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Issue 394

Front Page

News Headlines

Weapons Supplied To Somalia Government By The US Are Sold In Mogadishu Markets

The Shortest Man In Somaliland Leaves For Norway

Somaliland Parliament Says Suspension Of Voter Registration Illegal

Tostan Holds Conference On Women’s Genital Mutilation

UN Agencies Launch Next Round Of Child Health Initiative In Somaliland

An Interview With Ambassador Marika Fahlen, Sweden’s Special Envoy For The Horn Of Africa

Somalia Tells All Visitors To Seek Government Approval

Somaliland Government Controlled Media Used To Incite Extremism

Local and Regional Affairs

A CALL FOR DIALOGUE: To Hold A Free, Fair And Peaceful Presidential Election

East Africa: Ethiopia Takes Part in First East African Independent Producers Forum

Somalia Mosque Victims Belonged To Southern Punjab

Kenyan Court Drops Charges, Clears Way For Canadian Woman To Return Home

Al Shabaab Reportedly Beheads 4 Christians, Rips Gold Teeth From Locals' Mouths

2 Somali Women, Children Die In Fire

3rd Man Pleads Guilty In Missing Somalis Case

Man Gets 23 Years In Killing Of Somali Restaurant Cook

Athens Police Attack Somali Protesters

Libyans Kill 20 Somali Prisoners

Somalia: The Trouble with Puntland

Somali Insurgents Reject Government’s Olive Branch

Amnesty International Calls For Accountability And Safeguards On Arms Transfers To Somalia’s TFG

Eastern Africa Standby Force To Be Ready Next Year

Somali Islamists Pull Teeth From "Sinners": Residents

Communiqué: Conference With Former Senior Somali Military And Police Officers

Clinton And South African Discuss Somalia

Tribute To Ali Marshal

Editorial

Western Countries Encourage Piracy By Paying Ransom

Features & Commentary

Somalia: The Center Cannot Hold

Incredible Journey of Somali Human Right Activist Waris Dirie – The Movie

Escape From Somaliland

Without Free Movement, East Africa Will Keep Marking Time

Clinton's Africa Trip Highlights Importance US Attaches To The Continent

What Was Siyad Barre's Relation To A Fundamentalist Christian Group?

Legal Brief On The Suspension Of The Voter Registration List

Mandela – Poem

AT THE MERCY OF SOMALI PIRATES: Hansa Stavanger Crew Describe Hostage Ordeal

Where Camels Once Trod, A Train Crosses Australia

Update: Independent Diplomat Responds

US Misguided In Moving To Arm Somalia, Say Analysts

President Isaias's Encounter With The Financial Times

Somalia: The Trouble With Puntland – Report

International News

 

Woman Who Tried To Kill Ford Released From Prison

A Short Guide To Tools For Citizen Journalists

Australian Camels Facing Slaughter

UN Human Rights Expert Sounds Alarm On Draft Media Laws In Venezuela

Poll Shows Afghan Vote Headed For Second Round

Bristol's World Cup Bid Brings Communities Together . . . On The Football Field

Opinion

A Crucial Week For Somaliland: A Time For Action

Building Bridges For Somaliland University Student Outside And Inside The Country

Why I Fear For Somalia

Africa’s Best-Kept Secret “Somaliland” Is In Need For A Change!

Lost Faith In The System

Somalilanders Around The Globe: Vote For Change

Where There Is No Donor

Al-Shabaab: “The” Number One Enemy Of Islam And Somali People

President Riyale And The Election Commission Are The Reason Of The Election’s Bone Of Contention

Somalilanders Around The Globe: Vote For Change

By Amina Ahmed Hassan

It seems that we (Somalilanders) are naïve, trusting, blindly peace loving people and tend to see the world in terms of black and white, but at some point we have to realize that too narrow of view point can be self-defeating. We need to regroup, assess our priorities and decide what is worth devoting our time and energy to and what can and must be ignored, at least for the time being. What is worth devoting our time and energy to, is building our country and the future our children. What we have to ignore is finger-pointing at each other and creating division among us at this crucial time and a turning point of our political life.

Riyale expelled the Interpeace and threw out the voter’s registrations because he doesn’t want free, fair and observed election process by international bodies. He knows that there is no ways he could be re-elected. Thus, he wants to rig the outcome of the election. So, open your eyes and ears Somalilanders of what is going on around you. In desperation, he may seek support from none Somalilanders and give birth certificates to them. Keep a watchful eye on that. Dalka adaa leh, dantaada weeye inuu hagaago.

Riyale has no programs or mandate on what changes he is going to make and why he should be re-elected. He only wants the perks and the privileges of power, but he is not qualified for the job of the head of state. Case in point, if you go to the three National parties websites to make comparisons between our politicians qualifications, you will find lists of highly educated people in both Kulmiye and UCID parties. But go to UDUB and their website does not exist. That says a lot about the qualifications and competence of the ruling party.

Mr. Riyale is a liability and distraction to our democratic process, to our existence, to our economic progress, and the quest for our recognition. He had dissipated our time, money, and efforts. What hasn’t been done in the seven years he has been in power is not likely to be done in the next five years. Don’t believe anything he has to say. Vote for change.

Realistically, let us ask ourselves, what has he done so far and why he deserves your vote? The answer is nothing! After seven years in power, Hargeysa is still like a ghost town, no electricity, no water, no proper roads, no health care, no jobs creation and so forth. There is sense of anger, disenchantment and despair. Like the dictator before him, our young men and women (the future of our country) are leaving the country in dangerous stowaway because they do not see a future in their own country. Their dead bodies are surfacing on the shores of other countries while Riyale’s children are traveling on first class airlines and attending the best schools that money can buy abroad. He works for himself and accumulates wealth, building luxurious homes and stashing public money overseas for himself. He makes public money his own and uses as he pleases for such as back door dealings, buying loyalty and votes to hold on to power.

Take charge Somalilanders. Send a message to Riyale and to those shadowy power behind his grip on the presidency. They know who they are. We are not going to put up with them anymore. Show them the door. Vote for change.

For this election, like the previous election and voting events he will use the public money to bribe you for him to be elected. Take the money and give him the finger because it is illegal to buy votes. It is time for him to go. Show him the door and vote for change.

Codkaagu yuu ku ciilin. Dalka adaa leh, dantaada weeye inuu hagaago. Riyaale ma doonayno, dib u soo noqon maayo. Ku dadaal inaad siiso codkaaga ciddii dan kaa leh.

Amina Ahmed Hassan

gurhan02@yahoo.com

Calgary, Alberta






 

 


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