DJIBOUTI: The mastermind of the President Ismail O. Guelleh’s party held in Ottawa

They are furious because - each one of them was promised to get paid just for $500 dollars; while the Ordoh family, the Borama, Somaliland artists, got the jackpot (Aydarouse, Saleman and Deka, were awarded each $1500 U.S dollars). Ottowa (Sunatimes)Few days ago, the safaripost.net got an information from a reliable source that the same group - who putted together the previous party for IOG, few months ago - are about to organize again another party in Ottawa, Canada; and they call it, "the victory party for the President Ismail O. Guelleh" of the Republic of Djibouti.

We find out that this upcoming party will be on May, 7, 2011 - 9PM at Delta Hotel, Bay and Queen, Downtown Ottawa.

The safaripost also learned that Mr. Bakal - the self-proclaimed leader of the group - is the main contact of Hashi Afweney; and received the $15000 U.S dollars from Djiboutian government.

Yet his leadership is constantly challenged - on numerous occasions by Rachid Lufthansa and the Other Bakal.

Though, we come to know that the money was wired through Dahabshil and Amaal express.

At the same time, the organizers promised; there will be a fine music in the party that night.

However, the safaripost.net got a tip that the Somalis and Djiboutians artists are going to be playing that night at the victory party in Delta Hotel, Downtown Ottawa.

Having said that, there's already a discrimination going on whitin the organizers; we were told by inside sources that the organizers are deliberately discriminating against the Djiboutian artists: Omar Indhayare, Jony and Ramadan Guessaleh.

Mr. Omar Indhayari was humiliated, the well-known Djiboutian singer; Joni Aden and Ramadan Guesaleh was duped simply of empty flattery.

They are furious because - each one of them was promised to get paid just for $500 dollars; while the Ordoh family, the Borama, Somaliland artists, got the jackpot (Aydarouse, Saleman and Deka, were awarded each $1500 U.S dollars).

We also hear some Djiboutian opponents were about to be bribed in order for them not to embarrass them or protest in front of the Delta Hotel that night.

When, we got in touch Mr. Houssein Andoleh, one of the outspoken and independent opponent of the President Ismael O. Guelleh’s regime, assured us that he haven’t hear such thing. And added: "I and my fellow 'frère des combats' - will make sure to expose this charade to the Canadians and the World - how this despot (IOG) is wasting the money for the Djiboutian people for this silly party in Ottawa; instead of using the $15.000 dollars for something useful".

The safaripost.net will indeed closely follow with this little show off party; as long as the Djiboutian tax-payers’ money is being wasted on this triviality. Instead of spending for the Djiboutians (in Quartier 7 bis) who lost their homes due to fire.



Previous interview:

Some Ottawa’s Somali and Djiboutian community throw a party, last Saturday evening, January 8th, 2011 at Chimo Hotel, on behalf of the President Ismail O. Guelleh’s of the Republic of Djibouti for his third term.

And, it’s my finding that the majority of the Djibouti-Canadians have boycotted the event as well. The reason: they claimed that the President IOG and some members of Djiboutian parliament - his henchmen - should not have been amending the Djiboutian constitution – or extending the Presidency to third terms; instead of two terms.

Nevertheless, I was intrigued about this whole charade. I wanted to know the mind-set of these organizers and why would they be interested about an East African Head of the State; since, the majority of them, don’t usually get involve their own local (Ottawa), provincial and Federal election- or – in the other word - don’t even vote as Canadian Citizens for the same Politicians who have something to say about their own lives: job creations, taxes and their children’s education, etc.

Instead, they are wasting their times with an East African Leader, President of Djibouti, who's undemocratic, and indeed, wish to stay in power for good.

I heard through some Djiboutian friends and acquaintances alike on numerous occasions that the President of Djibouti enjoys to be praised; and they say; if one publicly flatters him/her – Mr. IOG usually rewards them with high position or money. May be that is the case with these organizers.

Therefore, I decided to embark a research and find out; who’s really the mastermind behind all this -and why?

I got in touch on the phone with some of the co-organizers; and confirmed me that, Mr. Rachid Osman Meraneh, was the initiator.

I then contacted Rachid. We finally agreed to meet at Moxie's Restaurant two nights ago. Around 7 PM, he was already standing in front of the Restaurant with this brutal cold winter Ottawa night. And here he was puffing his smock on the air like a mafia boss.

Mr. Rachid smiled and ushered me into the Restaurant.

“Let me start out by asking you, I said. “Why did you organize with this event?”

He took a sip with his drink and said, “I wanted the world to know, how the President Ismail O. Guelleh, has modernized the Djiboutian economy and helped Somalia.

He talked in length about - how he brought in with some Djiboutian businesses as sponsors - who indeed had helped pay the expenses of the event.

When I asked him if he doesn't mind revealing their names; he politely declined.

Mr. Rachid at the same time denied that the government of the Republic of Djibouti sent him or his co-organizers $8000.

When I told him what their opponents think about him and the co-organizers of the event: sell out.

He shrugs off and said: “we are in a free country; they could say wherever they like".

"You free to like a Leader or disagree with his/her policies,” and he continued. “Having said that, one should not attack a Head of a State, simply he/she doesn't like with his tribal affiliation or merely for personal vendetta.

Mr. Rachid thinks a lot Djiboutian attack the President of the Republic of Djibouti just because of his clan.

He paused for few seconds, and went on: "We, as Somalis or Djiboutian for that matter, have to learn to respect one another's views.”I don’t think any one should be demonized just because they happen to support Mr. Ismail O. Guelleh’s third term.”

One might not agree with whom, the organizers were glorifying with; but the people (the oppositions) from the other side of the aisle, perhaps, should alter their approaches towards these individuals in order to win them over some day.

By Mohamed Awaleh