That Freedom Shall not Perish

Although Somaliland is not recognised as an independent state, in reality, it functions as one.

Despite the recent attack on the president's palace and the UNDP headquarters in the capital, Hargeisa - suspected to have been carried out by Islamic militants - the breakaway Republic of Somaliland remains largely unaffected by the chaos that persists in southern Somalia. Situated in northwestern Somalia in the Horn of Africa, it was part of Somalia until 1991.

The region is bordered by Djibouti to the west, Ethiopia to the south, and the Puntland region of Somalia to the East. Somaliland has a working political system, government institutions, and its own currency and a 740 kilometre coastline along the Red Sea.

Following the collapse of the Siad Barre regime, the northern part of the country declared itself independent as the Republic of Somaliland on May 18, 1991. However, it did not receive international diplomatic recognition.

In 1960, the area had enjoyed independence for a few days, between the end of British colonial rule and its union with the former Italian colony of Somalia (southern Somalia). 40 years later, in 2001, voters in the territory overwhelmingly backed Somaliland's independence in a referendum.

As a result, Somaliland leaders distance themselves from Somalia's central transition government, which they see as a threat to their autonomy. That is why they were not part of the just ended IGAD leaders' meeting on Somalia in Nairobi. The main preoccupation of the government of Somaliland is to get international diplomatic recognition, which has so far proved elusive.

Those opposed to the recognition of Somaliland internationally fear that such a move would trigger an avalanche of secessionist demands in the rest of the continent. But even without this recognition, Somaliland has political contacts with Britain, Djibouti, Ghana, Belgium, Sweden and Ethiopia.

Ethiopia, in particular, needs Somaliland as an import/export outlet since it is landlocked. The US is also said to be toying with the idea of acknowledging the less volatile Somaliland Republic.

Some parts of the Somaliland territory such as Sool, Sanaag, northeastern Maakhir and Cayn are, however, not quite reconciled to the idea of the Somaliland Republic and still yearn for unity with Somalia.

Somaliland's first president was the Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur. He succeeded by the late Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal (also deceased) in 1993. Neither of them was elected; instead, they were appointed by the Grand Conference of National Reconciliation.

Egal was reappointed in 1997, and remained in power until his death on May 3, 2002. The vice president, Dahir Riyale Kahin succeeded him and in 2003 and became the first Somaliland president to be elected by popular vote.

Somaliland's system of government combines traditional and western institutions. The Executive consists of a President, Vice-President and a Council of ministers. The judiciary is independent, and the Legislature bicameral.

The traditional Somali council of elders was incorporated into the governance structure and forms the Upper House of the Legislature; it is responsible for managing internal conflicts. The government in Somaliland is a power-sharing coalition of the main clans, with seats in the Upper House proportionally allocated to clans according to a predetermined formula.

This was also the case with the Lower House, but in September 2005, voters elected a new parliament, and the system where MPs had hitherto been chosen by clan elders through a process of consultation was finally discarded.

The Somaliland constitution limits the number of political parties to three, and they are the United Peoples' Democratic Party (UDUB); Peace, Unity and Development Party (Kulmiye); and the Justice and Development Party (UCUD). These parties are mainly clan based and no single one is capable of winning power on its own, hence the coalition.

President Dahir Riyale Kahin of the ruling UDUB, who won Somaliland's first multi - party presidential elections in April 2003 with a slim majority, and whose five-year term ended in May 2008, had his term controversially extended by Somaliland's council of elders.

This was ostensibly because Somaliland was not adequately prepared in terms of voter registration and other logistics. Voter registration is now complete, and the presidential election will be held in April 2009.

Somaliland is mainly inhabited by the sub-clans of the Dir and the Darood clans. The major clan in Somaliland is the Isak, followed by the Gadabursi. Others clans are the Issa the Gabooye and the Darood sub-clans, the Dhulbahanta, and Warsengeli.

The Darood sub-clans mainly support the Kulmiye party, whose candidate is Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo. The various sub-clans of the Isaksub- clan of the larger Dir clan, namely the Garhajis, and the Habar Jelo, support the UCUD party whose presidential candidate is Faysal Ali Warabe. The Habar Awal, also a sub-clan of the Isak, support President Riyale's UDUB.

The Gadabursi's support is divided between two parties. One of the sub-clans, the Mahadase, support Kulmiye since the vice-presidential candidate for the party, Abdirahman Saylici is one of their own. The other Gadabursi sub-clan, the Habar Arfan, support UCUD. The Makahil, also of the Gadabursi clan from which President Riyale hails, support UDUB.

As things stand now, there seems to be an alliance between the Kulmiye and UCUD parties, and they may well kick Riyale's UDUB out of power.

Economically, Somaliland is still in its developing stages. The Somaliland shilling, while stable, is not an internationally recognised currency and currently has no official exchange rate (unofficially $1 is equivalent to 6,000 Somaliland shillings).

It is regulated by the Bank of Somaliland, the central bank. The bulk of Somaliland's exports are livestock, hides and skins. Agriculture, mostly cereal production, is minimal.

However, recent research shows that Somaliland has large offshore and inshore oil and natural gas reserves. But since the country lacks diplomatic status, these resources cannot be exploited at the moment. Somaliland's port of Berbera has also grown as a major export port for Ethiopia since the latter's fall-out with Eritrea.

Given its relative stability, and despite some local and international opposition, it may well be more practical for the international community to recognise Somaliland as a separate entity from the chaotic south Somalia since it in fact functions as such in reality.

Gitau Muthuma is the registrar, Eelo American University, Borama, Somaliland.

On the Web: http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12332

The Department of Defense announced today the return of one detainee from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Somaliland. This detainee was determined to be eligible for transfer following a comprehensive series of review processes.

The transfer is a demonstration of the United States’ desire not to hold detainees any longer than necessary. It also underscores the processes put in place to assess each individual and make a determination about their detention while hostilities are ongoing – an unprecedented step in the history of warfare.

The Department of Defense has determined – through its comprehensive review processes - that more than 60 detainees at Guantanamo are eligible for transfer or release. Departure of these detainees is subject to ongoing discussions between the United States and other nations.

Since 2002, approximately 520 detainees have departed Guantanamo for other countries including Albania, Algeria, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, France, Great Britain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and Yemen.

There are approximately 255 detainees currently at Guantanamo.

She waved her hand asking for a lift when he stopped to give her a ride. He was not meaning to date or something but although he just came from his Khad session but as soon as she was in the car, she carelessly removed her cover making her hair, top of her chest and other sensitive parts appear to him. He murmured "wh...wh...where r u going?"

She said "look, we have to be honest niyow, I need something and you need something, markaa let's help each other". "and what is that?" He asked rolling eyes.

"I need a punch of Khad and you need sex, buy me a bundle and i offer you sex, we should be straight forward niyow" she explained looking at his eyes.

"But,, bu .... but i don't have a condom" he murmured.

"Not a big deal, I'll get you one" she explained.

"Okey then" he said already feeling the heat.

She took him to a nearby pharmacy, get off the car and came back with a condom. He then moved to a Khat seller, bought a bundle and a drink then moved away to one of those far and dark places at the corner of the city. On the way she was repeatedly jumping on the Khat trying to take it but he was so cautious and kept it on his lap. Finally she managed to grab two leaves to start with. As he was looking at her eating the two leaves less than one second she looked so hungry for the stuff.

He parked the car, switch off the lights and got ready for the action. Moving his hands towards her shoulders and leaning his face to meet hers she started screaming, shouting and yelling until all the neighbors and those were passing by gathered around them looking at what is happening. The guy frightened, not knowing what to do opened the car window looking around. She opened the window from her side and got off the car still screaming "What are you doing Saqajaanyahow (you damn fool), what do you think i am ? just give me my Khad and go away".

Not a single person around has said a word when they heard this. They just kept looking at these two and listening to what they are saying.

The Lady: Just give me my Khad and go away you bloody Bastard.

The Man: You know what? No Khat for you as long as you are not doing that for me. Now do what you want and i'm going.

The Lady (grabbing a big stone from the ground): You can't go you Stupid ... I'll break the glasses of your car.

The Man: I know you, and if you throw a single stone i'll make sure i break your legs.

The Lady: Move and You will see it.

The Man: Now don't hurt yourself, i'm moving you lil biatch.

The man moved his car and she couldn't dare to throw a single stone at him. People were there and no one interfered when they heard what is the problem is all about. He left the scene carrying that bunch of Khad to one of his friends, drinking the Sprite for his own and the condom in his pocket.

I met him right after came from that situation. He couldn't talk to me, he was so upset and i was laughing to death.

“I’m sure she will call and apologize, I’m sure” said repeatedly.

This happened in Hargeisa, Somaliland.

From http://www.miamiherald.com/BY CAROL ROSENBERG

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba -- The military has trimmed the war on terror detainee population by three men, and sent home the last known captive from Kazakhstan as well as another detainee to Tajikistan and a third to Somaliland, an autonomous republic in Africa which lacks international recognition.

Kazak Abdulrahim Kerimbakiev, 25, has returned to his homeland and ''is safe with his family,'' said New York attorney Robert Weiner, who had helped the long-held captive sue for his freedom in federal courts.

Defense Department documents indicate he arrived at the prison camps here in June 2002.

Legal sources also identified the Somaliland returnee as Abdallah Muhamed Hussein, in his 60s.

He told a military review board in late 2004 or early 2005 here that he was a teacher by profession, had 11 children and left his homeland in 1963. Pakistani security forces took him captive in Peshawar and handed him off to U.S. troops, who sent him to Guantánamo in August 2002 on suspicion of ties to al Qaeda or the Taliban.

The Pentagon stuck to its template statement Monday in revealing last week's repatriations, calling the decision to send long-held captives away from this remote Navy base ''an unprecedented step in the history of warfare'' at a time when ``hostilities are ongoing.''

It noted that the U.S. government has transferred more than 520 former Guantánamo captives to 30 nations -- from Albania to Yemen -- but did not explain that Somaliland has a different status. It's not an independent state but a self-proclaimed autonomous region of northwestern Somalia.

Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, and by some accounts has served as a U.S. ally in the Horn of Africa in the fight against Islamic militants in Somalia, to its south. The Bush administration has said it is leaving to the African Union any decision on recognition.

U.S. officials have considered Somaliland as stable, although just last week, around the time the United States sent Hussein home, a succession of suicide bombs wracked its major city, Hargiesa, killing 19.

The Bush administration asks nations taking Guantánamo detainees, either as repatriates or for resettlement, to offer both ''security assurances'' and pledges of ``humane treatment.''

In general that means either continued detention or monitoring of the former detainees or, in the instance of Saudi Arabia, a rehabilitation program to ease their entry back into society.

U.S. spokesmen would not explain the arrangement with Somaliland.

At the State Department, spokesman Joe Mellott of the Office of War Crimes Issues said the United States does not formally recognize Somaliland but engages with representatives there as ``a regional administration.''

He would not speak to the specifics of the Hussein case but said the United States views has ties with the leadership there ``as a practical matter. We acknowledge them as a regional administration on the ground. And we engage with them on a regular basis.''

