AMAZING PICTURES OF SOMALILAND NATIONAL CELEBRATION DAY 18 MAY 2014

SAMO KU WAAR - NATIONAL ANTHEM OF SOMALILAND

Samo ku waar, samo ku waar, saamo ku waar

Sarreeye calanka sudhan bilay dhulkiisaa,

Samo ku waariyoo iyo bogaadin sugan

Hanbalyo suuban kugu salaannee saamo ku waar

Geesiyaashii naftooda u sadqeeyay Qarannimada Somaliland

Xuskooda dhowrsan kugu salaannee samo ku waar

Guulside xanbaarsan soo noqoshadiisa

Kalsooniduu mutaystayee dastuurkaa ku salaannee

Midnimo walaalnimo goobanimoo,

Islaanimo kugu salaanee samow samidiyo

Samo ku waar samo ku waar saamo ku waar

Daawo Sawiro Xuska 18 May ee 2014

SAMO KU WAAR - NATIONAL ANTHEM OF SOMALILAND

Samo ku waar, samo ku waar, saamo ku waar
Sarreeye calanka sudhan bilay dhulkiisaa,
Samo ku waariyoo iyo bogaadin sugan
Hanbalyo suuban kugu salaannee saamo ku waar
Geesiyaashii naftooda u sadqeeyay Qarannimada Somaliland
Xuskooda dhowrsan kugu salaannee samo ku waar
Guulside xanbaarsan soo noqoshadiisa
Kalsooniduu mutaystayee dastuurkaa ku salaannee
Midnimo walaalnimo goobanimoo,

Islaanimo kugu salaanee samow samidiyo
Samo ku waar samo ku waar saamo ku waar

 

Let Somaliland Decide its Fate

23 years after Somaliland declared independence, it is time for the rest of the world to accept that full sovereignty is the only viable solution.

Market women in Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital. Photograph by Charles Roffey.

BY ALI MOHAMED

The most important and underreported success storyof the last two decades in the volatile Horn of Africa may be the emergence of Somaliland. Located in the north of Somalia, Somaliland first declared independence in 1960 (before it merged with Italian Somaliland to become Somalia) and again in 1991 following the collapse of Mohamed Siad Barre’s military government. Then, in May 2001, its independence was asserted again through a nationwide referendum that saw 97.1% of the population voting in favour of autonomy.

Since then, with a population of around 3.5 million, Somaliland has held free elections, drawn up a constitution, and enjoyed relative peace and stability, all without the help of heavy foreign aid. And on 18 May, the people of Somaliland celebrated the 23rd anniversary of their independence.

However, despite these achievements, Somaliland has struggled to gain diplomatic recognition as an independent state. The West, for example, is reluctant to recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state before members of the African Union (AU) do so, while the AU reiterates that one of the founding principles of the organisation was to respect the borders inherited from colonialism.

However, even under this pledge, the AU's argument to deny Somaliland sovereignty appears to be invalid. After all, on 26 June 1960, the territory, which had been British Somaliland, gained independence as the State of Somaliland. It was only a few days later, on 1 July 1960, that Italian Somaliland also gained independence and then united with the State of Somaliland to become the Somalia we know today.

Indeed, in 2006, an AU fact-finding mission declared Somaliland’s status to be “unique and self-justified in African policy history,” and insisted that “the case should not be linked to the notion of ‘opening a Pandora’s box’. ”

Furthermore, even if the AU did pledge to respect colonial borders, surely there is a way to allow Somalilanders today to decide their own political fate. If the UK can agree to hold a referendumover Scottish independence, why can't Somaliland be afforded the same opportunity?

Time for independence

Earlier this year, Somaliland agreed to take part in Turkish-brokered talks with the Somali government. However, it seems obvious that the two sides will not be able to agree on their future relationship through such means. Mogadishu still clings to the fiction of Somaliland being a region under its own authority even though the government struggles to govern at all, while Somaliland sees itself as autonomous and is keen to stay out of the chaos in Somalia.

