Month: August 2019

INTELLECTUAL PROSTITUTES

John Swinton,

former Chief of Staff of the most powerful and prestigious newspaper on earth, The New York Times, when asked to give a toast to the “free press” at the New York Press Club stated:

“There is no such thing, at this date of the world’s history, in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dares to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper I am connected with.
Others of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my paper, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone.

The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; to pervert; to vilify; to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of other men.

*”We are intellectual prostitutes.”*

ABSENCE OR LACK OF CRITICAL THINKING?

Think about this. What kind of leader this person would be?

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WDM EDITORIAL

August 18, 2019

The most dangerous threats to Somalia’s Federal System are now exclusively coming from:

1. Ahmed Madoobe of Jubaland.

2. N&N of the Federal Government of Somalia, the FGS.

3. Proponents of One City-state in South-Central Somalia, and

4. Confused, ill-informed and unenlightened Somali masses, and unintelligent educated Somalis, who don’t weigh in and appreciate where the country was coming from and at what price spent in coming up with the federal governance arrangement.

There are ample examples and actions, searchable now in the social media and Internet to prove that the above conclusions are valid. The staunchest anti-federalist, however, is Ahmed Mohamed Islaan, Ahmed Madoobe, and so on in that order.

There are multiple video clips of Ahmed Madoobe in the Internet, personally opposing Federalism, while he was still the State President of Jubaland. Make no mistake that Ahmed Madoobe is a dangerous man to peace, elimination of extremists in Jubaland and building of Federal institutions in Somalia.

The International Community and Somali foreign partners are right in demanding transparency and inclusivity for all stakeholders in Jubaland Election 2019.

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HOW TO UNDERSTAND JAMES SWAN’S LETTER TO JIBEC

Take a read. Mr Swan has issues with the election timeline and inclusivity of all stakeholders.

There is a veiled threat implied in James Swan’s letter of the risk of not recognizing the outcome of Jubaland Election, if the IC terms aren’t met by JIBEC.

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THE QUR’AN: RECEIVE, READ AND RECITE.

“Receive, read and recite”

Ismail Haji Warsame

King Saud University has released the long-awaited Complete Qur’an Site. Dont leave anyone out, send them The Qur’an as a gift. KSU have made great efforts in its preparation and made it user friendly.
Full complete Qur’an & its interpretation just by touching the screen from left to right.
http://quran.ksu.edu.sa/m.php?l=ar#aya=1_1
Voice + recite + translation +

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DEEQA COL-UJOOG: A LIFETIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE

August 17, 2019

Mohamed Ibrahim Egal (RIP), the Late President of Somaliland is reported to have said, “the two Deeqas should leave me alone” (“Labo Deeqo hay daayeen”). One Ms Deeqa was his wife, whom he decided to divorce, and the other, Deeqa Col-Ujoog, who was his Cabinet Minister at presidency at the time, and he wanted to fire her. Mr. Egal had divorced his wife, Deeqa, while letting Deeqa Col-Ujoog go.

Today, however, was a great day to introduce the lifetime works of Ms. Deeqa Col-Ujoog, a book in the making for half a century, capturing the experience of the author in public service and contributions to her society. In this book, special attention or focus is given to the urgent need for peace-making and leadership skills necessary to realize peace and good governance.

In this book-launching event held in Garowe, Puntland, at PDRC Conference Room, Deeqa had acted as her own Keynote Speaker in an enlightening, colorful and moving manner that brought the audience to a standing ovation.

President Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland State, who had participated in this book event, took the opportunity to offer peace proposal between Puntland and Somaliland.

The book-launching was well attended. Whether that translates into high book sales is yet to be noticed. But, make no mistake, this is a great work.

Congratulations to Ms. Deeqa Col-Ujoog

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ON JUBALAND ELECTORAL PROCESS? DOUBLE-CHECK IT.

Symptoms of Heart Attack

BY EMPRESS2INSPIRE AUGUST 16, 2019

When a person is experiencing one or more warning signs of heart attack or stroke, calling for an ambulance or driving them to a hospital is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment.

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, causing someone to gasp dramatically, clutch her heart and drop to the ground. No one has any doubts about what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often the people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are some of the signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

Sweating – Similar to stress sweat, rather than sweating from exercise.
Fatigue – Extreme tiredness.
Chest Pain or Discomfort – The pain can be anywhere in the chest, not just the left side.
Shortness of Breath – Typically trouble breathing for no clear reason.
Pain in the Arms, Back, Neck, or Jaw – Pain can be gradual or sudden.
Nausea – Flu-like symptoms, including nausea, may occur a few days before a heart attack.
Stomach Pain – Can range in intensity from heartburn-like pain to severe abdominal pressure.
If you or someone you are with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don’t wait longer than five minutes before calling for an ambulance.

