The battle erupted after tribal militia loyal to Somalia’s former Prime Minister, Ali Khalif Galayr, backed by Ethiopia’s Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebel members launched pre-dawn assault on Somaliland military base in the outskirts of Buhoodle town.

Eyewitnesses said the fighting was the heaviest yet in the region and many residents were fleeing from Buhoodle town and the surrounding villages.

The exact number of people injured or killed in the fresh battle is not yet known however Somaliland’s minister of defense Ahmed Hajji Ali Adami said the army killed 20 militants, captured 40 fighters and confiscated 4 battle-wagons. He noted that the Somaliland forces lost at least six soldiers and over ten sustained various injuries.

Eyewitness accounts in the area said that Somaliland army captured as many as 120 fighters from the tribal militia and added 14 were wounded from Somaliland troops.

The latest clash comes day after Ethiopia expelled Ali Khalif Galayr from Addis Ababa where he fled to two weeks ago. It was reported that Ethiopian police stormed a hotel in the Ethiopian capital where Ali Khalif was staying with some of his senior supporters. They added he was forced out of Ethiopia and its not clear where he departed to.

The expulsion follows after President Silanyo met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in which he forwarded his security concerns regarding Ali Khalif and his tribal militia.

PM Zenawi promised he will assist Somaliland in regards to this matter and made it clear his country would not host such group who could destabilize the entire region. President Silanyo welcomed Ethiopia’s commitment to security and reaffirmed that Somaliland was a friend.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal

Wednesday, Feb 8, 2012

There are other reports that indicate an accusatory culpability to Somali administration province in Ethiopia that they have aided and abetted the warlords that held a tribal meeting in Taleeh by providing security guards that escorted them to Taleh.

Somaliland government has forwarded memo of concern on that matter to Ethiopian representative to Hargeisa which has denied that his government was assisting the terrorist group that met in Taleh. Last week’s conflict in Buhoodle town has seen the result of 40 people killed between Somaliland forces and the local militia headed by US Professor Ali Khalif.

Somalilandpress
Biggest English-Somali news portal
Saturday, January 31, 2012

LONDON — Others perhaps did not even know Somaliland had declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and that, in spite of not having been recognised internationally, it does have – unlike Somalia – a working political system and a strong business sector.

Mr Yusef of course knew. Although he now manages a very successful investment firm in the United Kingdom, Invicta Capital Limited, he has always kept in touch with the land where he was born six decades ago, while it still was a British protectorate.

“If what my parents say is true, I always had a mentality for trade, for business, and it’s not inconsistent with the family history because the family originated from a fishing village on the Gulf of Aden,” he told the BBC’s series African Dream.

“My great-grandfather was one of those people that would trade with Aden.”

Mr Yusef was educated in the UK where he trained as a solicitor and practiced as a commercial lawyer before starting his own law practice specializing in commercial law, copyright and media law in London.

In 1999 he founded Invicta, a private equity firm providing finance for the media, commercial property and renewable energy sectors which, according to its website, has raised over £1.4bn ($2.3bn) of investment capital.

Minding the gap

His Somaliland business is handled through a company called Prime Resources which has a staff of nine people in Hargeisa, the capital.

According to him, the firm has invested in mining, and oil and gas exploration and is about to embark on a $40m exploration programme. It is also evaluating business opportunities in Somalia in the agricultural and property sectors.

“When I first started looking at investment in Somaliland even my professional colleagues would say: ‘You’re mad. This doesn’t make any sense’,” he remembers.

“Not only did they confuse Somaliland with Somalia but it does have the problem of being an unrecognised country,” he told the BBC’s Mary Harper.

“But actually nobody ever made money from following the herd and the most money is often to be made where there is a mismatch between what people perceive to be the place and the reality of what it is, and Somaliland is exactly in those kinds of circumstances where there is a huge gap between the reality and the perception.”

“So actually there is a method to my madness and it isn’t inconsistent with the basic principles of business: Go find yourself a situation that nobody else has spotted and be prepared to hang on in there while everybody else catches up.”

“There is no inconsistency between what we look for when we invest in an opportunity here [in London] and what we look for over there, except that the potential rewards in Somaliland are far greater, ironically.”

The Hollywood connection

Mr Yusef’s first business venture was buying and selling a film library.

“I was lucky in that I knew who my buyer was going to be, so it was one of those crazy situations where I knew I could buy for X and sell for Y,” he said.

“In many ways, it’s the worst first lesson to have in business because you run away with the idea that business is actually quite easy.”

However, this experience was probably helpful to him when, later, he decided to specialise in structured film financing.

Invicta has been involved in the financial side of many successful film projects, including Wallace & Grommit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Da Vinci Code and James Bond’s Casino Royale.

Although now he manages big money, Mr Yusef says that he started with very little.

“I had enough capital to pay the rent of an office for six months. I think it was enough to pay the secretary and assistant. That was it.

“But it didn’t take much. It never takes much. Not having money is never really the obstacle, it’s the excuse.”

‘Fascinating people’

Mr Yusef says that for him one of the most exciting things about his business is meeting people.

“You meet fantastic people, even the ones you don’t like. They’re fascinating”.

He believes that it is often easier to get to know others in stressful situations because they cannot “keep their pretences up for very long”.

He also takes delight in the intellectual challenges offered by his job.

“Every situation is different from the last. And the mistake often made is to assume ‘Oh, I know how that story is going to end’. So there’s always that tension – positive stress is what I call it – that keeps one going,” he says.

“After a while, it may sound a bit glib to say this, the money motive isn’t the main driver. Once you’ve reached a certain level of security – you’ve paid the mortgage if you still had one and taken care of the basics of life, and you can afford one or two luxuries – people who accumulate businesses and business interests just to make more money are a little bit unwell, I think.

“The biggest driver for people in business, if you look at it, is the creative drive, to create something from nothing and step back and say: ‘That was nothing then, look at it now’. I’m sure that’s the key motivator for most people who are successful in business.”

And what advice would he give to someone who wants to start in business?

“Control your fear and never give up because you will fail more than you succeed, and I think that’s the thing that my father taught me more than anything else, and that’s that ultimately you will prevail if you take your losses as well as your successes and learn from the losses. We learn nothing from success and everything from failure.

“I think the thing that separates the natural businessman and, let’s say, a business consultant, is the tenacity that is required. Many people give up on their dreams and their ideas faster than they should, and even when they do fail, they should figure out why they failed and then look for the next opportunity.”

African Dream is broadcast on the BBC Network Africa programme every Monday morning.

ABOUT:

Mohammed Yusef

• Age: 60

• First business venture: buying and selling a film library

• Trained as a solicitor

• Practiced as a commercial lawyer before founding his own law practice in London

• Founded Invicta Capital in 1999

• His Somaliland business is handled through a company called Prime Resources

• Prime has a staff of nine people in Hargeisa

BBC

Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012

The organizing gangsters of the hijacked Taleex Meeting have their families in North America and Europe. They come to Somaliland to create instability for illegal political gains, and their children are enjoying western education system, and world-class health at the expenses of the children in Buuhoodle Town who are dying from the political instability created by the gangsters.
The government of Somaliland has development projects for Buuhoodle Town as per Somaliland’s National Budget 2012, including new schools, health centers and proper infrastructure. The development started in Laasaanood city, and Buuhoodle will not be much different.

