan siyaasadda Geeska. Waxa kaloo arrinta wax ka beddlei kara dalalka Midawga Yurub oo arrinta budhcad badeedda waxqabadkeeda u xusul duuban.

Halkan ka daawo aaskii Shirac Axmed ee Minnesota, USA


Maxay kula tahay? Fikirkaaga si cilmiyaysan u cabbir.

Strategic Interests: -- Somalia: "The Times They Are A-Changin"

Fikirka Xorta ah - What is heartening is that a wide number of analysts, practitioners, and advocates have come around to a similar assessment of the realities on the ground in the Horn of Africa. Writing two weeks ago in The New Republic, Dr. Jonathan Stevenson, a professor of strategic studies at the U.S. Naval War College and author of the authoritative case study of America's 1990s intervention in Somalia, suggested that:

"Perhaps U.N.-sanctioned special political status for Somaliland that could qualify it for international aid and protection, in recognition of its largely self-generated order and viability, should be on the table to create incentives for the more unruly militias in southern Somalia to reach political compromises."

Likewise Bronwyn Bruton of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) suggested the United States should examine several nontraditional strategies, including the previously explored ‘bottom-up' and/or ‘building block' approaches."

Even the nongovernmental aid organization Refugees International has chimed in with a policy bulletin. While the concerns of the NGO were primarily focused on what it termed "the world's worst humanitarian disaster," it also criticized the international community for its "schizophrenic approach to Somaliland" by "treating it as an independent state when it's politically or operationally useful…but otherwise maintaining the rhetoric of a unified Somalia."


To read the full article, please click here.
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J. Peter Pham is Director of the Nelson Institute for International and Public Affairs at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Disturbing News Continues: "'Missing' Somali man is brought home"

Fikirka Xorta ah -- The first evidence that Somalis in Minnesota may have taken part of the suicide bombing in Somaliland were released by the FBI today when they returned the remains of what believed to be Ahmed Shirwa of Minneapolis to his family. Shirwa was one of a six young men disappeared from Minnesota over the past year.

The US government is not saying much as the investigation continues, but Somalis in Minnesota is divided as fear of government crackdown on some suspected worship mosques were reported.

Somalis political support depends on their tribal allegiances. That is why some of the weak Somali Government supporters quickly blame the members of the opposition for recruiting and sending jihadist elements to Somalia/Somaliland to fight Ethiopian forces in Somalia.

The Somali Government supporters motive of blaming the oppistion maybe questionable and US Government agencies need to consider the clan factor and the deep mistrust among Somalis in Minnesota. But the fact that some Somalis are leaving the US to fight is damaging to the community's efforts to assimilate. The rest of Minnesotans may regard Somalis suspiciously or prejudge all of them as terrorist sympathizers. If that happens, whether tribe A is opposing tribe B would be irrelevant and all Somalis would be the victims of their own creation.

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Watch ABC News' report on Somalia: A Safe Haven for Terrorists?

Disturbing News: Missing Twin Cities Somalis, terror ties probed

Fikirka Xorta ah -- "Missing Twin Cities Somalis, terror ties probed", was the headline for the Start Tribune"s (Minnesota's largest daily newspaper) Wednesday, November 26 . This is one of the most disturbing news I heard so far from my old home town since I left almost two years ago to pursue my dreams of managing a major news organization in other cities in North America and Europe.

When I opened my inbox from the paper’s RSS feed, I stared the headline for few minutes before I dared to read the article. I couldn't believe for what I was reading. Young Somalis from the Twin Cities area abandoning their future to commit suicide in Somalia/Somaliland !

I was heartbroken twice. For once; the city of Hargeisa (Capital City of Somaliland) that was attacked by suicide bombers on October 29, 2008 is my ancestor's homeland. It is the place where my mother, my siblings, and most of my relatives live. It is my home city which I'm so connected that a big poster of the modern Hargeisa’s view hanged on the wall of my old office in Minneapolis. Any one who walked in my office could have seen the poster. I was always eager to tell people about the city if asked. My favorite line was, "Ooh that is my home town city of Hargeisa, Somaliland". Usually more questions followed of where Hargeisa is, what is it like to live there etc. And anyone could see how proud I was to share what I know about that far corner of the world surrounded by a region devastated by war and famine.

