Was Worth Going Another SORPI Conference

By Abdi Goud Musa, Connecticut, USA

With reservation, I went to the second SOPRI conference that was held in Washington DC on September 8 to September 10, 2006. I am glad I went because it was less political than last year’s SOPRI conference, the issues addressed where more geared to how the Diaspora could make a difference in the lives of our people back home, and the experience and the qualifications and experiences of the panelists and the entertainers.

To begin with, I am glad that the political squabbling and dogfights we witnessed last year was dampened and minimized because it is not election year of any sort. I commend the political parties being represented by (Dr, Ahmed Hussein Esa of Kulmiye, Dr. Mohamed Fadal of UCID and Dr. Saad Sh. Osman Nur of UDUB) in addition UCID’s enlightening, honestly speaking from the heart, and humorous chairman Engineer Faisal Ali Warabe. Though Dr. Saad Osman Nur could stick to his guns and has shown that he can take the heat, UDUB in general and President Rayale and his delegation in particular did disserves to him by sending him alone and putting him in a position to take a lot punches from all corners.

Second, issues addressed at this year were more focused on how to sell Somaliland to the governments and the people’s of the those countries that many Somalilanders call their second home as well as how the Somaliland Diaspora could make a difference in our people’s lives and land. I was impressed with the depth of knowledge, experience and qualifications of the panelists and the moderators. Somaliland’s cream of the crop came and delivered. I hope the knowledge of the people, the dedication, and the energy that has been displayed at there did not end up at there but be followed and the good ideas and resolutions that came out of the conference be acted on and implemented.

Third the delegation that came from Somaliland was icing on the cake. I appreciated the moving presentation of poet Gaariye, the informative and honest speech of the deputy speaker of the Congress Mr. Abdulaziz Samaale, the sense of humor and informative speech of the chairman of the election committee Ahmed Cadami, and the presentation of Dr. Hussein Abdillahi Bulhan who is one of my role models who always steps to the plate.

Lastly but not the least, the dynamic one person gang Safia Khader Omer’s cultural show, the young band from Minnesota, and one of Somalia’s legendary singer and Somaliland’s daughter Hibo Mohamed, Hiba- Nura was blessing sent to the convention.

In conclusion, I have to commend and thank the founders of SOPRI. I have to thank the organizers of both last year and this year’s SOPRI conference and the people who came from all the corners of the world to contribute and participate. It was a great conference and we have all strived to do follow up on and work on making the issues addressed at the conference to be tackled. I do suggest that persist and keep on coming back to make a difference in our people’s lives and the well being of our beloved country.

agoud22 [agoud22@cox.net]

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