The policy of creating government out of eastern regions of Somaliland will lead further bloodshed between the different tribes in the regions, who mainly support Somaliland. The gangsters believe use of force against others, who disobey their instructions, and Somaliland government will not allow parts of its territory to be used by gangsters and terrorists. The international community is trying to get long-lasting solution for the problem of former “Somalia” while the gangsters of TALEEX Meeting are creating chaos in one of the most peaceful regions in Africa.
The interesting point is: TALEEX gangsters claim Sool, Sanaag and Buuhoodle regions based on ethnicity (tribalism) and wrongly believe that the three regions belong to Dhulbahante tribe. However, if that is the case, why the gangsters don’t demand parts of Ethiopia that is inhabited by Dhulbahante tribe! Or do the theory is applicable to Somaliland only?!
It is absolutely clear that majority of the gangsters are former colleagues of dead dictator Siyad Barre according to their bio-data. In 1990’s, the gangsters convinced the former UN General Secretary Boutros Ghali to send UN Troops into “Somalia” and troops must capture Somaliland territory – although Somaliland was peaceful. But UN troops could not handle the heat of the brave General Mohamed Farah Aideed.
Moreover, the gangsters influenced transitional governments of “Somalia” in last 21years to stonewall Somaliland cause of independence, and they succeeded because every official in transitional government of “Somalia” rejects Somaliland’s right of self-determination, even, without understanding the purpose and reason behind the cause.
Somaliland demography is based on the colonial border that was endorsed by the Organization of African Union (OAU) currently known African Union (AU) in 1964. These three regions are within Somaliland’s colonial border that was part of OAU’s endorsement.
As part of their hatred, the gangsters joined hands with parts of former “Somalia” to form the illegitimate semi-autonomous region of “Puntland”, which hosts the world’s modern pirates of today. They claimed aforesaid three regions of Somaliland, in order to undermine Somaliland’s cause of sovereignty.
Somaliland development and democracy won international attention, which overshadowed the silly accusations and propagandas of the gangsters against Somaliland. After the gangsters failed to downgrade Somaliland democracy and progress, they formed armed militia to disturb the stability and security in Somaliland. However, Somaliland National Army crushed the militia and brought the evil agendas of the gangsters to the end…
The gangsters formed fake organizations Pen Names mainly in North America and Europe to campaign against Somaliland cause. They write thousands of articles to downgrade Somaliland.
Today the gangsters failed to unite over the outcome of the TALEEX Meeting, and the fugitive head of the SSC armed group Xagle Toosiye(Somali-American) rejected to accept the outcome. Toosiye is wanted across criminal for his involvement in armed attacks and suicide bombing in Somaliland. After TALEEX Meeting concluded against his interest, Toosiye rejected the outcome and called for peace with Somaliland.
Although Toosiye failed to accept the peace initiative by Somaliland President Siilaanyo one year ago, however, Somaliland will not turn down his peace application.
After collapse of former “Somalia”, all Somaliland tribes met in Burao City in 1991 and signed the independence of Somaliland from rest of “Somalia”. Again the initial agreement in Burao City was endorsed again in Boorame Accord. The boss of G6 Khalif Galaydh was elected as Somaliland Parliament Speaker, as he primarily believed in the independence of Somaliland. After Galaydh failed to achieve his political ambitions through Somaliland multiparty system, he decided to use force by SSC terrorist group. He is using TALEEX Meeting and so-called KHAATUMO as tool that will win him a seat in the upcoming London Somali Reconciliation Meeting.
Galaydh miscalculated Sool. Sanaag and Buuhoodle demography. He must know that more than 9 tribes own these regions and not only Dhulbahante. Galaydh and his henchmen in TALEEX Meeting attacked Somaliland through SSC, which led recent fighting in Buuhoodle Town after military posts were targeted with artillery shelling. The regional governments like Ethiopia must cooperate with Somaliland to flush out SSC terrorist who are destabilizing the region.
The main financial source for SSC group is piracy and drugs smuggling in addition to contributions from its Northern America and Europe. The illegal war of SSC group in the eastern regions of Somaliland disabled the planned development projects by Somaliland.
The existence of SSC in the border between Somaliland and “Somalia” will have negative impact on future cooperation between Somali people.

By\ Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi
Email: az.almutairi@yahoo.com

Our country is in danger, and needs your support. These days our nation is facing a concerted crusade by the UN with their front man Mr. Mehiga and the pathetic Sharif government to destabilize Somaliland. They have been plotting this scheme for quite some time with some disgruntled SSE and Awdalite Diaspora to proclaim Bantustan states inside Somaliland with the intention of dismantling Somaliland from within. It is appalling to see that the western countries donation is being misused for such a wicked act.

Instead of making peace in war torn and hunger ravaged Somalia, they diverted their attention to spread war and instability in the peace haven Somaliland by supporting the Teleex Conference. I call upon all die-hard Somalialnders, especially those residing in the West to come out in full force and demonstrate against this subversion by the UN and certain Western countries to disintegrate Somaliland,. Its the right time that all of you come out in force and show the world that Somaliland is in danger. Britain is one of those countries who are behind this new initiative, paving the way for the so-called Somali Conference taking place in London in February. This conspiracy has been brewing while we have been too busy developing our country. The international community should know that the UN is behind this episode in Somaliland, and we the people of Somaliland must stand together and fight back. They want to destroy what we have built for the past 21 years, instead of helping us to achieve more. This is what is happening my fellow countrymen. I encourage you all to come out and express your feelings towards your country.

It’s ironic that Mr. David Cameron is now allowing a referendum to take place for the separation of Scotland who has been part and parcel of United Kingdom for centuries, and yet deny the people of Somaliland, the right of self determination which they overwhelmingly endorsed by referendum in 2001, and the outcome was 97%. Our referendum was witnessed by the International Community who declared it’s free and fairness. Our people were in believe that the UK will stand with them, but the double standards of West is showing, every days with unprecedented scale, and equally immoral.

I hope our people will hear me and support their country every way possible, and heed this call immediately.

Omer Hussein Dualeh,
Doha – Qatar
omer.dualeh@gmail.com

The FBI accused the warlord of organizing and sponsoring terrorist group “SSC” which is trying to fight Somaliland Army. The group has links with Al-Shabab, where they receive training on explosive and suicide bombing.

In other hand, formation of new warlords in the region will be undermining the efforts of the international community to end the violence and ‘warlordism’ in former “Somalia”. As we know, the international community spend time and money to eliminate the warlords and to stabilize the former “Somalia”. The new warlord Suleiman Essa Ahmed is working tirelessly to destabilize Somaliland democracy and security.

“Somalia’s” TFG President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed met the fugitive Somali-American warlord Suleiman Essa Ahmed in Mogadishu and agreed upon certain points, which undermines the sovereignty and security of Somaliland. The points include direct relationship between TFG and “SSC”. Sheikh Sharif Ahmed government will provide financial and military aid to the terrorist group in order to disturb the development in Somaliland, particularly its eastern regions.

Moreover, “Somalia’s” Interim Prime Minister AbdulWali Mohamed Ali (Gaas) – who represent bogus “Puntland” interests – was present in the meeting with “SSC”. The meeting, clearly, was an attempt to destroy. However, “SSC” is too weak to carry out its new obligations against Somaliland.

The meeting, also, discussed restoration of failed theory of “Somaliweyn” which is to unite all Somali speaking communities in East Africa under “Somalia”. This theory was first adopted in last century by the “Somalia” government and it led invasion of Ethiopia and bad diplomatic relation with Kenya. According to the theory, Ethiopia and Kenya must give up from its Somali ethnic groups and large portion of their territories. Somali ethnic groups occupy large parts of Ethiopia and Kenya. The independence of Djibouti and Somaliland ruined the theory, as both are mainly Somalis.

Such deceitful meeting between TFG President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and fugitive warlord Suleiman Essa Ahmed, who has links to Al-Qaeda’s wing in Africa – Al-Shabab – coincided a time that Somaliland delegates are distributing aid to the displaced people in Mogadishu. The goodwill of Somalilanders led fundraising campaigns to help the Somalians devastated by the hunger.

Somaliland donated $700,000 in aid to the people of “Somalia”, which puts Somaliland at the highest donations between the African countries. The statistics showed South Africa after Somaliland with $500,000.

Unfortunately instead of gratitude and appreciation, TFG President is sponsoring terrorists to undermine the people of Somaliland. The leading regional money transfer company – Dahabshiil who hails from Somaliland – donated $100,000 in the fundraising, which is lifts the total money donated by Somalilanders to $800,000.

The government of Somaliland handed over the money at a time thousands of Somalilanders where in need for aid, but the magnitude of the devastation in “Somalia” was higher compare to Somaliland. The newly elected government of Somaliland led by President Siilaanyo has taken bold political risk in the aid, as the opposition accused of donating while Somalilanders are in greater need.

