BEGGERS HAVE CHOICES

Reprint

Today I happened to be in a Café-shop in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia, enjoying a cup of cappuccino when an elderly man entered the space. He started addressing customers to solicit for his financial needs and pleas for help. It is my turn to hear him. The problem here in Somalia is that nobody has or uses local Somali Shillings as the currency had lost its value and almost its relevance in today’s Somali economy. The national currency has been replaced effectively by electronic US dollars accessed on smartphones with accounts through Hawillaad money transfer agencies and local telecommunication companies. It is therefore difficult, if not impossible, to assist someone in need with change from someone’s own pocket.

As a plan, I often carry on me some spare change in case I need sundry expenses like shoe-shining. So I had a bundle of Shs.So. old banknotes when the elderly begger approached me.

I was holding my phone in my right hand when I used my left hand to fish out some Somali Shilling banknotes from my left pant pocket to hand out to him. The man looked at me surprisingly without stretching out his hand towards me. Equally surprised, I asked him, “you don’t want it?” He calmly asked me, “why don’t you give me that with your right hand?”

Another man nearby who was observing my rather awkward situation jumped in to say, “he is right. Why do you give him your hand-outs by the left hand?” In self-defence, I asked them, “do you know whether I am left-handed?” The two were taken aback to consider my unexpected question.

BEGGERS have choices here in Somalia and they can refuse your assistance if there are strings attached to it, be well advised.

https://ismailwarsame.blog

@ismailwarsame

Annual subscription

$37.00

Protect yourself by any means necessary

BREAKING NEWS: WDM HEALTH ADVISORY

On the top of your prayers, wash your hands on habitual basis.

Washing your hands saves your life and others’. Normally, your hands are carriers of contagious germs and diseases. Now, given the outbreak of Coronavirus, known and unknown pandemics, it is vitally important to take the necessary health precautions.

Use soap and hand disinfectants. Limit hand-shaking and employ alternative ways of greeting people. For Muslims, ASC is enough for greeting people. When possible, use face-masks in crowded places. Stockpile these items at home and advise family members to use them extensively. Wash clothes and change them as often as you can. Health experts say Coronavirus can stay 9 hours on the cloth. Persons coming from overseas are more likely to carry the disease. They should be screened at entry points for fever and symptoms of the virus infection.

Those handling food and other service in hotels and restaurants should be instructed to use soaps, disinfectants and gloves. There is also a right way to wash hands with thorough cleaning and rinsing of hands after lathering up them completely with soap. Please stay healthy.

Finally, don’t be fooled by unscientific romours that Coronavirus doesn’t affect Muslims. Human bodies are all biologically the same and susceptible to diseases and contamination.

https://ismailwarsame.blog

@ismailwarsame

Annual subscription

$37.00

Be careful!

“DIIRATADA” PUNTLAND

ON PUNTLAND FORTHCOMING CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE: CONFERENCE MOTTO “PUNTLAND FOR PEACE & DEVELOPMENT”

  1. Opening Ceremony Speeches on the importance of the Conference and expectations of the people of Puntland.
  2. Major objectives of this Conference and why it was necessary to convene.
  3. Major obstacles to Puntland socio-economic development to be debated in this Conference.
  4. The way forward for Puntland self-government as a Federal Member State or a Confederate Member State.
  5. Expressions of gratitude to all donor countries and international humanitarian organizations that have been helping the people of Puntland and Somalia over many years (name them individually and collectively).
  6. On Coronavarus and other contagious diseases: Healthy lifestyle, hygiene and prevention.