The attack of that day killed 22 people and injured dozens more. My cousin Zahra who is the UN's Political Officer in Hargeisa, was about to leave when her coworker stopped her near the main gate entrance of their Hargeisa UNDP Head Quarters for small chat and to say hello. As soon as she has turned to move away from him, a speeding SUV vehicle drove in flying and chased by armed police at the gate running behind the car trying to stop. Within minutes the car exploded next to the main building . The ground has shaken and half of the building collapsed. My cousin’s friend that she was just talking to dead on the spot. Because she was sort of away from the explosion, she escaped uninjured but nonetheless shocked and dismayed.

For the next few days, Hargeisa's communication system, mainly phone lines were jammed as Somaliland Diaspora Communities tried to reach home to find out details of what had happened and to check up on their relatives. There were memorial services in most countries where Somalilanders live and people rallied to send relief for the victims and hospitals.

The government's reaction to secure the institutions, foreign diplomats and all other main economic infrastructures was swift. Several people alleged to have something to do with the attacks were arrested. Investigations are still going on but life you know it in Somaliland has changed forever. There are more visible security personnel, more check ups and more delays in traveling around the nation.

So, as the wounds of that horrible attack still fresh, it is heartbreaking to me that people from a state (Minnesota) that I love so much may have something to do with it. Minnesota is the home state of the largest Somali ethnic community in USA. Minnesota is a place where, despite the coldest weather in the US except Alaska, I and other Somali expatriates made home. Minnesota is a place where the most tolerant human beings live. It is a state where residents value diverse cultures, educational advancement and human ingenuity. My home state Minnesota, is the best place on earth in my opinion.

Star Tribune's report ".. there is a high-level investigation of whether six to seven young Somali men and teenagers left the Twin Cities and returned to their homeland to participate in terrorist activities." clearly shows the Vulnerability of young persons to fall victims to the demise of ideologue/murderous, extremists minds hiding among general population.

The details of the news is yet to be seen, but it doesn't take one to understand that those young men killed in the suicide bomb or those in the “pipeline” willing to kill themselves have been brainwashed. The challenge, however, is for us to reclaim our youth. We need to find a way to prevent this to happen again. A better picture to understand how young bright men could go halfway around the globe to commit this horrible act would eventually come out of the investigation. But if my assumptions are correct, lack of choices may have contributed to their decision. That is if and if the news is right.

Obama's To-Do List: Somalia: "Perhaps U.N.-sanctioned special political status for Somaliland"

Fikirka Xorta ah - The goal in Somalia would be negotiated state-building. Perhaps U.N.-sanctioned special political status for Somaliland that could qualify it for international aid and protection, in recognition of its largely self-generated order and viability, should be on the table to create incentives for the more unruly militias in southern Somalia to reach political compromises.

Even if a diplomatic foray by the Obama administration does not yield immediate success, striking a salutary keynote of multilateral diplomacy would help alleviate African worries about AFRICOM and the militarization of U.S. Africa policy. And returning to Somalia--the notorious site of U.S. military failure around fifteen years ago, which drove its sustained disengagement from Africa and emboldened Al Qaeda--would decisively signal a renewed commitment to the continent.

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‘Money plizz,’ says Somali Cap’n Jack Sparrow

Fikirka Xorta ah - On Friday afternoon pirates in control of the African Sanderling, a large cargo ship anchored off Somalia, were lazing in the sun waiting for their ransom money when the telephone on the bridge rang.

Muhammad, the man who answered, was rather polite for a pirate from a heavily armed gang that had seized the ship last month. “Plizz, excuse me,” he said, sounding more Cap’n Jack Sparrow than bloodthirsty Blackbeard. “Who are you?”

After The Sunday Times explained that it was calling to find out what was happening to the hijacked vessel, Muhammad was as helpful as his mangled English allowed.

“The ship, the crew and the captain is okay. No problem. Only problem, money.”

Have you demanded a ransom? “Yeah.”

How much? “First, $8m. Then they [the ship owners] make bargain, then reduce, then more bargain, $2m. Then they reduce it $1.2m. Last we said we need $2m.”

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Somali Pirates: The problem is deeper than you think

Fikirka Xorta ah - Latest capture of the giant Saudi oil tanker Serius Star by Somalia based pirates created new urgency to deal with the pirates problem once and for all.

The news has become media sensation where even an American right winger and conservative talk show radio host, Rush Limbaugh commented on the problem by blaming as expected radical Islam and liberal US/European politicians to have made this crises out of hand.