Somali Act of Union of 1960

JUBALAND EXPOSED

August 15, 2019

Whatever the outcome of Jubaland political conundrum, it will never be the same again. Jubaland political and clan conflicts had started with the regime of Siyad Barre in the 1970s with the destabilization of a peaceful community by imposing provocative and draconian fascist personal laws under severe suppression of human rights to uproot the traditional residents of Kismayo. General Aideed and USC-NSA took Siyad Barre’s lead to finish the job of clan cleansing, followed by mayhem of clan conflicts and permanent state of civil strive and marauding militia of barbaric culture. This gave way to the birth of unholy alliance of Marehan and Habar-gedir units of substance- addicted bandits and mooryaans of Central Somalia, the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) led by warlords, Barre Hiiraale, Yusuf Mire Seraar and Goobaale.

Jubalanders’ suffering continued with the occupation of Al-Shabab and Alqaeda extremists led by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Hassan Dahir Aweys and Ahmed Madoobe. UIC in Mogadishu and Kismayo had attacked Baydhaba, the Seat of TFG. from South and East.That is when Ahmed Madoobe was taken prisoner by the Ethiopians, wounded in fighting along the UIC forces. These were later dethroned in 2006 by the combined forces of Ethiopia and Transitional Federal Government (TFG). However, a group of Al-Shabab led by Hassan Turkey filled the vacuum in Kismayo temporarily.

Ahmed Madoobe out of Ethiopian prison under mysterious circumstances, and heading a brute battalion of Ras Gambooni Brigade as remnants and splinter group of the Union of the Islamic Courts (UIC), and Kenyan Defence Force (KDF) as part of AMISOM over-ran Kismayo.

Larger UIC had retreated to the countryside to re-group now as Al-Shabab, Alqaeda and ISIS to engage in urban and roadside terrorism.

Ahmed Madoobe had managed to declare himself President of Jubaland with Kenyan help and Ethiopian blessing as their former rehabilitated and high profile prisoner. Madoobe is set now to disprove the Somali Political Doctrine that no out-going leader could return to power. But, he acts the same way Hiiraale and Morgan had acted before him, just another warlord stuck in the Port-city of Kismayo, supervising Al-Shabab destructive operations of turning Jubaland jungle into charcoal for profit.

There is no limit to the suffering of the residents of Jubaland, Kismayo, in particular.

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Kenya and Somalia’s maritime border spat risks degenerating

By Morris Kiruga, in Nairobi
Posted on Tuesday, 13 August 2019 09:27

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses a news conference after attending the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, September 13, 2016. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
As the Somalia-Kenya maritime dispute escalates into a legal and diplomatic spat, peace and security concerns take centre stage.

From September 9 to 13, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the The Hague will hear submissions from Somalia and Kenya over their maritime territorial dispute.

Somalia contends that its maritime boundary with Kenya should run on a diagonal, extending from its land border and not in the current flow parallel to the line of latitude.
The contentious triangle measures about 100, 000 square kilometres; for Kenya, it places 51, 000 sq km of its Exclusive Economic Zone and 95, 000 sq km of its continental shelf in jeopardy.
While the main resource issue has been the potential hydrocarbon deposits in the contested area, the dispute has the potential to escalate security issues in the region, especially as it encourages brinksmanship.

Both countries have officially accused the other of auctioning oil blocs in the disputed waters.

In the Kenyan media, Somalia’s claim has been referred to as a ‘land grab’ and Somalia has been accused of “sticking a finger up the nose of [its] benefactors’ .
President Mohammed Farmajo has been accused of using the conflict to shore up his position ahead of next year’s elections, the first universal suffrage in Somalia since 1969.
They have also been engaged in a diplomatic tit-for-tat, which escalated this year.

In February, Kenya recalled its ambassador to Somalia and expelled Somalia’s envoy in Nairobi.
In May, Kenya suspended direct flights from Somalia to Nairobi. Then it denied entry to three top Somali officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
In response, Somalia said its officials would no longer attend meetings in Nairobi, and banned all Kenya-based NGOs working in the country.
In June, Kenya closed its border crossing with Somalia in Lamu citing security concerns.
Somalia first filed the case with the ICJ in August 2014, with Kenya raising preliminary objections on the court’s jurisdiction over the matter. Although the ICJ threw out the jurisdiction issue in February 2017, there will be other other issues at play when the case is heard.

A key one is that the current President of the court, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, is a Somali national.

