Issue 215

New Oil Concession Secretly‎ Signed With An Indian Businessman‎

Hargeysa, Somaliland, March 4, 2006 – The Somaliland Times can disclose that the Somaliland minister of Minerals and Water, Qassim Sheikh Yusuf has recently awarded an oil exploration and drilling concession to an Indian businessman by the name of Sood.

Unknown Flying Object‎ Witnessed In Somaliland Night Sky

An unknown flying object has been reported seen flying over Somaliland night skyline on Tuesday night (28/02/06). Somaliland Times received a number of witnessed reports by residents living in the Capitol city Hargeysa and in Berbera, the city port of Sahil region.

The House May Introduce‎ Drastic Amendments To The Budget Bill

Hargeysa, Somaliland, March 4, 2006 – The House of Representatives is likely to introduce drastic amendments to the government’s budget bill when it come the floor for debate next Monday.

Most of House members have already voiced criticism against the bill as containing fundamental flaws that must be addressed.

Wales Strikes Out On Its‎ Own In Its Recognition Of Somaliland

Cardiff, Wales, March 3, 2006 – WALES may not be an independent nation - but it has just recognized a breakaway country that, according to the UK Government, does not exist.

AU Mission To‎ Somaliland Says Recognition Overdue

Evanston, Illinois, February 18, 2006 – On Monday, Feb.13, 2006 a roundtable discussion entitled “The Politics of Somaliland’s Self-Determination” took place at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA. The Somaliland Times is pleased to share with its readers some of the insights of the distinguished participants.

Breakaway State Has Achieved ‎Peace, Stability, Democracy‎

Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 27, 2006 – It is not without justification that the breakaway republic of Somaliland is seeking international recognition and refusing to rejoin the Transitional National Government in Somalia.

The Speaker Of The Parliament Of Somaliland ‎Has Been A Guest Of The Queen In Cardiff And ‎Now Addresses Somaliland Diaspora In The UK

On the 1st of March, Mr. Abdirahman M Abdillahi, the Speaker of the Somaliland’s democratically elected parliament, has been a guest of the Queen on the official opening of the Walsh Assembly in Cardiff. On the 4th of March, the speaker joins, on a rare occasion, the leaders of Somaliland’s three political parties in addressing Somaliland Diaspora in UK at the Shoreditch Town Hall in London.

Local Headlines Somalia

The Baidoa Rendezvous‎‎‎‎

Baidoa, Somalia, March 4, 2006 – Finally, enough members of Somalia’s “parliament” showed up in Baidoa to meet for the first time in over a year. But in order to avoid the mayhem that took place the last time they met in Nairobi, it was decided that the meeting should be immediately postponed for a week so that the participants would have a cooling off period before they started facing each other.

Range Teams Start Hunting In Somalia‎

Sydney, Australia, February 28, 2006 - RANGE Resources deployed two field exploration teams into troubled Somalia yesterday, undeterred by threats it could "jeopardize the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa".

Militia Attack On Puntland's Mps‎

Bossaso, Somalia, Feb. 27, 2006 – At least three people have died after an exchange of gunfire near the parliament of Somalia's autonomous province of Puntland.

Somali Warlords Reject Call To Lift ‎UN Arms Embargo‎‎ ‎

MOGADISHU, Somalia, February 28, 2006 -- Warlords controlling the Somali capital on Tuesday urged the UN Security Council to refuse calls by President Abdillahi Yusuf Ahmed to lift an arms embargo, warning that such a move would shatter any hopes of peace in the country.

Somali Parliament's Peace Bid Bad For Gun Business‎‎

BAIDOA, Somalia, Mar 1, 2006 – Not every trader in Baidoa is making a killing from the legislators, bodyguards and monitors who have swarmed its streets for a historic meeting of Somalia's interim parliament.