Surviving on the edge

As world leaders start discussions in Mexico on the global challenge of climate change today, I volunteered my precious time to shed light on the plight of herders living along the Kenya/Somali border. listen to this touching photo story.

The skeleton gov't of Sheikh Sharif

Somalia’s current president Sheikh Sharif first emerged as a hero and saviour for the Somalis, both at home and in the Diaspora. But nothing comes tangibly improving for the ravaged nation.

And much to my amazement and that of many other analyst, since his authority’s inception, there was no effective government to protect its citizen from violence or even to marshall a bold peace campaign.

And today in Somalia the presidency comes up with an attitude of laissez-faire but that cannot prevail even for his own desireable results.

Sharif has got an evident catalogoue of unperformance that seems to prove wrong his leadership ability.

And Somalis cannot expect much from a lame duck, as analyst like Dr. Yahya puts into focus(click the title of this story to read Dr. Yahay's analysis)

For now it is a matter of helplessness for Somalis who are still hoping to get much from the government of president Sharif.

His term will expire soon, and another grandmaster of bad-politics, probably worse than Sharif might come to power only to waste the precious time for Somalia to enjoy peace and stability. Allah forbids.

Roads: Kenya's deathbed

The state of Kenyan roads are very dangerous indeed, reckless driving, ineptitude governance and relaxing pedestrians are all that results the fatal and numerous accidents in Kenyan roads.
Have you known how your child crosses the road everyday as he goes to school, listen to this BBC Monday Documentary about the country's ill-fated roads. Road kill.

Somali Culture Meets Islam

It is a longtime tradition in the Somali culture to organize weddings on `Eid Al-Adha and `Eid Al-Fitr, the two most important celebrations on the Islamic calendar.

Another Ayan Hirsi emerging..............

Little known Kaha Aden is another Somali-Italian female writer who has an unbounded ambition of fighting for the rights of Women in Somalia, but she is seemingly starting to hold the wrong end of the stick obviously she will fail if this is the way she has chosen to address Somali women issues.

During her interview with Kenya’s Daily Nation, she has disrespectfully started attacking both the tradition and culture of Somalis and Muslims.

In her Interview she has attacked the dressing code of the Somali women in Mogadishu saying that “the current mode of dressing where women cover their whole bodies leaving only a tiny opening for the eyes, is a survival tactics to save their bodies from violence”

By nature of both the Islamic culture and the Somali tradition, covering the body by Somali women is something very strong and deeply entrenched. The non-spoilt Somali women are by far known for their respect to date, by covering their bodies.

Whether they are living in the neighborhood of Minnesota without fear or in the darkened alleyways of deserted Mogadishu, the Somali women dress will stay forever.

It is not a right that they need from people like Kaha, but a respect they have cherished for years and one that they will pass on from generation to generation.

I believe such statements are very much derogatory, Kaha’s statements as per the report is simply a deviation from the Somali practice during this contemporary times or even old days.

I don’t know whether the writer is putting things she had not said, but all the while, if her interview is anything to go by, her mission is simply a faltered ambition seemingly aimed at propagating certain western ideas which are at the moment unwelcome in both the Islamic world and among the Somali populations.

You cannot fight for the right of women, when you are trying to interfere with the rights they are already enjoying and rights that are enshrined in their Islamic teachings unless you are indirectly telling Somali women to divert from their religion.

Kaha you are simply talking before you can even walk.

You can read the story about Kaha Aden which is based on her recent trip to Kenya clicking on this link.

Obama is failing to keep Cairo promises

President Barack Obama's pledge to strive for better relations with the Muslim world drew skepticism in Cairo, where last year he called for a new beginning in the Middle East after years of mistrust.

The media in Kenya distorted the success of Somali businesses, they talk about piracy, but I say it is a mere stereotype.

As usual the smearing campaign against Somali businesses and properties in Kenya continues unabated, with the local media shamefully spreading stereotype stories, propaganda and prejudice aimed at misleading the public.

Out of ignorance or even hatred, Kenyan national dailies have been working on fictions especially on the issue of piracy with claims that the mushrooming Somali properties and businesses in Kenya are funded by pirates.

The Western media have taken the same path, packaging information with heavy claims against a community whose businesses largely relies on trustworthiness, sheer determination and hard work.
The smearing campaigns are so bold that the security of the Somali businesses is jeopardized. With little or no understanding of the Somali community, the media is circulating a new demon they call “The Illegal Somali Business".

A stereotype common to media thoughts, portrays Somalis as a filthy community. Reporters who cover the piracy world often know very little details about it. The media then develops a distorted image of the Wealthy Somali Community.

In Kenya, both the Daily Nation and the Standard are creating inaccurate ideas about the Somali businesses. Their ignorance on how Somalis handle investments is clearly expressed on how they have failed to show the History of the Somali merchandise.

They failed to identify that the Somali economy is a global empire, not only in Africa but in Americas and Europe. Piracy actively started in 2006 but the Somali business was booming before at an impressive pace.

This ignorance that the media accumulates about the wealth of Somalis also includes manipulation, purposely because of biased feelings, by the media to present a negative image about the community.

Somalis are naturally aggressive when it comes to business; most of their businesses are built on cooperation with unwritten agreements because trustworthy is the cornerstone of the Community’s trading activities.

But, the true side of success stories most often does not correspond to the media’s reports. As Somali business empire grows more and more, the biased media in Kenya and in the West will eventually learn the truth and find out that these negative stereotypes are incorrect.

Piracy will stop anytime soon, but the Somali businesses will never collapse.