It is unfortunate and disappointment to the people of Somaliland to realize that TFG President Sheikh Sharif and his prime minister are working on failing Somaliland, where Somalilanders are helping the poor people of their countrymen. As sensible leader, it is your duty to help your people at hard times, instead of betraying those who step forward to help your countrymen.

Furthermore, the supporters of terrorist warlord Suleiman Essa Ahmed collected thousands of dollars across the world, in order to fight Somaliland, and did not donate to the people of “Somalia” who are suffering from droughts. The Somali diaspora that supports the warlord called raised money to purchase illegal weapon against Somaliland in the black markets, while people are dying for hunger in “Somalia”.

The so called “Puntland” has revenues including piracy ransom and revenues from Bosaso seaport, however, until today, the region did not help the drought hit regions of “Somalia” – countrymen.

The civilians in Mogadishu, mainly the inhabitant tribes of Banadir region, are very peaceful and thankful to those who help them in the difficult days. The Somaliland delegates were received at the airport with warm reception, which illustrates the appreciation of the people of Mogadishu. It’s obvious and clear to everyone who follow the politics in “Somalia”, that problem makers are mainly from “Puntland” and Al-Shabab, where “Puntland” imposes preconditions to every peace conference and transitional governments.

The people of Somaliland thanked to their brothers in Mogadishu for the reception, and promised to be supportive until the people of “Somalia” particularly Mogadishu get peace and back to normal life. Somaliland could, also, help Somalia in restoring peace if “Somalia” recognizes Somaliland.

The people of Mogadishu know that former leader of “Puntland” Abdullah Yusuf send troops as tool of revenge against the people of Mogadishu, as they know that Somali nationalism is not by words but in heart. The people of Mogadishu realized the hypocrisy of “Puntland”, while the free people of Somaliland are busy with helping people in refugee camps in Kenya particularly Dadaab near Somalia border.

Somaliland is and will always be supportive to the people of “Somalia”.

By\ Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi
Email: az.almutairi@yahoo.com

1-ACCOUNTANT

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

TIS is recruiting for the position of Accountant, based in Hargeisa. The Accountant will manage all transactions related to the DAI TIS project. S/he will ensure that the outlined financial policies and procedures are implemented and followed in the assigned area. The Accountant is responsible for providing complete and accurate field reports to the Home Office for all field office financial activities. S/he will provide support in other finance areas as necessary and maintain a positive working relationship with the DAI Home Office staff.

EDUCATION
- University degree in Accounting, Commerce, or Financial Management or other appropriate field.
- Other training or certification in accounting preferred.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Three years experience in financial accounting or bookkeeping.
- Experience working using Oracle as a financial management system preferred.
- Previous auditing experience highly sought.
- Previous experience working in Somalia highly sought.
- Knowledge of local tax laws.
- USAID experience a plus.
- In addition, must be flexible, willing to perform assigned and additional duties and work irregular hours under unpredictable conditions.
SKILLS- Demonstrated expertise working on a Somalia program preferred.
- Ability to audit financial documentation.
- Ability to prepare financial reports.
- Knowledge of accounting software.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of professional relationships essential.

LANGUAGES
- English and Somali language fluency required.
Base of Operations:
- One position each in Hargeisa, Somaliland; Nairobi, Kenya; Galmudug and Puntland

2-
DRIVER (FSN CLASSIFICATION 3)

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

The Driver will be responsible for the safe transport of staff, goods and documentation on behalf of the program. In addition, the Driver ensures that vehicles are properly maintained and fueled and that records on vehicle maintenance are maintained. The Driver may be requested to perform other office functions at the request of the Chief of Party, Office Manager or Senior Project Advisors.

EDUCATION
- Secondary school level certificate
- Valid Driving license

WORK EXPERIENCE
- Excellent knowledge of the duty station area is a must. Knowledge of additional areas covered by the duty station’s regional office is a significant advantage.
- Good understanding of vehicles, especially 4x4s.
- At least 5 years’ experience in driving.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills required.
- Good character and honesty in all dealings with and on behalf the organization. Needs to be respectful and flexible with working hours.
- Needs to be culture sensitive.
- Sound physical condition, including and especially eyesight. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit to an eye test to verify good optical health.
- Auto mechanic and vehicle maintenance skills will be an added advantage.

LANGUAGES:
Somali and English language fluency required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
NONE

BASE OF OPERATIONS:
Hargeisa, Somaliland; Nairobi, Kenya; Galmudug and Puntland

3- GRANTS OFFICER/ENGINEER

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

The Grants Officer/Engineer will work closely with the Senior Grants Manager, the Senior Engineer, the field-based Project Advisor, Procurement, Finance, and other functional teams, as well as USAID, local government officials, and community leaders to support the above noted program objectives.

The work of the Grants Officer/Engineer requires detailed knowledge of Somali culture, engineering and construction, highly developed collaboration and networking skills and the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility.

EDUCATION
- University degree in Engineering, Political Science, International Relations, International Development or appropriate field.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Three years of progressively responsible professional experience are required. Experience in working on engineering and/or construction projects highly desirable.
- Three years experience working with USAID or an international donor is preferred, but not required.
- Experience in program development, reporting; budgeting; networking highly sought.
- Fluency in written and spoken English.
- Previous experience working in Somalia highly sought.
- In addition, must be flexible, willing to perform assigned and additional duties and work irregular hours under unpredictable conditions.
SKILLS
- Demonstrated expertise working in Somaliland/Somalia on construction and/or engineering projects and socio-political and culture issues.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of professional relationships essential.
LANGUAGES
- English and Somali language fluency required.
Base of Operations:
- Hargeisa, Somaliland (three positions), Galmudug (one position) and Puntland (one position)

3- GRANTS OFFICER/ENGINEER

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

The Grants Officer/Engineer will work closely with the Senior Grants Manager, the Senior Engineer, the field-based Project Advisor, Procurement, Finance, and other functional teams, as well as USAID, local government officials, and community leaders to support the above noted program objectives.

The work of the Grants Officer/Engineer requires detailed knowledge of Somali culture, engineering and construction, highly developed collaboration and networking skills and the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility.

EDUCATION
- University degree in Engineering, Political Science, International Relations, International Development or appropriate field.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Three years of progressively responsible professional experience are required. Experience in working on engineering and/or construction projects highly desirable.
- Three years experience working with USAID or an international donor is preferred, but not required.
- Experience in program development, reporting; budgeting; networking highly sought.
- Fluency in written and spoken English.
- Previous experience working in Somalia highly sought.
- In addition, must be flexible, willing to perform assigned and additional duties and work irregular hours under unpredictable conditions.
SKILLS
- Demonstrated expertise working in Somaliland/Somalia on construction and/or engineering projects and socio-political and culture issues.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of professional relationships essential.
LANGUAGES
- English and Somali language fluency required.
Base of Operations:
- Hargeisa, Somaliland (three positions), Galmudug (one position) and Puntland (one position)

INFORMATION MANAGER

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

TIS is recruiting for the position of Information Manager, based in Hargeisa. The Information Manager is responsible for managing the program’s information and communication needs. In high-profile, high-pressure environments, quick results reporting is expected. The Activity Database provides the means to meet USAID’s needs and to exceed reporting expectations. The Information Manager will utilize the information in the Activity Database and information from monitoring and evaluation reports in the field to compile appropriate reporting on program status and impact, including regular reports, success stories, press releases, and ad hoc reports on how the program responds to particular issues.

EDUCATION
- University degree in Mass Communication, English Language/Literature or other appropriate field.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- A minimum of three years of experience in international development.
- Familiar with activity and grant reporting methods and systems.
- Familiar with Microsoft Office suites.
- Experience with deadline-driven writing assignments.
- Experience in media, multimedia reporting, political journalism, and political analysis required.

LANGUAGES
- English and Somali language fluency required.

5- INFORMATION OFFICER

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

The Information Officer is responsible for handling the program’s information and communication needs and programming. In high profile, high pressure environments, quick results reporting is expected. In addition to compiling appropriate reporting on program status and impact, including regular reports, success stories, press releases, and ad hoc reports on how the program responds to particular issues, s/he will inform field office programming with regard to media, communications and information activities.

EDUCATION
• University degree in Mass Communication, English Language/Literature or other appropriate field, or equivalent.