Despite the latest transfer mission, a Pentagon statement said the prison camps population remained at about 255 detainees, 60 of whom the U.S. wants to transfer or release by agreement with host nations.

The 60 include 17 Uighurs, Muslim citizens of China, whom a federal judge ordered brought to the United States for release last month -- until an appeals court froze his order.

Las Anod locals reported that a number of young men were arrested in connection with the bombing.

Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991 under colonial-era boundaries, which include the key town of Las Anod, which has been at the center of a Somaliland-Puntland violent dispute since 2002.

HARGEISA, 3 November 2008 (IRIN) - Hawa* is determined her young daughter will not undergo female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), which is widespread in Somalia's self-declared republic of Somaliland.

An estimated 90 percent of girls still undergo the procedure.

"I have suffered kidney problems, infections and miscarriages," said Hawa. "I dread the days when my period is close because of the pain I go through; it gets to the point where the pain makes it impossible to do anything. I don’t want my daughter subjected to this kind of life."

"Gudnin Fircooni", Pharaonic circumcision or infibulation, as practised in Somaliland, involves cutting off the external genitalia and sewing up the vagina, leaving a small hole for urine and menstrual blood.

The practice is not illegal but the government’s gender policy was to discourage FGM/C, said Kinsi Hussein, an activist and deputy head of the Network of Anti-FGM in Somaliland (NAFIS).

Hussein told IRIN several organisations were involved in the campaign against FGM/C in Somaliland.

"We are now trying to speak with one voice and have one message," she said.

Although there are no statistics on prevalence in Somalia, Hussein said FGM/C was primarily performed on girls between the ages of four and 11 and was regarded as “cleansing” a girl child in Somali culture.

"Some people still believe that a girl is not ready for marriage until she is cut," she said.

Awareness campaigns

Hussein said NAFIS was engaged in awareness campaigns targeting "not only the mothers and the girls but the men, particularly the young men of marriageable age. We want to tell these young men that circumcision does not enhance or add to a girl's value as a wife and a mother."

However, Hussein said progress has been slow, attributing this to resistance from mothers and fathers who believe their daughters would be unmarriageable if they were not circumcised.

"We have been using the policy of total eradication as our guiding principle but it does not seem to be working as well as we would like," Hussein said.

"Elders and religious leaders are supporting our efforts and it is making a difference," she said. "However, it is not enough and more needs to be done."

Men’s support

Involving men, particularly religious leaders, in the campaign to eradicate FGM/C had been effective. "Their involvement has removed some of the myths that somehow the practice has a religious significance," Hussein said.

Sheikh Abdirahman Ibrahim, a Muslim scholar, said FGM/C was in "total contradiction" to Islamic teaching.

"It is haram [prohibited] to cause physical or psychological damage to the human body; there is no question that this practice does that and more," he told IRIN.

He said Somalis should not be fooled into thinking the practice was condoned by Islam. "FGM has no basis in Islam."

Ibrahim said schools should also participate in the eradication of FGM.

"We should put FGM in the education curriculum in health and religious subjects," he said. "If people see it not only as a women's issue but as a health and religious issue, it would have a much bigger impact."

Ibrahim said that as a religious person he would never allow his own daughters to be circumcised.

Signs of progress

Hussein said that despite the slow pace in persuading people to reject FGM, activists were making progress.

"This is a practice that has been going on for a very long time and it will take time to end it," she said. "Some 30 years ago I thought it was a religious obligation, today I know it is not."

As a sign of improved awareness of its dangers, Hussein said, activists in Somaliland were using training centres for women and schools to spread the message.

She said they were taking their campaign to rural areas where the practice was more rooted. "We are now engaged in coordinated campaigns in rural areas."

Hawa said she was optimistic that when her daughter had a daughter of her own, FGM would be "thing of the past".

*Not her real name

ABU DHABI, (Qaran News-Nov 03, 2008)--One of the most philanthropic members of the Abu Dhabi Royal family has ordered urgent financial assistance for the victims of the recent triple suicide bombings that rocked the town of Hargeisa.

According to reliable sources that spoke to Awdalnews, the emergency assistance of U.S$ 150,000 was sent through the Al Ain National Wildlife under the instructions of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister.

Sheikh Hamdan had also previously sent two rigs to Hargeisa to help drill water wells for the Somali people in Hargeisa and its environs.

Like all the members of the Arab League the UAE doesn’t recognize the breakaway Hargeisa government of Somaliland, but it always sends humanitarian assistance to the people there.

At least 20 people died in attacks that targeted the presidential palace, government security posts, UN offices and an Ethiopian consular unit in Hargeisa.

Mohamed Ismail Mohamed, chairman of the Somaliland Election Commission, told a Saturday press conference in the separatist region's capital city Hargeisa that the series of suicide bombings impacted the voter-registration process that was already underway.

"The [Somaliland] Election Commission has postponed the voter-registration process for ten days," Mr. Mohamed said, while praising the successful completion of the process in regions like Awdal, the native region of Somaliland leader Dahir Riyale.

The Election Commission chairman sent condolences to the families of the deceased, while underlining that the terror attacks were "aimed at destroying the stability in Somaliland."

Meanwhile, security forces continue to have a heavy presence on Hargeisa streets with multiple checkpoints and have completely shut down the vital road that drives by the presidential palace, which was one of the suicide bombers' targets.

International organizations, like the EU, pay millions of dollars in grants to the Somaliland government to host democratic elections next year.

Somaliland, in Somalia's northwest, has its own government and has been relatively stable since the mid-1990s. The separatist enclave is scheduled to hold presidential elections in March 2009.

On 29/10 a deplorable act of inhumane atrocity was committed against the peace loving nation of Somaliland. It has been the first time in the history of the country such unprecedented suicide bombers struck in the country's soil. The attack was not merely a symbolic act on randomly selected places. It was meant to inflict maximum damage to innocent civilians. Twenty two people were killed and over thirty others injured when three coordinated suicide bombers hit three symbolic sites, the Presidential Palace, Ethiopian Embassy and the UNDP headquarters. As the debris flew in every direction in the aftermath of the powerful and horrific explosions, so now do speculations and explanations of the possible motives of the perpetrators fly around. Many see the bombings as a grim reminder of the common threat Somalilanders face. Some even went further to suggest that suicide bombers visited the city as if the aerial bombings and indiscriminate shelling we witnessed in the late eighties by the then military regime of Siad Barre was not enough. Surely it has come at a time when voter registration and identification was in full swing.

For the ordinary public an important question is not who was behind the bombings, because this is a matter for the country's national security agency to deal with, but most relevant question is what motives did these bombers have? What scores, if any, were they trying to settle? What political message, if they had one, were they trying to communicate? And above all why try to bring anarchy to a country that is at peace with its neighbours? These are the questions many are searching answers for. No one claimed responsibility. In the absence of any group to claim responsibility for these crimes, only those who put together this evil project and those who executed it can answer these questions. Whatever else they wanted to achieve, they surely have succeeded but in one thing: throwing the people of Somaliland together. Both in the public and in the political spheres Somalilanders felt the same abhorrence.

Spontaneous condolences for the victims and condemnation of this terrorist act poured in from the Diasporic Somaliland community. Inside the country, in Borama and Burao people took to the streets, showed their tribute to the victims of the senseless bombings, rallied behind their government - true patriotism in working. The President, Mr Dahir R. Kahin, as calm as always, addressed the nation to be vigilant. Opposition party leader, Mr. Mohamoud A. Mohamed and Mr. Faisal Ali Warabe showed their solidarity with the government. Somalilanders are mourning, but are resolute to stick together and to stick to their Islamic and democratic values is all but strengthened. Quick investigation led to locating the houses where those vicious perpetrators were architecting their bombs.

In search for answers Somalilanders, though, need to be very economical with wild speculations; particularly if such guessworks have immediate implications for the innocent refugees from neighbouring Somalia and Ethiopia who in their thousands found save sanctuary in this peaceful nation in an otherwise troubled region. In my view three explanations could be identified: There are those who think that the suicide bombers were ‘Islamic extremists'.

A second possible explanation is that the bombers were ‘Somali anarchists'.

A third explanation is that the bombers were ‘home-grown light-headed fanatics' who served either or both of the above two.

As for the first explanation, the point I want to make is to contest its validity. It seems to me we are forcing a false link between Islam and suicide bombings. In my view people who committed such act have had no Islamic agenda. In fact they could have Islamic agenda. To me it would be wrong to call them Islamic suicide bombers, because to call them so is not only to link the Islamic teachings with terrorism, but it also has further implications for all muslims - that every muslim is by definition potentially capable of committing such crimes. I do not think that this is what we mean when we call them islamists. To me these criminal butchers called their claim to Islam into question when they conspired against fellow muslims. And they ceased to be muslims soon as they implemented their vicious plans. The $100.000 question then is whether such people deserve Islamic burial (washing, clothing, and performing prayers on their bodies and souls)? This is a question of deeply moral implications which we cannot answer in any simplistic way. But we might answer it this way. To begin with, one can argue that the bombers did not adhere to the fundamental tenets and values of the Islamic religion. In this specific situation: the sanctity of human life. Killing innocent people, we all agree, is incompatible with the teachings of Islam, neither for that matter, the teaching of any other faith. Surely killing innocent people is not a short cut to heavens as many would suggest who either call themselves jihadists or are so called. Jihad, as one of the most misconceived conceptions in modern history of Islam, is not applicable here. Rather such cowardly act, I guess, is the highway to hellfire. So let us call spade a spade. They might have been (ex)muslims, but surely they did not die muslims. Neither could they have been Christians or Hindus for that matter. Eternal hellfire awaits them.

If the second explanation is true, and it does have all the hallmarks to be so, it would be helpful that would-be butchers take note of the fact that over the past 18 years or so Somaliland has succeeded to develop the political skill needed to deal with such situations. Somaliland has not been just fortunate to have escaped anarchy and insecurity. Rather it was the result of stringent security measures and relentless focus on the peace and stability. It has stood the test of time for the best part of the last two decades. And such cowardly action cannot shake its faith in peace maintenance, nation building and securing international recognition.

Whilst the Somaliland government is not fighting and should not fight the same war as Somalia's TFG, and it is not high time for it to get involved in the internal politics of that nation [Somalia], the majority of Somalilanders do not condone Ethiopian involvement in Somalia. At its best most of them see it as patronizing and at worst as an occupation. So whilst many Somalilanders do not think that Ethiopia is doing a benevolent job in Somalia and those who are fighting for a right cause should deal with their problem in their soil, the presence of a diplomatic and commercial Embassy in Hargeisa could in no way be seen in the same light as the occupying forces in Somalia. There are more Somalilanders in Ethiopia than vice versa. There are also historic commercial link and strategic political relations between the two countries which Somaliland should protect at all time for its own interest. Anarchists fail to see the complexity of such relation between the two nations. An important character of anarchist is that he is a two-dimensional demon: friend or foe. Somalilanders do not see their relations with Ethiopia this way.