Even other US stand up comedians cashed in the news by imitating Somali pirates activity. Making sounds and English accents that is funny to many people but could be construed offensive and degrading to the Somali culture.

Furthermore, Here's what shell-shocked financiers are laughing at on Wall Street Friday morning in a phony Bloomberg story:

Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- The Somali pirates, renegade Somalis known for hijacking ships for ransom in the Gulf of Aden, are negotiating a purchase of Citigroup.

Jokes aside, the pirates' increased activity have serious consequences where major powers are considering options to solve the problem. Some have considered force while others prefer to approach more peaceful end to the crises.

NATO, US, EU and even Russia sent warships to the pirate invested Eastern coast of Somalia that is stretched between Gulf of Eden and Indian ocean in an area approximately 1.1 square miles long. Yet, pirates managed to allude the warships because of the size of the area and capture an average of one ship a day.

Once they take the ship, the situation is considered hostage and most ship owners start negotiations with the group. After few weeks of back and forth negotiations, ship owners agree to pay lamb sum money to free their ship, crew and the cargo.

Paying pirates encourages other like minded thugs to get involved with the pirating business. It has also reported that when paid a large amount of money, pirates go for shopping to buy new speed boats, GPS systems and other gears that increase their ability to reach far and wide to look for bigger and larger victims.

There seem to be no end to this crises. In fact, most observers see increased activity that pirates are becoming more bolder, more aggressive and demanding more money.

So what would be violence free steps to solve the pirates issue? It would be impossible to escort every ship in that busy and important corridor by navy powers in the area. It would be difficult to sink every pirate boat or fishing boat. Pirates are armed, know the area well and could make damage of their own by attacking ships with dangerous cargo. This could be environmentally disaster scenario if for example they blow up a giant oil tanker. So what then?

Scott Morgan, the Editor of Confused Eagle suggests that Somalia needs to be divided into three major regional governments. He argues that in the absence of a central government, Somalia will not be able to crackdown pirates effectively.

"Having Three Regional Governments (Somaliland, Puntland and the Islamist South) with Strong Central Powers and Appropriate International Backing and/or Aid May be Something that has to be considered." He wrote. Mr. Morgan things that solving political stalemate in Somalia would create the ground work for larger framework to deal with the longterm problems in Somalia including pirates issue. He says, "This could be the impetus for some form of Intervention."

Mr. Morgan may be right or may be wrong in his approach, but one thing is certain; World powers must think outside the box and deal with this pirates crises to be as part of a bigger Somali problem puzzle that need to be tackled sooner then later.

Somaliland: World reacted to the Hargeisa's terror attack on Oct. 29, 2008

Fikirka Xorta ah - Three coordinated suicide attacks were carried out by what officials believed to be the Al Shabaab Ismalist militants fighting in Somalia on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 in Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland.

It is reported that 22 people have died and dozens of others were wounded when three SUV vehicles filled with explosives driven forcefully in to the gates of UNDP Head Quarters, Ethiopian Diplomatic Compound and the Presidential Palace.

The attack has shaken the peaceful and stable Hargeisa and the rest of the Somaliland. The government had automatically deployed thousands of security personnel and President Rayale urged citizens to cooperate with the government to catch the perpetrators and asked everyone to be vigilant.

Massive man hunt were carried out and several individuals were arrested within hours of the attack. The Minister of Interior Mr. Iro confirmed the arrest of at least 5 people and refused to elaborate because of an "on going investigation".

After this horrible attack, the world and the country reacted in many different ways.

Governments around the world have condemned while expressing their concern about the regional impact and sent condolences to the people of Somaliland.

Many news articles about the incident were reported around the globe and here are some of the reactions:

Simon Roughneen of ISN (International Relations and Security and Network) described the reason of the attack to be to destabilize this peaceful corner in a troubled regions.

He wrote; Recent terror attacks ..... could be designed to destabilize..., dragging it into Somalia's brutal quagmire.

Somaliland veteran journalist living in middle east wrote an article on Media Line, an online media based in New York, USA, "Bombs Won't Subdue Resolve of Africa’s Cinderella", he wrote. Mr. Goth argued that Somaliland has survived from worst and will indeed do the same and recover from this ordeal.

