Author: warsame digital media

About the blogger: This blog is associated with the former Chief of Staff in Puntland State Presidency, 1998-2004. He also worked with the UN and World Bank Joint Secretariat for Somalia’s Re-construction and Development Program (RDP), 2005-2006, as a Zonal Technical Coordinator for Puntland and later as National Aid Technical Coordinator with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and European Union. He is now an independent political analyst and commentator on current issues and occasionally gives historical perspective on modern Somalia’s politics. He lives and works in Toronto, Canada. He can be reached at: ismailwarsame@gmail.com

Cultural Heritage

Take a watch:

https://fb.watch/g3roQoCVD3/

https://fb.watch/g3sPe8DHKV/

Watch “Institutional Memory, Faroole, Gaas, Deni, elections” on YouTube

FORMER PUNTLAND PRESIDENTS GAAS AND FAROOLE SHOULD LET IT GO

WDM EDITORIAL

It is human nature that people hate someone else succeeding where they failed badly. The three successful Pilot Council Elections in Qardho, Uffayn and Eyl recently must have been a shock to Faroole and Gaas. That much we understand in regard to human situation of former leaders of Puntland State, but now they hurt our expectations of them to act as Puntland/Somali statesmen. What is wrong with our yesterday’s leaders and supposedly experienced politicians?

President Faroole tried his best and his administration did a huge ground work in his attempt to hold Council elections. In the end, he didn’t see the process through successfully. This trial was commendable and Puntland is now building on these efforts. It is perplexing to see him opposing the same work he had started. Shame! People of Puntland deserve better.

What some Puntlanders may find extremely odd, however, not surprising, is the case of Gaas opposing Puntland moving forward without listening to his sadistic utterings. Many Puntlanders couldn’t be deceived by any more shenanigans by a politician whose entire political career was built on shameless corruption, and abysmally failed Puntlanders in their time of need in both war and peaceful reconstruction. Gaas, a doctor in economics, was reportedly quoted as saying “Little corruption is good for the economy”.

But, let us cut chasing the wild goose – Gaas can’t have further say in Puntland affairs. People of Puntland are still reeling from the dilapidating harm done by Gaas and his despotic litte cronies of Aaran Jaan types. Recall scandal involving Garowe-Galkayo Road and P&O Bosaso Port, the infamous “15 million Dollar Golden Handshake”, on the top of unprecedented, huge, daylight bribery in Puntland House of Representatives to sell out the only Puntland port then. Where does he come from to oppose Puntland transition to democracy? Can he be a model for anyone of decent reputation? When talking to Gaas, ask him about his experience with “Tukaraq Fiasco”. Gaas is the author of the infamous “Ban Ki-moon Stament” as prelude to sell his soul and Puntland interests to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Residents of Puntland State of Somalia will march on and pass-by the lovers of doomsday and “after me, the dèluge”.

(Feature picture: Garowe-Galkayo Highway now under construction where Mr. Gaas had failed and messed up).

IN MEMORY OF PUNTLAND PRESIDENT MOHAMUD MUSE HERSI BOQOR

A Political Journey with General Mohamud Muse Hersi Boqor: Reflections on Leadership and Legacy

Early Encounters: Radio Kulmis and the SSDF Struggle (1983)
My first encounter with the late General Mohamud Muse Hersi Boqor (Cadde Muse)—later President of Puntland State—occurred in 1983 at the studio of Radio Kulmis, the clandestine broadcaster for the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), then operating via the shortwave antenna of the Voice of the Gospel near Maskel Square in Addis Ababa. The General visited the studio alongside Abdullahi Yusuf, then Acting Chairman of the SSDF. I vividly recall posing a bold question to Cadde Muse: “Why did you join the struggle so late?” Before he could respond, Yusuf interjected, asserting that “everyone joins the struggle when the time is right.”

Unbeknownst to me then, Cadde Muse had recently defected from his post as Military Attaché at the Somali Embassy in Ottawa, Canada. His departure coincided with the impending arrival of Somalia’s dictator, Siad Barre, for an official visit to Canada. According to diplomatic sources, Barre’s inquiry about Cadde Muse’s whereabouts reportedly embarrassed the Somali Ambassador, who had no knowledge of the General’s disappearance. Barre correctly speculated that Cadde Muse had fled to Addis Ababa—a testament to the General’s strategic timing and the regime’s unraveling intelligence apparatus.