Yusuf has served in the court since 2009, and as Vice President from 2015 until 2018, when he was elected President.
Another is that a decision for Somalia would have a ripple effect on Kenya (it has another maritime boundary with Tanzania) and other countries along the Indian Ocean coastline.
Protests to the UN and military deployment
A bipartisan motion now before Kenya’s parliament seeks to compel the executive to do more to resolve the issue. One proposed solution is an official letter to the United Nations protesting Somalia’s “aggressive legalistic stance” to file with the ICJ without first using alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. As a last resort, the motion calls for the government to deploy the military in the disputed waters.

Kenya would rather the dispute is first considered by the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the East African Community. A 2009 memorandum of understanding had provided for alternative dispute resolution.
A mediation attempt by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed earlier this year also failed.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
✔
@MofaSomalia
The #Arab Parliament calls on #Kenya to stop its hands on #Somali territorial waters, which are an integral part of the Arab waters, and rejects its false pretensions to draw up a new, unfounded map while rejecting its threats to interfere in #Somalia’s internal affairs.

640
11:05 AM – Jun 20, 2019
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Among the security concerns is that the escalating diplomatic spat threatens Somalia’s peace and stability, and with it, the security of the entire region as well as international shipping routes.

It would also, according to Kenyan legislators, hamper the ongoing construction of a land border wall between the two countries and the fight against al-Shabaab.

Kenya has been battling the terror group in Somalia since 2011, and is now a core part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces holding Somalia’s fragile peace together. In the front lines, cooperation between Kenya’s and Somalia’s security forces is essential to combating terrorism.
While there are fears that Kenya could leverage this to force Somalia’s hand, its presence in Somalia is primarily for its own security. Ceding its gains against al-Shabaab to force the territorial dispute would be as costly for Kenya as it would be for Somalia, which has been rocked by multiple terror attacks this year. In late July, the mayor of Mogadishu was killed in one such attack.
While coordinated efforts by several navies managed to stop piracy off the coast of Somalia, pirates attacked two shipping vessels in April, raising concerns of a likely resurgence.
Bottom line: For Somalia, a win at the ICJ would be a diplomatic coup. However, without the support of its economically and militarily bigger neighbour, especially as al-Shabaab escalates its attacks on Mogadishu, it would be a Pyrrhic victory.

EDITORIAL: DIVERSITY OF POLITICAL VIEWS

August 14, 2019

Part of the political mission of this blog is to develop a culture of pluralism, diversity of views and political opinions on issues and subjects of national importance for a healthy and free society we all aspire to have.

Some people, not well versed with democratic principles, see non-conforming personal positions as troublesome. That is not the case in most instances. The landmarks of a free society is freedom of thought, expression and association.

Secondly, there must be a free press and clear constitutional separation of power.

In the absence of the above, you would be flatly wrong to call any other society as free men and women in any given country.

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(photo credit: ABAJournal.com)

UNITED AFRICA? TAKE A LISTEN.

IS JUBALAND POLITICAL MEDDLING NECESSARY?

Postscript: Some people incorrectly think the blog is writing about presence of Former Puntland President, Faroole, in Kismayo. Apology for creating that impression.

History

2nd Anniversary of Puntland Celebrations. Take a watch.

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SUUGAAN

Take a note

ONCE UPON A TIME

(Photo credit: Islaan Bashir Islaan Abdulle)

Suugaan

Take a listen

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On Parallel Jubaland Poll

AFRICA POLICY INSTITUTE – AFRICA RESEARCH NOTES

1 Issue No. 50
Africa Research Notes
July, 2019
Issue No. 50 Africa Research Notes July, 2019
AFRICA POLICY INSTITUTE
Knowledge is Power Africa Policy Institute
COMING RULING ON MARITIME DISPUTE
SEVERELY TESTING KENYA’S SOFT POWER
PETER KAGWANJA
The pursuit for a non-adversarial negotiated settlement and durable solutions to the security
challenges arising from the Somali-Kenya maritime dispute, solely rests on Kenya’s soft power
tact. Undesirably, Kenya faces an existential threat of losing its access to international waters,
resources and geo-strategic advantage.
Kenya has to use its instruments of soft power to settle the maritime boundary dispute with Somalia amicably / Photo: U.S. Navy 3rd Class Derek
The clock is ticking towards the September 9-13,
2019 tipping point, when the international Court
of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, Netherlands will
decide on the maritime delimitation case filed by
Somalia against Kenya on August 28, 2014.
Never before in its history has Kenya’s capacity to
harness the technologies of soft power to protect
its interests been so severely tested. In the
information age, soft power, defined the Harvard
Professor, Joseph Nye as the ability of countries
to attract and co-opt, rather than coerce (hard
power), is the handmaid of diplomacy.
Kenya’s think tanks and universities are the white
knights of soft power in the search for durable
solutions to the security challenges arising from
the Somali-Kenya maritime dispute. It is in this