Mr. Goth wrote, "Eighteen long years and Somaliland has been the beacon of hope in a turbulent region. Eighteen years during which Somaliland has written a success story of peace, stability, democratization and building of government institutions. Eighteen years of looking into the abyss but skirting all terrorist threats with its wisdom and community cohesion. Eighteen years of sending a May Day call after May Day call to the international community for help and support that went mainly unheeded to the detriment of regional stability and global security."

http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=23188

We couldn't agree more. Somaliland citizens are expected to safeguard their hard earned safety and security by working with law enforcement officers.

Like wise Somaliland Diaspora communities condemn the attack by sending various written statements to the media. Here is one published in Awdalnews.com:

Somaliland organizations in diaspora condemn the terrorist attacks in Somaliland

"We, the Somaliland Organizations in the Diaspora, are dismayed by the terrorist attacks in Somaliland, and we would like to express our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the people of Somaliland in general. We join with all those who clearly condemn this utterly deplorable act of aggression and terror committed against the people of Somaliland. It is heartbreaking that people of Somaliland again become a victim of terrorists. We all know Somaliland have long been trying to heal itself from the indiscriminate killings of its people by Siad Barre regime. These actions are not associated with Islam or the decency of human being. Nothing can justify the indiscriminate killings of an innocent human being."

http://www.awdalnews.com/wmview.php?ArtID=10750

Well, It took me for a while to react to this news, but I'm worried for what Dr.Mohamad Fadal of Institute of Social Research and Development based in Hargeisa calls it, "..the bad omen is that it is not over..."

Dr. Fadal says that it is hard for common people to understand why they are attacked. And he predicts that this incident could be the beginning of a serious attacks that the group responsible for this one will carry out to flex their muscle and show what they could do.

This is scary; Hargeisa daily newspapers are reporting that some high ranking government and non governmental agencies officials have already gotten phone calls from what the national police suspects to be terrorist cells plotting to mastermind more attacks withing Somaliland borders.

However vigilant the people and government try to be, it is hard to pin point or identify all terror cells in Somaliland. Thus, more attacks are expected or at least feared!

Let us hope that Somaliland Intelligence Services are better equipped to prevent more attacks and have the resources to safe the people from future mayhem!!!

USA: Obama Wins Election; McCain Loses as Bush Legacy Is Rejected

Fikirka Xorta ah - Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics with ease as the country chose him as its first black chief executive.

Mr. Obama’s election amounted to a national catharsis — a repudiation of a historically unpopular Republican president and his economic and foreign policies, and an embrace of Mr. Obama’s call for a change in the direction and the tone of the country. But it was just as much a strikingly symbolic moment in the evolution of the nation’s fraught racial history, a breakthrough that would have seemed unthinkable just two years ago.

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TAARIIKH LA YAAB LEH: Wasiirka Arrimaha Dibadda ee Ethiopia oo maanta barlamaanka KMG ah shir guddoon u noqday ajendahana gacanta ku hayay!

Fikirka Xorta ah - October 2004 Afar sano ayaa laga joogaa maalintii Cabdilahi Yusuf loo magacaabay Madaxweynaha KuMeel Gaadhka ah. Waxa sanadahaas dhacay isbeddel weyn oo aan la qiyaasi karin.

Waa taariikh la xuso oo saamayn ku yeelan doonta nolosha Somalida Geeska Afrika deggan. Waxanay tahay mid daba socota muddo laba sano ka hor markii DKMG ahi ciidamada Ethiopia u oggolaatay inay xoog ku soo galaan dalka Somaliya.

Waxay ahayd mid uu col. Cabdilahi Yusuf khasab barlamaankiisa kaga dhigay in ciidamada Ethiopia yimaaddaan dalka loo igmaday ee Somalia. Isagoo og cadaawadda soo jireenka ah ee Somalida iyo Amxaarada qarniyo ka dhexeysay. Isagoo og caadifadda dadka Somalidu halkay gaadhay oo markii hore xitaa barlamaankiisu gacanta isula tegay markii arrintani dhex timi.

Ayaa lagu dirqiyay in Barlamaanka Baydhabo fadhiya ay ku dhawaaaan in Ethiopia ciidamdeedu Somaliya yimaaaddaan.. Waxa kala qaybsamay xubnihii meesha joogay iyagoo qaarkood ku biiray mucaaradka fadhiisinkoodu yahay dalka Eritrea.

