SOMALIA: Future president Starts Election Campaign

[marcassmith]

ST. PAUL (Somalilandpress) — An Ohio man hoping to become the next president of Somalia is campaigning in Minnesota this week.

He stopped by Saint Paul seeking to gain support from the Somali community. Locals are hopeful that Presidential Candidate Mohamed Saleban can turn their home country in the right direction.

If elected in early 2011, Saleban hopes to rid Somalia of its warlords and Islamic militants.

“I believe that Somalia will have an effective government lead by a younger generation,” Saleban said.

By visiting the Twin Cities, which is home to the largest Somali population in North America, he says locals can get the word out to their families back in Somalia, that he’s is the change Somalia needs.

“They will encourage their families that there’s a young guy coming in, there’s a hope for us and you need to support this guy,” Saleban said.

In the highly populated Somali neighborhood of Cedar-Riverside, some feel that Saleban has no chance.

“I don’t think change is going to happen,” Yassin Warsame said. “For the last 20 years it’s been a war.”

Warsame, who’s only 16, has been closely following Somalia’s situation.

“Basically my opinion of politics, is that it’s just a game,” Yassin said. “It’s like chess, you play your pawn correctly and try and win people over.”

Yassin said even if he could cast a vote, he wouldn’t.

“Everything is possible in this world, you don’t need to lose hope,” Saleban said.

And that’s what Saleban needs. Support from Somalis living in America.

See here for video: http://link.brightcove.com/services/pla ... 8669608001


Source: http://somalilandpress.com/somalia-futu ... ties-17601

[FAH1223]

If he wants to campaign, he needs to do it in Somalia... there is nothing we in the West can do to change the situation. Its been out of our hands since the 1990s.

[Shirib]

He should be campaigning to congressmen in DC, that's who really decides.

What are Somali's in the Twin Cities gonna do for him?

[marcassmith]

He is just continuing the tradition of being appointed outside of Somalia or in this case supposedly elected in the Twin cities . It doesn't make a difference, they are all appointed in a foreign country.

Seems like a good man though.

[Executive]

Came across his website the other day http://mohamedsaleban.com/

[Khalid Ali]

Well if umar buur can become the pm for Somalia why not this young lad , lets see he cant do a worse then sheikh dalxiis

[Berke]

I posted a link to his website asking about him not that long ago. Good luck to him. The next president of Villa Somalia and the one kilometer around it. I wonder, if elected, if it is possible for him to be worse than Shiikh Shariif.

[marcassmith]

Well if umar buur can become the pm for Somalia why not this young lad , lets see he cant do a worse then sheikh dalxiis

[FAH1223]

He should be campaigning to congressmen in DC, that's who really decides.

What are Somali's in the Twin Cities gonna do for him?

To be fair, he has gone to Capitol Hill.

At the same time however, this process of Somalis outside of Somalia going to Somalia and being ministers, presidents, and prime ministers by parachute will never work.

Sheikh Dalxiis and Abdullahi Yusuf were in the country for a while to be fair, but they both ended up controlling the 1 KM of Villa Somalia with foreign troops and no initiatives at constructive progress to speak of.

Sheikh Dalxiis is even more disappointing especially with his past relationship with Al-Shabaab.

[zidane88]

Well if umar buur can become the pm for Somalia why not this young lad , lets see he cant do a worse then sheikh dalxiis

[*Nobleman*]

i'm usually an optimistic person, but if i knew this fella i'd tell him to quit while he is ahead.

[xoogSADE14]

i'm usually an optimistic person, but if i knew this fella i'd tell him to quit while he is ahead.

lol

I can't believe that hes 'running for president' as if we have elections.

[Twisted_Logic]

i'm usually an optimistic person, but if i knew this fella i'd tell him to quit while he is ahead.

lol

I can't believe that hes 'running for president' as if we have elections.

And he chose Ceder Projects as the place to launch his candidacy

[AhlulbaytSoldier]

He feels now that it is his time to see the world and enjoy luxury hotels.

[marcassmith]

I can't believe that hes 'running for president' as if we have elections.

This is practical. Its the only system that the former Somalia hasn't experimented with