2 Issue No. 50
Africa Research Notes
July, 2019
context that the Horn Institute (the International
Institute for Strategic Studies) convened over 30
experts of think tanks, universities and research
consulting firms from across Africa in Nairobi on
July 25-26, 2019.
For many, the gist of the Kenya-Somalia Maritime
dispute is the 160,579 square kilometers (62,000
square-miles) oil-rich triangle in the Indian Ocean.
But what is at stake is that Kenya faces the
existential threat of losing its access to international
waters, resources and geo-strategic advantage.
Its landlocked neighbours have to explore viable
alternative access to the Indian Ocean ports.
Kenya’s soft power blitz has to rest on six planks.
First, Nairobi has to put its house in order by
winning the hearts and minds of its domestic
constituency and carry its people along in this
decisive case. Up to this point, the threat level to
Kenya’s territorial integrity, economy and security
among its citizens is very low.
Kenyans need to know that what is at stake is
not just the vast deposits of hydrocarbons in
the Indian Ocean. The equidistant line running
South will intersect the Parallel east line marking
Kenya-Tanzania border, severely reducing Kenya’s
territorial waters, closing its access to international
routes and literally turning it into a “landlocked
country”. Ships entering Kenya may have to seek
clearance from Mogadishu or Dar-es-Salaam,
a real threat to Kenya’s territorial integrity and
sovereignty. Sadly, Kenya’s coast waters will be no
more than a large swimming pool of no strategic
worth.
Second, despite the case Kenya must continue with
its economic, security and other activities within
its territorial waters in line with the international
principle of “Effective Occupation”. Ungoverned
spaces in the territorial waters will give sway
to pirates, water-borne terrorists and other
criminals. Kenya’s newly created Coast Guard has
to move quickly and work with relevant County
Governments and local communities to support
and empower fishermen and local communities as
engines of maritime development.
Third, Kenya need to deploy its soft power to
effectively blunt residual Somali nationalism.
This is necessary to deter Somalia’s political elite
from weaponizing the case. The timing of the
ICJ September ruling is perfect for Mogadishu’s
elite to inflame public passion and whip Somali
nationalism to a fever-pitch as a strategy to win
the 2020 presidential election. Nairobi has also to
stay alert to the possibility of the weaponization of
terrorism in the conflict, giving al-Shabaab a new
lease of life as a bona fide defender of the Somali
nation.
Fourth, Kenya has to convince the world that
while it is still committed to a rule-based
international system, the International Court
represents a redundant Anglo-Saxon adversarial
court system. The American law professor and
Director of the Center for Conflict Resolution at the
University of California, Carrie Menkel-Meadow,
rightly characterized this adversarial system as
“inadequate, indeed dangerous, as a dispute
resolution system”. It cannot guarantee a decision
that will be acceptable to all parties or end the
dispute amicably. Indeed, it will complicate
regional peace in the volatile horn of Africa region.
Moreover, the Court has serious moral deficit as
an honest impartial broker. The Court’s President,
Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf (2009-2027) is a Somali
citizen. His election in 2009 actually made the Court
route attractive to Somalia, which unilaterally
exited a negotiated path, jettisoned the 2009
Memorandum of Agreement on the demarcation
the Kenya-Somalia maritime border and took the
court’s adversarial route.
The success of Kenya’s soft power or quiet
diplomacy will be measured by its ability to get the

3 Issue No. 50
Africa Research Notes
July, 2019
court to either delay the case or to withdraw it all
together to give way to non-adversarial negotiated
settlement of the matter.
Fifth, Kenya has to use its instruments of soft power
to expose the role of the geopolitical interests of
the Gulf States in the dispute. The spill-over effects
of geopolitical wars pitting the Turkey-Qatar axis
against the Saudi Arabia-United Arab Emirates
front in the Gulf region are fanning the crisis.
Sixth, also under severe test is the capacity of
Kenya’s knowledge-based institutions and lobbies
to use soft power to produce evidence and expose
the role of the Oil Corporations and other interests
in masterminding and bankrolling the case at
the international court of justice and fanning the
Kenya-Somalia dispute.
Seventh, Kenya has to use soft power to influence
the policy of the emerging African Peace and
Security Architecture to support negotiated
solutions to maritime disputes on the continent,
and specifically the Kenya-Somalia dispute. This
demands that Kenya ride on the “2050 Africa’s
Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy)”,
designed to enhance maritime viability for a
peaceful and prosperous Africa.
Finally, Nairobi has to win over the key members
of the UN Security Council–America, United
Kingdom, France, China and Russia–to the reality
that the ripple-effects of the ICJ case have the
potential of destabilizing the entire Indian Ocean
beyond Kenya-Somalia territorial waters. All
maritime boundaries in the West Indian Ocean run
parallel East. Upholding the equidistant principle
will demand that all boundaries along the East
Coast be adjusted, with the potential of opening
new conflicts.
________________________________________
Professor Peter Kagwanja is a former Government
Adviser and Currently the CEO of the Africa Policy
Institute

