(Reuters) – Somalia’s embattled central government will not argue with semi-autonomous Puntland over potential oil revenues for fear of scuttling a fragile peace process, but a top official said on Monday the law made clear control lay with Mogadishu. Canadian firm Horn Petroleum, majority-owned by Vancouver-listed Africa Oil Corp., and its exploration partners started drilling in March... 

In due consideration of the widespread opposition to the draft constitution, the international community and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) should honor the opinions of the concerned Somali stakeholders and desist from its ratification crookedly. The 1960 constitution and the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC) provide sufficient legal basis for the formation of new national interim authority... 

By Ali Ghedi Somalia has been through a difficult time in the last 21 years Rivalry between clan faction leaders has led to killing, starvation and dislocation until 2006, when the Islamic Courts Union took control of Mogadishu and nearly all of Southern Somalia. Unfortunately, thanks to the interference of Ethiopian forces with the blessing of the United States, the ICU couldn’t last more than... 

A row between Kenya and Somalia over their maritime border may deter multinational oil companies from exploring for oil and gas offshore east Africa, and a Somali official warned that the argument could escalate. The two coastal nations disagree over the location of their boundary line in the Indian Ocean. At stake are their legal claims to sell rights for exploration and collect revenue from any discovery. Kenya... 

For unsuspecting eye especially for those of us who do not follow closely the affairs of Somalia, the Secretary of State’s, Hillary Clinton, recent comments about Somalia on September, 23, 2011 titled “Hillary Clinton’s Remarks at UN High-Level Meeting on Somalia” sounds innocuous. On the contrary, behind the facade of nicety is an ominous premeditated and carefully crafted calculus of annihilation... 

‘’Daily and hourly, the politician inwardly has to overcome a quite trivial and all-too-human enemy a quite vulgar vanity.’’ Max Weber Following his recent miraculous  escape from the despicable act of terrorism and attempt assassination on his life, and that of some important members of his inner circle of cabinet Ministers and the audience  at the bombed out National Theatre by the anti-peace... 

Like many nations in Africa, Somalia has endured the legacy of the foreign expedition of greed throughout the continent. After the Berlin Conference 1884, Western European powers sought to divide Somaliland—one of the most homogeneous regions of Africa—into British Somaliland, French Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, Ethiopian Somaliland (the Ogaden), and the Northern Frontier District (NFD) of British... 

For the first time in 22 years, the leader of western donor country, the British Prime Minister David Cameron announced on November 14, 2011, the hosting of an International Conference on ‘Somalia’ not fiefdoms in London. In his speech entitled Foreign Policy in the National Interest, the PM described Somalia as ‘a failed State that directly threatens British Interest.’ In essence, The PM’s... 

Somalia, has suffered over more than two decades of wars, famine, drought, malnutrition, diseases, exodus of hundred thousands of refugee living in squalid camps in neighboring countries, hundred thousands of internally displaced people uprooted by fighting and as a result many lives have been lost. Are we happy where we are? In my view, it has to be a bad leadership and there is an African Proverb... 

September 13, 2011   Reflecting upon the charade that surrounded the UN Consultative Meeting (UN-CM) held at Mogadishu Airport at a time when the entire Somalia is overwhelmed by the worst drought and famine in 60 years, two questions came into my mind: (1) Why the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) has decided to treat Somalis as ‘ignoramus characters’ who could not understand... 

On July 27 Rep. Peter King held his third Congressional hearing on the “radicalization” of Muslim Americans, putting the spotlight on Somali American youth. Only one Somali speaker gave testimony, Ahmed Hussen from Canada. Below Abdinasir Egal, a researcher with African Rights Monitor and organizer of the Somali Diaspora Youth Conference in Boston in mid July, voices his concerns. by Abdinasir... 

By: Abukar Arman - The worst thing that could happen to Somalia at this critical juncture—in its recovery from two decades of bloodshed and chaos— is to disrupt the momentum of security improvement and to derail the reformation process lead by Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and his cabinet. And that is exactly what the Kampala Accord has inadvertently done. But, who would have ever thought... 

