Rebels 'pour into Somali capital'

Hundreds of Somali insurgents loyal to Islamist group al-Shabab have poured into Mogadishu, witnesses say, amid expectations of a major battle. Eyewitnesses reported that fighters, about 20 vehicles and artillery had arrived in Somalia's capital overnight.
Residents have been fleeing for days amid a widespread belief that the rebels and government forces are on the cusp of a serious showdown.

Pirate Watch: Tumbling dice

(Medeshi)
Posted By Thomas E. Ricks
Are some ship masters rolling the dice as they pass through pirate infested waters to save operating costs? Are ship masters intentionally taking the path of least resistance and ignoring Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Coast of Somalia? It's something we've been looking at when combing through data of successful pirate attacks. So, too, have the folks at Strategy Page.

Somaliland: wining the hearts & souls of the people of Sool and Sanaagland

(Medeshi)
Somaliland government can only win the minds and souls of Sanaagland and Sool communities through dialogue and building basic infra structures such schools, hospitals roads, etc.
Imprisoning people that are not happy with the government will only increase incidents such as the recent demonstrations in Lasanod in which at least two persons died (read : http://allafrica.com/stories/201002080788.html)  . Heavy handedness on the part of the government will only lead to increased demonstrations that will further alienate the government and may eventually lead to persistent insurgency in these two regions that constitute to almost half the size of Somaliland.

Female religious leaders lead the fight against AIDS

Female religious leaders have taken a central role in the fight against AIDS in Somalia. This follows a series of trainings recently conducted by local organizations, with support from UNDP.

Migrants saved from Gulf of Aden

Some 126 people have been rescued by Somali fishermen from the Gulf of Aden after human traffickers reportedly forced them into the sea at gunpoint. The migrants, mostly from Somalia and Ethiopia, said they had set off from northern Somalia a week ago.
They said their boat had developed engine trouble and drifted for days before the people smugglers forced them into the sea. Six people are missing.

Somaliland elections: Observers welcome progress towards setting date for poll

(Medeshi) For immediate release
As part of the UK-based team coordinating election observers for the much-delayed presidential elections in the internationally unrecognised Republic of Somaliland, Progressio today welcomes recent progress made to resolve the Somaliland voter registration process – a key sticking point – and calls on all parties to push ahead and set a date for the poll.

Somalia-Ethiopian-reoccupation

(Sanaagland Times)
Ethiopian troops re-enter parts of Somalia

APA-Mogadishu(Somalia) Heavily armed Ethiopian troops have occupied parts of the northern regions of Bakool and Hiiraan near the border with Somalia, local residents confirmed Sunday.
Residents in the city of Elbarde in the Bakool region just bordering with Ethiopia said that the heavily armed Ethiopian troops accompanied by hundreds of Somali military trained in Ethiopia have occupied the city early Sunday morning.

Plea to the Somalis in UK for help in the release of Paul and Rachel Chandler

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
(Medeshi)
Press release:
We plea to all Somalis living in UK to contribute for the release of the Chandlers held by the Somali pirates in Somalia.

German protesters decry Israeli atrocities

(Medeshi)
German supporters of the Palestinian cause are holding a demonstration against a joint German-Israeli cabinet meeting in Berlin.

A crowd of demonstrators gathered on Monday to expressed anger at Israel's ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip and the ongoing expulsion of Palestinians from East Jerusalem Al-Quds.

People of Sanaagland may opt to secede from Somaliland

Sanaagland is the largest region of Somaliland, and it is also the most neglected. This disregard has been ongoing since Independence, but most of the current blame falls upon Sanaaglanders themselves.Many have migrated to the western part of Somaliland or further, and invested both money and time away from home.