Somalia: Puntland sets model in war on terror

By Abdirashid M. Dahir

Puntland troops are building up momentum against vile Al Shabaab terrorism without external military assistance. This can be described as a Somali-style role model set for Somalia’s Federal Government (SFG), which has ironically tried to keep at bay menace of terror at a time when thousands of peacekeepers from troop contributing African countries are at its disposal. 

Puntland has to combat terrorism with Somalia Government, given how our brave soldiers encircled Al Shabaab fighters on two frontlines. Definitely, I call the model ‘excellent combat experience template’ that deserves to be emulated for similar encounters in central and southern Somalia.  

Victory may be a bane of existence for some but I salute, media workers beaming photos of Puntland machinegun bursts echoing against remnants. As of Friday, fighting was clattering sporadically in Suuj where I was told, that government troops are ‘neutralizing’ (killing or injuring) terrorists hiding in deep pits.

Somalia women: Happy International Women’s Day

By Abdirashid M. Dahir

I want to use the occasion of International Women’s Day to heap praise on the contribution of our women both at home and abroad. Somali women have been at the forefront in fight against poverty and long-dragging hostility in many parts of the country.

We got women entrepreneurs everywhere, who are really willing to make a difference, far ahead of some men addicted to narcotic leaves of Khat, widely sold throughout Somalia. I am sure, there’s a big difference and by day, things take different forms for women and girls.

Until recently, the notion of sending girls into school was more modest among Somalis, except for less conservative ones and Diaspora returnees. Thanks to accelerated awareness, now even we debate on the issue of improving girls’ enrollment at schools to more staggering number than it’s today.