AN AGENDA OPTION

  1. Review of foundational and Guiding Principles of the State of Puntland
  2. Public Institution-building and reforms, especially the financial, security, health, education, judiciary and environment sectors, which under-performed over many years in the past.
  1. Obstacles to Democratization and political pluralism, including lip-service commitment to it by Puntland political elites.
  2. Re-defining the role of traditional leadership in Puntland society
  3. Strenghtening civil society, civic and professional associations in Puntland, with active participation of youth and women.
  4. Addressing youth issues – education, skill training and leadership
  5. Environment
  6. Infrastructure projects to link-up coastal and contryside with Puntland urban centres. Plans for the construction of fishing, livestock, Meidi and salt industries, encouraging venture and business investment with government incentives on taxation and enviromental regulations.
  7. Puntland-Federal Government relationships, and Puntland Vision towards the creation of the New Somalia, with proactive policies of engagement and leadership.
  8. The issue of Somaliland territorial expansionist policy
  9. Panel discussion on each of the agenda item with expert inputs and guidance 
  10. Conference Communique on adopted resolutions and a white paper.
  11. Appeal to the Federal Government of Somalia, Federal Member States and International Community to work together in moving Somalia forward by resolving all existing impediments along the way to Somalia’s full recovery and reconstruction efforts.
  12. Synthesis of consensus and Final Report with emphasis on benchmarks and timeframes to achieve goals and objectives.

The deliberations of the above agenda items could be scheduled for 3-4 day period.


https://ismailwarsame.blog


@ismailwarsame


Annual subscription

$37.00

PUNTLAND: CRISIS OF IDENTITY OR LOSS OF VISION?

Is PUNTLAND in a state of national crisis in every aspect of its public endeavors? Would the anouncement of a forthcoming PUNTLAND Congress or Conference scheduled in March 15, 2020, respond to this crisis or troubling political disillusionment of its residents, and youth, in particular? Would Puntland continue to hold the unity and cohesion of its constituency member regions, after it had lost parts of its founding members? Would the reckless and unconstitutional activities by the leaders of the Federal Government of Somalia take advantage of Puntland administrative and security vulnerabilities in Mudugh and Bari Regions? Would Puntland stage and maintain fiscal, public and security sector reforms?  Would democratization of Puntland governance finally come true before the end of President Abdullahi Said Den’s Term in office? Would Puntland leaders be able to manage the persistent political and constitutional frictions with Farmaajo Administration? Would Puntland so-called “universities” be allowed to continue to ill-educated Puntland youth with fake diplomas and degrees with the production of illiterate graduates with no work skills?


These are critically important questions before the Puntland Forthcoming Congress, begging for answers in fundamental ways.

Puntland Government role in this Congress must be limited only to security, funding and help in organization, but the public debate and agenda setting must come from the delegates to the conference. Delegates should monitor any manipulation by government agents and politicians. The Congress must be conducted in an atmosphere of freedom of expression and genuine debates on outstanding issues of the day and current Puntland socio-economic stagnation, whereby sick persons still embarrassingly go and seek medical care in Hargeisa and Mogadishu, after more than two decades of Puntland statehood and self-government. This is the legacy of systemic and run-away corruption in Puntland public health sector.

In a nutshell, Puntland Forthcoming Congress must be conducted along the Founding Principles of the State and in manners resembling the Founding Congress of the State with benchmarks and objectives to achieve in timeframes.

Finally, Farmaajo Administration is engaged in dismantling the federal system agreed upon in the foundation of the 2nd Republic in 2004. What is the Puntland State strategy and vision towards the New Somalia being created out of the Civil War? What is the alternative to a central dictatorship? Are there lessons to learn from that past experience and experiment in post colonial Somalia? Are Somalis ready relive tyranny and central command government?

Puntland State and its residents have still the potential to recover lost opportunities to mend past policy mistakes and re-gain blurred original vision


https://ismailwarsame.blog


@ismailwarsame


Annual subscription

$37.00

FGS DENIED PHOTO OPPORTUNITY TO DECEIVE WORLD COMMUNITY

Puntland and Jubaland have denied photo opportunity to the leaders of the Federal Government of Somalia to participate in a Ministrial Meeting that was scheduled to ocur in Baydhaba, Southwest State of Somalia.


Puntland and Jubaland had told Farmaajo-Khayre Administration that they had other pressing priorities to address.


It is known that Western financial institutions and donors had been  demanding for full participation of Federal Member States in Somalia’s quest for Debt Relief.