Furthermore, relations between the two sides are somewhat hostile. In the 1980s, when Somaliland secessionists were engaging in a bitter battle to break away from Somalia, the US-backed Somali dictator of the time, Siad Barre, used brutal military force to bomb the civilian population into submission. The conflict saw 50,000 civilians lose their lives and major towns like Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa were heavily bombarded. With remarkable resilience and determination, the people of Somaliland slowly recovered from the devastation of that war, and today Hargeisa is a city reborn. However, relations between Somalia and Somaliland never fully recovered.

In denying Somaliland the right to decide its own political future, the international community ignores the territory's rebirth, its success in eradicating the piracy and repression that once characterised it, and its testy relationship with Mogadishu.

Somaliland's lack of diplomatic recognition also undermines the progress and stability it has enjoyed in recent years and prevents it from exploiting its rich coal and oil reserves since foreignenergy companies are unable to trade directly with unrecognised territories.

Describing the reasoning behind Somaliland’s vote for nationhood, President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud ‘Silanyo’ writes: “From 1960 to 1991, we gave unity a chance. It failed disastrously. We have now forged again our own future. We deserve the chance to fulfil our ambition.” 

Indeed, the people of Somaliland deserve a chance to decide their own political future for they can no longer tolerate years of uncertainty about their status as a nation. And Somaliland’s move for independence is grounded in the same principles as the declarations of autonomy by British and French-owned colonies in Africa in the 1960s.

23 years after Somaliland declared its self-autonomy in the aftermath of Siad Barre's fall, it is time the US, European Union and Africa do the right thing and accept the only viable and sustainable solution: an independent and sovereign Somaliland.

Think Africa Press welcomes inquiries regarding the republication of its articles. If you would like to republish this or any other article for re-print, syndication or educational purposes, please contact: editor@thinkafricapress.com.

Somaliland marks 'independence,' urges recognition

Kenya is planning to open a liaison office in Hargeysa, the capital of the breakaway Somaliland region.

World Bulletin / News Desk

Breakaway Somaliland on Sunday marked 23 years since declaring independence from Somalia, urging recognition by the African Union and the international community.

"The African Union should no longer put off recognizing Somaliland as an independent country and full member," President Ahmed Mohammed Silanyo said in his speech to mark the day.

Somaliland and Somalia united in 1960 after independence from Britain and Italy respectively.

But Somaliland broke away in 1991 after the overthrow of Siad Barre and the flare up of the civil war.

Somalia has refused to recognize Somaliland as independent.

Somaliland's self-declared independence has also not been recognized by the international community.

"The lack of formal recognition from our fellow African countries and the world community remains a serious brake on progress and our hopes of improving our citizens," said President Silanyo.

"It makes it much more difficult to access the international aid and loans to drive development," he added.

"We are denied a seat at the table when the future of Horn of Africa is being discussed," said the Somaliland leader.

Caution

Rashid Abdi, a Nairobi-based regional analyst, said the pan-African body has been extra cautious since the recognition and separation of Eritrea and Ethiopia.

"It has been a waiting game since Somaliland applied for recognition," he told Anadolu Agency.

"There is this fear in the A.U. that when regions in Africa are recognized as independent more regions will come up to demand to be recognized," said Abdi.

"But the Somaliland issue should be treated differently as its borders were recognized and drawn at its independence by the British separate from the Italian Somaliland," he added.

Somaliland enjoyed brief independence after the end of British colonial rule in 1960 before it joined a union with Somalia, which had just won independence from Italy.

Liaison office

A high-ranking Kenyan Foreign Ministry official told AA that Kenya is planning to open a liaison office in Hargeysa, the capital of Somaliland.

The move is likely to draw rebuke from Somali, who has already protested the opening of a Somaliland liaison office in Nairobi.

"We share a lot with Kenya," Mahamud Jamaa, Somaliland representative in Kenya, told AA on Sunday.