WORK EXPERIENCE
• A minimum of two years of experience in international development.
• Familiar with activity and grant reporting methods and systems.
• Familiar with Microsoft Office suites.
• Experience with deadline-driven writing assignments.
• Experience in media, multimedia reporting, political journalism, and political analysis required.

LANGUAGES
• English and Somali language fluency required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• None
BASE OF OPERATIONS:
• Hargeisa, Somaliland; Galmudug; Puntland

6- IT & DATABASE OFFICER

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

TIS is recruiting for the position of Information Technology (IT) & Database Officer, based in Hargeisa. The IT & Database Officer will be based in the field office and work closely with the IT Manager and TIS DAI’s functional team in particular the program and grant teams to support the above noted program objectives.

The work of the IT & Database Officer requires a good working knowledge of data security and Microsoft Access as well as a keen eye for detail and maintaining data quality.

EDUCATION
- University degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or appropriate field.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Two to three years experience working in Information technology, in a computer support position
- Experience working in a complex and challenging field environment.
- PC and server support experience, especially with Windows Server & Windows Client operating systems.
- Experience or basic knowledge of Lotus Notes Client Administration, and replication within a WAN.
SKILLS
- Good knowledge of computer hardware and software theory.
- Computer skills including Microsoft Office applications, Lotus Notes, Windows operating systems
- Fluency in written and spoken English.
- Experience in data security.
- Previous experience working in Somalia highly sought.
- In addition, must be flexible, willing to perform assigned and additional duties and work irregular hours under unpredictable conditions.
- Demonstrated IT expertise working in Somalia preferred.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of professional relationships essential.
LANGUAGES
- English and Somali language fluency required.
Base of Operations:
- Hargeisa, Somaliland

7- MULTIMEDIA OFFICER

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

Under the overall supervision of the Transition Initiative for Stabilization Chief of Party, and the direct supervision of the Information Manager, the successful applicant will coordinate and implement the Media and Communications strategy and activities under the TIS project.

EDUCATION
- University Degree in Communications or Information Management; alternatively a combination of relevant education and professional experience.

WORK EXPERIENCE
- A minimum of three years of significant experience in media/communications, especially related to the field of international development or with an international organization.
- Familiarity with different communications approaches, tools and methodologies.
- Good understanding of public and media relations.
- Ability to plan and create communications that anticipate and are responsive to the needs of the project.
- USAID experience a plus.
- In addition, must be flexible, willing to perform assigned and additional duties and work irregular hours under unpredictable conditions.

SKILLS
- Demonstrated expertise working on a Somalia program preferred.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills.
- Strong computer skills; proven ability to use MS Office, PowerPoint, and experience in web site development and maintenance. Knowledge of video editing preferred.
- Competencies as an effective communicator, successful negotiator, active learner, team player, and cross-cultural facilitator.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of professional relationships essential.

LANGUAGES
- English and Somali language fluency required.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- None
BASE OF OPERATIONS:
- Hargeisa, Somaliland

OFFICE ASSISTANT/RECEPTIONIST (FSN CLASSIFICATION 7)

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

The Office Assistant/Receptionist will be responsible for front office functions of the TIS program offices. S/he will answer telephones and handle program communications at the direction of the HR/Office Manager (Nairobi) or Procurement/Logistics Officers (Somaliland, Galmudug, Puntland). In addition, s/he will design and maintain the filing system, make photocopies, make travel and visa arrangements and perform other administrative functions as requested by the HR/Office Manager (Nairobi) or Procurement/Logistics Officers (Somaliland, Galmudug, Puntland).

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION :
- Diploma in Administration or any other relevant field.
- IT competency.

WORK EXPERIENCE
1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Somali.
2. At least 3 years’ experience in a similar position.
3. Working knowledge in using Microsoft office required.
4. Honesty, confidentiality and integrity required.
5. Cultural sensitivity.
6. Ability to work with strict deadlines.
7. Competency in performing multiple functional tasks.
8. Good interpersonal skills.

LANGUAGES
- Somali and English language fluency required.

BASE OF OPERATIONS:
• One position available in each location Hargeisa, Somaliland; Nairobi, Kenya; Galmudug and Puntland

PROCUREMENT/LOGISTICS OFFICER

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

The Procurement/Logistics Officer will work closely with TIS functional teams to include and not limited to the program and grants team, the program grantees and vendors to support the above-referenced program objectives.

The work of Procurement/Logistics Officer requires detailed knowledge of Somali culture, highly developed collaboration and networking skills and the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility.

EDUCATION
- University degree in Business Administration, International Relations, International Development or appropriate field.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Experience working in a complex and challenging field operation in unstable developing countries to include work in either humanitarian, transitional, or general development programmatic areas;
- Experience in training teams;
- Experience setting up systems and office procurement;
- Familiarity with audit processes preferred;
- Experience with compliance, budgeting, financial management, and competitive procurement;
- Previous experience working in Somalia highly sought;
- In addition, must be flexible, willing to perform assigned and additional duties and work irregular hours under unpredictable conditions.
SKILLS
- Demonstrated expertise working in Somalia on socio-political and culture issues.
- Demonstrated integrity and adherence to highest ethical standards.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of professional relationships essential.

LANGUAGES
- English and Somali language fluency required.
Base of Operations:
- Nairobi (1 position); Hargeisa (1 position); Galmudug (1 position); Puntland (1 position)

PROJECT ADVISOR

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

TIS is recruiting for the position of Project Advisor, based in Hargeisa. Under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Advisor, based in Hargeisa, the successful candidate will be responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of TIS grant activities in his/her area of responsibility. The Project Advisor will work closely with the relevant and appropriate Somaliland entities at the regional and district level.

EDUCATION
- University degree in law, international relations, governance, development or a related field, or related field such as economics

WORK EXPERIENCE

- Minimum of three years of professional experience or equivalent in the field of governance and development.
- Minimum of two years specific experience in the field of development with project design, implementation and management.
- Experience in community participation and consensus-building projects.
- Thorough knowledge and understanding of government structures and current development planning in Somaliland, and especially Hargeisa.
- Demonstrated capacity to understand and analyze the national, regional, and local political context in Somaliland, and especially Hargeisa.
- Capacity to communicate in English verbally and written.
- Flexibility in working hours and ability to work under pressure.
- Experience in municipalities and underserved areas.
- Have experience writing and presenting reports formal reports.

SKILLS.
- A drive for results in a high-volume, quick-paced program environment; creativity and analytical capability required to respond to evolving program demands and current events.
- Excellent computer skills, including MS Office suite.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of professional relationships essential.

LANGUAGES
- English and Somali language fluency required.

Base of Operations:
- Hargeisa, Somaliland

SENIOR PROJECT ADVISOR

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

TIS is recruiting for the position of Senior Project Advisor, based in Hargeisa. The Senior Project Advisor will be the principle monitor of the TIS program at the designated regional and district levels, and will be the main interlocutor between government and community interests in the designated area of responsibility. S/he will be expected to play an active and constructive role in providing consistent information, analysis and strategic recommendations to the TIS program management, including best practices and program and political challenges. The Senior Project Advisor will convey to program counterparts in Government and at the community level the key methodologies and objectives of the TIS.

The Senior Project Advisor will forge good relationships across government and community interlocutors, and across a broad range of local, regional and national interests toward joint implementation of grant initiatives. The Senior Project Advisor will be responsive to, and interpretive of, current events in the designated area of responsibility. As the main TIS counterpart to government and communities in the designated area of responsibility, the Senior Project Advisor will be capable of rapid, coordinated action to capture opportunities for positive change and confidence-building with all program counterparts.

EDUCATION
- University degree in law, international relations, governance, development or a related field, or related field such as economics
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of five years of professional experience in the field of governance and development.
- Minimum of three years specific experience in the field of development with project design, implementation and management.
- Experience in community participation and consensus-building projects.
- Thorough knowledge and understanding of government structures and current development planning in Somaliland, and especially Hargeisa.
- Demonstrated capacity to understand and analyze the national, regional, and local political context in Somaliland, and especially Hargeisa.
- Capacity to communicate in English verbally and written.
- Flexibility in working hours and ability to work under pressure.
- Experience in municipalities and underserved areas.
- Have experience writing and presenting reports formal reports.

