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Front
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News Headlines
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Local and
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Editorial |
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Features
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International News
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Opinion |
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Coach Jama Aden’s track
team has been making steady victories in the IAAF track
world. This past Friday, one more time Abubaker Kaki was in
the spotlight at the Memorial Primo Nebiolo competition in
Turino, Italy.
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Thursday, 11 June
2009
Lord Laird (Crossbench):
To ask further
to the Written Answer by Lord
Malloch-Brown on 2 June (WA 71),
why they do not recognize Somaliland as an independent
state.
Lord Davies of Oldham (Deputy Chief Whip (House of
Lords), HM Household; Labour):
The UK has signed up to an EU common
position and endorsed many UN
Security Council resolutions that refer to the
territorial integrity and unity of Somalia.
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These new journalists are joined to member of the press
stopped up their profession sake of insecurity.
In the wake of many threaten from different groups against
by each another’s who are fighting still in southern
Somalia.
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Farah Ismail Eid used to
have fishing boats but bought guns. He was captured before
he could hijack a ship
From The Times
June 12, 2009
The first time Farah Ismail Eid set out to hijack a ship off
the coast of Somalia his boat was easily outrun. On the
second occasion he kept pace but his boarding ladder was too
short. On the third attempt he was captured.
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Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday transferred
Kenya’s development programme to the constituencies as he
sought to jump-start the sluggish economy and create more
jobs. In what in essence is the country’s fiscal stimulus
package, Mr Kenyatta injected funds into key sectors of the
economy but channeled much of the money through the 210
constituencies.
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Australian
freelance photographer Nigel Brennan in Brisbane,
Australia (file photo) |
By Alisha Ryu
Nairobi, 12 June 2009 – Paris-based Reporters Without
Borders is expressing serious concerns about the plight of
two kidnapped Western journalists, who have been held
hostage for nearly 10 months in Somalia's volatile capital
Mogadishu. The media rights group said there are signs that
the kidnappers are losing patience as negotiations to free
them have stalled.
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Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, June 12, 2009 –Relatives,
friends and neighbors of a Minneapolis teen killed in
Somalia pressed their argument Thursday that a Muslim civil
rights group is hampering a federal investigation into the
disappearances of dozens of Twin Cities Somali men.
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NATO has so far conducted two short-term missions using
warships in the pirate-infested region |
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BRUSSELS June
12, 2009 — NATO defence ministers agreed Friday to prolong
the military alliance's anti-piracy operations in the Gulf
of Aden, with at least six countries ready to take part in
the new mission.
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the
ministers had decided to deploy the so-called Standing Naval
Maritime Group Two (SNMG 2) for an as-yet undetermined
period.
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Somalia: Range Resources 'wants to return to Puntland' |
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GAROWE, Somalia, June 7, 2009 – A delegation from Australian
mining firm Range Resources, Ltd., has visited the Somali
self-governing region of Puntland for the first time since
the January election of President Abdirahman Mohamed "Farole,"
inside sources tell Somali news agency Garowe Online.
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Food Insecurity Concerns After Poor Rains In Somaliland |
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Livestock deaths
have occurred across Somaliland as a result of drought |
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Hargeysa, June 13, 2009 – Officials in
Somaliland are concerned about food security following poor
rains during the March-May planting season, known as the Gu'.
Mohamed Muse Awale, chairman of the National Environment
Research and Disaster Preparedness Agency (NERAD), said the
situation was deteriorating throughout the country as
nowhere had experienced reliable rains.
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Death Of Somali Teen A Mystery To Minnesota Family |
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In this undated photo released by the family at a news
conference in December 2008, Burhan Hassan is seen. Hassan
was one of many young Somali men who went missing from
Minneapolis last year and according to his family was
recruited by radical elements in Somalia. |
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By JEFF
BAENEN and STEVE KARNOWSKI
MINNEAPOLIS, June 09, 2009— Burhan Hassan was an infant when
he left his homeland of Somalia. He grew up American, a
bright student with dreams of becoming a doctor or lawyer.
But now his family is trying to find out why the 18-year-old
was killed under mysterious circumstances in Somalia.
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U.S. Says Eritrea Must Stop Somalia Meddling |
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* Eritrea plays unhelpful role
* No sign of big Ethiopian presence in
Somalia
By Sue Pleming
WASHINGTON, June 10, 2009 – Eritrea is
playing an unhelpful role in nearby Somalia and must cease
its actions there if it wants better relations with
Washington, the Obama administration's top diplomat for
Africa said on Monday.