(Credit)

NEWS BRIEFING: THE SOMALI STATE OF THE UNION

August 12, 2019

Eid Al-Adha

Eid Al-Adha is now over with no serious security incidents reported in the country after the horrific bomb- blast recently in Mogadishu that took away the lives of leading City Officials in the Capital. That security vulnerability of the nation’s Capital shook up the confidence of the fledgling Federal Government and international security partners of Somalia.The damage is so huge that it wears out any remaining trust in Mogadishu security systems currently in place to counter terrorism and stop the daily mayhem.

Puntland

The honeymoon for Puntland President, Said Abdullahi Deni, after January Election of 2019, is now over. He should own up the complex socio-economic and security challenges Puntland State is now facing. With shaky security situation in the State, especially in the commercial Port-city of Bosaso, dwindling state revenue, lack of business and consumer confidence due to security threats from extremists and inadequate security and intelligence capabilities, expect serious economic recession in the most important economic source of Puntland. Moreover, thousands of Puntland high school leavers have little hope of continuing their education, while there are diminishing returns for job opportunities for youth in the State. The Federal Department of Education is playing a leading role in denying scholarship opportunities for Puntland students – a FGS policy based on short-sighted considerations. There is no movement towards political resolution of existing stalemate between FGS and Puntland.

Puntland Cabinet looks dysfunctional to meet the challenges of the time, while some Cabinet members are engulfed in major financial scandals, administrative inefficiency, management incapacity and political failures that make them hot potatoes to keep them in place without tarnishing the President himself politically.

Jubaland

Jubaland State is at crossroads with potential election violence and internal destabilization with unpredictable consequences. The incumbent is set to secure 2nd term in office in this August poll by any means necessary, while the ill-advised leaders of FGS are focusing on removing the incumbent State President by all means, including outright violations of the the Federal Constitution, use of bribery and propping up alternative candidates. Swathes of Jubaland territory is still under the control of extremists with Ahmed Madoobe, AMISOM and FGS unwilling to venture out beyond Kismayo City. There is an undeclared regional power-play between Ethiopia and Kenya in Jubaland too. That is why Ethiopian and Kenyan forces there don’t want to push back Al-Shabab in the regions to justify their suspicious presence in Kismayo through AMISOM. AMISOM is now is part of security-military for profit enterprises that don’t want to rock the boat. For AMISOM soldiers , there is no incentive to return home. They are engaged in profitable risk management businesses. They are complecent and comfortable with the status quo.

Galmudugh

Galmudugh, the home-base of both FGS President Farmaajo and Prime Khayre, is in disarray and in a status of political limbo. It would take a long time before we see a modicum of a united operating administration. It was wrongly concocted myth of a regional state in the first place. The myth is now burst open for all to discover. The town of Ceelbuur in Galmudugh is Khayre’s Murursade clan base still under the full control of Al-Shabab. Dayniile quarter of Mogadishu, where Murursade/Hawiye clan of Prime Hassan Khayre predominantly lives, is also under the full grip of Al-Shabab. Thus, both Farmaajo and Khayre have neither the moral authority nor the political will to work towards the liberation of their own immediate clan territories and political power-base. For them, it is easier to try to boss around in other parts of Somalia, an irony and paradox in Somalia’s clan dominated politics.

Hirshabelle

Hirshabelle is another myth hardly recognizable and separatable from Banadir Region. It is an entity hardly existing now.

Southwest

Southwest acts and looks like a region coming under the direct rule of the so-called N&N Government with all the security entanglements of extremists and heavily infiltrated NASA, besides the hidden and indirect influence of Ethiopian boundary forces nearby.

Somaliland

Somalilanders have been suffering from misinformation and false indoctrination for three decades for an elusive independent statehood. The bitter reality is now sinking in for residents to think over alternatives for both personal life-planing and future of the people of Northwest Regions. In a delusional behaviour of ignoring realism, President Muse Bihi is hell-bent nowadays visiting as many countries as he could to relieve the pains of diminishing returns for an independent “Somaliland”. It is also an attempt on his part to devise new tricks to try to calm restive population caused by poverty, hopelessness and internal clan conflicts. Despite boasting multi-party democracy for nearly three decades, Somaliland Parliament had changed only once, with more than two-third of its members hailing from a single Isaaq clan, not to mention about the injustices relating to resources and power-sharing in Somaliland.