Military Leadership and SSDF Folklore
Cadde Muse soon rose to become the SSDF’s Chief of Staff, commanding its guerrilla forces. His leadership style, however, became a subject of lighthearted anecdotes within SSDF circles. Known for his affable demeanor and distinctive Banadir dialect, he defied the stereotypical image of a stern military leader. Despite this, his commitment to the anti-Barre cause was unwavering.

After Barre’s regime collapsed in 1991, Cadde Muse returned to Canada, where he transitioned into small business ventures while remaining active in the Somali diaspora community. His political ambitions, however, were far from extinguished.

From Exile to Puntland’s Turbulent Politics
The General reemerged in Somali politics during Puntland’s formative years. In the early 2000s, he resurfaced in the Karkaar region, commanding remnants of Jama Ali Jama’s short-lived administration. After suffering defeat, he fled to Ceel-Afweyn in Somaliland-administered Sanaag, where he and his loyalists reportedly endured harsh treatment from local authorities—a reflection of the volatile clan dynamics that often overshadowed broader political alliances.

During the 2002 Somali Peace and Reconciliation Conference in Eldoret, Kenya, I received a call from Boqor Buur Madow, a respected elder from Ceerigabo. He urged me to broker dialogue between Abdullahi Yusuf and Cadde Muse. Reluctantly, Yusuf agreed to engage. The call with Cadde Muse was fraught with tension; he unleashed a torrent of grievances against Yusuf and me. Yet, this marked the beginning of an unlikely political reconciliation.

Yusuf and Cadde: An Unlikely Alliance
Post-reconciliation, Yusuf and Cadde Muse forged a close partnership, so much so that Puntland’s Vice President Mohamed Abdi Hashi once quipped, “Who is really in charge here?” Observers misunderstood their dynamic: Yusuf, eyeing Somalia’s presidency, needed Cadde’s support, while Cadde leveraged Yusuf’s influence to consolidate his own authority.

When Cadde Muse assumed Puntland’s presidency in 2005, his administration became a critical lifeline for Somalia’s nascent Transitional Federal Government (TFG). His pragmatic collaboration with federal institutions underscored Puntland’s role as a stabilizing force amid Somalia’s chaos.

The 2007 Mogadishu Agreement: A Forgotten Pact
In late 2007, during a TFG-Puntland delegation visit to Mogadishu, Cadde Muse tasked me with drafting a landmark agreement. The document stipulated that Puntland would represent federal institutions until other member states were established—a strategic move that secured $3 million of the $38 million Saudi Arabia grant to TFG for Puntland State. Signed by Yusuf, Cadde Muse, and Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi, the pact remains a forgotten footnote in Somalia’s federalism saga, ignored by subsequent Puntland administrations.

A Surprising Offer and Final Reflections
During that same visit, Cadde Muse summoned me privately. After dismissing his ministers, he made an unexpected proposition: “Ismail, Eng Caydaruus can’t handle the presidency. I want you to take the job.” Stunned, I declined, advising him that “kings do not make servants of their kin.” Caydaruus, a descendant of sultans, was ill-suited for subordination. Cadde Muse later appointed Khalif Nur Ali Qonof—a decision emblematic of the delicate clan calculus underpinning Somali leadership.

Legacy of a Pragmatist
General Cadde Muse’s legacy is one of contradictions: a military defector turned diaspora businessman, a guerrilla leader mocked yet respected, and a president whose tenure bridged regional and federal ambitions. His ability to navigate Somalia’s treacherous political terrain—often through personal charisma and clan alliances—cemented his place in Puntland’s history. Yet, his story also reflects the unresolved tensions between federalism and centralized governance that continue to plague Somalia.

Though the 2007 agreement faded into obscurity, Cadde Muse’s tenure remains a testament to the complex interplay of loyalty, ambition, and survival in Somali politics—a narrative as unscripted and unpredictable as the man himself.