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Somalia: Investigate killing of radio director |
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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
8 June 2009
Amnesty International calls on the Somalia Transitional
Federal Government to open a thorough, prompt and impartial
investigation, with the assistance of the international
community, into the killing of Muktar Mohamed Hirabe. Muktar
Mohamed Hirabe is the fifth Somali journalist to be killed
in the line of their work this year and the second Director
of the Somali radio station, Shabelle, to be killed in the
last two years.
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Somali Pirates 'Expanding Reach' |
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Somali pirates are expanding their range of operations far
beyond the East African coast, the US Navy has warned.
One attack has been confirmed on a ship as far north as the
Red Sea. The gangs have also extended their raids down
beyond the Seychelles.
The pirates were able to strike further away from the coast
with the help of bigger mother ships, said the US Navy.
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Rights group calls for urgent action to protect media |
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Human rights group, Amnesty International, has welcomed an
appeal by media group, AKI-Adnkronos International, to
protect journalists and ensure media freedom in Somalia |
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Family, friends
attend funeral for late Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe, the director
of Shabelle Media Network |
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Rome, June 08, 2009 – Human rights group
Amnesty International has called for urgent international
action to protect journalists in Somalia after the murder of
radio director Moqtar Mohamed Hirabe. Hirabe who worked for
the influential Radio Shabelle was gunned down by armed men
in Mogadishu on Sunday was the fifth journalist killed in
the country this year.
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Toronto: Slain Teen was just visiting aunt |
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Slain teen was just visiting aunt when
commotion broke out, cousin says
By ROB LAMBERTI, SUN MEDIA
Murder victim Ayoob Abdulkhadir Adam was killed in a
knife-fight that raged through a west-end apartment complex,
his family says.
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Word Of A Second Minneapolis Man Dead In Somalia Adds
Urgency To Questions Of How A Group Went Abroad. |
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Abdirizak Bihi on
a soccer field next to the Brian Coyle Community Center
where he played soccer with his nephew Burhan Hassan. |
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By ALLIE SHAH and JAMES WALSH, Star Tribune staff writers
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
He was a slight and sickly teen, nearsighted and,
reportedly, confined to a room away from the fighting that
raged throughout the city. But the reported death last week
of Burhan Hassan, the second Minneapolis man of Somali
descent believed to have died in Somalia, has jolted his
family and the Twin Cities Somali community.
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Mother Mourns Ayoob Adam, Fatally Stabbed On Weekend. |
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Canada was to be
safe haven for Sirad Mohamed and family |
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Toronto, JUNE 09, 2009 – He was the last
male in the family to be killed but the first Canadian.
Ayoob Adam, 16, was visiting his aunt on the weekend on
Dixon Rd., between Islington and Kipling Aves., when he
heard a commotion below, between the highrises.
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Headlines |
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KULMIYE Protests UN Sponsorship Of Mass Murderers |
Muse Bihi
Hargeysa, Somaliland,
June 13, 2009 (SL Times)
– Somaliland’s KULMIYE
party issued a strong
worded protest against
the United Nation’s
sponsorship of a
gathering of senior
officers in Somalia’s
defunct military.
KULMIYE party said that
the reason they are
responding to the UN’s
call for a meeting of
Somalia’s former
military officers is
because of the
consequences such a
gathering could have for
the region.
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Gabobe And Stremlau Talk About Somaliland Election In
Germany |
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Yousuf Gabobe and
Nicole Stremlau |
Bonn, Germany, June 13, 2009 (SL Times) – The Chairman of
Haatuf Media Network, Mr Yusuf A. Gabobe and Nicole Stremlau
of Oxford University gave a talk at an international
conference in Bonn Germany about the role of Somaliland’s
media in the coming presidential election. 1200 reporters,
representing 100 countries listened to this discussion which
was sponsored by Deutsche Welle, a news organization that
includes both radio and T.V and broadcasts in 40 languages.