Conclusion

But, it isn’t all that negative. Somalia is still theoretically a sovereign country. The world community is engaged with Somalia. The fledgling public institutions are desperately trying to be relevant.

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A BLESSED EID

WDM wishes all its readers a blessed EID and happy Holy days.

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BREAKING NEWS

August 11, 2019

On Jubaland Election 2019, informed sources indicate that there could be two rival administrations in the making. This follows N&N undeclared strategy to create alternative leadership to Ahmed Madoobe, with the intention of dividing Jubaland community, thus discrediting Madoobe, leading to his eventual removal.

Ahmed Madoobe is engaged in activities to fight off the N&N policy of destabilizing Jubaland Administration and Madoobe’s election bid.

Sources added, the possibility of election violence is high in Kismayo.

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KEESDIIR vs ROBIN HOOD IN BACAADWEYN

By WDM Staff Reporter

Bacaadweyn, Mudugh

August 10, 2019

Mohamud Farah Keesdiir is one of the prominent members of the Somali cimmunity in Zambia. He is one of those elders, who had fled the repression of the military regime of Somalia during the 1980s. He had settled in Zambia as a trucker and grew up to own a fleet of transport vehicles and other small businesses. As an elder, he was always at forefront to help his new immigrant countrymen in Zambia and beyond. He and his colleague businessmen also contributed to both the welfare and settlement of new comers in Zambia and throughout East Africa.

Mohamud Farah Geesdiir came to visit Puntland recently with the intention of attending his immediate family affairs, when he found himself in a dilapidated town of Bacaadweyn near Galkayo in Mudugh Region of Puntland. He was shocked to discover the town of five thousand residents had no police station, had its single police Nissan Hardbody pickup broken, petty criminals rampaged the town, terrorizing residents with nowhere to turn for help. There was no single room to keep a prisoner overnight. The town had no markets to sell goods – meat products and other perishable goods were sold in the open on the side walks, collecting dust and grains of sand, which resulted in sickness and food-poisoning among many of the Bacaadweyn residents. The security, safety of residents and basic hygiene of the town were abysmal and desperate.

That was the situation of Bacaadweyn before the appearance of the New Robin Hood, GEESDIIR, two months ago.The first job GEESDIIR did in Robin Hood style was to quickly erect a four-bedroom home for his poor and desperate relatives in town. He then turned to repair the broken police pickup. He had built a police compound of four room station. He is now moving to build two town marketplaces. But, the most important of all was that he had managed to mobilize youth and women in town to engage in community awareness and activities rarely seen in Puntland towns.

GEESDIIR is the New Robin Hood of Puntland. He has done what an average Puntlander could have never deamed of doing. He had captured the imagination and respect of the residents of BACAADWEYN. He had won the hearts and minds of the youth of Bacaadweyn and respect of all residents.

Congratulations to this great Patriot. He needs all our support.

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___________________

Bacadweyn is a town in the north-central Mudug region of Somalia. It is mainly occupied in small-scale farming. It is administered by Puntland State. Secondary schools in the area include Ba’ad Weyn Secondary. Wikipedia
Elevation: 372 m
Weather: 27°C, Wind SW at 31 km/h, 52% Humidity
Local time: Saturday 08:37
District: Galkayo

CORRECTION: An early edition of this post incorrectly named Mohamud Farah Geesdiir.

PUNTLAND,  ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND DUE PROCESS

August 9, 2019

They say that the “hallmarks of free people in any nation are the freedom of the press and independent judiciary”.
Here in Puntland as in the rest of Somalia, the constitutional powers of the legislative, executive and judiciary often got mixed up and melt into each other, losing the relevance of constitutional mandates of checks and balance.
Enough is said about the legislature and executive branches of the government, but little thought and deliberation are paid to the issue of the independence of the judiciary.
In this regard, it is important to remind all citizens that the power to arrest or free a citizen from prison belongs exclusively to a judge in a court of justice- the executive and legislative branches of the government have no role to play here. Even, if the State President pardons someone after court conviction, the power to release that prisoner belongs to a judge, not the President. The government can withdraw its case against an accused, but still that withdrawal must be made publicly in a court of law before a judge. The government cannot make arrest or release anyone without a court order. The State President cannot arrest or release anybody without a court order. In the absence of flagrant crime, no one can lose his/her freedom without a court order. No attorney-general, no police officer, no minister can order the arrest of any person without obtaining a warrant of arrest from the court first. These are all consistent with the laws of Puntland and its Constitution. Make no mistake, even the President of Puntland couldn’t order the arrest of someone without securing a court order first to avoid violating the law of the land himself or herself. Any politician cought influencing a court decision or procedures is guilty of a crime.