SKILLS
- Management and mentoring skills.
- A drive for results in a high-volume, quick-paced program environment; creativity and analytical capability required to respond to evolving program demands and current events.
- Excellent computer skills, including MS Office suite.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of professional relationships essential.

LANGUAGES
- English and Somali language fluency required.
Base of Operations:
- Hargeisa, Somaliland

SENIOR ENGINEER

The Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS), funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responds to the complex crisis that has evolved in Somalia and self-declared region of Somaliland. The overall program goal is to mitigate conflict; to promote stability and community cohesion, and to strengthen citizens’ relationships with their government officials.

TIS is recruiting for the position of Senior Engineer, based in Hargeisa. The Senior Engineer, under the direction of the Senior Grants Manager, is responsible for providing technical oversight of the execution and quality QA/QC of the various infrastructure subprojects within the scope of the TIS DAI project, as well as ensuring that all infrastructure subprojects are undertaken within all relevant national and regional laws of Somalia and within all relevant regulations of the US Government, including environmental compliance. The Senior Engineer will be required to travel extensively to Somalia, including rural areas.

EDUCATION
- Degree in Civil Engineering.
- Other training or certification is preferred.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- 7-10 years experience in construction management, design and planning.
- Demonstrated ability to handle technical aspects of managing construction activities for infrastructure sub-projects.
- Ability to read and interpret drawing, specifications and assist with the development of material take-offs and scope of work preparation.
- Capacity to communicate in English verbally and written.
- Flexibility in working hours and ability to work under pressure.
- Experience with infrastructure in municipalities and underserved areas.
- Be able to operate and travel in an international military environment.
- Have experience writing and presenting reports formal reports.
- Capacity to use a computer programs such as AutoCad, Adobe, MS Word and Excel.
- Willingness to work closely, as needed, with national and international military forces.

SKILLS
- Demonstrated expertise working on infrastructure in Somalia preferred.
- Management and mentoring skills.
- Solid foundation in best practices for engineering and construction.
- Understanding of US Government environmental regulations for USG-funded construction highly sought.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of professional relationships essential.
LANGUAGES
- English and Somali language fluency required.
Base of Operations:
- Hargeisa, Somaliland with extensive travel to Somalia

Interested candidates should e-mail their CVs and an accompanying cover letter, stating the name of the position and office for which they are applying, to TIS@dai.com. The deadline for application is 31 May 2011. Only shortlisted candidates will receive a reply.

* Willing to have security, trade cooperation with Somalia

* Region has no interest in reunification

By Amran Abocar

ABU DHABI, April 20 (Reuters) – Somaliland will support a United Nations-backed plan to hold convicted pirates in its prisons, its president said on Wednesday, as the breakaway northern enclave bids to gain recognition for its independence.

Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo said Somaliland, which declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been formally recognised internationally, was already doing its part to curb piracy in its waters and was prepared to do more.

Piracy in the Indian Ocean has turned busy shipping lanes off the coast of the conflict-wrecked state into some of the most perilous waters on Earth and costs the world billions of dollars.

Silanyo backed the plan to set up special courts and prisons for captured pirates in the Indian Ocean region, along with neighboring enclave Puntland.

“We’ll imprison people captured in our seas … that’s what we can contribute. We are preparing to put out the force and we are preparing to provide the prison facilities as well,” he told Reuters in the United Arab Emirates’ capital, during a Gulf tour to drum up investment and aid.

The Russian-backed U.N. resolution supported the piracy courts but avoided the delicate issue of where exactly to hold those convicted.

Silanyo, elected in 2010, said Somaliland had already imprisoned pirates captured off its Red Sea coast but needed training assistance to combat the problem stemming from its chaotic neighbour to the south.

Somalia has not had an effective central government since the 1991 overthrow of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. First clan warlords and now Islamist insurgents active in Somalia mean the government controls little more than the capital Mogadishu.

The Somaliland leader reiterated his region had no interest in reunification with the rest of Somalia.

He said the independence of South Sudan after a January referendum bolstered the case for a similar move for Somaliland, a former British colony that joined with the rest of Italian-ruled Somalia after each gained independence in 1960.

“The recent developments in southern Sudan is a good example that the old idea that countries should remain as they were at the time of independence has changed,” he said.

“Examples like that can help our cause, they should help our cause.”

Political analysts have said the African Union would treat Sudan as an exception — as it did Ethiopia and Eritrea’s split in 1993 — and would not tolerate a domino effect across the continent.

But even if the AU were to entertain Somaliland’s ambitions, it is stymied by the absence of a Somali partner to negotiate any potential referendum or terms of secession.

Silanyo said Somaliland was also not keen to put its independence at Somalia’s discretion.

“The fact of the matter is, for all intents and purposes, there is no unity in Somalia. Who do you contact for negotiations? There are some people who come to us, who are in contact with us and understand our cause, but there is no unity, there is no entity to speak to as far as Somalia is concerned,” he said.

“But we are prepared to seek their cooperation.”

(Editing by Sophie Hares)

Source: Reuters

Saado performs about two dozen similar events per year in the US and some of these events are described as fund raising events for ONLF and SSC militia raising hundreds of thousands of dollars from these events. She allegedly also collects government welfare assistance in the state of Minnesota where she lives with her children. Now the million dollar question here is does Saado report to the IRS these extra income that she is earning while she collects tax payers funds that is intended to help the less fortunate?

I have done a simple search on Google for the number of performances that Saado has done in 2010 and to my surprise I was able to find 26 concerts that she performed around the world in 2011. These concerts took places such as Minnesota, Columbus, Seattle, Washington DC, Denmark, Sweden, Djibouti, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and the Middle East. These events do not include the dozens more private performances at weddings where her appears fee is $5000 or more per wedding earning her thousands of dollars tax free. I advice Saado to visit the Minnesota State web site to find out the eligibility rules for Minnesota State Family Assistance or the IRS web site http://www.irs.gov/ to find out federal income tax compliance regulations. Attacking Somaliland and Ethiopia may help Saado raise thousands of dollars, but coming clean to Minnesota State and the IRS can be far more helpful to her.

Musa Kahin Ahmed
Falls Church, VA
__________________________________________________________
Views expressed in the opinion articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the editorial

Park Strategies, headed by a former United States senator from New York, will try to gain State Department support for a one-year extension of the transitional federal government mandate due to expire in August, says John Zagame, a lobbyist with the firm.

“There’s no way the US will support a three-year extension,” Mr Zagame says.

The Somali Parliament has voted to give itself that long a lifespan — a move condemned by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson.

Many analysts suggest that the US end its backing of the TFG because the transitional government has shown itself incapable of making progress.

Mr Zagame acknowledged that Mr Carson’s recent criticisms of the TFG are “correct.”

Mr Carson charged that the government is failing to provide citizens with basic services, to reach accords with groups opposed to the al Shabaab Islamist insurgency and to consolidate politically the gains made militarily in Mogadishu by the AU Mission in Somalia.

But the lobbyist argues that Somalia Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, in office for the past five months, is bringing a new “honesty and transparency” to the TFG’s operations.

Mr Mohamed “offers a better chance that US money won’t go down a rat hole of corruption,” Mr Zagame declares.

It was Mr Mohamed’s personal connection with a Park Strategies director that led the TFG to choose this firm as its first-ever representative in Washington.

Mr Mohamed deserves more time to make the improvements he has begun to initiate in Mogadishu, Mr Zagame says.

He notes that the TFG is engaged in a difficult two-front war against both al Shabaab and piracy while also coping with a drought that threatens famine in parts of the country.

During a recent visit to Washington, Mr Mohamed was accompanied by Park Strategies representatives to meetings with two members of the US Congress.

They urged the American lawmakers to convene an inquiry in Congress on the need for increased US humanitarian aid to Somalia.

Park Strategies has also set itself the larger task of shifting US public opinion on Somalia.

