Issue 51 January 11, 2003
| PEOPLE |
Lesnouvelles Interviews President of Somaliland
Somaliland: From The Rebuilding Of A Nation To Its Recognition
"97% of the Somaliland’s people does not want to be united anymore with Somalia. Nobody can change our will."
- Dahir Rayale Kahin, President of Somaliland
| FEATURE |
Comic Relief/BBC Team Filming Documentary on Somaliland
Hargeisa (SL Times): Comic Relief, a UK-based humanitarian organization, is collaborating with the BBC in the production of a one hour documentary film on life in the Republic of Somaliland that will be broadcast on BBC Television one. The production crew has already arrived in Hargeisa along with top UK Comedian Billy Connolly.
Senegalese President Abdulla Wade Receives Rayale
Dakar (SL Times): Somaliland President Dahir Rayale Kahin met yesterday with his host, the Senegalese President Abdulla Wade in Dakar, Senegal.
Lack of Support for Presidential Poll’s Postponement
Hargeisa (SL Times): After describing the decision of the National Electoral Commission to postpone the presidential poll from Jan 23 to March 30, 2003 as an illegal and inexcusable step, the Somaliland House of Elders vowed on Wednesday to sue the NEC in court for allegedly breaching the country’s constitution. The NEC’s decision entails the extension of President Rayale’s term in office which expires by Feb 23, 2003.
Djibouti Counts Votes After 'Peaceful' Poll
Votes are being counted in Djibouti after its first fully-fledged multi-party election on Friday. The historic vote passed off peacefully, with no serious incidents reported, according to the French news agency, AFP.
Priorities Clash As Superpower Meets Super-Poverty
Mark Fineman
DJIBOUTI (Los Angeles Times) - Just beyond the barbed-wire berms and guard posts that mask the U.S. military's secretive special-operations base, past a cratered road strewn with scrap heaps and human waste, Kadija Omar expects the Americans to deliver.
Somali Peace Delegates Tossed From Hotels
Mon, Jan.6, 2003
WILLIAM FARIA, Associated Press writer
ELDORET, Kenya - Hundreds of Somalis attending peace talks in this central Kenyan town were booted from their hotel rooms by police Monday - a move the talks' organizers say was needed to bring order to the often chaotic negotiations.
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| ARTS & CULTURE |
"I am Swinging This Flower To You" II
Essays on Somaliland Music by Abdi Hassan
The King Of Oud, Mohamoud SH. Ismail "Xodeydeh"
Xodeydeh is the indisputable king of Oud. A musician, songwriter, and an
exceptionally talented composer and arranger; Xodeydeh can be
characterized as the father of Somaliland music. If ever there were a
Somaliland hall of fame he would have been the first person to be
inducted. He is the guru and patriarch of Somaliland music and song. He is
without a doubt a master instrumentalist that other Oud players can
emulate and learn from new chord fingerings.
| INTERNATIONAL |
US Boosts Gulf Presence
The United States has announced that it is sending tens of thousands of
additional military personnel to the Gulf, for possible action against
Iraq.
US Ambassador Inaugurates Somali Refugee
Community Literacy Center
Addis Ababa, January 09, 2003 (WIC)- The United State Ambassador to
Ethiopia, Aurelia Brazeal, today inaugurated two newly constructed branch
classrooms of the Somali Community Literacy Center (SCLC) in the Sarris
area in Addis Ababa. The U.S. Funded project, which also includes a
computer-learning center, provides literacy, numeracy, and skills training
for Somali urban refugees.
US Task Force Keeping Close Eye On Somalia
Alex Belida
Pentagon, 10 Jan 2003, (VOANews): The U.S. military task force hunting
terrorists in the Horn of Africa has taken no action so far, but is
keeping a close eye on Somalia, as it collects intelligence on suspicious
activities.
Ethiopia To Import Oil From Sudan
ADDIS ABABA, 7 Jan 2003 (IRIN) - Ethiopia is to import oil from Sudan,
which could save the country up to US $7 million per year, the Ethiopian
Petroleum Enterprise has announced.
| EDITORIAL & OPINION |
Electoral Commission’s Blunder
The decision of the Somaliland Electoral Commission to postpone the
Presidential elections from January 23 to March 30, 2003 has caught much
of the country by surprise. With the incumbent government’s term in
office due to expire by Feb 23, 2003, the NEC’s decision has drawn wide
criticism as an unrealistic and unwarranted move that could unnecessarily
steer the country into a constitutional crisis. The NEC’s explanation
that the postponement was due to the need for more time to put everything
in place before the election, has not been convincing, at least from the
technical point of view.
Somaliland Economic Backbone
Ali Eid
Livestock is the mainstay of Somaliland economy and high profile
contributor to Somalia’s economy after the banana cash corp. The gravity
of the role of livestock in the nascent Republic of Somaliland has to be
addressed with sense of responsibility and nationalism. Livestock issues
must always be escalated to the top most authorities to be discussed,
studied and resolved to the best interest of the nation in general. The
intelligentsia groups should understand and make the axis of their
thinking the various aspects of the livestock development to meet the ever
increasing needs and demands of the country’s whole population within
the realm of the drastic changes taking place in this contemporary world,
geographically, technologically, economically, culturally, etc.
New Delhi's War Hysteria
Mohamed Abdi Hassan "Diridhaba"
The 10-month long military confrontation between India and Pakistan ended
when New Delhi started pulling back its armed forces from the frontlines
to their peacetime locations. A year ago India had suddenly rushed its
armed forces to their battle positions for 'a decisive fight' to 'teach
Pakistan a lesson'. India's fit of rage rang alarm bells in South Asia and
beyond. It followed the attack on the Indian parliament in January 2002 by
five unknown civilians armed with small arms. Notwithstanding the reality
of the attack, it was an ill-conceived operation. Its motive is obscure
and the true picture may take a long while to emerge. For the present, let
us examine the balance sheet of India's red alert.
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