Unlawful arrests can be litigated in court of justice anywhere in the world through a lawyer.

All officers receiving executive orders to take away the freedom of someone, not cought in flagrant violation of the law, must demand that order to be issued in writing to produce the document in a court of justice in order to defend themselves.
@ismailwarsame

(Photo credit: XYZDISPLAY.COM )

KENYA: KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE

1960 ACT OF UNION, THE SOMALI REPUBLIC

SOMALILAND got independence on June 26 and officially united with the rest of the country on June 27, 1960.https://ismailwarsame.blog@ismailwarsame

PUNTLAND AND N&N IRRECONCILABLE POLITICAL POSITIONS

August 5, 2019

Residents of the State of Puntland (Puntland State of Somalia) have serious political and administrative dilemma in dealing with N&N Government in Mogadishu. Puntland Government experiences daily frustration with regards to her wish to cooperate with FARMAAJO and KHAYRE Administration. How?
Puntland has been experiencing a crisis of management of expectations on the way forward for Somalia’s Federalism. Try to reconcile these irreconcilable positions of the two:
Puntland Position

1. Puntland considers itself the cornerstone and main pillar of the new governance system in Somalia

2. Puntland wants to play a leading role in the formation of the New Federal Republic of Somalia
3. Puntland State wants to have influence in the Somalia/Somaliland negotiations as parts of Puntland State are being claimed by Somaliland.
4. Puntland desires regional cooperation on border security and movement of good and services across the boundaries
5. Puntland wishes to provide expert input and experience on Federalism.
6. Puntland wants the creation of patriotic National Army coming from all Federal Member States.

7. Puntland expects equitable resources sharing, including Federal Public Civil Service

8. Puntland wants all Federal Member States to function in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

9. Puntland wants Review of the Federal Constitution to be expedited and done with.

N&N POSITION

1. N&N leaders see Puntland as the biggest obstacle to their power grab and their wish of authoritarian centre in the capital.

2. N&N desires a weakened Puntland, reduced to the status of a regional administration controlled and dictated by the center in the same way Southwest State, Hirshabelle and Galmudugh are being handled now
3. N&N Administration considers Puntland wish on sub-regional cooperation as infringement of Somali sovereignty and constitutional mandate of the Federal Government of Somalia
4. N&N recruits entire Somali security forces from Banadir clan militia of Al-Shabab, Mogadishu warlords, Union of Islamic Courts, predatory business community and IDPs in Mogadishu camps from Southwest State and Gedo Region
5. N&N doesn’t need expert advice as they want Puntland to limit herself to a status of regional administration.
6. N&N ignores Puntland concerns on Somalia/Somaliland talks altogether

7. N&N wants to control Puntland through handouts in the same it does to Hirshabelle and Galmudugh, on the top of political destabilization campaign against the Federal Member State.

8. N&N is purging Puntlanders from Federal public Service

9. N&N wants to return to power for a 2nd Term through political manipulation under chaotic circumstances.

With this kind of opposing concepts of Somalia’s governance, it is unfathomable for Puntland and N&N Government to come to an understanding on the way forward for Somalia. It is unlikely that any political reconciliation between Puntland and FGS would happen while N&N leaders are still in office. Potential re-election of FARMAAJO for a 2nd Term will probably put into question the future membership of Puntland as an integral part of Somalia.
FARMAAJO and KHAYRE, therefore, are playing with fire as they seem to be incapable of understanding the complexity of the new Somalia’s political situation and legacy of the Civil War.
@ismailwarsame

POLITICAL HOMEWORK?

July 4, 2019

What? Political homework! Have you ever heard about such assignment before? Probably not. We all talk about politics everyday because it is too easy to do so lazily without doing anything about it. Easy. Just talk about it thoughtless because nobody is going to grade your mutterings and any opinion you may express in front of anybody. You don’t care whatever foolish things you say. You are constrained only by your personal sense of responsibility and moral values.

But, what about if you thoughtfully consider and imagine solving a political problem and put on the shoes of someone in-charge? Don’t you need to study it in order to try to solve it? When you want to do so, you don’t just talk and simply express an opinion on it; you just stop to deliberate on the problem. You make some research, seek advice from the more knowlegeable and experienced. You ask more questions and listen. You look for references. You read books on the subject. You are careful with your answers and qualify them before you express any opinion on the matter. You are always on the look-out for the right answers. You are careful about what you tell people. You think twice before you open your mouth. You are afraid of talking on a subject you know so little about. You would happily prefer to think more about the issue over and take it as a homework to be on the safe-side and be more prepared to be able to address the issue independently without embarrassing yourself.