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David Miliband Wants Africa To Take Lead On Somaliland
Recognition |
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Mustafe
Abdi Gamute (left) and British Foreign Minister David
Miliband |
London, UK, June 13, 2009 (SL Times) – Mustafe Abdi Gamute,
a Somalilander who lobbies for Somaliland’s independence in
Britain had an opportunity to ask Britain’s Foreign
Minister, Mr. David Miliband, why his government has not yet
recognized Somaliland,
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Zayla, Somaliland, June 13, 2009 (SL Times) – High level
representatives from Djibouti, including artists, government
officials and alleged intelligence agents have been pouring into
Zayla lately. According to Zayla's Mayor, Mr Muhammad Omar Haddi,
the purpose of this gathering is to establish close cooperation
between Somaliland's Salal Region and Djibouti's Tojora Region.
The great Sultan of the Afars is expected to attend this event.
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Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 13, 2009 (SL Times) – Abdillahi Omar
Awale, respected Somaliland elder and businessman passed away in
Hargeysa last week after several months of illness.
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Mohammed Mooge Commemorated |
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Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 13, 2009
(SL Times) – A gathering to commemorate the 25th anniversary
since the death of Mohammed Moge Liban, one of Somaliland's top
singers and freedom fighters, was held on June 4th at Man Soor
hotel in Hargeysa.
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Artists Accuse Ministry Of Culture Of Corruption |
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Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 13, 2009 (SL Times) – Some of
Somaliland's singers have accused the minister of culture and
tourism of misusing $60 million Somaliland shillings that were
allocated for Somaliland Independence Day. The angry singers
went to the ministry to discuss this matter but the minister did
not show up.
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Vice President And Opposition Discuss Election |
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Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 13, 2009 (SL Times) – Somaliland’s
vice-President, Ahmad Yusuf Yasin, held a meeting at the
presidential palace with leaders of the opposition parties UCID
and KULMIYE. The meeting occurred on June 6, 2009 and its
purpose was to discuss election issues such as how to complete
preparations for the election so that it will not be delayed and
how to ensure that the government pays its share of the election
funds before the due date.
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Somalilanders In France Take Part In Geneva Conference |
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Lyon, France, June 13, 2009 (SL Times) – Members of the
Somaliland community in France participated in the 61st
anniversary of the establishment of the UN peacekeeping forces.
The event took place in late May of this year. 150
representatives of various international organizations attended
the event. A press release issued by the Chairman of Somaliland
community in France,
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Economics Sub-Committee Alarmed About Somaliland Students In
Uganda |
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Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 13, 2009 (SL Times) – Members of the
Economics Sub-committee of Somaliland parliament who just came
back from a working visit to Uganda raised concern about the
situation of Somaliland students in Uganda whose monetary
assistance was stopped by UNESCO before they finished their
schooling. The Economics Sub-committee mentioned this matter in
a report to parliament about their visit to Uganda and
emphasized that something should be done about it. The report
was delivered by the chairman of the delegation, Mr Muhammed Nur
Arrale (Duur). Mr Arrale said that the purpose of their visit to
Uganda was to observe and gain experience from the the budgetary
process of the Ugandan parliament.
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In
Somalia's Break-Away Corner, An Oasis Of Stability
The republic of Somaliland has elections, a strong economy, and
zero tolerance for extremists or pirates. But no one recognizes
it. |
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By Scott
Baldauf
Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 13, 2009 – At first glance, the dusty
streets of Hargeysa look like much of the rest of Somalia.
Traffic jams consist of the occasional late-model Toyota Corolla
encountering a string of donkey carts or a slow-moving flock of
goats. Roads, water pipes, and electrical power grids have been
untouched for nearly 40 years, but the mobile phone system runs
just fine, thank you.
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A Yemeni Army checkpoint between the
provinces of Aden and Lahj. Officials say some Qaeda
fighters are moving to Yemen. |
By ERIC
SCHMITT and DAVID
E. SANGER
WASHINGTON, June 13, 2009 — American officials say they are
seeing the first evidence that dozens of fighters with Al
Qaeda, and a small handful of the terrorist group’s leaders,
are moving to Somalia and Yemenfrom
their principal haven in Pakistan’s
tribal areas. In communications that are being watched carefully
at the Pentagon, the White House and the Central
Intelligence Agency, the terrorist groups in all three
locations are now communicating more frequently, and apparently
trying to coordinate their actions, the officials said.
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Somali Islamist Threatens "Invasion" Of Kenya |
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MOGADISHU, Jun 11, 2009 – A senior member of Somalia's Islamist
insurgent movement al Shabaab threatened on Thursday to "invade"
Kenya if it did not reduce its military presence on the Somali
border.