Poor countries have become a global lab for the experiments of companies and humanitarian organizations | DIIS

“contrast, it is much easier to measure whether a new treatment is working, or whether it helps to give money directly to a family. According to Adam Moe Fejerskov, this altered focus helps to promote certain types of knowledge and exclude others. – The experimental regime has a belief that you can create an objective system in which numbers reveal the right policy, and thus there is no need for political processes. This has a major impact on who defines politics and political issues. If all policy is to be conducted on the basis of mathematical knowledge, then certain types of science – and therefore certain people – will control the agenda. Some knowledge is seen as legitimate and everything else is outside. This is a very anti-democratic way of conducting politics that clearly determine who should be heard and who should not be heard in the search for political solutions, says Adam Moe Fejerskov. Politics of avoidance One of the problems is that the experimental leads to a special kind of knowledge and thus some limited political understandings. Another problem is that, in today’s crises, we often find ourselves in situations that we do not know how to handle. In such situations, we are more likely to engage in political experiments with unknown effects. The experiments come to serve as a “solution” when politicians do not dare to make the necessary choices. The climate crisis is a good example of this dynamic. – The climate crisis is first and foremost a political question, but we approach it with an extreme degree of experimentality. One third of the reductions needed to reach the Paris target should come from experimental technologies. But we have no idea what these technologies look like or whether they are effective. Technology becomes a form of politics of avoidance. We dare not press the policy buttons required to make certain slowdowns or changes in our industry and energy systems. Therefore, we hope that the technologies will solve it for us. In this way, we leave not only our own, but the future of the entire planet to the politics of experimentation. Adam Moe Fejerskov SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNANCE Senior Researcher +45 32698779 admo@diis.dk” https://www.diis.dk/en/node/25944#:~:text=contrast%2C%20it%20is,admo%40diis.dk

BREAKING NEWS: US SECURITY WARNING

OCTOBER 6, 2022

Location: Somalia

Event: Security Situation

The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu continues to closely monitor the security situation in the city of Mogadishu, including Aden Adde Airport. The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu introduced travel restrictions for U.S. government personnel in Mogadishu for the immediate future, including outside the international campus and UN compound.

The U.S. Embassy reminds the public of Somalia’s Travel Advisory , which states that terrorists continue to plot kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks in Somalia.  Attacks may occur with little or no warning, targeting airports and seaports, government buildings, hotels, restaurants, shopping areas, and other areas that attract large crowds and are frequented by Westerners, as well as government, military, and Western convoys.  Methods of attack can include car bombs, suicide bombers, individual attackers, and mortar fire, among others.  Terrorist attacks involving the indiscriminate use of explosive devices and other weapons can take place anywhere in Somalia at any time without warning.

Actions to Take: 

  • Exercise vigilance at events, places of worship, and locations with large crowds.
  • Review your personal security plans.
  • Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.
  • Be aware of your surroundings.
  • Monitor local media for updates.

Assistance:

THE PENALTY OF LEADERSHIP

This advertisement for Cadillac automobile in regard to its competitors is worth repeating as it captures human nature eloquently. Take a read:

“In every field of human endeavour, he that is first must perpetually live in the white light of publicity. Whether the leadership be vested in a man or in a manufactured product, emulation and envy are ever at work. In art, in literature, in music, in industry, the reward and the punishment are always the same. The reward is widespread recognition; the punishment, fierce denial and detraction. When a man’s work becomes a standard for the whole world, it also becomes a target for the shafts of the envious few. If his work be mediocre, he will be left severely alone – if he achieves a masterpiece, it will set a million tongues a-wagging. Jealousy does not protrude its forked tongue at the artist who produces a commonplace painting. Whatsoever you write, or paint, or play, or sing, or build, no one will strive to surpass or to slander you unless your work be stamped with the seal of genius. Long, long after a great work or a good work has been done, those who are disappointed or envious, continue to cry out that it cannot be done. Spiteful little voices in the domain of art were raised against our own Whistler as a mountback, long after the big world had acclaimed him its greatest artistic genius. Multitudes flocked to Bayreuth to worship at the musical shrine of Wagner, while the little group of those whom he had dethroned and displaced argued angrily that he was no musician at all. The little world continued to protest that Fulton could never build a steamboat, while the big world flocked to the river banks to see his boat steam by. The leader is assailed because he is a leader, and the effort to equal him is merely added proof of that leadership. Failing to equal or to excel, the follower seeks to depreciate and to destroy – but only confirms once more the superiority of that which he strives to supplant. There is nothing new in this. It is as old as the world and as old as human passions – envy, fear, greed, ambition, and the desire to surpass. And it all avails nothing. If the leader truly leads, he remains – the leader. Master-poet, master-painter, master-workman, each in his turn is assailed, and each holds his laurels through the ages. That which is good or great makes itself known, no matter how loud the clamor of denial. That which deserves to live – lives“.