“When Americans think of Somalia, they think of ‘Black Hawk Down’ and they think of terrorism,” Mr Zagame said, referring to a Hollywood film depicting the real-life shoot-down of a US helicopter in Mogadishu during the Clinton administration’s intervention in Somalia in the early 1990s.

“They don’t think of someone from New York State who’s trying to build up a country out of sand,” Mr Zagame added.

By Kevin Kelly

Source: The East African | 10 April 2011
Be part of something great:

The wind of change is howling around the Arab world. Longstanding autocratic presidents are blown away; monarchs seek to make peace with their people by devising constitutions to limit their powers. In this turbulence there is one outstanding and depressing exception Somalia.

There has been anarchy in the country for some 20 years. The internationally recognised Transitional Federal Government controls but a small part of the territory; various warring clans exercise a form of authority elsewhere. An Islamist movement with links to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has rumoured links to the pirates who successfully create havoc among international shipping across an ever-wider swathe of sea.

Somaliland is the exception, the former British Protectorate with its capital Hargeisa, where the pirates are imprisoned a haven of stability which has recently held democratic elections. The country yearns for international recognition, having been de facto autonomous for many years.

The traditional argument against such recognition has been that of creating a precedent for other disaffected regions in Africa but now Eritrea has broken away from Ethiopia; South Sudan will shortly be independent and there is a spirit of radical constitutional change throughout the Arab world.

Somaliland wishes to join the Commonwealth; already its parliamentarians informally attend meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Surely, now is the time for the British government to revisit the issue and to encourage African members of the Commonwealth to press the African Union to work for international recognition of this remarkable democratic enclave within the classic failed state of Somalia.

Donald Anderson was Labour MP for Monmouth from 1966 until 1970 and for Swansea East from 1974 until 2005, when he was rasied to the peerage.

Source: Yahoo News | 21 March 2011

GAMBELLA — It’s the deal of the century: £150 a week to lease more than 2,500 sq km (1,000 sq miles) of virgin, fertile land – an area the size of Dorset – for 50 years. Bangalore-based food company Karuturi Global says it had not even seen the land when it was offered by the Ethiopian government with tax breaks thrown in.

Karuturi snapped it up, and next year the company, one of the world’s top 25 agri-businesses, will export palm oil, sugar, rice and other foods from Gambella province – a remote region near the Sudan border – to world markets.

Ethiopia is one of the world’s largest recipients of humanitarian food and development assistance, last year receiving more than 700,000 tonnes of food and £1.8bn in aid, but it has offered three million hectares (7.4 million acres) of virgin land to foreign corporations such as Karuturi.

“It’s very good land. It’s quite cheap. In fact it is very cheap. We have no land like this in India,” says Karmjeet Sekhon, project manager for what is expected to be one of Africa’s largest farms. “There you are lucky to get 1% of organic matter in the soil. Here it is more than 5%. We don’t need fertiliser or herbicides. There is absolutely nothing that will not grow on it.

“To start with there will be 20,000 hectares of oil palm, 15,000 hectares of sugar cane and 40,000 hectares of rice, edible oils and maize and cotton. We are building reservoirs, dykes, roads, towns of 15,000 people. “This is phase one. In three years time we will have 300,000 hectares cultivated and maybe 60,000 workers. We could feed a nation here.”

Sparsely-populated Gambella is at the centre of the global rush for cheap land, precipitated by the oil price rise in 2007/2008, when many countries racked by food riots encouraged their farmers to invest abroad to grow food.

The lowest prices are in Africa, where, says the World Bank, at least 35 million hectares of land has been bought or leased. Other groups, including Friends of the Earth International, say the figure is higher. The Ethiopian government says 36 countries including India, China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have leased farm land there.

Gambella has offered investors 1.1 million hectares, nearly a quarter of its best farmland, and 896 companies have come to the region in the last three years. They range from Saudi billionaire Al Amoudi, who is constructing a 20-mile canal to irrigate 10,000 hectares to grow rice, to Ethiopian businessmen who have plots of less than 200 hectares.

This month the concessions are being worked at a breakneck pace, with giant tractors and heavy machinery clearing trees, draining swamps and ploughing the land in time to catch the next growing season.

Forests across hundreds of square km are being clear-felled and burned to the dismay of locals and environmentalists concerned about the fate of the region’s rich wildlife.

Local government officers have denied claims that people are being forcibly moved to make way for foreign companies.

“This year we will relocate 15,000 people to give them better access to water, schools and transport. [But] it is a coincidence that the investors are coming at the same time as the villages are being relocated,” said Kassahun Zerrfu from Gambella’s department for investment.

Karmjeet Sekhon, project manager for Indian food company Karuturi Global, with crops in Ethiopia's Gambella province. Photograph: John Vidal for the Guardian

“We are not relocating people to give land to the investors. The problem is there is no infrastructure where they have lived. It’s all voluntary.”

Under the government’s “villagisation” programme, three or four villages at a time are being moved closer to roads and services, but many people say they are not being compensated and are having to wait. “We were promised a school, a health clinic and fresh water eight months ago. We only have one water pump so far,” said Udul Ujulu, chief of Karmi village, a new village of 250 people nine miles outside Gambella town.

Others displaced by new farms said they were scared for their lives if they complained. “What power do we have to stop them? We just stay silent,” said one farmer told to move off his land.

“There is no movement of population. It’s their choice to have these basic services. But they have to abandon their previous way of life,” said farm minister Wondirad Mandefro.

Source: The Guardian | 20 March 2011

Police in the north of the town confiscated hundreds of thousands of bottles consisting of wine, whisky and beer according to Ahmed Musse, a police officer. He claimed a number of arrests were made in connection with the sales and consumption of alcohol.

alcohol bottles - Shabelle Media

He said it was part of an ongoing efforts to tackle escalating security and crimes problems in the town. He added the town was struggling with a combination of alcohol abuses by youth gangs and extremist groups.

Finally he called on the residents to inform police of anyone selling or consuming the illegal drinks and other suspicious behaviours.

In February similar operations were carried out in Gara’ad in Mudug and in Garowe. About 1000 bottles of liquor were destroyed. A local court sentenced several men up to two years in prison and fined them $200.

Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol and Somalia has strict laws against drinking. Many expatriates and locals rely heavily on a large black market for alcohol. The substance is often smuggled into Somalia from different regions and by different means but most of it is smuggled through the port of Bosasso by ferries.

In recent weeks, a number of Puntland security officials were targeted in the town few escaping narrow assassination attempts. The police blames radical groups and gangs operating in the town.

Piracy: Puntland’s main source of income

Puntland is a semi-autonomous region in Somalia’s north and is centered on its regional administration capital of Garowe. The region is home to Somalia’s leading pirate bases and it is believed many of its political and business figures including President Abdulrahman Farole have ties with piracy. President Farole is said to have cashed in close to $8 million in ransom in the last several years.

The region’s annual budget is about $25 million excluding piracy looting but in the last few years piracy has injected roughly $30-35 million per annum. Piracy has become Puntland’s main industry and the mainstay of the local economy. The community here from tribal elders, businesses, political figures to those based in the Diaspora are actively investing in the trade.

Many of them pay for operating costs which often includes fuel, arms and wages for the pirates. According to Somali pirates they often split the ransom on agreed formula — hijackers receive 50 percent, investors get 35 percent, and ship guards get the remaining 15 percent.

In recent weeks, the Puntland regime came under fire from a number of international states including the United States after four Americans killed by Somali pirates in a hostage standoff. Denmark equally pressured the leaders after it learned seven of its citizens including three children were captured in the pirate-infested waters off the coast of Somalia and were heading to Puntland region. The Danish government said it was deeply concern about situation in particular for the children on the boat.

On Friday, the Puntland police attacked pirates in based in a small village called Hol-Anood located in the Bandar-Beyla district of Karkar. At least 11 police men were killed and scores others wounded– the Puntland forces retreated. The police commissioner of Puntland General Ali Nur Omar told VOA the gang were getting assistance from Al-Shabab, a claim the pirates rejected.

Elders from the region intervened and urged both groups to return to their bases.

At least 850 hostages and 48 foreign vessels are held in the Puntland and Harardheere region.