Iyadoo la ogyahay dhibka ay ciidmadaasi shacabka Somalida u geysteen ayaa maanta ay dhacday qiso la yaab leh.

Waxa loo yeedhay dhammaan xubnaha Barlamaanka Ku Meel Gaadhka ah, Col. Cabdilahi Yusuf, iyo Nuur Cadde. Waxa lagu shiriyay maglaada Nairobi. Waxa shirka qabtay oo magaca IGAD ku hoggaaminayay waa dawladda Ethiopia.

Haddaba waxa beryhanba ay dawladda Ethiopia shaacinaysay waxay ugu yeedhay, "inaanay ku faraxsanayn habka ay hoggaanka sare ee KMG ahi ay waddanka u maamulayaan.", Iyagoo u jeeda in aanay rabin in Col. Cabdillahi Yusuf meesha sii joogo. Waxay caddeeyeen in aanay Somaliya nabadgelyo xumi ka jirin ee uu maamul xumo ka jiro.

Iyagoo taa ka tixraacaya isla markaana ay muuqato inay awoodda gacanta ku hayaan, ayaa waxa maanta markhaati loo ahaa in Wasiirka Arrimaha Dibadda ee Ethiopia Seyoum Mefsin shir guddoon ka noqado ajandahana u qabto barlamaan dal madax bannaan. Isagoo weliba soo xulay ama oggolaaday cidda hadlaysa iyo cidda aan hadlayn.

Si kasta oo barlamaan ama ay dawladi maqaarsaar u tahay, lama arag dal sidan oo kale loogu amar ku taagleeyo. Taasi waxay ku tusaysaa in ay laba arrimood xaqiiq yihiin:

1. Barlamaanka Iyo dawladda DKMG ee afarta sano sheeganaysay inay yihiin dad madax bannaan oo dal maamula inay caddaatay inaanay ahayn sidaas ee ay tahay kuwo la yidhaa Shimbirayahow Heesa markii la doono.

2. Dawladaha dunidu waxay aaminsanyihiin in Ethiopia tahay dalka Geeska Africa ugu xoogga badan oo markaa faraha looga qaado sidii ay u maamulan lahayd ama la siiyay mashruuca dib u dejinta Somaliya oo ay siday doonto ka yeesho.

Waxa nasiib darro ah in Cabdilahi Yusuf oo nabsi badan iyo godob soo jiitay oo cadawgii Somaliya dad aan waxba galabsan ku garaacay, in uu maanta sidii xanjo macaankii laga dhamaystay oo la tufay noqday.

Markii uu maanta ka cadhooday shirka oo marka hore inta isaga albaabada loo xidhay muddo saacado ah lagula hadlayay ayay caddaatay inuu magac u yaal ahaa oo ay Ethiopia ka gaadhay ujeeddadii ay lahayd.

Waxana ay tani tahay sharaf dhac in Somali maanta mar labaad Ethiopia ku tuuntuunsato. Iyadoo la sheegay in Col. Cabdillahi Yusuf hadda damacsan yahay midda qudha ah ee u bannaan oo ah:

In ay Puntland ku dhawaaqdo dal madax bannaan oo ka goostay Somaliya inteedii kale. Fikraddaas oo beryahanba la sheegay in isaga iyo Cadde Muuse ay go'aankeeda ka hadlayeen.

Ma filaysaa in la soo gaadhay xilligay Somaliland arrimaha Somaliya wax ka qaban lahayd?

Fikirka Xorta ah - Waxa in badan soo jirtay siyaasad guud oo dalka Somaliland lagu dhaqo oo ah, "Arrimaha deriska yaan la faragelin ee ha la is ilaaliyo". Maaha mid fikir dheer iyo falan qayn ka dhalatay, laakiin waxay ka timi is badbaadin shacabku ku dhiiradeen dawladdana lagu khasbay inay doonista shacabka raacdo.

Laakiin isbeddelka ka dhacaya gobolka awgeed, ma laga yaabaa inay dani ugu jirto in Somaliland ay arrimaha Somaliya fara geliso oo si toos ah wax uga qabato? Dani ma ugu jirtaa Maxaase ka soo gaadhi kara? Hadday damacdo inay dhexgasho maxaa ku habboon inay qabato am dhinacee bay ka bilaabi kartaa?