If the attack was not the work of anarchist why was the UNDP headquarters targeted? What political motivation, other than senseless anarchism, would someone have to attack a humanitarian organisation? Let us put this in a little wider perspective. In the past few months there was a wave of assassinations, assassination attempts and kidnapping of staff, both local and expatriates, working for relief agencies in Somalia - organisations that feed and treat the most vulnerable. Similarly in Ethiopia charity organisations were targeted, as it also happened in Somaliland few years ago. Attacking relief missions is fighting inhumanitarian war for evil causes. Surely these people are anarchist and their message reads: don't feed them, don't feed us. Such desperation, far from Islamic teachings, is worrying.

As for the second explanation though, we have to be careful with drawing generalised conclusion; because ‘anarchists' are historically always in the minority. They know no borders. What they have in common is that they cannot stand stability, order, and peace. They link up with like-minded people, and this is if the third explanation is true, to destroy other people's dreams. The only generalisation we can make is to be vigilant at all times.

So what next? In my view for the best interest of the region it is now high time for the TFG, the ARS (both wings) or any other significant body in Somalia to start coming to terms with the political reality on the ground. They should, I think, quickly have to consider the recognition of Somaliland's sovereignty - two state solution, if you like. Only then can the problem of anarchist elements be uprooted from the region.

The authorities of Somaliland have said that people who carried out the suicide attacks in Hargeysa [the capital of Somaliland] were from Mogadishu.

Somaliland officials have said following further investigation, police had found that two of the suspects were young men from wartorn Mogadishu. [Passage omitted]

The situation of Hargeysa is calm with the exception of destruction that could be seen from the areas targeted in the attacks.

The government of Somaliland has called on the people not to harm the displaced people who fled the violence in Mogadishu following yesterday's attacks. [Passage omitted]

The National Election Commission (NEC) of Somaliland has begun its voter registration exercise in Sahil region for about two weeks now. Over 100 NEC registration out-posts and registration-teams, numbering 1,400 were deployed throughout Sahil's districts.

The registration teams are provided with an array of equipment and high-tech gear for registering the adult 'voting' population in Sahil who will cast their votes in the next general election and for all coming future elections.

Sahil is the first of Somaliland's six regions to complete this six-day exercise. Each NEC registration post is manned by a committee, comprising of the ministry of interior, national political parties and the NEC who document details of the person registering - in hardcopies forms.

The registration forms with a serial number are then digitally processed, by special IT staff amongst the registration teams, into computer format (NEC data bank), then process a digital picture and fingerprint scan of the person registering, who then, on the spot is issued with an ID and a voter-registration card. The two cards, display the person's serial number, picture, inked fingerprint plu signature and personal details.

Logistics

Initially, many of the registration teams faced untold logistic and technical problems with their equipment; consisting of generators, software & laptops, digital cameras/fingerprint scanners, wireless networks. Missing power leads or high-tech peripherals was chief among these.

In addition, some of the teams, whose posts were over 200km distance from main towns or roads, experienced mechanical problems with their vehicles and arrived late while some even got lost, unable to reach their posts.

The NEC and government on the fourth day, decided to add an extra day to the original five-day timetable fixed for the registration process to compensate for the first and second day's lost due to the mentioned, logistic and technical difficulties.

Unfortunately, on the morning of the last day, NEC laptops throughout Sahil region failed to recognise the passwords' needed to access the NEC registration-software and data bank. It turned out, that the passwords had been preconfigured to function for only five consecutive days, the original five-day fixed timetable.

The contracting company, who supplied the laptops, quickly dispatched next day the necessary administration password's needed to gain access to the laptops' registration software.

NEC impressed

Nonetheless, the NEC said at the end of the six-day registration exercise that despite the initial difficulties, the whole event went well, with over 60,000 old people in Sahil region registered and issued with voter registration cards.

The NEC said the registration exercise, will ensure to limit voting fraud or irregularities in all future general elections. Since, voters in the coming general elections will not be able to cast their votes without producing these ID and voter-registration cards.

Definitely, the use of fingerprint recognition devices being used in this registration exercises will make fraudulent practices on Election Day virtually, impossible. Furthermore, the NEC voter registration data bank will also verify the authenticity of the issued ID and voter registration cards on Election Day.

Awdal region was next to begin its NEC voter-registration exercise, which began last Sunday. Hargeysa region is next on the list. Buroa region will follow then Sanag and Sool regions.

This is the first exercise of its kind to be conducted in Somaliland or in the former republic of Somalia.

Undoubtedly, an awesome and envious task for any African country to achieve let alone, in a country that has no whatsoever formal or international status.

The series of homicide bombings in Somalia Wednesday "were probably the work of a local group that was likely facilitated by Al Qaeda," a U.S. intelligence official told FOX News Thursday.

The official described the attacks as a fairly sophisticated and complex event which has all the attributes of an Al Qaeda attack. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet.

The wave of homicide bombings killed more than 20 people in northern Somalia, striking just as international leaders held talks on ending decades of deadly turmoil in this chaotic African nation.

The five seemingly coordinated attacks targeted a U.N. compound, the Ethiopian consulate and the presidential palace in Somaliland's capital, Hargeisa. All occurred in the breakaway republic of Somaliland and in Somalia's Puntland region — both of which have largely been spared the deadly violence seen in the country's south.

"It was a horrendous scene," said Ismail Mohamed, a 22-year-old Hargeisa resident who saw bloodied victims screaming and begging for help after the blast at the palace. "It is a woeful day."

"(They) certainly bear some of the markings of an Al Qaeda attack," said Jendayi Frazer, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs. She spoke in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, where the international talks on Somalia were being held.

At Least 20 Dead in Northern Somalia Homicide Bombings In the past Islamist rebels with alleged ties to Al Qaeda have launched such strikes to coincide with international efforts to end the turmoil in this impoverished Horn of Africa nation.

Somaliland President Dahir Riyale Kahin's secretary died in the blast at the palace, but the president was not hurt, Adani said. Kahin said in a radio broadcast it was too early to tell who was behind the attacks.

Homicide bombers also attacked two intelligence facilities in the northern port city of Bossaso in Puntland. The two bombers and a security official died in the attack, said Muse Gelle Yusuf, the governor in Bossaso.

Islamic militants have waged an Iraq-style insurgency against Somali government troops and their Ethiopian allies for almost two years. The nearly daily mortar attacks and gunbattles have killed thousands of Somali civilians in the capital, deaths that all sides blame on each other.

Somalia's north has tried to sever ties with the chaotic south, which includes the beleaguered capital, Mogadishu. Puntland has a semiautonomous administration, and Somaliland has long sought international recognition as being its own nation, separate from Somalia.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somali authorities have arrested an elderly Islamic cleric suspected of involvement in a wave of suicide attacks that killed more than 20 people, an official said Thursday.

Sheik Mohamed Ismail was arrested in connection with five apparently coordinated attacks Wednesday in the breakaway republic of Somaliland and in Somalia's Puntland region, said Muse Gelle Yusuf, a governor in Puntland.

He said several other people were being sought in connection with the attacks in the two areas, which have largely been spared the deadly violence of the country's south.

Ismail, believed to be in his 80s, was arrested Wednesday, Yusuf said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blasts, but the U.S. says they had the signature of al-Qaida.

The attacks targeted a U.N. compound, the Ethiopian consulate and the presidential palace in Somaliland's capital, Hargeisa. Two intelligence facilities were hit in Puntland.

Islamic militants have waged an insurgency against Somali government troops and their Ethiopian allies for almost two years. The near-daily mortar attacks and gunbattles have killed thousands of Somali civilians in the capital, deaths that all sides blame on each other.

Somalia's north has tried to sever ties with the chaotic south, which includes the beleaguered capital, Mogadishu. Puntland has a semiautonomous administration, and Somaliland has long sought international recognition as being its own nation, separate from Somalia.

Mark Bowden, the U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, confirmed the death of two U.N. staffers — a security officer and a driver — in the attack on the U.N. compound. Six other U.N. staffers were injured, two of whom evacuated to Djibouti for immediate medical attention.

"Right now, our immediate concern is for the well-being and support of the families of the victims and staff members who have survived this trauma," he said. "Given the extremely violent and targeted nature of the attack, many are severely shaken and mourning the loss of their colleagues."

So far this year, eight United Nations and 24 aid workers have been killed in Somalia, Bowden said in a statement.

Sheikh Mohamed Ismail was arrested in a raid of his home outside the port city of Bosasso, the de facto capital of Puntland's Bari administrative region.

His arrest was part of an ongoing investigation of five synchronized suicide car bombings Wednesday in the autonomous Puntland and Somaliland regions, the BBC reported.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but U.S. officials said they believed the car bombings were carried out by militants linked to and trained by al-Qaida.

These were the first suicide attacks in the two relatively stable regions, the BBC reported.

Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia whose leaders declared autonomy from Somalia in 1998. Unlike neighboring Somaliland, it does not seek outright independence.

Most of the casualties were in Hargeisa, where the presidential palace, Ethiopian consulate and UN offices were targeted.

Hargeisa is the largest city in Somaliland and the second largest city in Somalia after Mogadishu, the nation's capital. Foreign workers in Hargeisa are being evacuated, the BBC said.

Mogadishu - The spokesman of Ahlusunna Waljamea Religious group Sheikh Abduqadir " Somow" has strongly condemned the suicide attack which targeted Puntland and Somaliland states.

He expressed his 'most profound condemnation' of the attack which killed and wounded a large number of people.

He described the suicide attack as destabilizing of peace towns in Somalia. In this respect the Spokesman stood against these attacks.

Sheikh Somow also expressed his deep sympathy and sincere condolences to the Somali people and more particularly to the families of the victims who lost their lives as a result of this attack, and to the wounded for whom he wished a prompt recovery.

Five suicide car bombs ripped through key targets Wednesday in northern Somalia, including UN offices and a presidential palace, killing 19 people and the five bombers, officials said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in Somaliland and Puntland, which rattled a regional heads of state summit in Nairobi aimed at speeding up peace efforts in the southern and central parts of Somalia.

Officials of Somaliland republic have announced that the suicide bombers hit in several targets in Somaliland and Puntland came from Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

The officials say that following investigation regarding the twin suicide attacks they found out that the perpetrators carried out the attacks came from Mogadishu those came in Hargeisa for plans of those attacks.

Elsewhere Hawiye elders have urged Somaliland administration to avoid menacing of the southerner Somalis for those attacks.

Five suicide car bombs ripped through key targets Wednesday in northern Somalia, including UN offices and a presidential palace, killing 19 people and the five bombers, officials said.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in Somaliland and Puntland, which rattled a regional heads of state summit in Nairobi aimed at speeding up peace efforts in the southern and central parts of Somalia. Mareeg

New York - The UN Security Council condemned 'in the strongest terms' on Thursday the wave of bomb attacks in Somalia that killed at least 26 people, including two staff members of the UN Development Programme.

The two staff members were Somalis who worked for the UN for years. The attacks took place Wednesday in the breakaway Somaliland and Puntland regions.