Somalilandpress | 12 March 2011

The assailants have not been arrested and the police are on their track according to an officer who did not want to disclose his name due to the sensitivity of the case. It was last August when the commander of Special Police Unit (SPU) of Sool region Mr. Abdi Isse Nour was gunned down as he was leaving his home after breaking fasting during the month of Ramadan.

This evening’s terror act is believed to be behind by the local terrorist group SSC who are known to carry out such a terrorist acts on Somaliland officials in the region. On another note Somaliland forces once again refuted a surprise attack by a joint SSC militia and Puntland forces in the village of Ganbadhe 25km south of Las Anod. According to our reporter Libah Ahmed in Las Anod Somaliland forces in the front line were attacked by SSC militia and Puntland forces early in the morning hours. Somaliland army countered the attacking militia and captured two vehicles and sixteen prisoners of war from them.

Source:SomalilandPress

Mr. Abdikarim Ali Omar, who is strong supporter of ONLF and a resident of Columbus, Ohio; accused Somaliland for transferring over dozens of innocent ONLF supporters to the Ethiopian authorities; he said “Somaliland is a one-clan, rejected by the international community, who are nothing but hired agents for Ethiopia”. Mr. Omar enjoyed applauds from audience and continued attacks on Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamud Siilanyo and the citizens of Somaliland.
You can find a partial copy of Mr. Abdikarim’s speech at this youtube video:

Mr. Suleiman E. Ahmed, Chairman of SSC, went out of his way to praise ONLF, their cause, their clan relationship with the people of SSC and how much they have risked for decades to resist Ethiopia’s occupation. Mr. Suleiman E. Ahmed (Xaglatoosiye) focused most of his sharp verbal attacks on Somaliland government and Somaliland people. He called on the audience to support the SSC cause to defeat Somaliland. Lastly Mr. Suleiman Wajixaad who is a resident of Charlotte, NC and the current Treasurer of SSC spoke he encouraged the audience to attend his weekly conference calls to hear the success the SSC forces achieved against Somaliland, he said “We need your support to keep fighting and killing SNM”.

The YouTube video link above shows a glimpse of this meeting in Ohio and the agenda that these US residents have against the government of Somaliland and its people.

Taiwanese medical staff have volunteered in 229 missions in close to 50 countries during the last 16 years; one of them was recently carried out in Somaliland

Taiwanese doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical students and volunteers spent their Lunar New Year holidays in early February offering free health service for needy people in Botswana, a country bordered by South Africa to the south, Namibia to the west, and Zimbabwe to the east.

“I have celebrated the Lunar New Year in Africa since 2003,” said Liu Chi-chun, a Taipei-based dentist and Chairman of Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps (TRMPC), a non-government and non-profit organization established in 1995.

Over the past 16 years, the TRMPC has finished 229 medical missions at home and abroad in more than 45 poor countries such as Macedonia in Southeastern Europe; Liberia, Swaziland, Madagascar, Senegal, Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Gambia and Somaliland in Africa; Mongolia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka, Kashmir and Afghanistan in Asia; Nauru and Solomon Islands in Oceania; the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua and Haiti in Central America; and Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, and the Amazon River Basin in South America.

Patients in these economically underdeveloped countries often came to ask for help on foot or by donkey cart.

“Some of these nations are unfamiliar to most Taiwanese,” Liu said, adding that local people always mistake Somaliland for Somalia — where pirates off the Somali coast have recently threatened international fishing vessels.

Somaliland, a little-known and unrecognized sovereign state in the world, declared its independence from war-ravaged Somalia in 1991 and has not been formally recognized by all countries except Ethiopia.

One day in May 2005, Liu received an e-mail from Farah Ali of Somaliland saying, “We both are orphans in the international community. Nevertheless, you have 20 some friends and you are rich, we only have one friend and we are poor. And the things you do are what my people need. Can you come to help us?”

Without medical staff, equipment and resources, the African country hardly provided basic health service for its people. One hospital, for example, has only 10 doctors due to budget constraints and doctors in the public hospitals only earn US$50 a month. The ratio of an eye specialist to patients is 1:200,000.

“Like most people, I knew little about Somaliland. But people deserve medical care regardless of race, religion, or politics,” said Liu, who decided to help the country train local nurses, dentists and surgeons after a visit to Somaliland in 2006.

In late February 2007, he led a 24-member team, including dentists, pediatricians, physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory technicians and volunteers, to the poor country for a two-week medical mission. […]

While offering free medical services for poor countries, doctors may have mixed feelings because they see their patients die. With flea bites and sleep deprivation, they get exhausted very soon.

“Our doctors, nurses and volunteers sacrifice their 7-10 days of annual leave to help needy people from Taiwan and overseas,” the TRMPC chairperson said. “Each international medical mission such as an African trip costs them NT$75,000 – a two-month pay of a registered nurse in a hospital.”

“In Taiwan, doctors are expected to earn loads of money. Doing volunteer work, I may make less money than them, but I’m happier because I have lots of good friends from around the globe.”

In December 1995, Liu embarked on his first voluntary medical mission to a native tribe in Jianshih Township, Hsinchu County. Since then, he has gained practical experience of many unforgettable medical services worldwide, including the TRMPC’s first international aid program at a Kosovar refugee camp in Macedonia in 1999.

Liu even mortgaged his house to support his organization’s medical missions. And his son and daughter studying in college in the U.S. always take their friends every summer vacation to work as volunteers on medical missions to Central and Southern American countries.

“My next goal is to provide our services for people in the Caucasus area such as Georgia.”

To read the full article, go to: Taiwan News.
source:UNPO

In turn, Ethiopian government officials briefed President Abdurahman on the view of IGAD that the transition in Somalia in August must be achieved without creating a vacuum. They emphasized the need to resolve Puntland’s ongoing dispute with Somaliland through peaceful means and peaceful means alone. They noted the absolute necessity for the two sides to cooperate and work together as they both faced considerable challenges from extremist elements. Ethiopia was a friend to both administrations, and it wished to see their differences resolved peacefully and both continue with their reconstruction efforts to address the challenges of under-development and poverty. It is this that would ensure peace and stability along their common borders. It therefore suggested that both administrations should sit down together, to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue. Ethiopia offered its good offices for this purpose. Both Somaliland and Puntland have now expressed their readiness to open discussions. The leadership of both are fully aware that peace, stability and a readiness to participate in dialogue are values that have kept them on different and more peaceful trajectories than the rest of Somalia.

A weekly report from Ethiopian Ministry of foreign Affairs

Somalia: The Transitional Government on Life Support , the latest report from the International Crisis Group, analyses structural flaws that hinder peace-building in central and south Somalia. At the core of the governance crisis is a deeply-flawed centralising state model. The international community has not yet learned the lesson that re-establishing a European-style centralised state, based in Mogadishu, is almost certain to fail.

“The logical alternative is a more decentralised system of governance in which most power and resources are devolved to local administrations, while the federal government takes a modest role of primarily coordinating the activities of those administrations”, says Rashid Abdi, Crisis Group’s Analyst.

Despite attempts to push transitional governments to delegate power away from Mogadishu, the political class and much of the international community have remained committed to re-establishing a strong central government. The current TFG is even less willing to share power than former transitional governments, which explains the recurrent tensions between it and self-governing enclaves like Puntland, Galmudug, Ximan and Xeeb and local grassroots movements like Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a (ASWJ). As a result, Somalia is experiencing a multi-faceted, chaotic, clan-driven and virtually country-wide revolt against the centre.

The TFG needs to be reformed. Somalis should constitute an inclusive consultative forum to amend the transitional charter, deliberate on the constitution and agree on reform of the transitional federal institutions for the period after August, when the TFG’s mandate expires. The forum’s focus should be solely on governance, in particular the relationship between local administrations and the national government in Mogadishu, the structure of that national government and the division of power within it.

The international community also has a key role to play. Focus should be given by the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) and donors on assistance, including capacity building, directly to emerging local administrations. Efforts are needed to improve revenue collection and management, fight corruption, increase budgetary transparency and strengthen internal auditing capabilities. UNPOS and donors should also investigate, stop supporting and sanction corrupt officials. If the TFG does not show clear signs of progress in reconciliation and governance by August, they should withdraw support and direct it instead at those administrations that are serving the interests of the Somali people.