The rebels, who control parts of south Somalia close to Kenya,
have long resented Nairobi's support for the Western-backed
government in Mogadishu.
Kenya, fearful of flows of people and arms across its border and
mindful of past attacks in the region planned from Somalia,
keeps a heavy military presence in its remote north.
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UNICEF States The Facts |
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Hargeysa – June 13, 2009 – Unfounded allegations and charges of
corruption have recently appeared in the press which UNICEF
wishes to correct with the following facts:
UNICEF contracts transport services to support its live-saving
interventions for vulnerable Somaliland children and women. For
this reason, in February 2009, the Nairobi-based Support Centre
for UNICEF Hargeysa issued institutional contracts to three
transport companies after a competitive and transparent bidding
process fully in compliance with UNICEF rules and guidelines.
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UN
Imposes Tough New Sanctions On Nkorea |
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South
Korean soldiers watch North Korea from Dora Observation Post in
a demilitarized zone near the border
May 27, 2009
By EDITH M. LEDERER
UNITED NATIONS, June 12, 2009 -- The U.N. Security Council on
Friday punished North Korea for its second nuclear test,
imposing tough new sanctions, expanding an arms embargo and
authorizing ship searches on the high seas.
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In South Ossetia's main
city, Tskhinvali, an elderly women examines her ballot at home,
brought to her by a mobile unit for in the first since Russia
and Georgia fought a war over the breakaway republic. The
election came as NATO concluded war exercises in Georgia, adding
to tensions with Russia.
By Megan K. Stack
June 1, 2009
Reporting from Moscow -- Residents of South Ossetia trooped to
the polls Sunday in the first election since Russia and Georgia
fought a brief and bitter war over the breakaway republic's
fate.
Residents in the rebel territory, which was purged of Georgian
troops by Russian intervention and recognized as an independent
state by Moscow, cast votes for a 34-seat parliament. Georgia's
central government dismissed the balloting as illegal.
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US
Commander in Afghanistan to Review Strategy to Reduce Civilian
Casualties |
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Lt. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal
(file photo) |
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Washington, June 12, 2009 – The new commander of U.S. and allied
forces in Afghanistan says he will review strategy in an effort
to reduce civilian casualties.
U.S. General Stanley McChrystal said in an interview with the
BBC he will review rules of engagement with the emphasis on
protecting civilians from both "the enemy and from unintended
consequences of our operation."
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The Snakes Are Winning! |
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Newborn Malayan pit vipers sit
in a cage at Malaysia's National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur on
September |
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FREETOWN, June 13, 2009 – Police in Sierra Leone have called in
the army and fire brigade to try to take back control of a
police station which has been overrun by hundreds of venomous
snakes.
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E.
African taxi drivers in Washington, DC may see their stimulant
of choice outlawed because, well, it's not American -- or
something. |
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By Phillip
S. Smith, DRCNet
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
For hundreds, if not thousands, of years, residents of the Horn
of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula have partaken of
khat, an evergreen plant native to the region. When the fresh
leaves of the plant are chewed, they produce a mild stimulating
effect.
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By Abdiaziz
Hassan
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has described his
job as the most difficult in the world, and he may be right. Now
in its 19th year of civil war and without a government worthy of
the name, Somalia is the world's most failed state, shattered by
war and a safe haven for both al Qaeda and pirates.
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Energy Department Changes Tune on Peak Oil |
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Michael T. Klare
Author and Professor of Peace and
World-Security Studies at Hampshire College
Every summer, the Energy
Information Administration (EIA)
of the U.S. Department of Energy issues its International
Energy Outlook (IEO)
-- a jam-packed compendium of data and analysis on the
evolving world energy equation.
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Tanzania Is Latest African
Country To Ban Cheap Plastic Bags |
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Shashank Bengali -
McClatchy Newspapers
ZANZIBAR, Tanzania --
ZANZIBAR, Tanzania Jun. 09, 2009—The fabled marketplaces of
this East African island once lured traders from across the
Indian Ocean with soft ivory, exotic spices and slaves. Now
Zanzibar is taking a stand against a staple of modern-day
commerce: the plastic bag.
Read
full text...