The UNDP and a Somali government office were hit by the bombs. UNDP said that six other staff were wounded, and two of them were flown to Djibouti and the rest to Nairobi for immediate medical treatment.

The council called for bringing all attackers before justice and offered condolences to families of the victims.

HARGEISA, 30 October 2008 (IRIN) - As security forces investigate the three suicide car-bombs that went off on 29 October targeting a UN compound, the presidential residence and Ethiopian embassy in Hargeisa, capital of the self-declared republic of Somaliland, Jamal Abdi, 22, a local journalist, spoke to IRIN from hospital about the experience:

"Along with other journalists, I had just left the headquarters of UDUB [the Somaliland ruling party], when the first explosion hit the UN compound. As we tried to find out what was happening, a car being driven at very high speed forced its way into the Ethiopian embassy compound and exploded.

"All of a sudden, I was on the ground and everything became dark. I was hit by flying debris and the first thing I remember is my right leg bleeding. But before I could even get up, the third explosion went off in the presidential compound, 20m away.

"By then, I could hardly hear anything, I was in a daze. One of my colleagues was badly hurt, so we were all taken to the hospital.

"Yesterday [29 October] was a dark day for Hargeisa. This is something we have never seen. We hear it on the news but you never expect it to happen to you.

"There's real panic and confusion in town. Everyone is talking about it and wondering what next.

"I am one of the lucky ones. I am still in one piece and my family knows where I am. There are people still buried under the debris and many more with horrific injuries in hospital.

"At the hospital where I am, hundreds of people are looking for relatives they cannot trace. Some find their relatives and you hear the cries of joy but many others go home not knowing what happened to their loved ones.

"The population is really scared and is looking for people to blame. I am afraid they may target the southerners who have sought refuge in Somaliland. That would be tragic."

Part-time student Isahaq Hashi, 22, tells the BBC News website what he witnessed in the Somaliland capital, Hargeisa, after three car-bombs went off in a wave of coordinated attacks.

I was sitting at my desk in my office when I heard a high sound. I didn't know what it was but all I knew is that my office was shaking.

I had never heard such a thing. I just thought it was something in our work building.

"We saw smoke. A lot of smoke and all blowing from the president's palace", Hargeisa resident Isahaq Hashi

Time didn't seem to pass.

Then there was another one but this time it was louder and closer. The first one was quite far away and we didn't know what was going on but when the next one went off, my four colleagues and I left our office. We knew something was not normal.

We saw smoke. A lot of smoke and all blowing from the president's palace.

One of my colleagues, who is much older than the rest of us, said it smelt like a bomb and he was saying that he thought it had been a bomb because he said he knew the sound. He was alive in the days before, when Somaliland was troubled.

Then many, many people were running towards us and past our office.

I didn't follow but I stopped some of them to ask what was happening. Some of them told me they had seen everything and had been standing close to the area and it was too bad. They said they had seen the bombs go off after people attacked the presidential palace using cars as bombs.

I ran to the Hargeisa General Hospital.

There was a mother at the hospital saying: 'My little baby' over and over again.

She had been at home but said a friend had seen her son near the place where the bombings happened. She was told that her son had been one of the victims. She no longer had shoes because she had run so fast to get to the hospital she lost them on the way.

She was crying and crying.

I don't know if she found her son.

The people at the hospital were very sad at what happened and many were crying too.

The ambulance was going back and back and back and back - getting the dead people and the injured.

I am feeling so sad for the people of Hargeisa.

It is a terrible day.

HARGEYSA, Somalia: Thousands of security forces were deployed on Thursday across Hargeysa, the capital of the breakaway statelet of Somaliland, a day after deadly suicide car bombings, police said.

"We are still conducting investigations and many of our security forces are deployed in Hargeysa to check all moving vehicles," police officer Ahmed Hashi told AFP.

"There are thousands of police and military criss-crossing the town. Checkpoints were set up everywhere and they are checking vehicles," local resident Barqad Ali said.

On Wednesday, five near-simultaneous and apparently coordinated suicide attacks struck high-profile targets in Hargeysa and in Bosasso, the economic capital of the neighbouring breakaway region of Puntland.

In Hargeysa, the bombs targeted the presidential palace, the United Nations Development Programme's compound and Ethiopia's diplomatic representation, killing 19 people on the spot.

According to medical sources, one of the injured died overnight, bringing to 20 the number of victims, in addition to the three bombers. At least 30 people are still hospitalised.

In Puntland, the two suicide bombers also died, but no other deaths were reported in the attacks on two anti-terrorism centres. The authorities said six members of the intelligence service were wounded in the bombings.

The president of Somalia's semiautonomous state of Puntland, Gen. Adde Muse, has reportedly authorized government officials to "prepare" security forces for an upcoming war with Somaliland, a neighboring region that aspires for independence.

Sources privy to the plan confidentially told Garowe Online that Puntland government officials have been holding secret meetings in the Gulf of Aden port of Bossaso.

Officials decided to establish several committees as part of preparations for the war, including a fund-raising committee.

Somaliland, which unilaterally declared independence in 1991, claims legal ownership of Sool and Sanaag regions under defunct colonial-era boundaries.

In October 2007, Somaliland troops captured the Sool provincial capital of Las Anod after a bitter battle with Puntland security forces.

Puntland leader Gen. Muse has rejected political pressure to retake Las Anod by military force since.

It is not clear why the Puntland government wants to wage war against Somaliland now, especially with the region's presidential elections slated for January.

On Tuesday, two Puntland presidential candidates jointly issued a press statement in the capital Garowe calling for the establishment of a nonpartisan election commission.

The candidates - Mr. Mohamed Abdi Nur and ex-Fisheries Minister Ahmed Said O'Nur - called for the Puntland government to establish a security force to oversee the elections.

Earlier this month, Puntland opposition leader Abdirahman Farole appealed for the establishment of an independent election commission and warned the Muse administration against efforts to "delay the elections" by waging war on Somaliland.

The lawless Horn of Africa country has had no effective government since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 and then turned on each other.

Here are some details about the strife.

* AN ELUSIVE PEACE:

-- An agreement was signed at the weekend between the government and the more moderate but exiled Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) to ensure the exit of Ethiopian troops, which helped Somali government forces push Islamists out of Mogadishu. However, the hardline Islamist al Shabaab faction, which launches attacks on government positions almost every day, said it would not respect the deal until all Ethiopian troops had left the country.

-- Violence in Somalia has killed about 10,000 people since the beginning of 2007 and uprooted 1 million. Nearly half the population, or 3.25 million people, now need emergency aid, which is a 77 percent increase since the beginning of 2008.

-- The African Union has said it is incapable of stabilising Somalia through its mission in Somalia, AMISOM, and urged the United Nations to take over the force. The AU wanted an 8,000 strong force, but only has about 3,000 from Uganda and Burundi.

* ROAD TO CHAOS:

-- In June 2006, Islamist militia from the Somalia Islamic Courts Council seized Mogadishu after defeating U.S.-backed warlords. Washington accused the Islamists of al Qaeda links.

-- With tacit U.S. approval, Somalia's neighbour Ethiopia sent troops to defend the government against an Islamist attack on Baidoa in December 2006. The force advanced rapidly, taking Mogadishu and driving the Islamists to Somalia's southern tip.

-- Lawmakers had elected warlord Abdullahi Yusuf president and Ali Mohamed Gedi prime minister to run the 14th attempt at government since the fall of Barre. They entered the capital after the fall of the Islamists.

-- Gedi resigned in October 2007 and was succeeded by Nur Hassan Hussein as prime minister, but a rift has also opened between Yusuf and Hussein.

-- Hardline opponents of the Western-backed government have vowed never to countenance a deal until Addis Ababa withdraws its soldiers.

NAIROBI, Kenya — Five suicide blasts rocked government and international targets in northern Somalia on Wednesday, killing at least 31 people, according to international security officials, in the most highly coordinated terrorist strike in years in the troubled East African nation.

Although no group immediately claimed responsibility, the strike had the markings of an al Qaida attack because of its timing and organization, Jendayi Frazer, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, said in Nairobi, where regional leaders were holding meetings on Somalia's long-running political crisis.

The midmorning blasts occurred within an hour in the semi-autonomous northern regions of Somaliland and Puntland, which are separated from the Arabian Peninsula by the Gulf of Aden.

Until now, the regions had been spared the high levels of violence that have engulfed the southern capital, Mogadishu, where an increasingly formidable Islamist insurgency has been raging for nearly two years. Security experts said the attacks appeared timed to disrupt the regional meeting in Nairobi aimed at jump-starting a peace process for Somalia, which hasn't had a functioning government since 1991.

The insurgency is led by a militant group known as al Shabaab, which the State Department has designated a terrorist organization and which has claimed ties with al Qaida. The group has boycotted the peace talks, and its leaders have said they won't respect a cease-fire that was signed over the weekend until all troops from neighboring Ethiopia, which invaded Somalia nearly two years ago with U.S. intelligence support to oust a hard-line Islamist regime, leave the country.

The worst damage Wednesday occurred in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, where car bombs struck the presidential residence, a United Nations compound and the Ethiopian Embassy. Fourteen people were killed at the presidential compound, U.N. officials said, and a total of 16 at the U.N. compound and the embassy. A Hargeisa resident, Roda Isak, said that she saw blood all over the entrance to the palace, "like water."

"There are a lot of injured people in the hospital," Isak said by telephone. "Very serious injuries, blood everywhere, like you cannot recognize people's faces."

In Bossasso, the capital of neighboring Puntland, two cars loaded with explosives drove into separate compounds that house the Puntland intelligence service shortly after 10 a.m., according to Abdallah Rashid Abdalla, a teacher who also spoke by phone. Thirteen people were injured in the attacks and one was killed, a woman who worked as a cook for the intelligence service, Abdalla said.

The attacks underscored the huge obstacles that the peace process faces.

A U.N.-backed transitional government was formed nearly five years ago to restore order to Somalia, but it's split apart because of corruption, infighting and clan divisions. With less than a year left in its mandate, its leaders have lost control of nearly all the country to militant groups such as al Shabaab, which have begun targeting African Union peacekeepers and humanitarian workers.

The lawlessness extends to the waters off Somalia, where pirates in speedboats have earned world headlines this year by capturing dozens of vessels and securing millions of dollars in ransom payments.

Frazer rejected charges that U.S. policy in Somalia — which has included backing the Ethiopian invasion and launching several airstrikes on reported terrorist targets since last year, some of which reportedly have killed civilians — has contributed to the chaos. She noted that the Bush administration has provided $237 million in humanitarian aid this year and long has called for the Somali government to reach out to moderate Islamist leaders.

"The Somali leadership must come together to better govern their country, and to govern it in an inclusive fashion," Frazer said. "That's not a factor of U.S. policy."

Frazer hailed the cease-fire between the Somali government and a leading opposition group composed of some moderate members of the former Islamist regime, which also calls for a 10,000-strong Somali police force to be established to provide security. Experts said that militants were unlikely to observe the agreement, however.