Unilateral actions and policy decision-making by FGS made most FMS uncomfortable and annoyed. The FGS was not providing national  leadership, democratic space and  environment conducive to constructive engagement with the Federal Member States.


https://ismailwarsame.blog


@ismailwarsame


Annual subscription

$37.00

SUUGAAN

Suugaan



https://ismailwarsame.blog


@ismailwarsame

Annual subscription

$37.00

WDM NEWS: FACTIONAL FIGHTING BREAKS OUT AFRESH IN SOMALIA 

Nabad and Nolool Faction (Farmaajo-Khayre Junta) has re-started fresh factional fighting in the territories of Federal Member States, engaged in forceful toppling of the leaders of Regional Administrations. The hostile operations constitute yet again a direct violation of the Federal Constitution and Peace Accord reached in 2004 on the eve of the establishment of the 2nd Somali Republic. The First Somali Republic had failed in 1991.

Since then, Somali parties to the conflict were hammering out their differences until the current Mogadishu Faction Leaders (MFL) came to power in Mogadishu in 2016 corrupt election with wholesale buying of MPs’ votes with Qatari funds.

The Farmaajo political objective is to dismantle the leadership of Federal Member States before the elections of 2020/2021, installing, instead, loyal governorship-like regimes, thus securing environment conducive to holding sham elections to cling to power.

Already, Galmudugh, Hirshabelle and Southwest states have been neutralized. Jubland is under military action now to topple Ahmed Madoobe, perhaps with Ethiopian military support, to replace Kenyan troops there as AMISOM units, in an intention to capture Kismayo in the process. This military strategy allows Ethiopia to gain access to the Port of Kismayo, the Indian Ocean and other infrastructures, including Kismayo Airport, besides, Port of Berbera is being used by Ethiopia already. This military campaign has to be done now before the election and Gu rainfalls to avoid military vehicles stuck in the oasis of Jubaland.

Puntland would be a hard nut to crack, but not impossible. 21st Somali Military Sector has been re-created and used already against the Galmudugh State to crush President Xaaf and Ahlu Sunnah-wal-Jamaaca leadership opposing factions. These troops, with re-inforcement and logistics supplies from Mogadishu, pose a fatal security threat to North Mudugh and Puntland as a whole, now that they own Southern Mudugh.


A few days ago, Ahlu-Sunnah faction in DusaMareeb in Central Somalia had been ousted in a military coup by Mogadishu Faction leaders.

Now, sketchy advance reports indicate military clashes are underway in and around Balad-Xaawo town in Gedo Region of Jubaland. There are also unconfirmed reports of military actions spilling over to the border with Kenya, forcing Kenyan Defence Forces into high alert. There are reports of casualties and property damages.


Recently, Mogadishu has been accusing Nairobi of meddling into Somalia’s internal affairs.


https://ismailwarsame.blog


@ismailwarsame


Annual subscription

$37.00

DRIVING WRONG VEHICLES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD

DRIVING WRONG VEHICLES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD

Reprinted.

Welcome to a country where people drive right-handed vehicles on right-hand side of the roads, where there are no rules of the road and pestetrians walk along in the middle of road, where extremely only slow driving speed saves lives and minimize road accidents, where there is no need for traffic police and not necessarily a driving license and therefore no age limit to drive a vehicle.

You guessed. It is the new Somalia emerging from the ashes of the Civil War. Guess how long it will take to bring that country back on track, how much rehabilitation works to be done on youth, regulations, institutions and infrastructure?

But, don’t despair. There is light at end of the tunnel. It is just digging it out of the deep hole.

https://ismailwarsame.blog

@ismailwarsame

Annual subscription

$37.00

GARA’AD PORT: A PEOPLE’S PORT

Gara’ad Port under heavy construction to start full marine services in mid-year 2020. Click the underlined to watch.

CORONAVIRUS

GAROWE vs GALKAYO IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN MURDER AND RAPE CASES, ASHA ILYAAS AND HODAN SHANLAYSANE

GAROWE is under the watchful eyes of the people of Puntland as to what public response the residents of Nugaal Region would give about the rape and murder of a pregnant woman and a mother in Garowe recently.


It would be a miscarriage of justice by Puntland Judiciary not to bring perpetrators of this heinous crime before justice and pay the legal punishment they deserve.


Puntland Government would be abandoning its constitutional respinsibilities not to pursue justice in regard to Hodan SHANLAYSANE merceless and barbaric crimes of rape and murder.


https;//ismailwarsame.blog


@ismailwarsame


Annual subscription

$37.00