"There is a sizeable population of Kenyan expatriates working in Somaliland," he noted.

"By Kenya opening a diplomatic post in Hargeysa it will be of benefit to its citizens in Somaliland and also improve our bilateral relations," Jamaa said.

"This is a reality that Mogadishu should respect."

Citizens of the breakaway republic and Kenyans of Somaliland origin celebrated the 23rd anniversary in Nairobi.

"Recognition or no recognition Somaliland remains the best example of how Africans can handle their own affairs and succeed despite enormous challenges," Amina Egal, a 58-year-old citizen of Somaliland residing in Kenya, told AA.

Jamal Mahamud Hassan, who lives in Odense, Denmark, also celebrated the anniversary.

"This is an important day in our calendar," he told AA by phone.

"It is the day the people of Somaliland decided to take their country back and determine their own future," Hassan said.

"It means a lot to millions of Somalilanders in the homeland and all over the globe," he added.

XASUUQII XEEBTA JASIIRA 1989 FILIM QAYBTA 1AAD

DAAWO: Qayb ka mid ah Taxanaha Documentary laga sameeyey Xasuuqii Xeebta Jasiira ee Magaalada Muqdisho ka dhacay 17 july 1989kii' 

 Hargeys (Himilo)- Akhristayaasha Himilo Media Group iyo Daawadayaasha Himilo TV, waxa aanu ugu bushaareynayaa inaanu halkan idinku soo bandhigno Taxanaha Filim laga sameeyey Xasuuqii Xeebta Jasiirra ee duleedka magaalada Muqdisho ee Soomaaliya uu Taliskii Maxamed Siyaad Barre ugu Geystay muwaadiniin u dhalatay Somaliland Bishii July ee sannadkii 1989-kii.



 Filimkani waa Qayb ka mid ah Documentary ku Saabsan Xasuuqaas iyo dhacdooyinkii laga ururiyey oo Bahda Himilo Media Group idiinku soo gudbin doonto si taxane ah.



 Ilaahay naxariistii jano haka waraabiyee 46-ka qof ee xeebta Jasiira lagu xasuuqay 17-kii July 1989kii ayaa dhamaantood dhalasho ahaan waxay ka soo jeedeen Somaliland, kuwaas oo isugu jiray waayeel iyo dhalinyaro ahaa aqoonyahano, arday, ganacsato, macalimiin, xirfadlayaal, xoogmaal iyo shaqaale dawladeed, oo aan danbi galin, dhibaato kalena geysan balse loo gumaaday oo kaliya isirkooda oo cadaawad iyo naceyba u qabtay taliskii siyaad bare, sidaasi awgeed halkan ka daawo xasuuqii xeebta jasiira sidii uu u dhacay iyo shaqsiga kaliya sida uu uga badbaaday iyo dareenka ehelada dadkaasi lagu xasuuqay xeebta jasiira ee magaalada muqdisho.

 HALKAN KA DAAWO QAYBTII 1aad

Source: himilomedia.com

Ethiopian Airlines Management and Staff Visit the Grand Renaissance Dam

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - The fastest growing and most Profitable African Airline, Ethiopian Airlines is pleased to announce that its executive management and employees will visit the Grand Renaissance Dam from May 15-18, 2014.

The visit organized under the theme “we will complete what we have began” is planned with view to create awareness about this critical national and continental project and to show Ethiopian management and employees unwavering commitment to support the project, financially and in any other way, until its full completion.

“The Grand Renaissance Dam is the biggest infrastructure project in Africa. It is a special pride for not just Ethiopians but for the entire Africans. It is a testament to the will of the Ethiopian people to eradicate poverty through hard work and perseverance. It also clearly shows to those who had any doubts that the 21st century will be an Ethiopian and African century. As Ethiopian Airlines and personally as a citizen, it is a special privilege and honor to visit this historical and transformative project. It is our duty to continue to support both collectively and individually this critical project for the development of our country and the region until its full completion. We at Ethiopian Airlines pledge to continue to provide all our support to this project until it is fully completed.”, said CEO Tewolde Gebremariam of Ethiopian Airlines Group.

