President Hassan was elected by the new Somali parliament in September. Since his election, however, he has indicated his willingness to serve the interest of his clan. In 1991 and 1992, hundreds of thousands of people from the Darod clan were massacred and subjected to clan cleansing by Hassan's Hawiye clan Mogadishu. As a result, the mistrust between the clans is still very high. President Hassan's actions reinforce the suspicion of the Darods that he intends to arm his Hawiye clan and reignite the civil war again. That is why it is incumbent on the international community not to lift the arms embargo against Somalia. Otherwise, we might see a large scale genocide similar to the one that took place in 1991 in Mogadishu, or the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, which might be committed by Hassan's clan if the arms embargo is lifted. Moreover, the international community should pressure Hassan to respect the constitution by facilitating the establishment of regional states in the country. Currently, he offers support to the formation of regional states in areas inhabited by friendly clans while objecting to the formation of regional self-governments in areas which are largely inhabited by the Darod clan. Meanwhile, Hassan seems interested to build hostile alliances against the Darod clan as a prelude to the civil war he is trying to ignite again. The international community should continue to send aid through the relief agencies since Hassan's government cannot be trusted with the money. He might divert the money to his clan only.

How is Somalia related to Iraq? When I first started studying the reasons for the conflicts in Iraq, before the U.S. got involved, I thought this country was a perfect example of a country that needed to be divided, by ethnicity, into three separate countries. You can study to see the divisions, but maybe this is what has to happen in Somalia too? Perhaps, it should be divided into two countries to stop the hatred or at least, contain it.

To comment 229, Every country has its own ethnic, religious or other divisions. With Somalia, the country is ethnically and religiously homogenous. The country's problems stem, however, from dysfunctional clan divisions. Almost every major town or city of the country is inhabited by various clans. So even if you try to divide the country, unless of course you favor one clan at the expense of the others, there will be sensible way to divide the country and satisfy all involved. It may only increase the bloodshed. The problem with President Hassan, however, is related to the suspicion that he took part the largest clan cleansing that has ever happened in Somalia which is only second to the Rwanda genocide. Since election in September, largely through bribery, his conduct seems to suggest that he still harbors deep hatred and animosity towards the tribe that he is suspected to have taken part its cleansing in the early 1990s. The best policy that may work for Somalia is to have a loose federation where every area controls or runs its own affairs. Moreover, in order to prevent future clan cleansing or genocide, the country should not have a standing army. It only needs local police forces that take their orders from local administrations. Contrary to the constitution, Hassan is seeking to expand his power and impose a central government, which is controlled by his Hawiye tribe, on the country. And this may not work given the Somali tribes' deep mistrust and hatred toward each other. Most people did not forget the large scale Rwanda style clan cleansing that took place in Mogadishu in the early 1990s, which President Hassan is implicated to have been involved. That is why the international community needs to keep the arms embargo in place.

People fleeing your country is a sure sign of effective leadership.

If what dhagaxguur is writing is true about the long-standing hatred amongst the various clans, it would appear Somalia will continue to have a non-functional or dysfunctional one regardless of having "elected" a president. What Mark Bowden wrote about the clans in "Black Hawk Down" was very true. A country without a functional government means the country will continue to be ripe for groups like al-shabaab to attempt to take over the country. It also means that piracy perpetrated by Somali gangs in the Indian Ocean will continue

A new era? Really? Just what has changed in Somalia since his election? Clan warfare continues. The country isn't safe for outsiders. al Qaida is in business. Pirates are still at work in the gulf. It's all good.

If the country is ready to move on - does that mean that the Somali population of Minnesota will move out and let our taxes go to support the homeless and disabled Americans in this country who deserve our help? I am so tired of taking care of all of the other countries problems!

This is the best president Somalia had so far and he is well received both locally and internaionally. he is from the hawiye clan which is the majority.

Eljayeff.....your post was excellent. I live in a town where south of Mpls where we are having canning company's and turkey processing company's bring them in because of the cheap labor. However, they don't seem to think that the added tax burden it costs us to house, feed and provide for their medical care is an issue. Our schools are a joke...we now have prayer halls. We can't walk downtown and shop with out being spit on. Our once peaceful city has turned into a haven for Somali's. Having to work with them is a nightmare. The men think they are above approach. And treat women like crap. I for one hope the all go home...