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What To Do About Darfur |
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By Nicholas
D. Kristof
July 2, 2009
The slaughter in Darfur has now lasted
more than six years, longer than World War II, yet the "Save
Darfur" movement has stalled—even as the plight of many
Darfuris may be worsening. Many advocates for Darfur, myself
included, had urged the International Criminal Court to
prosecute the Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir. We got
what we hoped for—on March 4, the court issued an arrest
warrant for Bashir on counts of war crimes and crimes
against humanity. But the immediate result was that Bashir
expelled thirteen foreign aid organizations and closed three
domestic ones. Millions of Darfuris have been left largely
without assistance, and some are already dying.
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Obama’s Assurance On Conflict Resolution In The Horn Timely |
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Kanini Evans
Kariuki is a veteran Kenyan Journalist with several years of
experience behind him |
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Kanini Evans Kariuki
June 06, 2009
PRESIDENT Obama´s historic, balanced and meticulously
delivered speech at Cairo University, Egypt, on June 4th
2009 was received and enthusiastically welcomed by all
Somalis and some Somali lawmakers.
These
legislators made notable remarks in reaction to the
president´s speech, stating that USA has shouldered its
global responsibility in fairness and openness which will
enhance a panacea to the protracted conflict, and obliterate
the reigning mood of suspicion and mistrust between the
Muslim and Western Nations.
Even though Obama did not explicitly mention the long–drawn
out conflict in Somalia, Mr. Dan Sreebny, Senior Advisor for
Regional Media at the United States embassy, London, gave
tips on Obama´s diplomatic goals in Africa and the Middle
East,while in answer to curious questions in Kenya´s largest
circulating newspaper,the Daily Nation,dated June 6, 2009.
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full text...
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Qatar Scores High In Silatech Index Rankings |
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By Bonnie James
Qatar has outperformed other countries within the Gulf
region and the Arab League in Silatech index regional
rankings on Mindset, Access, and Policy.
Qatar has scored 83, 62, and 75, respectively, in the
segments, as against the GCC and Iraq median of 75, 48, and
73, and the Arab League median of 66, 40, and 63.
The findings are from ‘The Silatech Index: Voices of Young
Arabs’, the first comprehensive poll of youth aged 15 to 29
in the 19 countries in the Arab League to focus on the
outlook on job creation, finding jobs, and obstacles to
success.
The rankings of the poll, conducted by Gallup, have been
released ahead of the 2009 Silatech Summit, being held
tomorrow in Doha, bringing together leading international
and regional organisations, thought leaders, policy-makers,
investors, community organisations and young people.
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full text...
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From Egypt To The Promised Land |
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Dr. Terry
Lacey |
Dr. Terry Lacey
Development Economist
The last thing anyone wants to do is to discourage
the attempt by President Obama in his Cairo speech at a
fresh start both in relations with the Muslim world, and on
the Middle East peace process. But the road-map and its
final destination must be reviewed, or those traveling down
it, like Moses, might spend a long time in the desert before
they see the Promised Land.
Many leaders have welcomed the attempt at a fresh
start. Some have accused Secretary of State Hilary Rodham
Clinton of continuing the old line, while President Obama
seeks to start anew. This is unfair. She has inherited these
starting positions from President Bush. But now we face new
realities.
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full text...
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Abdirizaq Aqli’s Landmark Book |
In the last two decades, Somaliland has earned a reputation as a
peaceful oasis in a zone of conflict. When asked why Somaliland is
peaceful while southern Somalia is sinking further and further into war
and chaos, Somalilanders and scholars often say that it has to do with
the fact that the British colonial administration did not destroy
Somaliland’s traditional structures.
Read full text...
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OPINION |
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The Promise Of President Obama's Address |
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By Mukhtar Mohamed Abby
The torrent of response generated by the President of Uncle
Sam, Barack Obama's address on 4 June 8, 2009 from Cairo
University to a global Muslim audience shows that his speech
has had a profound impact on the region's collective psyche.
It also mirror the ideological fault line that runt deep
across West Asia's political landscape.
West Asia's history of violence, hatred and divisions
notwithstanding, Mr. Obama's eloquence might have generated
a powerful impulse which could help lay the foundations for
a relatively less confrontationist political discourse in
the region. Well timed and with a clear sense of history,
Mr. Obama can now hope that his carefully chosen words,
translated in 13 languages and viewed by a global television
audience, would set the tone for a lengthy and complex
process of diplomatic negotiations.