In recent days Somalis have been demonstrating in Mogadishu and in all major cities across Somalia as well as in the neighbouring countries, particularly in Nairobi Kenya. These demonstrations could be interpreted as a way of expressing powerlessness and discontent on how foreigners time after time meddle in Somali affairs. Not a soul can refute the fact that most Somalis are weary of unwarranted... 

May 30, 2011 As a follow up to meeting on Somalia held in New York on May 11, members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) travelled to Nairobi, Kenya on May 24-25 for further consultation with leaders of Somalia, African Union (AU) and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). After listening  the pathetic speeches of top leaders of the Transitional Federal Institutions of Somalia... 

INTRODUCTION It is difficult to cover all the problems in one article, so I selected interrelated issues which are most alarming ones and these are the consequences of vitamin D deficiency and Autism. READ MORE  Read More →

March 29, 2011 The parliamentary coup in progress in Mogadishu has eclipsed all other important topics in Somalia. The critical issues that deserve in depth examination include the relevance of Djibouti Peace Agreement (2008), the development and implementation of comprehensive strategy for peace and state-building, the foreign-driven constitution-making process and uncountable gatherings, the massive... 

Dahir, a black Somalian Muslim, remained in the room while the woman reportedly made hateful racist remarks and then called the police again. In the second call the woman claimed that Dahir had locked her in the study room, while Dahir claims that he left the door open.  Read More →

Dahir, a black Somalian Muslim, remained in the room while the woman reportedly made hateful racist remarks and then called the police again. In the second call the woman claimed that Dahir had…  Read More →

Transparency International (TI), the global ant-graft watch-dog, has placed Somalia the most corrupt country in the world. Out of the 178 in the latest global ranking released on Tuesday, October, 26, 2010, Somalia slipped one position down from its 177th ranking in 2009 and at the time only less corrupt than Afghanistan. I say, “There has to be a change of mind-set and change of guard in Somalia”.... 

By Dr. Yusuf   O.  Al-Azhari Many qualified authentic Somalis could argue on whether Federalism is the right option for our country in this period of deep decomposition, agony and antagonism of our Nation which dearth any system of Governance to be re-institutionalize for the past two decades which deeply depleted National values and the integrity of Somalia as a Nation. Gazing back on the... 

February 16, 2011 – It’s interesting to witness the intense vilification of the International Community (IC) by Ethiopia and Members of the Djibouti Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP-D) after the IC objected the three-year- extension of TFP-D’s tenure from August 22, 2011. Ethiopia and Djibouti (IGAD) encouraged and defended the self-serving TFP’s decision. MP Hassan Abshir (former... 

Clearly, the performance of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Technocrats has disappointed those who had hope for a fundamental change and held dear the revival of the “Somali Republic” on a sustainable foundation. The TFG of Technocrats has created more problems and distresses rather than confidence, accountability and hopeful future. In effect, it isn’t all that different from... 

By Mohamud Ahmed Email: maash68@gmail.com January 23, 2011 In Somalia, the clock is ticking toward the end of The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. The TFG’s tenure will expire in seven months, and the prospect of an extension is bleak. Farmajo’s administration fills the most unstable government in the world. Oftentimes, its occupants last... 

By Dr. Yusuf O.  Al-Azhari Somalia’s misfortune and inability to find a viable solution to its Political mess dragged on during 2009 and 2010; two years with many political façade, blood shade and massive displacement has just ended. Many speculations and facts have either been written or narrated through the media in these two years, with some positive and negative aspects about the survival future... 

For good governance, politicians accused of forgery, lies, corruption and incompetence should resign or be forced to leave office or thrown in jail if they are caught red-handed. President Sheikh Sharif, Prime Minister (PM) Mohamed Abdullahi Formajo, Minister Abdulkareem Jama of Posts, Telecommunication and Information (PTI) of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) are accused of forgery and...