(Courtesy)

HEARTFELT CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF WDM ACTIVE READER

Colonel Abdullahi Ulle. Ulle passed away in Holland recently. RIP!

RECOLONIZATION OF THE HORN OF AFRICA

Take a listen

TAKE A NOTE

POOR AND DEADLY FRAUDULENT EDUCATION SCHEMES IN SOMALIA

Civil War in Somalia had produced not only warlords, Union of Islamic Courts, Alshabab, Alqaeda, ISIS, but also fraudulent education merchants engaged in dangerous schemes to exploit mercilessly parents and their kids for business profit. These fraudsters give out education certificates to youth who can’t read and write any legible literature. “Students” are required only to pay their fees to pass exams. Whatever subjects they try to imitate teaching, civic education isn’t one of them. Their schemes don’t produce Somali personality. The schemes are spoiling generation after generation to produce illiterate population, “graduates” of the fraudulent education schemes throughout Somalia.

Parents of these kids have to choose between two evils:

1. To leave them to their own devices with the potential of becoming juvenile delinquents, perish in the high seas looking for better opportunities overseas, radicalized and recruited by extremists.

2. Or to allow these kids to fall victims to the fraudulent education schemes in their own country.

Since youth “graduates” from fraudelent systems are miseducated, on the top of lacking labour skills, they are hardly expected to get jobs in the limited labour market here in Somalia. At this stage, parents are still in a dilemma of what to do with these young “graduates” . Here start parents’ struggles to seek job openings for these ill-prepared youth through cronyism, nepotism and corruption. While engaged in this process, they try to secure loans to lease vehicles used as taxis called Dhaweeye (UBER) to keep these youth busy and out of trouble.

Somalia’s fraudulent education cartels have been attracting education crooks as well from neighboring East African countries like Uganda and Ethiopia. But, you would rarely see Somali college graduates from Kenya for they have high standards in their education system and strict admission requirements. In Uganda, these fake education crooks had established the so-called ” Kampala International University” specifically deviced to take advantage of the misery of Somali youth looking for better education overseas. Students need only to register there and pay tuition fees. Getting certificate is guaranteed.

To illustrate this point, one day, a few years ago, I received a phone call from a Somali man in Garowe, Puntland. He informed me that he was with a Ugandan friend from “Kampala International University” visiting Puntland, and they wanted to see me. I told them about the place to meet, which was a hotel lobby. The Ugandan identified himself as “Ahmed”, an unlikely name for his obvious African features. To make a long story short, “Ahmed” wanted Warsame Digital Media to place an advertisement for his “University”. I asked him what subjects they were teaching there. His answer was stunning. Among the subjects he told me that they teach included “Bachelor of Surgery”. In conclusion, I asked him to show me the curriculum and fields of studies of “Kampala International University”. He promised to come back next morning to show me the literature. He never returned.

(This article has been updated since posting.)

FAILING EDUCATION IN SOMALIA

Take a listen here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eTUv0uVgzz8gMQ75pgEI4Ni1zRF6nG_t/view?usp=drivesdk

Watch “Musuqmaasuq dhan waraaqa ah ee siyaasiinta iyo hawlwadeenna Koonfur Somalia” on YouTube

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF MOGADISHU UNION OF ISLAMIC COURTS

Who is the mother of Al-Shabab? Do you have any argument that Al-Shabab was a faction or part of the defunct Union of Islamic Courts (UIC)? If you have any objections to raising this question, then probably you don’t have any question regarding Damul-Jadid faction of Islaax Somalia fighting along UIC against Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) in 2006. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was then leader of Damul-Jadid, led the group to join the fight along Al-Shabab and militia of UIC. Students of SIMAD College were transported to the battlefield in the vicinity of Baydhaba, the Seat of TFG then, unprepared and untrained, to fight along Al-Shabab or UIC militia. Former Interior Minister, Odawaa, commanded this operation in which SIMAD students were routed out by joint counter-offensive of TFG and Ethiopian forces. Like thousands, who had perished in Mogadishu following the outbreak of the Civil War from 1991, SIMAD College students were unaccounted for and nobody was held accountable for this heinous crime.

Trying to follow up and attempting to express remorse for past mistakes or crimes is an initial positive step forward by perpetrators. I don’t see this happening. This, in turn, makes everybody skeptical of President Mohamud’s sincerity in fighting Al-Shabab. Until he shows otherwise, the burden of proof is on the President.

