Farole calls for Somalia unity at July 1st Celebration

[D-Runner]

GAROWE - The president of Somalia’s Puntland government has called upon the Somali people to unite in the face of great challenges including war and drought during the country’s 51st Independence Day celebrations, Radio Garowe reports.

Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole attended the celebrations in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, along with the state’s public officials including parliament Speaker Abdirashid Mohamed Hersi, traditional elders (Issimo), religious leaders, women’s groups, youth, military commanders and honored guests.

The event was held at State House in Garowe, where the Somali national flag was raised at midnight 1 July 2011 to mark Somalia’s 51st year since gaining independence from European colonizers.

Independence and unity

President Farole praised the heroes of Somalia’s independence movement, particularly the SYL political party that led the country towards national independence in 1960.

“We believe that Somalia cannot be divided. Until Somali unity is restored, we shall all be attached together,” he said.

He condemned the last 20 years of lawlessness in Somalia, saying that the anarchy has produced unimagined outcomes: “The chaos of Somalia has profited the rebel groups, terrorist organizations, piracy gangs who have endangered our economic livelihoods and tarnished the reputation of Somalis.”

[D-Runner]

‘The Puntland example’

President Farole said that Puntland is an example for Somalia to follow, saying that the state government is now 13 years old.

“We urge Somalis to follow our example. Things are built from the bottom. You empower the elders and the good politicians, not those evil men who use guns to get to power. These are warmongers,” he added.

He expressed his delight that Puntland’s Issimo have been chosen as examples for other Somali traditional elders to follow.

“Last week, we stopped so-called traditional elders from attending a conference facilitated by the UN in Uganda, after the UN failed to inform us and our Issimo. UN officials have since apologized and have even remarked they shall invite Puntland’s recognized Issimo to future civil society conferences,” President Farole said.

He stated that the Issimo of Puntland, who have constitutional powers, have been selected to “share peace-building experiences” with fellow elders from south-central Somalia.

He said: “This is an honor for us and I am happy that our Issimo are now asked for advice to help fellow Somalis. We will protect our traditional institutions, our women, sports, religious leaders, and business groups. We want civil society to participate but not NGOs, who are profit seekers.”

[D-Runner]

Security in Puntland

Puntland’s leader said the security situation in Puntland is reliable and stable.

“Without security, there is no government and no life. Everything depends on security. I give special praise, in front of God, to Puntland security forces who are fighting against our enemies. Many soldiers have died, many children became orphans,” he added.

He condemned Al Shabaab as a terrorist group, saying: “The terrorists steal children from their parents. They use and exploit the weak minded and urge them to become suicide bombers, to blow up university graduation celebrations. This is terrorism.”

President Farole said that the psyche of those attracted to terrorism is different from ordinary people. He stated that the terrorists use “many methods” to recruit potential bombers: “Some are told that their clan is missing its rights; others are used simply because they have deep anger and hatred.”

He spoke at length about clan violence in Puntland. President Farole said that, while Somali clans are known to fight each other historically, they are also known to make peace among each other.

“But some clan fighting continues, even after a peace deal. Why does this happen? Why are the elders, businesspeople and intellectuals targeted in supposed clan revenge killings? The answer is there is a hidden evil behind the killings,” he stated.

Continuing he said, “We know the killers are working for someone, but not their clan. The crime is committed to please a hidden evil of Al Shabaab terrorist group.”

He cited the beheadings of two men found dumped along a roadside: “Few days ago, two men who got their head cut off were found. They were not soldiers. We know who they were. They were working for them [Al Shabaab] but perhaps they betrayed Al Shabaab. This is why they were beheaded.”

President Farole said Al Shabaab’s hate ideology “would not let one of us live, if they had the power. But they [Al Shabaab] are powerless. Many terrorists have defected to the TFG [Transitional Federal Government]. Others have contacted us to escape Al Shabaab. Al Shabaab’s time is up; may Allah destroy them.”

He warned neighboring regions who “occupy” parts of Puntland, saying: “Some regions [of Puntland] are under occupation by others. We are pursuing local and international efforts to resolve this dispute [with Somaliland]. But no man’s land can be occupied. Every man has the right to self-determination and we will not beg for this,” he said, to the audience’s thunderous applause.

[D-Runner]

TFG-Puntland relations

Puntland’s president said that Puntland-TFG relations are now expected to improve, following the UN-led consultative process that led to the Kampala Accord.

“We participated at the international conferences. Puntland had stake in the conference conclusions. The TFG won’t be managing TFG affairs alone…it will be a shared duty with other Somali stakeholders,” he said, adding: “There will be a conference held inside Somalia soon. The UN assessment team has visited Mogadishu, Galkayo and Garowe. We have called for a Somali-led conference to be held in Puntland. There is much hope.”

He said the Somali national consultation conference aims to chart the path for the one-year extension for the TFG, with benchmarks for the constitution-making process and other key transitional tasks, in order to monitor the TFG performance.

Puntland’s president said that the state government proposed hosting a national conference inside Puntland, in a proposition dated 30 January 2011. He expressed confidence that Puntland is able to host such a conference, as the state hosted the national religious leaders’ conference in April 2010 and the women’s dialogue conference in October 2010.

But President Farole warned against excluding Puntland from the consultation process as incoming TFG Prime Minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Gas appoints his new Cabinet.

“Today, the Prime Minister of Somalia is a native of Puntland. We do not expect from the TFG to stab us in the back. We were consulted in appointing the new Prime Minister. Also, Puntland ministers in TFG should be officials appointed in consultation with us,” he said, adding: “It is unacceptable to appoint an official who claims to be representing Puntland but is an enemy to Puntland.”

