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Somaliland should be recognised
Related to country: Somalia

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Publication Date: 2007/12/20
Reports that the Bush administration is seriously considering recognising Somaliland are most welcome.

Without a doubt, Somaliland is a an oasis of stability in a sea of anarchic Somali politics.

Moreover, Somaliland is an important partner in the war on terror.

Somaliland is a democracy and should be rewarded by being afforded international recognition.

I appeal to the US Government to lead the rest of the world by doing so.

I urge the US to ignore those who are against Somaliland. They have no moral right to poke noses into the affairs of Somaliland.

The warlords posing as elected leaders command very little support from their own people.


December 20, 2007 | 5:21 AM Comments  2 comments

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Handy tips for whoever wins the December 27 presidential contest
Related to country: Kenya

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Publication Date: 2007/12/20
Dear presidential candidates,

I know you are on pins and needles as the December 27 marathon nears the end.

I sense too that you are constantly surrounded by family and supporters, but still feeling strangely alone.

Whatever the case, a major change is about to occur in one of your lives, which I guarantee, will instantly earn the winner, one of life’s most precious treasures — “good and trusted friends”.

Be wary. But right now, I find it more prudent to explain the reason I make contact now, with whoever will emerge the winner.

Obviously, your first major decision will be to demonstrate what you want out of your presidency. As you go about defining your plans for our country, it is hoped you will do so in a manner that will consciously and deliberately steer you and us, away from the pain, loss and deep-seated ethnic vitriol we have been subjected to, just because we hold the power to put any one of you in that special office.

How well you heal this nation will ascertain whether or not the majority decision to hand you the mantle was a worthy one.

It is natural that out of gratitude, you will want to reward or elevate those who have always been there for you. A word of caution here: From the day you take the oath of office, you will, more than ever before, be known by the kind of leaders you surround yourself with.

So take this opportunity to demonstrate your fine characteristics by taking time to seek divine support in being quite resolute in your choice of leaders, especially your Cabinet. Do not construe this as a meaning that you should abandon true friends.

They deserve continuation of your loyalty, only that they should not be mixed up with the very serious matter of identifying a working team of sound thinking men and women of talent, integrity and a genuine interest in the development of this country.

I can almost hear you ask why I should write about your friends of whom I know nothing.

Well, when you settle down, you will invariably step on some toes, dent feelings and egos here and there and consequently earn yourself overt and covert enemies.

This is when you will need these friends of old. They will be of no use to you if they are already embroiled in the intrigues of power games and posing big on your account. They have their place in your heart; they will always be true and sobering companions.

Cherished friends are a rewarding experience, when you can draw strength and determination from them, in an environment where you can never be sure who is who.

In the run-up to that crucial day, some of us have learnt two things about money. First is that money and time are vital for aggressive campaign strategies, propaganda, violence and sometimes deadly elimination.

The second is that an exorbitant amount of money is powerful and comforting and certainly not meant for ordinary folks play. I suspect many of your friends and team-mates will soon learn that it is here one moment and gone the next.

They have not been paying keen attention where their money came from and where it was being directed to, before they lost sight of it. They will learn soon enough that, for some, it simply will not be there after December 27..

It is for this reason I urge you not to permit them to persuade you to slot them into positions of responsibility to steal from us. If you allow some flagrantly dishonest leaders, whose motto is wealth before honour, to lure you in this direction, they will also have irrevocably stolen your integrity.

December 20, 2007 | 4:14 AM Comments  0 comments

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The dotcom generation is a potent force; don’t ignore it
Related to country: Kenya

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Story by KIVUTHA KIBWANA
Publication Date: 2007/12/18

WITHOUT DOUBT, THE 18-35 generation will play a pivotal role in the elections. The myth that young people don’t vote is likely to explode.

Youth power will be demonstrated when 60 per cent of the population — the dotcom generation — exercises its voting power.

Who, among the political actors, foresaw this possibility? But first, what youth am I talking about?

There exists a minuscule category of yuppies or super-elite youth who possess sterling entrepreneurial skills and are enjoying immense prosperity in the post-2002 economic boom.

The ordinary elite youth consists of university and college graduates who are employed and whose lifestyle is stable. Among the working class youth are ones with permanent jobs, youths who are permanent casuals, youths who are seasonal casuals, and youth whose employment is of a piece-rate nature.

FINALLY, THERE IS THE AMORPHOUS lumpen youth in both urban and rural areas who eke out a precarious living through sporadic self-employment.

Because the prosperity that accompanies a reasonably well-managed political and economic transition takes time to percolate to a country’s under-class, the level of disenchantment among working class and lumpen youth is high.

This category of youth is yet to accept that the infrastructure necessary to improve the lives of Kenya’s young persons has been put in place by the Kibaki administration.

The Ministry of Youth, the youth fund, and a national youth policy, are undoubtedly important pillars for rescuing youth from despondency.

Since the majority of Kenya’s youth have attained primary and secondary school education, one is dealing with a fairly inquisitive and sensitive group.

The youth today cannot be easily subdued into a non-questioning mould.

All political and other social actors must dialogue with youth or face rejection.

It will become necessary to reorganise the Ministry of Youth so that the youth determine what to do. This is a special ministry, which should be handed over to youth for the design and implementation of policies relating to them.

The young, for example, can be challenged to run their fund through their own bank as has been promised. The fund must be made more accessible.

Application procedures must be simplified. At every sub-location, there
should be officials who can help groups of youths to apply for, and use the fund.

Besides administrative and handling fees, the youth fund should not attract any interest whatsoever. Simple ways of collateral, including support by a youth group, should be devised to guarantee loans.

Many youths hold degrees, teaching, nursing and other professional certificates but continue to “tarmac” for long periods. The ministry should urgently develop a Kenya Youth Volunteer Service. Funds can be set aside to ensure that youth who have received a good training are placed in the right institutions and given an allowance for their service, awaiting full employment.

There is no reason why we cannot establish an internship programme so that our trained youth are prepared for gainful employment. We can learn from the American peace corps programme.

In my view, within the confines of youth and general employment policies, the Kibaki administration can outlaw the paradox of permanent casuals. All casuals who have served the legal period should be confirmed by a presidential directive as permanently employed.

WITHIN THE MINISTRY, IT WILL BE essential to include a sports department. Young people have energy, which requires constructive channelling. All the sports they play can be reorganised so that they can enjoy them better and, if possible, professionally.

The Kibaki administration should help youth to organise themselves better. The youth are very creative. The ministry should have a department for promoting creative arts including dance, music and all other forms.

In his first five years, Kibaki resurrected Kenya from a state of economic and social decay. The transition is far from complete. Often a reforming government is overwhelmed by forces of counter-revolution who organise for an ensuing election in the name of change.

Because it takes time for real change to be entrenched, the people and especially an impatient youth, are often duped to support forces of reaction who present themselves in a revolutionary mould.