In badan baan aaminsanaa in arrinta gobolka nabadgelyo laga helayo haddii la is uruuriyo oo iridaha xuduudda la adkeeyo. Waxay ahayd rayi soo shaqeeyey oo badbaadiyay dalka. Waa mid weli ay dad badani aaminsan yihiin. Laakiin markaad eegto siyaasadda cakiran ee Somaliya ee i jiid aan ku jiidee ku salaysan. Markaad u fiirsato in dawladda Somaliland ay ku egtahay arrimaha gudaha oo aanay aragti dhaafsan, "Nimankaa walaalahayo ha heshiiyaan, annagana hana daayaan", mooyee inaanay istaraatijiyad kale hayn. Taasoo aan haba yaraatee waxba ka beddelin aqoonsiga Somaliland. Malaha waxa habboon in Somaliland ay tallaabo toos ah qaaddo.

Waan garan karnaa in marka hore la furo dood ku saabsan saamaynta ay yeelan karto faragelin toos ahi. Waa mid la shaandhayn karo dadkuna u leeyahay garasho lagu gorfeeyo. Waxase jirta in wakhtigu yahay cidhiidhi ah.

Waxad aragtaa in maamulkii lagu soo dhisay Nairobi ee TFG wakhtigiisu gabaabsi yahay. Oo dawladda Ethiopia iyo kuwa kale ee taageeri jiray ay ku hadaaqayaan in Cabdilahi Yusuf la beddelo, barlamaankuna soo doorto madaxweyne iyo dawlad hore leh oo wakhti dheeraad ah loo kordhiyay. Inkastoo aan lagu dhawaaqin haddana waa sida ay u badan tahay.

Waxad aragtaa in shirka Djibouti yahay mid cakiran oo maalin walba warqad yar lagu saxeexo oo aan ilko lagu socodsiiyo lahayn. Arrintuna ay ka gurracan tahay laba dhinac oo hotel isa soo hor fadhiista oon awoodda ay sheeganayaan iyo cidday metelaan toona aanay jirin.

Haddaba sidii Madaxweyne Cigaal, (AHN), uu ku dhawaaqay sannadkii 2000 intaanu Ismacil Cumar Geelle kala hoos bixin, miyaanay habboonayn in maamulka Somaliland ee soo socdaa doorashada dabadeed uu siyaasadda dalka ee gobolka ku wajahan jiho kale u dhaqaajiyo?

Waxay xaqiiqadu tahay in Somaliland kuwa maanta gacanta ku hayaa iyo shacbiga badan kiisuba aanay weli u bislayn culays intaa le'eg oo khatar tiisa leh. Waxase hoggaanka geesinimada lihi sameeyaa arrin aan hore looga baran oo maskax, muruq iyo maalba loo huray si hore halkan looga maro. Oo bal dadkahinic uun loo dhaqaajiyo.

Waxay aqoon yahan badani saadaaliyaan xaaladda dalka iyo guud ahaan gobolka. Waxana hadda cad in ay badan koodu isku raacsan yihiin in la soo gaadhay sidii khatarta qaxootiga faraha badan ee daka ku sugan oo dhaqankii dalka iyo dhaqaalihiiba miisaan ku haya loogu celin lahaa dalkoodii Somaliya.

Waxana talo fiican ah in madaxda dambe ee Somalililand oo lug ku yeesha siyaasadda gudaha ee Somaliya ay tahay mid hagaajin karta jaaniska ay Somaliland aqoonsi ku heli lahayd. Deggenaansho ku gaadhi lahayd. Iyagoo laba maamul oo isfahamsani si wadajir ah ama isku mid ah looga wada shaqayn karo ciddii cadaw guud ah ee labada dal degenaanshahooda halis gelin kara.

Haddaba maamulka dambe waa inuu u sameeyo ama magacaabaa guddi aqoon fiican u leh oo isku dhafan oo arrintan talo degdeg ah ka soo jeedisa. Waxana weliba ka si fiican in uu u qabto inay muddo bil ah fikir cusub ku keenaan.

Haddii kale, magaalooyinka waaweyn ee Somaliland, haddii aay xitaa nabadda maantu tahay mid sidan ku socota, waxa degenaan shahooda halis gelin kara, marka wax kale laga yimaaddo, culayska dheeraadka ah ee ay dadka qaxootiga ahi ku hayaan. Taasoo sidaad qoraalkan Qaramada Midoobay ka ragto (halkan booqo) ay ku soo qulqulayaan kumannaan kale oo ka soo firxaday colaadda dalkooda ka taaga. Waxana hubaal ah in cadaw badani ku soo dhex dhuuman karo. Gilgili karona dalkan la dhadhabayo ee aan weli xiddidada adkaysan.

