#puntland

On this Puntland day, let’s celebrate the Somali script invented by Osman Yusuf Kenedid, son of the Sultan of Hobyo.

We all know Somalia to be a notoriously failed state, lacking an effective government at the center. For the last 27 years, the country has been ravaged with famines,wars, terrorism, poverty, and many other things.

Just take a look at the map below. The country’s land is controlled by separatists, unionists, clan leaders and Islamic militias.

Here are some facts which may seem bizarre.

1- Somalia's Somaliland has one of the lowest crime rates in the entire world.

Seriously. Robbery is almost non-existent. You can literally keep massive piles of cash on the road and expect nobody to steal it. There is an effective local government and justice system.

2- There are stock exchanges with PIRATES in Somalia.

Yes. Such exchanges allow you to invest in local pirate groups (shares), and get dividends when successful heists are made.

3- Traffic lights are a fiction in Mogadishu, but there are very little road accidents.

4- Somalia is by far the only country where road traffic direction and car configuration are not as per norm.

This occurred because when driving laws used to be enforced (pre- 1991), Somalia was a left hand drive country. After the collapse of the central government, many cars were imported directly from Japan, which were right handed. Even though this discrepancy exists, there are still very little road accidents.

5- Books written in Somali are rare, so are Somali writers and newspapers.

In fact, news is delivered by radio, since 63% of population cannot read or write.

6- Ironically, Somalia has better electricity, water,internet and mobile facilities than all of its neighbors.

7- Despite being a coastal country, Somali people eat very little fish.

8- Since the rest of Somalia ( outside Somaliland) is pretty unsafe, heavily armed guards are present everywhere- in hotels,hospitals, buses, banks,etc.

"I used to be in love with this guy called Mohammed. Our love was so passionate, and he loved me more than I loved him. After 2 months of him courting me, he proposed that we get married. We were both young, and he didn’t have a job at that time. That made him insecure, and he kept overthinking how to convince my parents that he would take care of me. Of course, I wanted stability too and someone to take care of me. I thought he gave up on us on account that he couldn’t give me a stable future. After two years, out of the blue, he came back to me saying that he has been working work and has managed to save up a lot. He also told me that he has a stable job now to support us. I had to say no because my family rejected him already and I moved on, and the love I had for him dwindled down. He tried to convince me, pleading with me but I kept rejecting him, and I genuinely wish now that I didn't at the time.  He kept waiting for me for another year and a half, finding many ways to win me over but I kept repeating to him that my decision was final and it wasn’t going to change. I choose my family over our love. Later, I heard he contracted a type of brain disease and passed away. The people that were with him at the time told me that he gave up on life and didn’t fight the disease. I’ve never told this story to anyone and until this day, and it pains me to death, and I’m filled with extreme regret. He departed this world alone, and I kept refusing his love."

(Bosaso)

"Waxaan jeclaa wiil  la oran jiray Maxamed, jacaylkayagu  wuxuu ahaa mid aad u xoogan, si aad ah ayuu I jeclaa aniga. Kadib markaanu sheekaysanaynay  muddo laba bilood ah, wuxuu isoo jeediyey in aanu is guursano, da’adeenu aad bey u yarayd wakhtigaas isagana shaqo ma haysan, markaas  shaqo la’aantu waxay ku keentay cabsi iyo kalsooni darro  ah inuu aad uga fekero sidii uu waalidkay ugu qancin laha  in isagu kufilaan karo  qoyskiisa.Dabcan aniguna waxaan rabay nolol wacan iyo qof aan ka heli karo daryeel, marki waalidkay diiday anigu waxaan haystay in xiriirkayagii halkaas ku joogsaday maadama uusan awoodi karin inuu ku filaado qoyskiisa mustaqbalka.Wakhtigaas muddo ku siman  laba sanno wax war ah kama helin. Kadib wuu igu soo noqday wuxuu I sheegay inuu shaqeeyo  waxbadana  uu meel dhigtay shaqo wacan joogto ahna uu haysto hada. Wuxuu I sheegay in uu hada haysto shaqo wacan oo ku filan noloshayada, markaas anigu waxaan go’aansaday  in aan iraahdo maya madaama markii hore qoyskaygu diiday in aanu is guursano, aniguna aan taas aqbalay  jacaylkii aan u hayeyna hoos u dhacay. Maxamed  wuxuu isku dayey inuu igu qanciyo guurkayaga, aniguna waxaan si joogta ah ugu sheegay in aanan diyaar   u ahayn midaas wakhtigan hada aanu  joogno. Muddo hal sanno iyo bar ah ayuu  go’aansaday in uu isugo wxuu doonayey  in uu  helo dariiq kale uu markan igu  qancin karo, laakiin aniguna waxaan si joogta ah ugu sheegayey in aan qaatay go’aan kama danbays ah  suuragala ma aha in aan bdelo go’aankayga. Markan anigu waxaan doortay in aan raaco sida qoyskaygu rabo  oo aanan qiimayn jacaylkayaga.  Wakhti kadib waxaan maqlay in  ku dhacay xanuun dhanka maskaxda ah aakhirkiina ku keenay inuu u dhinto. Dadkii markaas la joogay isaga waxay ii sheegeen  in uu nolosha oo dhan ka quustay xanuunka aanu iska dawayn. Sheekadan maanta ka hor cid uma sheegin, waxay igu haysay xanuun aad u daran,waxaan ka qaaday  in aan qoomameeyo  in badan, aduunka  isagoo keligii ah ayuu  ka tagay,aniguna waxaan si joogta ah u diiday jacaylkiisi."