The Grand Renaissance Dam, when completed, will help the country in attaining 10,000 mega watts electricity generation capacity as per the country’s 5 year Growth and Transformation Plan. This will support the country’s and the region’s robust economic growth by serving as a critically essential energy source.

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its operations in the past close to seven decades, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

Ethiopian commands the lion share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 80 international destinations across five continents.
Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as the Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200LR Freighter and Bombardier Q-400 with double cabin. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.

Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with seven business centers: Ethiopian Domestic and Regional Airline; Ethiopian International Passenger Airline; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Services; and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.
For more information about this press release, please contact:


Manager PR & Publications 
Ethiopian Airlines
Tel: (251-1) 517-84-07
Email: publicrelations@ethiopianairlines.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ethiopianairlines
Twitter: @flyethiopian

Explosions in Kenyan Capital Kill 10 and Wound 70

Jason Straziuso, Associated Press

NAIROBI — Two bombs killed 10 people and wounded 70 others Friday, at a market in Kenya’s capital, while hundreds of British tourists were evacuated from the coastal resort of Mombasa after warnings of an impending attack by Islamic extremists.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts, which went off minutes apart in the Gikomba market near downtown Nairobi.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, appearing at a previously planned news conference soon after the bombings, offered his condolences.

But he dismissed the tourism warnings from the U.S. and Britain that led to the evacuations, saying terrorism is a common problem and not unique to Kenya.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene in the market.

“I heard the first blast, then another one,” said trader Judy Njeri, who said she had to crawl on hands and knees after the explosions that wounded some of her colleagues.

“I saw bodies being tossed in the air. The whole place was thrown into darkness and a lot of dust.”

On Thursday and Friday, TUI Travel, which owns the British tourism companies Thomson and First Choice, evacuated customers and cancelled all flights to Mombasa until October. The British government had urged its citizens to leave the town and nearby beach resorts.

The U.S. and Britain were among several nations renewing warnings of possible terrorist attacks.
Security concerns are high in Kenya because of its proximity to Somalia and the Al-Qaeda-linked group, Al-Shabab, that operates there. In September, four Al-Shabab gunmen attacked an upscale mall in Nairobi, killing at least 67 people.

More than 100 people have died in shootings, grenade attacks and bombings in Kenya in the past 18 months, the U.S. embassy said. Recently, Kenyan authorities, with the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, discovered a huge car bomb.

Al-Qaeda detonated a massive bomb outside the U.S. embassy in Nairobi in 1988, killing more than 200 people.

The embassy has beefed up security in recent days.

“We know from experience — whether it’s been in Yemen where embassies have been attacked or in Benghazi where our consulate and ambassador were attacked — anything that is a symbol of a foreign country is a potential target,” said Scott Gration, a former U.S. ambassador here.

As for the evacuations, many travel companies have insurance policies that do not cover tourists in high-risk locations, added Mr. Gration, a retired U.S. Air Force major general who runs a technology and investment consultancy in Nairobi.

Some of the tourists boarding a flight home at Mombasa airport expressed disappointment with the decision to evacuate them, saying they had felt safe

“We believe we’re safe here where we are in Kenya,” said Dave Moor of England. “Everyone has been really friendly, non-threatening. We’ve had no worries at all, you know, and we’re just so upset that you wait all year for your holiday and you’ve got three days and they send you home without any real reason.”

Mr. Gration said Kenya’s coast is a beautiful and mostly safe location.

“My belief is that everywhere there are issues and we all need to be prudent in when we go and where we go,” he said.

“So I don’t travel at night, avoid big crowds and lock my doors. Whether you are in Newark, N.J., or Nairobi, Kenya, we can all fall victim to crime or terrorism.”

The Associated Press