FEDERAL MEMBER STATES ARE EXPERIENCING AN ERA OF ILLEGAL POWER GRAB AND EXTENSIONS

WDM EDITORIAL

Anti-democratic extensions of mandate is becoming fashionable in most Federal Member State (FMS) in Somalia. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) is reticent about the new political shenanigans by the heads of FMS. Silence on the illegal power grab could be interpreted as conniving with the power abuses in the FMS. Somaliland, which had never re-elected its Upper House in more than three decades and only twice in the Lower House, constitutes the most undemocratic entity and leads the pack of power grabbers in Somalia, followed by Jubaland, Galmudugh, Southwest and Hirshabelle. In the case of Somaliland, the Upper House (Guurti) has just extended its legislative mandate to yet another five-year term, thus becoming a parliament for life, and Somaliland, the mother of all mandate extensions. The President has extracted two-year term extension for himself by creating artificial constitutional crisis in Somaliland. Other FMS have opted for constitutional manipulations to prolong their stints and lives of misrule.

In Puntland State, public debates are raging in towns between supporters and opponents of democratic transition. Here at least the government isn’t talking about mandate extension. There are people among the debaters, though, who say cynically or in good faith that the idea behind One Person One Vote planned in Puntland State, is to seek extension of current administration’s term to finish up the process. They say the taste of pudding is in the eating. Until that happens, let us keep the faith to see these elections through.

Watch “Role of Puntland Youth in Council Elections” on YouTube

Watch “The importance of Council Elections in Puntland” on YouTube

MINISTER JUXA ON THE PRESSING ISSUE OF DEMOCRATIZATION IN PUNTLAND

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS ON PUNTLAND FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED ON ABYI’S OFFICE LETTERHEAD

Somali-Ethiopian Communique on Ethiopian Prime Minister’s Letterhead

Watch “Different Regions of Somalia have Different Development Needs” on YouTube

FRENCH PRESIDENT MACRON POLICY IS CONDEMNED

Italian politician condemns the French President Macron policy on Afrca

PUNTLAND DOESN’T INVOKE ITS BARGAINING CHIP WITH FGS

Kindly review this article:

Ununiform development needs in Somalia is a reality on the ground, and those regions still in humanitarian or recovery stages couldn’t be allowed to hold back those which are in development stage, when considering aid distribution and technical assistance programs. Peace and stability must be the criteria to gauge development needs.

https://ismailwarsame.blog/2022/09/28/peace-and-stability-must-be-criteria-for-development/

HAUNTING POLITICAL IMAGE OF SOMALIA’S PRESIDENT HASSAN SHEIKH MOHAMUD

Picture of the Day: Only Foreign Minister Abshir Huruse stands out as an odd man in the crowd of HSM in Addis Ababa today.

PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT

Peace and Stability must be the Criteria for Devmt. Take a listen here. Click to download.Download

يجب أن يكون السلام والاستقرار معايير التنمية.

حافظ على السلام لتعيش بسلام.  يدفع.  عندما أنشأنا دولة بونتلاند في الصومال في أغسطس 1998 ، على الرغم من أن المناطق الشمالية الشرقية كانت مستقرة نسبيًا باستثناء مودوغ ، كانت هناك إقطاعيات فرعية من العشائر ومقاتلين عشائريين مهددين والعديد من نقاط التفتيش غير القانونية على طول الطرق والطرق السريعة الرئيسية ، على رأس العناصر الدينية المتطرفة مثل آل.  – اتحاد الاسلامى.  قامت ولاية بونتلاند ، من خلال السلطة الأخلاقية والتشريعية ، بإزالة هذه العناصر من الفوضى المجتمعية في غضون فترة زمنية قصيرة.  عاد السلام الكامل والممتع إلى المناطق الشمالية الشرقية من الصومال.  من الحالة الإنسانية إلى الانتعاش والتنمية ، انتقلت بونتلاند إلى وضع الحكم الذاتي وتقديم الخدمات العامة ، بغض النظر عن مدى شعور الناس بعدم الرضا ، بناءً على توقعاتهم من حكومة مراوغة ، في أعقاب حرب أهلية شرسة في تاريخ  هذه الأمة المضطربة.
قارن سيناريو بونتلاند بتلك المناطق الصومالية التي لا تزال تعاني من العنف والأزمات الإنسانية.  هناك ، لا أحد يتحدث عن مرحلة التعافي من الحرب الأهلية.  لا يزالون بحاجة إلى تدخل إنساني.
خلال تقييم الاحتياجات المشتركة لفرقنا (JNA) مع الأمم المتحدة والبنك الدولي في 2005-2006 ، اكتشفنا أن أجزاء مختلفة من الصومال تحتاج إلى مناهج إنمائية مختلفة.  كان استنتاجنا أن بونتلاند وأرض الصومال قد انتقلتا إلى مرحلة التنمية بينما كانت بقية الصومال في الغالب في مرحلة إنسانية.  لا تزال احتياجات التنمية غير المعلوماتية في الصومال حقيقة واقعة على الأرض ، ولا يمكن السماح لتلك المناطق التي تمر بمرحلة إنسانية أو مرحلة التعافي بعرقلة تلك التي هي في مرحلة التنمية ، عند النظر في توزيع المساعدات وبرامج المساعدة الفنية.  يجب أن يكون السلام والاستقرار معيارين لقياس احتياجات التنمية