[D-Runner]

Media in Puntland

Puntland’s president was critical of local and international media’s coverage of events in Somalia, particularly the VOA Somali section.

“Some of those journalists [at VOA] are full of clan hostilities. Other local journalists also spread misinformation,” he said, while highlighting that the VOA recently “made a mistake” by hosting a debate that included Puntland police official Abdirisak Gantal, “who won the debate.”

President Farole said that there is press freedoms in Puntland, citing nine independent radio stations, while there is “only one government radio in Somaliland and Al Shabaab terrorists have shut down radio stations in southern Somalia.”

But he warned strongly that “anyone who is against our peace will be arrested,” adding: “Do you [journalists] get paid to spread misinformation? Do you get threatened? Do you represent failed politicians who wish to destroy Puntland? I don’t know, but many of you [journalists] are good. We have spoken of journalism ethics and held seminars. We are elected and responsible for your security. Anyone who works to threaten our peace will be caught.”

Finally, the President said: “The speaker of Parliament said it best: What you [youth] are playing with is your future. But let it be known: if those anti-peace elements continue their violence, we will defend our public. We are committed to defend them.”

The event, which featured speeches and poetry, concluded peacefully as Puntland’s leader was saluted by government security forces and the Somali national flag was raised high at precisely midnight 1 July 2011, to mark Somalia’s 51st year since independence.

Puntland, located in northeastern Somalia, is relatively stable with its own government, functioning institutions, and security forces.

[D-Runner]

[D-Runner]

[JolieFille]

Faroole a Somali Nationalist? the guy is being controlled by Meles Zenawi he deports ONLF fighters he calls the nationalist SSC for terrorists supports UN colonism attackted Warsengeli down with Faroole and his SSDF adminstration

[abdisamad3]

Faroole a Somali Nationalist? the guy is being controlled by Meles Zenawi he deports ONLF fighters he calls the nationalist SSC for terrorists supports UN colonism attackted Warsengeli down with Faroole and his SSDF adminstration

to be fair its not only faroole who is controlled by zenawi and the U.N colonialism, and the onlf are just useless insurgent fighters who are fighting a long lost battle, maybe they are too stupid to understand the reality on the ground,

[JolieFille]

Faroole a Somali Nationalist? the guy is being controlled by Meles Zenawi he deports ONLF fighters he calls the nationalist SSC for terrorists supports UN colonism attackted Warsengeli down with Faroole and his SSDF adminstration

to be fair its not only faroole who is controlled by zenawi and the U.N colonialism, and the onlf are just useless insurgent fighters who are fighting a long lost battle, maybe they are too stupid to understand the reality on the ground,

I know Faroole is not the only one, but then he should not talk about Somali nationalism.
So you are saying that the somalis in Western Somalia should accept being ruled by Tigrays?

[udun]

Great speech.

President Abdirahman Mohamed Faroole

[Knight of Wisdom]

Faroole a Somali Nationalist? the guy is being controlled by Meles Zenawi he deports ONLF fighters he calls the nationalist SSC for terrorists supports UN colonism attackted Warsengeli down with Faroole and his SSDF adminstration

Don't forget, he's preparing to attack Rascaysr State, and also he's fueling the Mudug killings, not to mention, he's fueling the Pirates at the same time killing them.

[abdisamad3]

Faroole a Somali Nationalist? the guy is being controlled by Meles Zenawi he deports ONLF fighters he calls the nationalist SSC for terrorists supports UN colonism attackted Warsengeli down with Faroole and his SSDF adminstration

to be fair its not only faroole who is controlled by zenawi and the U.N colonialism, and the onlf are just useless insurgent fighters who are fighting a long lost battle, maybe they are too stupid to understand the reality on the ground,

I know Faroole is not the only one, but then he should not talk about Somali nationalism.
So you are saying that the somalis in Western Somalia should accept being ruled by Tigrays?

We are all under tigrey rule bro we need to find new ways to defeat the enemy we need allies in around the world we need to organise our. People and create somali lobby groups similar to the Jewish one and we also need the youth to strife to get into higher educations and and apply for high post in the countries they live in only then we can achieve victory hope you understand the point

[FBISOMALIA]

Faroole a Somali Nationalist? the guy is being controlled by Meles Zenawi he deports ONLF fighters he calls the nationalist SSC for terrorists supports UN colonism attackted Warsengeli down with Faroole and his SSDF adminstration

Don't forget, he's preparing to attack Rascaysr State, and also he's fueling the Mudug killings, not to mention, he's fueling the Pirates at the same time killing them.

Dont forget ssc siiland puppet

[JolieFille]

[quote="abdisamad3"][quote="JolieFille"][quote="abdisamad3"][quote="JolieFille"]Faroole a Somali Nationalist? the guy is being controlled by Meles Zenawi he deports ONLF fighters he calls the nationalist SSC for terrorists supports UN colonism attackted Warsengeli down with Faroole and his SSDF adminstration [/quote]
to be fair its not only faroole who is controlled by zenawi and the U.N colonialism, and the onlf are just useless insurgent fighters who are fighting a long lost battle, maybe they are too stupid to understand the reality on the ground, [/quote]


I know Faroole is not the only one, but then he should not talk about Somali nationalism.
So you are saying that the somalis in Western Somalia should accept being ruled by Tigrays? [/quote]
We are all under tigrey rule bro we need to find new ways to defeat the enemy we need allies in around the world we need to organise our. People and create somali lobby groups similar to the Jewish one and we also need the youth to strife to get into higher educations and and apply for high post in the countries they live in only then we can achieve victory hope you understand the point[/quote]


I UNDERSTAND YOU POINT, YOU ARE RIGTH