Markaa waxa soo socda in la garto oo aragti dheeraad ah iyo fikir cusub la keeno waa mid laga filayo maamulka dambe ee Somaliland.

Maxay kula tahay? Bal aragtidaada cabbir?

EU may arrest other Kradzic like war criminals if French's pledge materializes

Fikirka Xora ah (USA) - The news for the arrest of the notorious mass murderer, the architect of Sreprenica genocide and ultra nationalist Mr. Kradzic has brought some sort of comfort to many still waiting justice Bosnians.

Some of them have already given up the idea that European led justice system would have the strength to muscle Serbia to give up Kradzic. But the condition to force Serbia to cough up Kradzic or forget about joining the European Union has proven to be difficult choice for Belgrade leadership.

After seeing how other former Eastern Block states economic situation has changed dramatically upon becoming EU members, the new pragmatic Serbian government has realized the need to change course and have chosen to be part of the new world. It was reported that as soon as he is sworn, the new prime minister has ordered the arrest of Kradzic and others that were accused of crimes and wanted by the Hague.

A senior Serbian officer close to the Prime Minister's Office that wished not to be identified confirmed to the media the main reason behind the government's quick action to arrest Kradzik is to be their desire to improve relations with Europe and pave the way for talks of future EU membership.

He said that his government has seeing how some of his neighboring countries are already more prosperous with access to not only rich markets and purchasing powers, but their unemployed citizens found jobs and generated income. Thus, he said, "that increased revenues for these countries to invest social programs such as health care, education and infrastructure." Well, then the choice was obvious; Kradzic is not worth the trouble of loosing all those economic incentives.

Some news organizations have also speculated that to soften its image, Belgrade would like the world to see it as a moderate emerging democracy, contrary to the hardliner predecessors, in order to boost the diplomatic credit. Their efforts to gain more respect and heal the past may have also influenced the government's decision to extradite Mr. Kradzic.

The world has accused Serbia for harboring many war crime fugitives and the arrest of Kradzic is a step forward. But if Belgrade wants to improve relations with the Muslim world, it must round up the other high profile Bosnian war crimes officials that are hiding in its backyard.

The Kradzic's arrest has reminded Somalis their war criminals at large. "Each time news about war crimes is in the headlines", said a Somali expatriate living in USA sighting the Kradzic's arrest, " I'm reminded how oblivious my people are about the need to bring justice to the heads of the regime that killed thousands of innocent people ." He explained his believes that how Somali people will never get stability until they deal with the question of war crimes.

"I'm not convinced that Somali people will ever trust each other and can even have an honest dialogue about their future as long as some of them are protecting those who had killed thousands of innocent people, there must be a justice for the innocent victims", he added.

The French government vowed to get involved with the 'Somali affairs" by opening human rights and war crimes office in Paris, and to help fight the pirates, this week. This may be a glimpse of hope for millions of Somalis that have, for the last two decades, longed for justice.

President Sarkozy brought new momentum and energy to EU and wants to leave a legacy that actually produces results. Since he is controversial politician that is not satisfied with the diplomacy, business as usual politiking, he may surprise us to help Somalis bring war crimes to long overdue justice. But that is if and only if Somalis are willing to work together to heal the wounds of the past and pave the way for future coexistence.

Will any Somali war criminal ever be hold accountable? Who is a war crime in the eyes of a Somali person? how long would tribes and clan politics protect someone that committed crimes against humanity? What would be acceptable form of dealing with this nightmare?

Somaliland: When a culture of peace takes root

CAN you imagine a place swarming with beggars and jobless people yet just adjacent there are stalls and stalls of money in banknotes including American dollars, British pounds and so forth in the open with no policemen around to secure those stalls of money?

“This phenomenon you see is a result of the fruits in a situation where a culture of peace takes roots. People have experienced so much suffering and deprivation as a result of war and occupation that they are sub-consciously not prepared to act in a manner that would jeopardise the well-being of others,”

Makwaia wa KUHENGA is a Senior Journalist and Author recently on a visit to Somaliland. To read more, click or visit this URL : http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/magazine/?id=5660

Re-emergence of 26 June Celebration. Is there a new Pan Somalism sentiment?