PEACE AND STABILITY MUST BE CRITERIA FOR DEVELOPMENT

Keep the peace to live in peace. It pays. When we established Puntland State of Somalia in August 1998, although Northeast Regions were comparatively stable save Mudugh, there were sub-clan fiefdoms and menancing clan militiamen and numerous illegal checkpoints all along the roads and main highway, on top of religious extremist elements like Al-Itihad Al-islaami. Puntland State, through moral and legislative authority, had cleared up these elements of societal anarchy within a short period of time. Full and enjoyable peace returned to Northeastern Regions of Somalia. From humanitarian situation to recovery and development, Puntland had moved forward to the status of self-government and delivery of public services, no matter how unsatisfied people felt, based on their expectations from an elusive government, following a vicious civil war in the history of this troubled nation.

Compare Puntland scenario with those Somali regions which are still experiencing violence and humanitarian crisis. There, nobody is talking about recovery stage from the Civil War. They still need humanitarian intervention.

During our Teams’ Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) of Somalia with the United Nations and World Bank in 2005-2006, we had discovered that different parts of Somalia needed different development approaches. Our conclusion was that Puntland and Somaliland had moved to development stage while the rest of Somalia was mostly in humanitarian stage. Ununiform development needs in Somalia is still a reality on the ground, and those regions in humanitarian or recovery stages couldn’t be allowed to hold back those which are in development stage, when considering aid distribution and technical assistance programs. Peace and stability must be the criteria to gauge development needs.

QUOTES FROM ISMAIL H WARSAME

Write when you feel tired and hungry to kill verbosity and redundancy.
By Ismail Warsame.


Don’t waste time with friends and colleagues, who disappoint you. It is a losing exercise to win them back.
By Ismail Warsame

WHY PEOPLE OF PUNTLAND SHOULD SEIZE THIS VOTING OPPORTUNITY

WDM EDITORIAL

Aren’t you still tired and fed up of being told that your member of Parliament would be picked up by your clan elder? How would you allow your Puntland State President to continue to be selected by a group of unrepresentative 66 persons in your so-called parliament? By continuing to accept this kind of unaccountable and unrepresentative government, you risk losing the hope and future of your kids, existing generation, or even Puntland self-government. If you don’t change, you will have no rights to blame others for your misfortunes because of failure in your civic responsibilities. Once you skip the opportunity to vote and make a difference in your life and others’, you abandon all your rights as a full citizen.

In my opinion, after many trials and errors, Puntland State is now posed to make history in introducing One Person One Vote to the State and Somalia, starting with elections of District Councils. Make sure you contribute to the process and play your important role as responsible resident of Puntland State of Somalia. Good luck!

EXTENDED SESSION OF PUNTLAND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CAME TO CLOSE TODAY

NEWS BRIEF

Puntland House of Representatives has been in session for several months lately, longer than anytime in the past. The sticking issue, among others, was the establishment of the High Court. Earlier, the House rejected Puntland President’s proposal of a list of names that would constitute members of the Court. House members insisted on keeping the House in-session until the issue is resolved. It seems that the President and House Speaker struck a deal late last night to end the session, pending October session to reconsider the composition of the High Court.

Puntland House of Representatives has not been vocal or expressed support to the President’s plan of holding District Council elections. Some members even cast doubt on the timing of these elections. This is a House whose members were selected through the old system of constituency selection, and therefore, they were not expected to whole-heartedly endorse the principles of One Person One Vote. However, the legislations for these Council elections are already in place to proceed.