Read full text...
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Does U.N. Attempt to Recruit Somalia’s Ex-Army Officers
Evoke Nostalgia or Poke Old Wounds? |
By
Dalmar Kaahin
Although U.N. efforts to rebuild Somalia’s shattered
military invokes nostalgia and reminisces about Somali
National Army’s SNA glorious days in the battle fields, once
a mighty African force that its enemies trembled with
fear—the SNA’s dark side, the atrocities it inflicted not on
the enemy but on the Somaliland citizens it supposed protect
remains the root cause of Somalia’s turmoil.
During the 80s, for many citizens in Somaliland and Puntland
clouds of dust from a distance signaled time to flee. As
hundreds of SNA’s killing machines: Soviet-made T54 tanks,
Armored Personnel Carriers, and trucks loaded with brutal
soldiers rumbled down onto dry plains, a cloud of dust
trailed behind them; every citizen was on his/her own, no
time for prayers. Many civilians never escaped; survivors
live with the trauma.
My vivid memories of the SNA still haunt me. Then, as a
little boy, I heard a lot about the SNA’s brutalities
against Somaliland and Puntland people but never understood
how such atrocities were possible. However, in the summer of
1985 much of my perception towards the SNA changed forever.
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Why Is Our Youth On The Move? |
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By:
Mohamed Hamud Abdi
It is almost eighteen years now since Somaliland fortunately
got its independence from the regime of Siyad Barre. But
freedom was never free. It came through the struggle,
dedication and self-sacrifice of the SNM heroes and
heroines. They are written in our history books as they
remain fresh in our minds forever.
Since then, the country has been tremendously losing its
human resource-the youth- through various ways. In each
year, a countless number of youngsters leave the country, be
it men or women. Most of them either die in the harsh Sahara
Desert or are detained in foreign prisons without any trial.
Others suffer inhuman torture including rape, robbery,
psychological mistreatment, hunger and flogging. Few of them
may survive to cross to Europe.
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The Big Man Syndrome In
Africa: A Major Policy Challenge For Obama’s Administration |
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By Abdi
Guled
As Obama administration contemplates new policy initiative
for Africa, many of Africa’s Big Man dictators are planning
to extend their prolonged political existence. During his
upcoming visit to Africa, it is unlikely that the White
House would echo Clinton’s infamous misnomer - “New
Generation of African Leaders”-, as Obama will not be
meeting a “New Breed” of leaders, but unpopular and
anti-democratic failed leaders.
From Cairo to Kampala and Harare, good governance, political
pluralism and civil liberties are rare commodities. Under
the reign of the Big Man dictators, Africa suffers a fate
worse than colonialism for the simple reason that
post-colonial optimism has evaporated into thin air. An
increasing number of states are in effect becoming
dysfunctional; some are already relegated to the category of
“Failed States”. The continent is wobbling with the combined
colossal weight of poverty, civil wars, genocide, famine,
scourge of HIV/AIDS, religious extremism, economic
mismanagement, rapid population growth, and dearth of
benign, democratic leadership.
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The Gangs Of New York |
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By Yusuf
Deyr, Hargeysa
Being a father of eight kids with unshaved heads and a wife
with a ringing tongue. Plus the political hiccups of
President Riyale. Sleeping has become lighter and more
difficult to persuade. That is why I often have premonitory
bad dreams that signals in my intuition the mysterious
narrow vision of our politicians in the political arena.
They are desperate for help but shying away from asking, due
to their deep ignorance. A missing relationship of trust in
between the public and the political leaders is a crucial
factor. That is why our political pledges don’t see the
light of the day time. Because our politicians have been
blinded by the gold – dust. That is why they can read
neither our lips nor our hearts. Mr. Riyale believes that
the self – absorbed – act of taking is a worthy quality. But
giving without expectation of reward regarded as an
eccentric one. Who knows where it might lead us to? In a
country where all mired in poverty, unemployment,
illiteracy, and disease. While some of special interest-
group jealously hoarding good amount of fortune of the
nation’s treasury. And yet they are baffled by the
resentment their ill action generates. Slamming the door on
our face in this age and time. A window – user spends one
third of his life in sleeping, one third in hesitating, and
one third in waiting. It is a bizarre! No jokes from now and
then. The thought is too scary rather than to be funny. Stay
tuned and watch. .