Fikirka Xorta ah ( USA) - It is said many times, in so many ways that Somaliland people are not only forgiving but have the highest tolerance among the Somali Ethnic population in the East Africa/Horn of Africa.

This argument was (again) in part of a debate I read and heard in this weekend. A heated discussion took us in a roller coaster off topic longer then usual Somali way of exchanging ideas with passion and counter argument with vengeance. The forum of the debate was mainly secret and exclusive members only email group that has a somewhat forwarded and clear name of "Sons of Somaliland" but usually go by (among themselves) "Concerned to Prevent" or "Almost Genocide".

The group mostly debate about the current political, social and economic situation of Somaliland and neighboring countries. Daily topics change depending on the headlines and current events, but half of the time is usually devoted to sort through reports and researches assigned to different teams.

One particular team has just concluded their finding on a "possibility of war with Somalia" scenario that was assigned a month earlier. Policy recommendations and guidelines for the government were eloquently delivered. Separate high secret implementation points/plans that were for members only were dissected and distributed with the usual full warning (reminding the group the bonds that tie their fate together).

After going through the motions, it is time to open the forum for discussion. Because of the timing and the news coming out of Somaliland, the topic of the day was chosen to be the 26 June and most members have naturally agreed to examine and express their opinion.

Several News agencies reports about the subject were posted. One of the headlines read in Somali "Madaxtooyada Somaliland oo looga debbaal degay 26 Juun markii u horraysay in ka badan 17 sannadood." Basicly that Somaliland President allowed the celebration of the 26 June for the first time in more then 17 years in the Presidential Palace.

Within minutes you can feel the reaction of some people. This subject has touched the nerve or the core existence of this secret association. Even though the debate was about the 26 June, the current Somaliland Administration and UCID Party of Somaliland that had, also, hosted similar celebration event for the day in question, received the wrath of the majority of the members.

The President and the UCID Party were accused of confusing the population by resurrecting June 26 Day to diminish the importance of May 18 (The contemporary Somaliland Day). Both were criticized for not having clear objectives and obvious message to Somaliland people except pleasing a particular interest group that may vote for them in the next election. Kulmiye Party of Somaliland has somehow escaped the blame and got praised couple of times by some members.

The direction this dialogue was going was very concerned to the current discussion mediators. Because this particular group (in their Bylaws) has already agreed to put aside any partisan and personal political issues, they were worried that the fervor may exacerbate to uncontrollable different level that is contrary to the objective of the group. The Mediators have tried to steer the discussion from blame to solution. They have eventually succeeded to reach an agreement on points to follow up with assigned team. But boy, this has opened a Pandora Box.

The fragility of the Somaliland Political Institutions that can't withstand the political manipulation by the current administration and some what less intense but equal out come by UCID party was clear to all members. The question that disturbed the emotions of those participants was; is there a new Pan Somalism Sentiment that would disrupt the lives of Somalilanders and would have the muscle to threaten the State itself?

No one had the real answer and for the next month and so every member will still ponder the question until they do their own research or get the report back from the team assigned to do so. But the reality is that the politicians from Somalia proper as well as Somaliland ones from time to time use or evoke the subject of Somali nationalism depending on their short political gain of the year. Never knowing, or worrying about how this will play in the general population. Or even never have the clue that some nutzo/wacko but effective and right minded groups exist. Those groups may call or may not call themselves names such as "Concerned to Prevent" but they are watching politicians' moves and digesting their motives with counter measure that you would never expect from a Somali group.

The way this group is organized, funded and managed is beyond my wildest imaginations. Somalis usually love to talk with less action, but this group and their secretive below the radar activities is what had amazed me personally. Writing this about them would, I'm sure, damage my relationship with them. it would also result limited access to the participation of their most sensitive discussions in the future. But, hey, who could resist sharing such an interesting piece of information with his audience.

Enough said about the group, what about the rest of the Somali people? Is 26 June relevant to today's political climate? What would Somalis gain/loose if they totally forget about 26 June? How would this affect the patriotism sentiment and or nationalists' feeling? And most of all;
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Is Pan Somalism dead or a threat to Somaliland existence? Why all of a sudden 26 June is important to some people? Share your thoughts with the readers.