There are other issues as well between the Executive and Legislative Branches of which the general public knows very little about. There is lack of information sharing with or dissemination of legislative accomplishments or public issues under discussion to the residents of the State. The public is widely uninformed.

Getting to know the younger profile picture of this author and knowledge producer

Watch “Farta Cismania” on YouTube

Watch “Dib u Dhiska Villa Somalia” on YouTube

PUNTLAND IS READY FOR 1P1V

WDM EDITORIAL

Based on conversations, debates and discussions in towns, Puntland is ready for democratic elections. There is a general public understanding that the old system of indirect selection has reached the dead-end. Many believe that Puntland will not survive with the repeat of that clan selection process. The salvation lies in the introduction of democratic principles that has no alternative historically in governance.

Current Puntland Administration has no other choice but to accept the reality on the ground and expedite the process of District Council Elections. Failure to meet this challenge will be a colossal miscalculation that will see existential threat to Puntland self-government.

So, let us not waste time in political bickering. Let us move forward full of hope and confidence that better days are ahead of us.

Watch “Safar Halis ah ee Wafti Puntland” on YouTube

Watch “Shirkii Mbagati 2.0” on YouTube

MINI-CABINET RESHUFFLE IN PUNTLAND STATE

President Said Abdullahi Deni had decreed last night a mini-reshuffle of his already unusually large cabinet. Among noticeable changes include the replacement of the minister of Finance, Hassan Shire Abdi (Abgaal), a long time member of the so-called Aaran Jaan Group (Devil’s kids), a small group of political lobbyists based in Garowe, Nugaal Region. Hassan Shire has been replaced by a Deni loyalist, Abdirahman Dhabancad, who has been moved from the ministry of Interior and Federal Affairs. Dhabancad will not bring constituency representation to President Deni’s Administration. Also important in this Cabinet reshuffle is the appointment of Mr Abdi Farah Juxa, who now becomes the minister for Interior and Federal Affairs. Mr Juxa brings to the Administration vast experiences, having served before this appointment as Federal Government Minister of Interior and Federal Affairs in Farmaajo Administration, and earlier, as minister of education in Puntland Government during President Abdirahman Faroole’s Administration. The rest of the new minister-designates will not contribute any added values or experiences to the Cabinet. Public reactions to the Cabinet reshuffle is somehow muted, some saying it didn’t go far enough.

WDM takeaway of this mini-cabinet reshuffle is that the President’s move could help a bit rather than hinder government policy towards completing planned elections of Puntland District Councils. The time frame for these elections is, however, tight, and government is required to expedite this process. Given a potential window of opportunity, even Puntland House of Representatives could be elected by One Person One Vote in their respective regional constituencies, using data to be collected from districts’ elections and election experiences so acquired.

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Puntland Government Press Release

The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Puntland Government expresses its deep concern regarding the minutes from the meeting on 21/9/2022 between the Federal Minister of Fisheries & Marine Resources and foreign ambassadors, in which the Minister of Fisheries stated that he “does not recognize any license that is not issued by the Federal Ministry of Fisheries”, and threatened, “whoever is engaged in fishing activities with a license granted by the Federal Member States will be on the list of those who are accused of illegal fishing”. 

Puntland Government wishes to highlight that the above statement contradicts the constitution and the following political agreements:

1. Article 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia stipulates that the distribution of natural resources shall be negotiated by the Federal Government of Somalia and its member states through a constitutional framework. 

2. The Baidoa Convention held on February 2nd 2018, Article 2; Paragraph B, confirms that the Federal Member States (FMS) have the authority over anything below 24 nautical miles.

3. The Addis Ababa Agreement held on March 22nd 2019, Article 3, states that the revenue generated from below 24 nautical miles will be managed by the Federal Member States.  

4. The Constitution of Puntland State, Article 3; Section 3 states that foreigners who are granted a permit from Puntland Government are allowed to fish between 12-24 nautical miles. 

Therefore, such reckless statement from the Minister of Fisheries & Marine Resources of the Federal Government could incite political instability, plunge the country into further division and jeopardize the economic future of the fishing sector as a whole.

In conclusion, we call on the officials of the Federal Ministry of Fisheries of Somalia to retract for his unsubstantiated statement, and honor the previous agreements and consultations between the Federal Government of Somalia and Puntland Government.

 

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