Day: December 15, 2024

MY FRIENDS WORLDWIDE ARE BASHING ME FOR FALLING IN LOVE WITH PUNTLAND CITY OF EYL

The City of Eyl, about 200Km on a pickup-truck from Nugaal Regional Capital of Garowe, is located on the shores of the Indian Ocean at mid-center of Puntland State, a Federal Member State of Somalia occupying the topmost Horn of Africa, offers a small town life away from noisy urban centres, and is famous for providing breathtaking beauty of scenery and delicious seafood of lobster and fish, among a variety of other marine foodstuff of one’s choice. Alternatively, one could ask for a ride onboard one of multiple fishing boats for a thrilling experience of your own catch.

While one is away in Eyl, one  doesn’t lose connection to the outside world by taking advantage of Golis Telecom voice and data services, which I don’t recommend one to use them too much for a change to avoid the hectic trap of the electronic world one has left behind in urban life existence.

In Eyl, one wakes up early in the morning after a sound sleep in an environment at sea level  or even below, an experience of rest and relaxation one rarely enjoys in an urban setting. After taking a heart-felt breakfast or even before taking breakfast, one takes off his shoes to feel the soothing and crystal clear beach sands before one plunges into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. One comes out of the ocean water to feel as if burden has been removed from the body. One sits on the beach sands for a while and does some body massage with sand grains on the rough spots of the skin on one’s body. One then returns to an ocean swimming to wash off massaging grains of sand that make one’s body clean and smooth as a baby again. One then returns to his/her residence to have a wonderful lunch one could have only in Eyl City. From there forward, one has a few options for the remainder of the day. One could take an afternoon nap or go back to the ocean to do more of the same as one did in the morning, or one could sit out the afternoon at a table to enjoy the breath-taking breeze of the Indian Ocean over cups of fresh coffee or tea and drink a lot of fresh water to wait for another round of mouth-watering dinner of marine food. 

That is why I have fallen in love with the City of Eyl/Baddey.

AN OPEN APPEAL BY CONCERNED CITIZENS OF SOMALIA

“Dear Respected Leaders [ of the world] and Stakeholders [of Somalia]

We, the concerned citizens of Somalia and advocates for peace, federalism, and democratic governance, write to bring to your urgent attention the deteriorating political, security, and governance situation in Somalia under the current federal government led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The actions of the federal government have placed our nation on the brink of civil war and state collapse, threatening not only the peace and stability of Somalia but also the broader regional security.

Escalation of Tribal Conflicts and Misuse of Somalia National Armed Forces
Under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s leadership, the federal government has blatantly violated the principles of the Provisional Federal Constitution by pursuing policies of division and confrontation. The misuse of the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) in tribal conflicts and politically motivated operations against regional states, particularly Jubaland, is alarming. The recent clashes between Jubaland forces and the Somali National Army in the Raaskanbooni region underscore the government’s direct involvement in escalating tribal wars, undermining federalism, and destabilizing regional administrations.

This conduct not only erodes trust in Somalia’s leadership but also highlights a dangerous pattern of corruption, personal gain, and the pursuit of authoritarian rule. Such actions violate Somalia’s federal framework, which seeks to ensure cooperation, inclusivity, and respect among member states. Instead of fostering unity and progress, the federal government has weaponized the armed forces to suppress opposition and advance its political agenda.

Call for Reimposition of Arms Embargo and Financial Accountability
Given the current government’s failure to uphold its constitutional responsibilities and its misuse of international resources, we urgently call upon the international community and the United Nations to:

Reimpose the Arms Embargo on Somalia: The misuse of Somalia’s national armed forces to wage politically motivated conflicts against regional states and clan groups is a clear violation of their intended purpose. These forces should solely be deployed to combat terrorism and extremism. Until credible reforms are implemented, lifting the arms embargo would further destabilize the nation.

Suspend Funding to the Somali National Army (SNA): The federal government’s mismanagement of funds, money laundering, and diversion of resources to fuel tribal wars necessitates immediate action. All financial aid should be contingent upon robust accountability mechanisms to ensure neutrality and transparency in the use of funds.

Establish an Independent Monitoring Mechanism: The UN and international partners must deploy a monitoring team to investigate the federal government’s actions, including corruption, misuse of military resources, and human rights violations. This team should report directly to the Security Council and other stakeholders to ensure impartiality.

Support Reforms and Federal Dialogue: The international community must facilitate negotiations among Somalia’s federal member states to restore trust and cooperation. Mechanisms must be established to strengthen constitutional adherence, accountability, and inclusivity in decision-making processes.

A Call for Urgent Action
Somalia is at a critical juncture. The current federal government has demonstrated its inability to govern effectively, respect the rule of law, or promote federalism. Instead, it has fostered division, corruption, and conflict, pushing the nation closer to civil war. The international community must not allow these actions to go unchecked.

We appeal to you to act decisively to prevent further destabilization. Immediate measures, including the reimposition of the arms embargo, suspension of military funding, and the deployment of monitoring groups, are essential to safeguard Somalia’s future. The Somali people deserve leadership that respects the constitution, promotes peace, and prioritizes national unity over personal gain.

We trust that you will consider this appeal with the urgency it demands.

Sincerely,”