"The hard-core al Shabaab are not on board," said Richard Barno, a Somalia analyst with the Institute for Security Studies, a South Africa-based research center. "As long as hard-core al Shabaab are not on board, they're still going to cause problems. There's still going to be violence."

Hargeisa, 1,500km north of Mogadishu, is home to thousands of displaced people from south-central Somalia. Sophie, 27, came to the city with her husband and three children, aged between 18 months and eight years, but her 10-year-old son was lost on the journey. She and other IDP women were robbed and raped. She spoke about her plight to IRIN on 21 October:

"We used to live in Manapolio [north Mogadishu]. The area suffered occasional bombardment but it was not as bad as most places in Mogadishu. In the past two to three months, things took a turn for the worse. We were becoming a battleground. It seemed there was not a day without fighting.

"We had a shop which was run by my husband and I had a stall in the market. We were not rich but we had enough to feed our family.

"The area got to the point where no one was safe and looting and rape became normal. Many houses were destroyed. One night, our neighbour's house was totally destroyed and no one survived. In the blink of an eye the entire family was dead.

"Our house was partially destroyed but we escaped unhurt. That morning we decided to leave with other families and take our children to some place safe.

"We had heard that many people were going north and had found peace and security there, so we also decided to go there.

"The journey was long; it took more than nine days. I lost my boy and we were robbed of everything we had.

"The second time they [bandits] took us away from the main road and into the bush. They told the men to lie down and then took the women they thought looked good and young and raped us; five other women and myself.

"Our husbands heard our cries but could do nothing. They were being held at gunpoint. It was the only time I wished I had never left Mogadishu.

"By the time we reached Hargeisa we had nothing. The people here [in Hargeisa] have been very kind. In the camp the residents let us share their dwellings.

“Since the incident [rape] my husband has not been the same. I am still searching for my boy and hope to find him. It is very hard but what can I do? I have to continue for the sake of the other children. It is the only thing that is keeping me going and makes me forget, at least for a while, what I went through.

"In Hargeisa I am not worried about bombs and killings and someone coming into my house to hurt me or my family. We have peace and security - something we did not have in Mogadishu. I thank God for that despite all my problems."

The victim, identified as Hamda Ahmed Abdi, died at the scene in Borama, capital of Awdal region.

Our correspondent reported that another girl, who was unidentified, was also wounded.

Police reinforcements led by Borama police chief Muse Abdullahi Hanfi rushed to the scene, but the commander was injured in a car accident on his way to the location and was being treated at a local hospital.

It is not clear why the crowd became violent and local police officials have refused to comment on the matter, but it is the first incident of violence since the voter-registration process kicked off in Somaliland earlier this month.

In Sool region, which is under Somaliland control, the region's influential traditional elders issued a warning to Somaliland's separatist rulers.

Speaking in Garowe, capital of rival sub-state Puntland, the Sool clan elders led by Garad Saleban Garad Mohamed warned Somaliland officials not to bring the voter-registration process to Las Anod, capital of Sool region.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized internationally, although the region enjoys relative stability and has a functioning administration.

The breakaway region is slated to hold presidential elections in March 2009 with three political parties competing in the elections.

UNICEF Representative for Somalia Christian Balslev-Olesen welcomed the presidential decree and the initiatives taken by the Somaliland authorities, saying the action would lead to a fair legal system.

"These actions will ensure a fair justice legal system for children and build greater awareness of child rights and the need for children to be protected when they come in contact with the law," Balslev-Olesen said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

The Juvenile Justice Law has introduced well founded provisions to protect the rights of children in legal proceedings.

These include an increase in the age of criminal responsibility to 15 years and the stipulation that imprisonment of children should be as a measure of last resort for the shortest possible period.

Under a presidential decree pardon, announced to commemorate Eid Al Fitr, the children were released on Tuesday into the care of their communities. Many had been imprisoned on charges such as truancy, vagrancy or Asi Al-Walidain (disobedience to parents).

According to UNICEF, before their release, the children were evaluated and given two days of individual counseling and psycho social support.

"Upon release, services to reintegrate the children were immediately provided by the Justice for Children Project, a joint program between UNICEF and the UNDP Rule of Law and Security (ROLS) Program," the statement said.

UNDP's ROLS Program Manager Alejandro said implementation of the ROLS Justice for Children Project had helped to strengthen the judiciary, law enforcement and human rights in Somaliland.

"The new Juvenile Justice Law takes precedence over all other laws relating to children in conflict with the law and we expect its provisions -- such as community mechanisms to address juvenile misbehavior -- to be used more frequently to prevent the imprisonment of children," he said.

UNICEF said the children were provided with clothing, food allowances and transport back to their communities. Those without parents will be further supported to enroll in vocational programs.

Other activities will include the mobilization of communities to create protective environments to which the children can return: where they are not stigmatized but supported to become responsible and productive citizens.

Community child protection committees will also support education of children through enrollment in formal and non-formal education programs for children who have come into contact with the law.

Hargeysa, Somaliland - A company of Norwegian oil executives from Asante Oil in Norway began an official 5 day Somaliland visit last Wednesday (20 Aug) after they flew into Hargeysa's Egal international airport and were met by the Director General of the ministry of Water and Minerals (MW & M), Mr Ahmed Ibrahim Sultan and other ministry officials.

Speaking to reporters in airport VIP lounge, Mr Sultan briefly explained that the Norwegian delegation have come to finalise a work program with the ministry and complete outstanding details in the oil exploration agreement which the Norwegians signed last May'08 with the ministry.

Asante Oil has been licensed by the ministry to explore and extract natural gas/oil resources in blocks SL13 and SL14.

The Norwegian delegation comprised of Mr. Jarand Rystad (delegation head), Mr. Christian Eidem, Mr. Tor B. Lund and Mr. Muhamad I.Hassan, head of Asante Oil office in Somaliland.

The head of the Norwegian delegation, Mr. Rystad explained to reporters on Thursday (21 Aug), in a joint press conference held with the MW & M at Maansoor Hotel in Hargeysa, that Asante Oil is on its final leg in preparations to start its drilling operations by 2009, once the acquisition of the seismic data taken by TGS-Nopec is finalised by end of 2008.

Asante Oil executives gave a brief description of the company's history, exploration plans, drilling program and highlighted costs already spent on their S/land acquisition amounting to millions of dollars.

The Norwegians said that their exploration agreement with the ministry did not involve any payments of signature bonus fees partly because this was covered by the company which part-funded the TGS-Nopec 2D seismic [offshore/onshore] survey carried throughout S/land during 2007/8.

Furthermore, in place of bonus fees, Asante Oil has guaranteed to carry out a social development programmes in connection with the agreement in which Asante Oil will provide one water-borehole rig and it's maintenance for the people living in SL13/14 regions and at same time provide vocational training in oil industry job related employment for locals.

The minister of Somaliland's MW & M, Mr Qassim Sheekh Yusuf revealed during Thursday's Maansoor Hotel joint-press conference that the 'Production Sharing Contract' agreement made with Asante Oil will go before the council of ministers and the country's parliament for final approval in the coming months.

The only other companies to have been licensed by the MW & M who own oil/gas exploration and extraction acreage in Somaliland are the Perth based Ophir Energy, a subsidiary of South Africa's mighty conglomerate 'Mvelaphanda Holdings' and Britain's Prime Resources Ltd.

Along with Asante Oil, Ophir Energy and Prime Resources part-funded too last year's TGS-Nopec's 2D seismic survey carried out in Somaliland's offshore/onshore. Both, companies are expected to begin drilling in 2009, according to MW & M.

Moreover, unconfirmed sources close to the ministry in Hargeysa disclosed that Ophir Energy, already, has recruited an Australian drilling 'project manager' who'd worked extensively in African oil exploration - to deliver its 2009 seismic and drilling program for its acreage in Somaliland. And said Ophir will probably begin its drilling operations 3-4 months ahead of Asante Oil and Prime Resources start their drilling operations in Somaliland next year.

The source, who asked not to be quoted, said Asante Oil, Ophir Energy and Prime Resources will definitely all be conducting their drilling programs by the coming year and much of this depends on how well and smooth the coming presidential elections in March 2009 turn out in Somaliland.

Asante Oil is made up of Mr. Christian Eidem, chairman and founder is the Norwegian professional footballer Christian Eidem who owns 11% of the equity, while another football personality, Kjetil Siem, is also an investor in it. Siem is a former sports journalist on Norwegian television who has now become an Internet businessman. He had managed the Norwegian club Valegenra until he moved to South Africa last year, taking up the post of CEO of the local Premier Soccer League (PSL) on a three year contract.

Jarand Rystad, is chairman of the board of the Oslo based investment fund Zoncolan SA, owns 17% of the Asante Oil capital. Another Asante Oil shareholder is its founder-shareholder Tor Lund, also a London based Norwegian and former head of Statoil Hydro's Libyan activity and who has also worked in Angola and the Middle East. However, Asante's leading shareholder, with 40% of the equity, is the fishing magnate Kjell Inge Rokke, the owner of the Aker conglomerate. Dyslexic and considered useless by his teachers when he was at school, Rokke went to make his fortune in the United States (Seattle) by trading in fish. He subsequently went back to Norway where he now owns a yacht and a private Boeing.[1]

Picture: Asante Oil chairman, Christian Eidem presents soccer kit and trophies to Somaliland minister of Sports, Mr M Saeed (2nd L) with Qassim Sheekh, minister of Water & Minerals (L) and Mr. M I Hassan, Asante Oil country rep (R), 21/08/2008. (Courtesy of Harowo.com)

References

[1], Africa Energy Intelligence, June, 2008

HARGEISA, SOMALILAND- Voter registrations have started in Somaliland in preparation for the upcoming general elections expected to take place at the end of march 2009. On Tuesday this week registrations of the voters started in the first region in Somaliland in the region of Sahil The voter registration in the region started after three months of planning in which people of all walks of life from Sahil region took part including the vice president of the republic Somaliland, Ahmed Yousuf Yasin, who led in the registration by being the first to register. While registering VP Ahmed Yousuf Yasin encouraged the population to register and be documented and become part of the nation's historical legacy.

He also told the youth who are aspiring to immigrate to the developed countries that it is necessary to be a registered citizen, and enjoy the right to vote after registration.

VP Ahmed Yousuf Yasin also the people to register and differentiate themselves from their brothers in Somalia who are still suffering from lack of peace and stability.

The speaker of the Somaliland's elected parliament Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi too registered who has blood ties to the Sahil region and his affiliation with the Opposition party, UCID party. He stated that all the politicians, opposition and government, business people, youth, women and every else who reach the age of 16 should register him or herself and be proud to be registered for the first time in the nation's history.

The people from Sahil region became emotional and avidly followed the process of registration, since they are the first region to be part of the registration process. When asked some did not get enough information on why people needed to be registered and had told SSI that they had initially thought that registration was not required to go and vote on election day.

Also present at the launch of the registration include invited guests from all the three political parties, representative from the lower and upper houses of parliament, international observers and local NGO's who were following the registration process. The chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Mohamed Ismail Kaboweine, in an exclusive interview with SSI said: "the work is going on in a proper manner as it was planned and once registration is concluded in the Sahil region registration of voters in other regions will start.