“The decision to prop up the TFG at all cost has been a failure, feeding complacency and contributing to stalemate and humanitarian crises”, says EJ Hogendoorn, Crisis Group’s Horn of Africa Project Director. “But the situation is not as bleak as it may seem. The extremist Al-Shabaab movement is militarily weaker than many believe. If the right political conditions and strategy are put in place, it would be possible to rapidly re-establish peace and stability in central and south Somalia”.

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Since the American policy towards Somalia and Somaliland has been changed, the world provided the Somaliland government a chance to participate, come and be part of a comprehensive solution of Somalia’s emergency issue. Different delegations from Somaliland were provided invitations from world’s capitals. The delegation from the Somaliland House of Representative traveled to Ireland, Djibouti, and EU headquarters. These assemblies were a political gathering, and the delegation was not only the member of the leading party Kulmiye , but they were integrated with all the politic parts of Somaliland. The head of the delegation was UCID elected house leader H.E Abdirahman “Ciro”.

The Minister of foreign affairs was encouraging these conventions. He went to the OAU Conference which took place at Ethiopian capital. During the conference the Minster discussed with delegates from African countries, EU, America, and international organizations about Somaliland’s maturity in the region. The minister successfully passed on the strong message from people of Somaliland. When the meeting was completed, the press release was delivered to the media. The Unite nation head of political office Somalia mentioned that Somaliland would be a good example for the rest of Somalia and the UN would hold a political summit in the near future about the tragedy of Somalia which would take place in the capital of Kenya Nairobi . Immediately the Somaliland Foreign Minister, H.E. Mohamed A. Omer, reacted to the comments from UN POS and told Ezega.com in an exclusive statement that Somaliland was interested in seeing peace and stability in Somalia but was not ready for dialogue and cooperation with the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu.

Moreover, it was the first time Somaliland Foreign Minister was entitled to be part of international discussions. The minister as he stated in his paper in London conference, he clearly noted the Somaliland‘s stand and concern their neighbor counter Somalia which was not stable for the last twenty years. When it comes to international law, this kind of international gathering, Somalia used to represent Somaliland and Foreign Minister of TFG was the only person who would sit on Somali chairs.

As they all agree the governments of Somalia from Ali Mahdi, Abdiqasim, and Abdilahi Yusuf to Sharif , they all were united one message: Somaliland would never allow to be part of the international meetings whether those assemblies were a political or economical summit. They used to call Somaliland Northern Dir Clan as Afrol news wrote that A “new” Somali ethnic group has been introduced at the ongoing Somali peace conference in Kenya; the “Northern Dir clan”. Not only that, but Abdilahi Yusuf’s government’s OAU office rejected and was angered when the former Somaliland Minster tried to take a part the OAU conference and Somali delegate , because of this, left the meeting .
Although there are problems in eastern regions of Somaliland and Somaliland shares a border with non existing Somalia, yet Somaliland progress and attractions of ministers and diplomatists from the world and UN are increasing day after day. The UN has reduced the security level of Somaliland to level three. The high level delegations are welcomed to Somaliland’s capital, Hargiesa, and It was the first time high level UK delegations UK and Norway promised huge and enormous support for Somaliland’s cost.

In reality, It is Somaliland’s interest to go to the international conference, open the door, and play a major role in the world’s politics in order to reach out the world and it’s last destination: Acknowledgment and recognized state.

Abdirizak Aden

What is happing at the present time in Buhodle is only a continuation of the same trend based on the same thinking, which originates from one of the three sources; 1) clan domination ambitions 2) Pan-Somalism (which is different from democratic Somalism) and 3) Jihadist world outlook. All these destabilizing ideologies express ambitions of certain politicians. The rest of the Somali people everywhere on earth have neither interests in nor using them as a weapon for power and resource.

For instance, Pan-Somali doctrine as was articulated by Somali leaders. Was used by dictators as a weapon to employ military force in their perfidious efforts for domination under the cover of Somali nationalism, through which they oppressed and subjugated the Somalis in general and Somaliland people in particular with a vicious manner, as they used this ideology to dominate the whole Sub-region of the Horn. The major aim of the invasion against Ethiopia in1977 by Barre regime was first of all directed to Somalis at home for ascendance over the Somali people themselves, their rights and resources, and to break their deep sense of longing for democracy and development. One of the prime aims of that war was to eliminate progressive officers in the Somali national army itself.

And therefore, was an explicit war against democracy both at home and abroad, which revealed the true nature of fascist-like intentions of Barre regime.
In my view, all these miseries, despites, dishonors, and humiliations under which Somalis around the Globe are experiencing till today are direct outcome of this kind of political doctrine employed by impious southern politicians, from Siyad barre to sh. Shariif.
Unfortunately however, Somalis have the habit to throw all blames on others and never tried to criticize wrong doings that they themselves have done.
The Sool and Eastern Sanaag conflict is an archetypical and extension of that sort of things. Indeed, this is a continuation of the same ideological conflict, which is not per se between Somaliland and Puntland, but has more broad sense and meaning. It is between state building and democratization processes in Somaliland in one side, and all odds and ends of anarchy against the idea to establish institutions in these areas on the other side. Moreover, this contrived conflict also aims to undermine the peace and stability in Puntland itself.
Consequently, the conflict in Buhodle is far from being a dispute between Issaqis and Hartis, who are brothers and sisters. Contrary to this argument the battle is basically about ideas, it is about whether to put the anarchy, lawlessness to an end, and to establish state institutions in its place, where Harts, Issaqis, Gadaburis and Issas share interest in peace, state building and democratization through forgiveness and reconciliation. These grand principles have been the core policy of Somaliland state since its inception.
And therefore, the task of Somaliland government should be clear and strict to follow a peaceful and reconciliatory way in its endeavors in resolving the conflict peacefully and in an amicable way through traditional mechanism of conflict management by the elders of the two brotherly sub-clans.
The Puntland leadership should abandon the idea, that all Harti sub-clan family who, are scattered throughout the Horn, from Wardeer of the Ethiopian Somali region, Somaliland up to Kismayo in the far end of the South, for the sake of peace in the region.

To contest with this notion, there is a need for Somaliland to pursue different approaches and attitudes. The first step toward this direction is to rule-out military solution and all kinds of violence, except in self-defense, the second step should be a clear-cut policy toward reconciliation through dialogue and negotiations.
However, in the face of a thinking solely based on Kinship assertion the way towards reconciliation with SSC will remain rough and full of difficulties since both clannish and Islamist based war of agitation easily believable by the common people is being waged,
That is why, Hartism policy, which has nothing to do with the interests of the people there constitute extremely a dangerous factor destabilizing the whole region, from Kismayo to Galcaayo to Buhodle. Hartism policy (and not Harti as people) has been a major factor in all disputes and wars for the last 20 years in Somalia.
Somali great poet Gaarriye once said “..Issaq people are OK with me, but Issaqism as a political end is not”. Garriye made this observation in a time when some Issaq politicians were criticized by the rank&file of SNM as clan Chauvinists.

The only alternative to this Clannish mind frame is democracy, Democratic Puntaland state would be much better than exclusive clan based state. Both Somaliland and Puntland need peace and stability, and the experiences of hostilities and violent conflicts served only for the common enemies. The challenges posed by Jihadism should be seen as our common problem deal with. The immediate task of both Somaliland and Puntland ought to be seen through the perspective of how both sides be cooperate against all odds of terrorism, piracy and lawlessness in these areas. To defend the achievements that have been realized for both, and to take a common stand against those who want to destabilize the region, and to defend our common coastal areas from dumping industrial wastes, to develop trade and to coordinate security issues, and more importantly, to spare no effort to devote for environmental conservation in their areas. Through such rational policy all conflicts could be turned out into cooperation.
One last point needs to be remembered; so far, there is no one more Somali than Somaliland since no one else is more democratic than Somaliland. All these crocodile tears on Somali unity are sheer cover up of the failure of those could not face the reality to criticize themselves before they disapprove of others achievements.

Adam Musse Jibril
Can be reached by:
adamjibril@hotmail.com