Is this happening in our society? No. Instead, we talk freely, uncontrollably, in fact. We are on the loose to engage in conversations mechanically. No room for critical thinking.

Can that be done in our society? Yes, potentially, but it requires deep learning and training of the mind for many years.

https://ismailwarsame.blog

@ismailwarsame

EDITORIAL: PUNTLAND YOUTH RE-AWAKENING

EDITORIAL: PUNTLAND YOUTH RE-AWAKENING

August 4, 2019

Have you noticed what is happening with Puntland youth lately?

They are re-awkened to re-claim their history and heritage. They aren’t being deceived by N&N Facebook propaganda any more. This is happening owing to several factors:

1. 21st Anniversary Celebrations of Puntland and the leading participation youth undertook had played a critical role

2. Creative essays, Puntland TV-RADIO interviews on the history of Puntland and the struggle of its people contributed to this youth re-awakening.

3. New leaders of Puntland got the message about the cultural, political and security threats the State of Puntland was facing, thus re-engaging Puntland Youth.

4. Some political and civil society leaders have been holding gatherings to address the concerns of youth and the problems of misleading, misinformation and dangerous indoctrination of Puntland youth.

These are important steps towards stability and progress. But, the Lotta Continua.

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@ismailwarsame

PUNTLAND BUDGET ERRORS

I watched the statics on Puntland presented at 21st Anniversary Celebration Function 2019 last night. There were serious errors, especially in annual budget projections over the years. I really doubt that the estimate of 72 million annual budget does reflect on reality. I suspect that Puntland Government annual budget conservatively tops up one billion dollars. Past Budget Managers of Puntland Ministry of Finance had had neither the expertise of budget preparation nor transparent manners to produce real budget. They were book-cookers and fraudsters. They were not taking into account millions of dollars looted through all kinds of schemes, aggregate income, budget support through international aid, suplements and Federal Government transfers. No wonder they have now all lost their jobs after twenty years on undeserved key financial positions with the government.

Deni Administration should take immediate steps to address this unexplained financial mismanagement in the State. There is nothing secret about the size of a government budget anywhere in the world, unless there is a looting and financial corruption to cover up as it has been happening in Puntland over many years. Instead, governments often overestimate budgets, not minimize them.

As an example, the ministries of education and health alone receive revenue in the millions of US dollars from international donors. This is has been never reflected in Puntland Annual Budgets. This is true to other departments and agencies as well.

In this regard, the first and most important legislative power of any parliament is the approval or rejection of government budget and making sure it is used as appropriated. Puntland House of Representatives had kept failing in its number one constitutional authority. This is the shameful history of Puntland Parliament.

There were historical errors and false claims by some as well. Those who opposed the creation of Puntland at that time now claim to be its founders. That is because victory has many god-fathers. So be it as long as their opposition to Puntland creation was defeated at the time, and we are here to celebrate that achievement.

https://ismailwarsame.blog
@ismailwarsame
( credit: Ancient Somali Coin forwarded by Said Gooshe, PCT).

Postscript:

Waxan qabaa in miisaaniyad-sanadeedka Dawladda Puntland ay ugu yaraan kor udhaafsantahy Hal Balyan. Dhakhliga taakeerada dibedda kasoo gala usugayn dhawr Wasaaradood sida Wasaaradda Caafimaadka, Waxbarashada, shaqaalaha financial institutions -ku taageeraan Dawladda Puntland, dhakhliyada kale ee kala duwan ayaa ka badan miisaaniyeedda la xusay. Waa la garankaraa in Maamulka Cusub ee Deni u baahanyahay wakhti iyo daraasad in arrintaa looga baaraan dego.

La arkidoonee sanadka dambe.

EDITORIAL: PUNTLAND STABLE AS ROCK

Puntland, August 1, 2019
On the Anniversary Celebrations of PUNTLAND STATE OF SOMALIA,
21 years on, and PUNTLAND STATE is as stable as a rock while still being roughed up at ridges. Congratulations to all for making the State of PUNTLAND a staying power, pioneer and vanguard of Somali unity!
There are many things, privileges and benefits residents of Puntland take for granted, the most important of which are peace and freedom. For example, In many countries, a media outlet like this blog cannot and doesn’t exist, not to mention the absence of basic individual freedoms of their citizens.
21 years ago the community of Northeast Somalia had embarked upon the long and hard journey of reclaiming Somalia again after the First Republic had failed in 1991, thus Puntland had led the way to the historic foundation of 2nd Somali Republic, the Federal Republic of Somalia. What an achievement!
But, the Lotta continua. There is still a lot to do in regards to PUNTLAND STATE and Somalia. Let us keeping going forward, for when the going gets taugh, only the taugh keeps going.
@ismailwarsame