The reasoned that the Sahil region was chosen to be the first to test voter registration because of the fact that it is the smallest region and has a smaller population in relation to the other regions. international observers and diplomats within the African diplomatic core mentioned at the occasion that documented Somaliland nations would get a better chance for consideration while applying for visas from Western embassies as previously problems were faced while trying to classify Somalis from Somalia and Somaliland and as a result Somaliland nationals would be refused visas because of the ensuing confusion.

The Oromo man, named Muhammad Ahmad, went missing from the Somaliland capital of Hargeysa on 15 October.

Saleban Ismail Bulale, director of a local human rights organization, Horn Watch, told Garowe Online that Mr. Ahmad's relatives contacted him about the missing man.

He indicated that Horn Watch investigated the matter and discovered that Mr. Ahmad was in the custody of Somaliland authorities, and did not formally charge him with a crime. "They [authorities] refused to discuss the matter with us," Mr. Bulale said, while condemning the Somaliland administration for extraditing a civilian over to the Ethiopian government, where he could be tortured.

The Oromo people are an ethnic group in Ethiopia, some of whom have been fighting against Addis Ababa for self-determination rights for their home region for decades.

In recent years, Somaliland authorities have been accused of extraditing ethnic Somalis whom Addis Ababa suspects are supporters of the Ogaden insurgency in eastern Ethiopia.

Somaliland officials did not respond to our inquiries for comment.

HARGEISA, 22 Oct. Conflict, drought and economic hardships have led to an unprecedented increase in the number of street children in Hargeisa, capital of Somalia's self-declared independent republic of Somaliland, with government and aid agencies calling for urgent steps to stem the increase.

"Many of children on the streets of Hargeisa are from Mogadishu and other parts of south-central Somalia," Sahardid Mohamed Osman, child protection and advocacy officer for Comprehensive Community-based Rehabilitation Services (CCBRS), a local NGO, told IRIN.

Saleebaan Ismail Bulale, chairman of Hornwatch, a local human rights group, estimated there were 3,000-5,000 children on the streets of Hargeisa.

"There are no exact figures but that is our estimate and numbers seem to be increasing," Bulale told IRIN on 21 October.

Osman said the children fell into three categories; those who work to help their families and go home at night; those who sleep on the streets; and, those who move from town to town.

The reasons for the children being on the street vary, Osman added. Many of those from south-central Somalia were separated from their families on their way to Somaliland, while others end up on the streets due to poverty and violence at home, he said.

Shoe-shining and car-washing are the jobs of choice for most of the street boys in Hargeisa, while the girls mostly clean or sweep business premises or clean people's homes. Most beg, Osman said.

While on the streets, many children often suffer abuse, violence and particularly sexual abuse. "Many of those... that sleep on street corners have been victims of sexual violence," Osman said. "On the street at night they are easy prey with no one to protect them."

Risks

Many have been infected with "all sort of diseases, including HIV/AIDS and they don't even know what that is," he added.

He said many of the street children had taken to tying a sack over the lower part of their bodies when sleeping at night. "It is an attempt to protect themselves."

Nasir Ahmed, 12, survives by washing cars. On average, he takes home 40,000 Somaliland shillings (about US$6.50) per day.

"What I make from washing cars is what my mother and sisters and I eat," he told IRIN.

Ahmed's father died in 2007, when the responsibility of caring for the family fell on him.

"My mother used to sell vegetables in the market but she was not making enough so I told her `I will do the work. You stay at home and take care of the girls'," he said.

There are no agencies that deal with street children and provide aid to them, said Osman.

Osman's agency, which is supported by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) among other agencies, is part of a child protection network in Somaliland. "Unfortunately we cannot provide material support but we provide psychological support, advocacy as well as community mobilisation," Osman said.

More support needed

He said a lot more was needed to help the children.

"To know the scale of the problem, we need to have reliable figures and to do that a serious assessment needs to be done," Osman said.

According to Denise Shepherd-Johnson, the chief of communication for UNICEF-Somalia, the agency has funded and provided technical support to CCBRS's interventions in child protection since 2005.

She said UNICEF and CCBRS identify vulnerable communities and then - through an extensive process of mobilisation using trained child protection advocates - help communities put in place systems that better protect their children.

These systems range from ensuring the poorest and most vulnerable children have access to schooling and health services, that girls fetching water are protected from harassment and sexual violence, that families whose children are more susceptible to living on the streets are supported to keep their families together, or that disabled children are referred to special schools and support," Shepherd-Johnson said.

New law

Ahmed Ali Asowe, Somaliland's minister of justice, told IRIN the government enacted a Juvenile Justice Law in March, aimed at guaranteeing children's rights.

This means that children will no longer be tried in adult courts as was the case in past, Asowe said.

The Somaliland government currently runs an orphanage that caters for about 400 children.

"Our capacity to help all the children on the streets is limited and unfortunately we are not getting any assistance from the international agencies," Asowe said.

[Ahmad] The Somaliland administration has warned foreigners who are in the region against illegal registration or engaging in things that are contrary to Somaliland's laws regarding elections. Reports indicate that there has been double registration for the voter card and the national identity cards in areas where voter registration exercise has began. Somaliland's Internal Affairs Minister, Abdullahi Ismail Iro, who held a press conference in his office in Hargeysa yesterday issued a warning to those he termed foreigners and are not eligible to vote. The minister warned foreigners registering to vote and nationals engaged in fraudulent registrations that they risk imprisonment and paying of fines if they violate Somaliland's laws.

An estimated 4,370 families, or some 26,200 people, from southern Somalia live in Somaliland

HARGEISA, 16 October 2008 (IRIN) - More than 26,000 people displaced from southern Somalia to Somaliland are not receiving adequate assistance because officials in the region, which regards itself as an independent country, give priority to those displaced within Somaliland.

"We have a different definition of IDPs [internally displaced persons] compared with the international community because the international community regards the displaced from southern Somalia as IDPs but we regard them as refugees," Ali Ibrahim, Somaliland's minister for planning and national coordination, told IRIN.

By definition, a refugee has to have crossed an international border.

There are estimated to be 4,370 families, or some 26,200 people, from southern Somalia living in Somaliland. Since Somaliland's independence is unrecognised internationally, UN agencies and NGOs classify these people as IDPs and therefore the responsibility of the Somaliland government.

Zainab Mohamoud, who chairs Gashan Women's Organization, which works solely with those displaced from southern Somalia, said these families were often without support, apart from the occasional food distribution by the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

We are now exploring ways of recognising all the people who live in the temporary centres throughout the country as IDPs.

"These families also face legal problems and often have run-ins with the police and ordinary citizens. We try to help them by providing protection," Mohamoud said.

"Somaliland IDPs receive a piece of land from the authorities as well as health facilities, education and other services in the areas they are relocated to, but IDPs from southern Somalia who are in Hargeysa [Somaliland's capital] do not receive aid because they are regarded as refugees by the government of Somaliland."

Ibrahim told IRIN that the government's policy was changing.

"We are now exploring ways of recognising all the people who live in the temporary centres throughout the country as IDPs," he said.

He explained that a standing committee had been established in the Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Returnees to handle IDP affairs in conjunction with international and local NGOs.

After finishing my early morning shift at around 4pm, which was not really an easy job because of dealing with many and different passengers some sick, old, young, and normal ones, I began another journey to meet that above mentioned very important person. With me was an experienced and very enthusiastic gentleman who lives in Wembley Park which is not far from my home. The trip didn't take long and around 6pm on Thursday evening on the 9th of October we met that talented governor as well as some of the highly dignified Gabiley community in London. After we had soft drinks and very tasteful tea (qodaal tea) the governor began to give us general information about the newborn region which the people of that area were waiting for almost half a century. The region was officially announced on 23rd of March 2008.

As soon as he took the regional authority on the 28th of July 2008, he nominated the developing committee which composes of all different walks of the community like businessmen, elders and intellectuals of the region. The responsibility of that committee is to look, asses and fulfil the needs of the region. Also they are responsible for collection and fund raising for the region whether inside the country or abroad. The governor said: "We had the green light to go ahead from our president to build officially the national university in Gabilay." He was very proud and delighted to have that historical project because of the many students finishing their academic secondary education and the desperate need to have a local university. The developing of the water supply has already begun and two wells with huge water reserves have been completed in Botor and they should supply the water demand to Togwajale, Kalabaydh and Gabilay. Another two wells in Geedbalad and Dameeroboob will maintained by two international agencies called Oxfom and Havayoko within two months and hopefully the water needs in the region will covered bit by bit.

He praised the hardworking people in Allaybaday district and the vast development they have reached specially in relation to the water reservations and the huge amount of fruits and other crops they grow. This should be a good example to the region particularly and to the Somaliland community as a whole. Since Gabiley region is rich in agriculture and animal husbandry, a large delegation from a UN agency called International Fund Agricultural Development (IFAD) came to Gabiley and promised to do something tangible about animal husbandry, health, water and agriculture.

The governor had several meetings with the elders (cuqaal) of the region and some of them told to him: this was the first time they met each other. This governor definitely has a dream which is one to unify the people of Gabiley region whether they are elders, businessmen, intellectuals, farmers and the politicians who are divided by political parties.

Whether we support Udub, Ucid or Kulmiye let us build our region and contribute to the future of our people and their children. The governor concluded his outstanding speech. Then, we had the opportunity to ask him many questions and he replied in a calm and responsible manner. He was very eager to take advice and suggestions. The meeting ended in a nice atmosphere and an emotional climate. All in all, I saw a light at the end of tunnel and we have to support that dream because this is the leadership we have been waiting for ages.

A plane from Saudi Arabia which was carrying Somalis who had been deported from that country is said to have been denied clearance to land at Hargeysa airport.

The plane is said to have tried to land at Mogadishu airport but aborted after being informed that Mogadishu airport was insecure. It then proceeded to Hargeysa to offload its human cargo. However, airport officials declined to have it land there forcing it to fly back to Saudi Arabia.

Reports say the plane was carrying Somalis who had been deported from Saudi Arabia and was told about the insecurity at the airport after it was established that it was carrying the Somali deportees.

Somali migrants in Saudi Arabia are usually deported back to the country soon after they are arrested by Saudi police.

Reports say Jeddah prisons are bursting at the seams with illegal Somali migrants who cannot be deported back to the country.

This comes at a time when thousands of migrant Somalis are flocking to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They risk their lives by travelling by sea to Yemen. Hundreds die every year [passage omitted].

hadhwanaag 2008-10-08 (Hadhwanaagnews) The recent spate of piracy off Somalia's coast is yet another symptom of the country's collapse of stability and some of its peoples' intense desperation. Reports that the pirates or hijackers of the Ukrainian vessel had begun shooting each other formed a perfect microcosm of Somalia's brutal inner turmoil.

But in the northern half of the country, known as Somaliland, there is no such mayhem. Given its close proximity to the ravaged "failed state" of Somalia, it is astonishing that Somaliland should be stable, safe, democratic and largely crime-free.

