A magazine from Somaliland
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The young Turkish architect
I attended an event at Chatham House yesterday where the Somali Prime Minister, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, was giving a speech about the London Conference and the future of Somalia. During the question and answer session afterwards, hands shot up all over the room as Somalis and non- Somalis asked about the political transition, humanitarian issues and the future shape of Somalia. One young man in a smart suit waited patiently, his hand held high in the air. When he was eventually called to ask his question, he waved a letter in the air. He explained that he was a Turkish architect living in the UK but born in Mogadishu. He told the Prime Minister he wanted to be involved in designing buildings the Turkish are constructing in Mogadishu, especially the airport, saying "the planes used to fly over my head when I was a young boy growing up in the city so I know what kind of airport you should have". He was basically asking for a job. After the event, people rushed forward to greet th...
A couple more reviews of my book
http://www.coastweek.com/3508_errol.htm http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=8884
My piece in The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/feb/23/help-somalia-somalis-themselves
The Somali diaspora
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/feb/20/what-role-somalia-diaspora-rebuilding
The Million Man March Somali Style
Not all Somalis are happy with the February 23 London Conference on Somalia. So unhappy are they that they have called A MILLION MAN MARCH for the same day. There are about 10 million Somalis, so I presume about 5 million men. That means one in five Somali men will march on that day if things go according to plan.
And another review of my book....
http://africanarguments.org/2012/02/01/getting-somalia-wrong-signs-of-hope-in-a-shattered-state-–-a-realistic-but-empathetic-analysis-–-review-by-keith-somerville/