A Video From my Mogadishu Trip

[Somalian_Boqor]

Murax,

You'd think I would share. Innovative business ideas are the most expensive commodities. Lets just say the days of AS were focking lucrative for me. I was out there finding local Somali orgs to do jobs for INGOs and pocketing commissions. It involved a lot of networking and large entertainment spending buying booze and expensive meals for donor agency staff in Nairobi.

Roving,

Nah, he is not. I believe he is Indhayar. $20 is too much bro. So is it true Ali Mahdi is opening a new hotel ?

[RovingMadness]

Roving,

He is from the UK.

So what were you doing late night shukaansi for ? What a brave soul you are to be criss crossing town so late at night ?

I was too confident. In a hindsight it was reckless. Good thing I wasn't carrying any firearm as I normally would but the guys at the checkpoint were courteous & polite and once they verified who I was I left with an apology from each one of the troops.

[Murax]

[
Qabil does not matter because the troops are blended in amongst the major subclans in Mogadishu. What matters is that there should be people that can vouch for you.

But in Madina it's obviously different. It's guarded by clan troops that are independent of the TFG. But even there, once you are from the area regardless of your clan, you will be fine. 

Keep in mind, you will only be questioned at checkpoints at night time.

Being from the diaspora you will obviously stand out. The entire troops in Madina come from my very immediate family linage group & I remember this night I came late (~10:30pm) from shukansi & I got stopped at the checkpoint. They had me for an hour & even called their commander on me because they didn't think I was who I was saying I was. So if you are not from the dominant group in the area, having local folks vouch for you is a must. As in anywhere in Somalia, having a local support elements is a must. [/quote]


Wallahi I'm all for people complying and citizens cooperating. If I was mayor of Mogadishu the population would hate Me cuz I'd have checkpoints everwhere and instruct the police to err on the side of caution. It just takes one wacko to blow himself up with explosives, killing and maiming countless folks. On flipside what do they do with people they are suspicious of? I imagine the jails there make the ones in the States like like a Ritz.

[AbdiWahab252]

Roving,

Never get too comfortable or have any assumptions about skinnies because you can be dead wrong.


Murax,

Nicca come down and check it out for yourself. After all you are Honorary Hawiye (when stopped, flash the HUTU sign and do the secret handshake).

[RovingMadness]

Murux,

You can ask Warya & Ciyaal-Warta almost each & every street corner has troops guarding it. If they are suspicious, the worst they will do to you is take you to the saldigha policeka.

[Murax]

Abdiwahab,


Honestly the only place I feel comfortable visiting in Somalia is Gedo right now, simply for the fact that

A) I take that 10 minute cab ride from Mandeera and I'm there. No getting my passport stamped with Somalia, etc.
B) I have family to stay with.



With Xamar, I'm not concerned too much about B, but I will be concerned about A. I simply don't want any problems with Homeland Security when I come back, Lol. If it was offical business though, or through the TFG, or something I can claim then Yea I definitely would. Too many crazed, brainwashed Somali kids already left from here to do Osama's bidding in Xamar, for the FBI not to be waiting for me when I come back



Roving,

Nice stuff. Btw, is the corruption in the TFG police down? Like the robbing, etc.

[RovingMadness]

Murux,

The days of robbings are over & this is what people mean when they say security has improved.

About homeland security, it's good idea to get your passport stamped. Realize that your passport is electronic & hence has a GPS chip built into it. Anytime it's swiped at an airport the location log is saved so homeland security automatically knows what places you have been. Problem with Somalis is that they go to Somalia & deny it when they come back to the States while their location log says that they have been to Somalia & hence suspicion & drawing attention to themselves. If you have nothing to hide be honest & you won't see any problems. I know I didnt.

[AbdiWahab252]

Murax,


You will get a welcome home party even if you return Kenya nowdays. Such are the times. P.S. Buloxawo ain't a great place. Malaria, cholera, all kinds of mooryaans, beefs that make Galkacyo seem civil etc.

The only safe place in Somalia is Hargeisa: great weather, civil people, great entertainment and normality. Graze away.......

[Somalian_Boqor]

RovingMadness, what's up with the Four big check points in Mogadishu each collecting $30 from the local business buses and everyone else?

And why on earth is Shiisa costing $20 to smoke in Mogadishu?

[Murax]

RovingMadness,


Excellent point. I have the old passports that don't have the chip but still even if I went I'd still be honest about it as it would be unwise to think customs wouldn't know. Even if Your passport isn't stamped, it is very easy for them to find out one way or another. 2ndly, You're right the Italian-American doesn't have to explain why he goes to Italy, neither does the Irish-American have to explain why he visits Ireland and neither should the Somali-American have to explain why he goes to Somalia. I'm sure they'd understand

About the population and wadaads? Aare wadaads now looked at with apprehension?

[Mondey]

the video ?

[RovingMadness]

RovingMadness, what's up with the Four big check points in Mogadishu each collecting $30 from the local business buses and everyone else?

And why on earth is Shiisa costing $20 to smoke in Mogadishu?

Only buses & trucks are taxed a small fee & it's to help finance the districts. And it's not 30 dollars it's about 100,000 to 200,000 Somali shillings which is less than a dollar. The problem is some people are not willing to pay their share. Toll stations are at every major city in the world & Mogadishu is not different.

Murux,

The traditional respect for the wadaad is still there but what's gone is the respect people had for the gardheere.

[AbdiWahab252]

Somalian,

Its $6 for shiisha, ordering a meal, you need to spend $$ if you want to impress your date. I used to do shiisha there and drive on down to my crib in Seybiano. There is also a belly dancing place in Xamar Weyne, I am told.

[Somalian_Boqor]

Somalian,

Its $6 for shiisha, ordering a meal, you need to spend $$ if you want to impress your date. I used to do shiisha there and drive on down to my crib in Seybiano. There is also a belly dancing place in Xamar Weyne, I am told.

Nice.

[Somalian_Boqor]

A City On the Move Mogadishu 2012.