To most people, Somalia is synonymous with bloody anarchy – simply one of the most dangerous places in the world. Only the few people with an active interest in the Horn of Africa seem aware of Somaliland's peaceful existence. The leading authority on the region since the 1950s is Professor Ioan Lewis – his book, Understanding Somalia and Somaliland, published in July, leads you to the conclusion. In comprehending the unending enigma of the Horn, one course of action is clear – the peaceful north must be allowed to declare independence from the endless chaos of the south.

That view is privately shared by many governments in Africa and in the wider world, but Somaliland's declared independence of 1991 is still yet to formally recognised by any nation and it remains an "invisible" country.

Diplomatic recognition is the perpetual obsession of the Somaliland government; without it, the country remains starved of foreign investment and aid. In all probability, it would take just one country, such the US, to move on the issue and the rest, with a handful of exceptions, would be bound to follow. However, none of the main players wants to be first, so they are engaged in a multiple "Mexican stand-off".

The few countries who openly oppose recognition (Egypt and Italy) argue "former colonial boundaries should not be redrawn". But Somalilanders agree. The country was a former British protectorate which became independent in 1960 and simultaneously joined in union with the former Italian colony of Somalia. By the mid-1980s the union was rapidly disintegrating; the mass bombing in 1988 of Somaliland's capital, Hargeisa, where 50,000 civilians were killed extinguished any thoughts of reconciliation.

The collective policy of finding a peaceful solution in the southern half of Somalia has not progressed even after 15 peace conferences in as many years. One Somali commentator called this apparently pointless exercise, "the policy of following a blind camel". A Senlis council report published in April says, "the international community needs to be reawakened from its torpor on Somaliland".

But Ted Dagne from Washington's congressional research service argues: "Somalia must develop a federal structure that gives regional autonomy." For the Somalilanders in the north this political theorem is plainly non-sensical. They see the failed union like two brothers who went into business together – while one brother was sober and hard-working, the other went off the rails, destroying the company's stock along with its reputation. Yet it is to the "reckless brother" the international community relentlessly turns to for a solution.

The Somaliland president Dahir Riyale Kahin visited the US in April in the hope of persuaded that Somaliland recognition could be part of his "African legacy". The military see the strategic importance of having a base in the Gulf of Aden as a bulwark against al-Qaida and the deep-water port of Berbera could be ideal.

Ultimately, these are the factors which are likely to determine Somaliland's chances of gaining equal nation status under the UN and not its efforts, against the odds, to create a democratic and free society.

Reading and writing are the key secrets behind academic success and the principal means of obtaining practical knowledge and experience. Becoming literate is the primary way one can achieve his/her desired goals in life. Developed societies have used reading and writing to create miraculous innovations in technology and other sciences to completely change the global life style, create a new world socio-economical system and enable man to compete over the moon.

These days founding an organization without a clearly defined vision and mission has become a widespread issue among a young population which has been focused on seeking projects from the UN agencies and international funding organizations. It¢s an act of incompetence and social backwardness to seek foreign assistance, waiting for projects from donor agencies and wasting our precious time wandering around aimlessly. This is entirely contrary to the positive rational of human society.

I was absolutely attracted and stimulated by the act of inviting young graduates to read an existing book, and then summarize and present in public. This is a golden opportunity that will surely equip the presenters with public speaking skills and self- confidence. It is also an inspiration to all who have the ambition to be writers, novelists, columnists and social researchers. Having attended several well organized events facilitated by Hargeisa Reader's Club (HRC) I have been very happy to observe the genius idea of giving future authors and young graduates the platform to exercise what they have learnt through creative dialogues and discussions with their young counterparts.

Establishing such youth-led initiatives will improve the thinking capacity of our young people and will pave the way for potential creativity and intellectualism based on practical research and innovations that will surely motivate the young thinkers. This will help us change our country into a more prosperous environment free from conflict and other harmful practices such as injustice, tribalism, nepotism, drug dealings and all kinds of socially offensive acts.

The purpose of this brief article is to congratulate and bear witness to the contribution of HRC to our society. In fact it is a totally new idea, flourishing from academic and open minded young scholars. These young people have certainly felt the importance of introducing such a civilized culture to the society in order to replace the oral based historical recordings of our community and encourage future generations to follow the clearly cleaned paths pioneered by their predecessors.

History records reflect the roles, responsibilities and contributions of every citizen to his community, so keep in mind that your contribution is relevant and highly appreciated among the change wishers and development oriented individuals. Conversely be tolerant in case of the reverse as the culture of thanks and encouragement is completely absent from our society. They may instead openly disapprove of those involved in developmental projects and those who aspire to make a comprehensive change in their communities.

It is a pleasure to all young open minded citizens and well wishers to congratulate and support the initiative by HRC as this can not only provide them moral support but also may help them double their mission of empowering and strengthening the reading and writing status of Somaliland society by conducting writing forums, public gatherings, establishing libraries and developing TV and Radio programs.

It is not our culture to say thanks for the discovery of new inventions and developmental innovations, but I believe it¢s the time to congratulate goodness and condemn badness. Therefore, let us encourage the above effort and show our absolute support by uniting for the investment in healthy and fresh minds. So let me take this opportunity to convey my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to HRC and express my thanks to this young dynamic group who have volunteered to train and educate our young population with the culture of reading and writing, the first of its kind in the context of the Somali environment.

Your contribution and literary involvement deserves our thanks and will give future thinkers and local philosophers a favorable environment decorated with well prepared paragraphs and research findings.

The International community’s imprudent strategy of giving millions of dollars to pirates for ransom while refusing to provide tangible trainings and equipments for Somaliland navy because of fears that such a move would tantamount to recognition has resulted triple disasters—not only for the people of Somaliland, but also for the vessels sailing through the Gulf of Aden and for the region itself. Never before has the economic lifeline of Somaliland—exporting livestock to the Middle East—been threatened by pirates. Never before has the world seen so many hijacked ships and their crews suffering in the hands of pirates. Never before has the Golf of Aden faced environmental catastrophe. Thanks to the millions of dollars paid for ransom to free ships and their sailors. Few foreign sailors may have been set free, but the economic backbone of millions of Somaliland people as well as the safety of the Gulf of Aden face uncertainty. And the danger—environmental disasters—is growing by the minute.

It is now clear that the ransom paid to pirates is equivalent to nearly Somaliland’s yearly budget. The shipping authority, Lloyd's List, warns that “ransom paid to pirate raiders off Somalia could spiral to $50 million this year, fueling copy cat attacks.” http://tinyurl.com/3ny57z

Most of this money would be spent on hiring more hijackers—they are now numbering over 1000 strong men—buying sophisticated speed boats and the state of the art weapons through the black-market. Soon pirates would be a fearless force to reckon with, in the Golf of Aden.

On the other hand, in 2007 Somaliland’s modest yearly budged was only $55 millions. Worse yet, unlike the pirates it doesn’t have millions of dollars at its disposal. Additionally, because of the U.N. arms embargo imposed on Somaliland, it cannot buy weapons to defend its territorial waters. Yet the international community continually enjoys Somaliland’s cooperation in combating “terrorism” and piracy. http://www.awdalnews.com/wmview.php?ArtID=10613

Evidently, despite Somaliland’s meager resources, it is has launched its own anti-piracy covert military operations and apprehended pirates where a court convicted them. http://allafrica.com/stories/200809090053.html And unlike the Somali Transitional Government TFG and Puntland—the epicenter of sea piracy, Somaliland is known to launch strikes against pirates and human-traffickers in its territory. (Somali Regime: Epicenter of Sea Piracy http://www.awdalnews.com/wmview.php?ArtID=10622 U.N. slams Puntland leaders for having connections with pirates http://tinyurl.com/4f7q4h ) And clearly Somaliland’s bold moves against piracy and human-trafficking explain why its coast remains safe despite sharing both land and sea borders with Puntland. But things are now changing for worse.

Currently, Somaliland navy patrols its waters, escorts ships loaded with livestock from its ports to safe areas, and meets cargo ships destined to Somaliland ports in highs seas. But pirates should by now have more boats and weapons than Somaliland navy has. Additionally, if pirates get away with it, soon their deadly arson will include 33 T-72 tanks—far more tanks than probably Somaliland has—rocket launchers and other weapons. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7637257.stm And this changes the whole equation.

The fast-growing number of pirates and the enormous cash at their disposal promoted Somaliland president to seek help from Europe. Alarmed or frightened by the power of pirates, recently President Dahir Riyale Kahin quickly flew to France, Germany and Britain as to shore up support for combating piracy which now threatens Somaliland’s economy and soon will choke its lifeline—exporting livestock—if immediate action is not taken.

Multinational navies increase their presence in the Golf of Aden, and so do pirates.

The Europeans, Americans, Russians, Indians, and Indonesians, among others, have deployed their navies to Somalia’s waters as to fight piracy off, but to no avail. As it seems, as the number of foreign navies moving into Somalia’s sea waters increases and so does piracy. This is odd, isn’t it? But does anyone wonder why?

Like any other problem, the best approach to piracy is to study its root-cause and then cooperate with the locals. In the Somali world, piracy effects Somaliland, TFG and Puntland in different ways. While the TFG and Puntland clearly benefit from piracy and human-trafficking, Somaliland suffers because of chaos in high seas.

Clearly, Somaliland is the only authority capable of curbing piracy—provided that its navy is modernized to meet the challenges that piracy poses—but also Somaliland is the only effective government in the area. So what is the world waiting for, you may ask?

Rebuilding Somaliland Armed forces could pose a real challenge for pirates—a far more threat than multinational navies could pose. What a ludicrous claim to make, you’d think? Evidently, the International forces would rather fire few missiles from a ship or from a helicopter than fight on the ground and get their hands dirty. And the cost of maintaining hundreds of International war warships in Somalia’s volatile waters could amount to billions of dollars.

To the contrary, Somaliland holds the key to solving mayhem in high seas. For one thing, Somaliland forces require a fraction of the money that the world currently spends to battle against piracy and pays for ransom, in the Golf of Aden. For another, due to Somaliland’s indispensible expertise in the region, its people and its trains, its army would be able to launch air, ground, and naval attacks against pirates’ bases deep in Puntland and in Somalia, before pirates attack ships in the Golf of Aden. Undoubtedly, any way you look at it, rebuilding Somaliland’s armed forces is not only a cost-effect strategy to curtail piracy, but it will also bring a far better result than the multinational navy forces could deliver.

However, rarely ever do military approaches alone work without offering an alternative economic incentives to those who are involved in piracy. Just as military strategies alone failed to eradicate terrorism, and so will they fall short to prevent piracy. But reconstructing the devastated Somali fishing communities, providing local fishers training and fishing equipments, cleaning up the toxic waste dumped as well as stopping the incursions of illegal foreign fishing fleets into Somalia’s sea waters, is yet another effective tactic to minimize piracy in the region. This strategy will give the Somali pirates a reason to be decent citizens again.

Also, the world must not ignore the impending environmental disasters looming on the Golf of Aden. All it takes for the pirates is to attack a gigantic oil tanker and pierce a hole through its massive oil tank with a bullet from a machinegun.