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Somaliland Society UK 3 Years Report (1st April 2006 – 7
June 2009) |
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The biggest Somaliland Demonstration
in support of the recognition of Somaliland held in
London on 22 February 2007 |
Prepared by:
Mohamed
Omer Maigag – Chair of SSUK on behalf of the committee
1) Somaliland Society UK - early history
If not the oldest, the Somaliland Society UK (SSUK) is one
of the oldest Somaliland Organisations in the UK. The SSUK
went through lot of changes and overcame many barriers since
it was established. Initially in the early years a group of
Somaliland intellectual used to meet in 1996 to have
political debates and thoughts in relation to what was
happening in Somaliland at that time. The debates were very
lively and at times generated in to disputes which created
fragmentation amongst those early Somaliland intellectuals.
The SSUK rose from this fragmentation. There were certain
social issues that the Somaliland community was dealing with
at the time such as young Somali boys in prisons and the
issues of Somalis killing other Somalis which was a new
phenomenon in the UK. This was an opportunity to grab the
massive energy, which was around and benefit from the wisdom
of Somaliland intellectuals and community leaders.
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Mourners carry
the body of slain Somali reporter Nasteh Dahir
Farah. (AP) |
CPJ’s Impunity Index spotlights countries where
journalists are slain and killers go free
New York, March 23, 2009 -- The already murderous conditions
for the press in Sri Lanka and Pakistan deteriorated further
in the past year, the Committee to Protect Journalists has
found in its newly updated Impunity Index, a list of
countries where journalists are killed regularly and
governments fail to solve the crimes. Colombia, historically
one of the world’s deadliest nations for the press, improved
as the rate of murders declined and prosecutors won
important recent convictions.
“We’re distressed to see justice worsen in places such as
Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Our findings indicate that the
failure to solve journalist murders perpetuates further
violence against the press,” said Joel Simon, CPJ executive
director. “Countries can get off this list of shame only by
committing themselves to seeking justice.”
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K'Naan At Fine Line Music Cafe |
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K’Naan |
Saturday, June 06, 2009 – Americans will never fully
grasp the distant and very pressing horrors of the Third
World, but it certainly helps that K’Naan absorbed
hip-hop and emigrated from his native, brutally chaotic
Somalia to Canada during his youth.
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Oxfam is providing water, shelter and other aid to
displaced persons in Somalia |
Mogadishu, Friday, 12 Jun 2009 - Somalia faces a
humanitarian crisis far worse than that suffered by Sudan's
Darfur region, a senior aid worker tells inthenews.co.uk.
Hassan Noor, humanitarian coordinator for Oxfam in Somalia,
toldinthenews.co.uk that as half of the population required
assistance aid the country faces a "crisis of monumental
proportions".
Around 119,000 are thought to have fled the Somali capital,
Mogadishu, after an offensive by insurgents plunged it into
fighting.
Mortar shells and machine-gunfire were reported over the
weekend as 35 people died.
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Libyan leader
Muammar Gaddafi |
As the
Libyan president pushes for the creation of the ‘United
States of Africa’ to boost the continent’s international
voice, African opposition and a lack of pragmatism prove
obstacles, Edoardo Totolo writes for ISN Security Watch.
By Edoardo Totolo for ISN Security Watch
Amsterdam, Jun 11 2009 – During his inaugural speech as
chairman of the African Union in February 2009, Libyan
President Muammar Gaddafi proposed the ambitious plan to
speed-up the establishment of the United States of Africa: a
federation of countries with one government, one currency,
one passport and one army. This proposal has reopened the
Pan-African debate on whether unity can bring peace and
development to the continent, but policy-makers and
academics seem to have diverging views on this issue.
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Dancing To Yankee Doodle Dandy |
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Dr. Terry Lacey
Development Economist
To Israel, President Obama represents Nemesis. The US may
conceivably reconcile with Iran, and put heavy pressure on
Israel to stop or reverse the creeping annexation of
Palestine. The upcoming speech of Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu has to square a circle and requires complex
political acrobatics.
But here is support from a strange quarter. Some of those
who wonder if the twin state is the best solution, and favor
an historical compromise with Hamas, may also welcome an
opportunity for a fresh start.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud
Barak, President Shimon Peres and Avigdor Liebermann, should
not have to dress up in Uncle Sam outfits and pretend they
are dancing to an American tune.
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