In short, give Somaliland what it deserves and watch piracy dwindle before your eyes. The alternative is to carry on the status queue: keep Somaliland’s hands tight behind its back, pay millions of dollars to pirates for ransom, and kiss goodbye to the Golf of Aden. And surely, the closure of the Suez Canal will soon follow. The choices are clear. The world must act now.

Dalmar Kaahin, dalmar_k@yahoo.com

hadhwanaag 2008-10-02 (Hadhwanaagnews) The sun rises in the morning with beams of love, and freedom for a beautiful World. But we, human beings make it a hard place to live in. By imposing hate, jealousy, slavery, exploitation, and greed. Our culture of corruption makes our World a frightening place to live in. Anger starts and ends with doom and gloom. Travels you through the dark tunnels of worries and woes. Plunges you into the ocean of annihilation.

Then smile, why are you frowning? What is the use of crying? A moment is the chemistry of life. A moment of hate, or a moment of passion. A moment of fear, or a moment of love. A moment of disappointment, or a moment of cheering. A moment of despair, or a moment of hope. A moment you wait with good expectations can be a moment of defiance, or a moment of delight. As an octogenarian who has seen neither the light of democracy, nor has breathed the breeze of democracy since his birthday.

I am zero and getting increasingly cynical about politics in general. Particularily the new version of Merehanism of Mr.Riyalle does not restore my optimisim. That is why I believe much that there are only two ways to slide easily through life, during this dark rule of Mr.Riyalle. Either to believe everything, or to doubt everything. But neither way suits my ultimate choice. Eventhough both ways saves you from serious thinking. Because thinking has become a disease. Mr.Tolly said in his book of spiritual enlightment. The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. But if used wrongly, however, it becomes a very destructive element. Just as dogs love to eat bones, the mind loves to get it’s teeth into problems. That is why it does crossword puzzles; and builds further atomic bombs for destruction. That is why the remains or the left over of the old vampire Siyad Bare often finds the off button of the mind. Don’t get irritated or disappointed by what you hear through the dirty mouths of Mr.Riyalle’s hench men lobbists.

Just ignore their belching or burp. Otherwise you catch yourself laughing as you would laugh at the antics of a child. Just go through the realism of no mind and relax.

For the record, Haber Jeclo clan members must be expelled out of Hargeisa. Hargeisa must keep their kids out of the streets; and stop throwing stones. Herse Haji Hassan the X Vice Chairman of the Election Committee, is a proved terrorist. A fanatic is a person who always talks about the same subject and never changes his mind.

This scenario never happened even the days of Siyad Bare. What a crying shame in the eyes of the civilized World! I need a little space to think. I don’t know who is me yet. A hole needs filling in my wisdom tooth. A functioning Government is addressing it’s citizens in that barbaric approach. I can bet with my last penny that they can’t understand the gravity and the backlash of this suicidal message they are broadcasting. Above that, showering our school children with bullets and keeping them behind bars.

Treating our sweet hearts of boys and girls like herds of sheep that are held in their stockyard. Never mind, that is the perception of Mr.Riyalle as a Government of integrity and his ethics of good governing. He that is down fears no fall, and no man is truly married until he understands every word his wife is not saying. Ironically, education is the soul of Mr.Riyalle’s cabinet. They want to teach us three methods of learning wisdom. First by reflection, which is the noblest. Secondly by imitation, which is the easiest. Thirdly by experience, which is the bitterest. We always expect more mud to be flung; more dirt laundary to be aired; more smears to be heard; and more trash talk. Give a clown your finger and he will take all your hand. Peeling more flesh from our bones. The tongue weighs almost nothing but few can hold it. Give me the hammer; a fly is running on my nose.

The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that, one comes from a strong will. But the other is from strong won’t. The actual full name of the Movie, “ Gone with the wind. “ Luck is a loser’s excuse for a winner’s position. Mr.Riyalle, your elevator to success is out of order. You have to use the stairs, one step at a time by tip toeing. Fraud and cunning are the weapons of the weak. Mr.Riyalle, If you are a cock, crow; if you are a hen, lay eggs. Don’t ever try to buy us with our own money. Dear reader, just ignore their belching when they are tickling your throat. Because if you get angry, you are punishing yourself for another’s sin. Because we learn ethics not for school, but for life. There are only two good men in our camp.

One dead, and the other unborn. Mr.Riyalle is a cruel hunter; and the Somalilanders are his hunting game. Mr.Riyalle, you are sweeping our hearts with forks and knives. You have taken the love of our hearts and you put water in our veins. But tomorrow is another day. A selfish name is always alone. Ah! To born again as little kid with skinned knees that are easier to heal than broken hearts. Mr.Riyalle, no matter how you change your fashion; a ruffled temper will never be in style. You often changes but gets better seldom. Lying is the first step to the prison gates. So goes the leader, so goes the nation.

Under majority rule, heads are counted; under your minority rule, heads are cracked. Take your time for now, and tomorrow is another day. The unemployment rate is one hundred percent; prices of local consumption commodities are skyrocketing; inflation is on the climax; poverty and disease are covering the whole nation. Yet he is fooling around as usual and giving us a false smile. Having a short arm for giving, and a long arm for getting. Show me a liar, and I will show you a thief. A lie will give blossom but no fruit. Mr.Riyalle, it is too late to be shy. Your opera has no auidance. Fame one day, zero the other. Drive your armored scary vehicles to keep low our tone of agony. But your road to love is too bumpy. Somalilanders, memory is the watchman of the brain. If you give your milk to the cat, you must drink water out of the sink. God see us as we can be, but loves us as we are.

A handful l bunch of greedy freaks and loyal concubines of the old vampire with Mosquito noise are wheezing on my ears. With all dirty talk and no walk. Hip and Miss approach. Trying to shine white a dark night. Winston Churchill once said, you can see much further in the future; if you look back in the past. Mr.Riyalle, the Author of stillness,corruption, and greed. We know that every word comes from your mouth rings with fear and threat. Our contemporary Spiritual Leader and Teacher,Mr.Riyalle, masters and imports a profound message that is leading us into the eternal life of pain and depression.

According to the communiqué released recently by the African Watch. Your old –death-zone detention camp at Mandhera holds detainees of underaged teens. That is a symbol of your injustices and a dim view of your Statue of Liberty at Berbera.

It is surely a suicidal policy to put teen agers in Orange Jump Suits and Shackles; while at the same time flying to the free World looking for International Recognition. Asking alms for the love of God. It is sad but true. Our Commander of the Police Force,Mr.Geele Haad Qoye said, age is not a factor in the Criminal Panel Code of Mr.Riyalle. It is not the story that counts, it is how you tell it. Mr.Riyalle, your hench men always stumble over the truth , and then pick up themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. In the Land of Skunks ( XOOR ) he who has half a nose is king. We can’t hand our tomorrow to Mr.Riyalle. God is our refuge. Mr.Riyalle is swimming in an ocean of human blood. Sheikh Adan Siera is my only authentic religepus clergyman, and a vetran SNM fighter. Not those money maniac businessmen who preaches only wealthy people; and always pleases those in power. HE is the only sheikh that delievers humanitarian services free of charge. Sheikh Adan, we appreciate your healthy Islamism.

The Orange Revolution turned into ash and dust. We have earned enough grey hair to look ugly. We had enough years of each side of mother and father in that ditch of shame. Mr.Riyalle, your crooked smile is saying many things. If we are talking to someone, your Police must know what we are saying. Justices is for sale in your showrooms of human spare parts.

Everybody that is going to be hired must go through your scrutiny screen. That is a proof of your busy schedule. You are a typical that Aristocrat Black Panther in the Animal Kingdom. But remember, that Somalilanders are birds that have no respect for borders; and your Police State has no a place in our bedrooms. White is either brain or beauty; black is neither. If your mind still making too much noise to determine who you are. Who cares! Keep your answer format for ever. I am apologizing to the hungary masses on behalf of you; for saying. “ I will open my mouth and you count my teeth. “ Installing every year new artificial teeth for grinding more faster. But you have to remember. The more penny you gain, the more increase in your BP( bloodpressure) .

You are an opaque screen of alien concepts that have images, labels, and logo that blocks all our relationship with the outside World. If we follow your false conviction of never; We will die alone with disrespect and disgrace. We must defy and oppose all your dirty sex of fertility underground with a barren woman from Addis Ababa, or Mogadishu. Mr.Riyalle, never try to change a woman’s heart by intimidation. Stop snitching time and fooling around. You can fool nobody except yourself. Character is doing right when nobody is looking. The blood is not dry yet, and the bruises are not healed.

In 1968 when the Americans decided to withdraw their troops from Vietnam. There was a secret mission to assassinate all high ranking Government Officials, business men, intellectual elites, and politicians being suspected with anti American slogans. Mr.Riyalle and his top aides, like the Mad Cow Cashier of our revenue and the pulldog, our own Prince Naif, are promoting the same agenda. They must either run our kitchen soup; otherwise, everything must fall apart. They want to dictate our destiny with their dirty hands for ever. They are there only to receive fat pay cheques and nothing else.

Every fool like me can do that. This week there is no any crises. Because your schedule is already full. A dog looks up at the humans; a cat looks down on people. But a pig will look at a human in the eyes and assume that it is equal. Ants always follow fats. Mr.Riyalle, to have foot prints on the sands of time, you must have plenty of sand.

It is not the pace of life that concerns us, it is the sudden stop at the end. What used to be merely an itch, is now an allergy. There is a thin line between love and hate. Malice drinks it’s own poison, and a man is of little use when his wife is a widow.The simplest toy which even the youngest child can operate, is called a grandparent. Mr.Riyalle, a fool wanders but a wiseman travels. Enjoy your shopping trips since all the newspapers and the media are short staffed nowadays. Because all the chief editors either in good mood or merely scared. Music is the poor man’s parnaaus. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

Guess what! In the chilly nights of the winter. When the kids of my deceased hero sitting around the fire with unshaved heads and empty stomach. Asking their devastated helpless mother. “ Mother, why daddy is not around anymore and what was the cause he died for? Her reply is nothing but to break tears running across her cheeks which she does not want the kids to see. Blinking her eyes and looking up at the sky as a protest to Almighty God. What a confusing legacy life can play! Amazing indeed how money and power blinds and corrupts people. Mr.Riyalle, please take a deep breath of oxygen to refresh your mind and memorize your circumstances on the day the late president Egal nominated you as his vice president.

Mr.Riyalle is saying, “ I am not a follower but I am a leader with the same mentality. Quitting smoking is easy and I have done it many times. No one wants advice except corroboration. With all the deduction from pay-cheeque, my take home pay barely survives, or covers my cosmetics. That is why I have many professional salesmen in my corridor. Everything is for sale. The natural resources, the ports, the sea fish, the national anthem, and the flag. Iam a partner in every commodity. Man! I need some quick cash fo buy the moon as well as the stars.

Mr.Riyalle, the wiseman travels but a fool wanders around.

Thank you for being totally ugly