Gubbet wrote: Sat Oct 29, 2022 12:15 am
I don't think anybody in central Somalia wants to go back to this period. Especially trying a group that is the most Al Shabaab free in central Somalia.That would be Qaan Mareexaan waa Qaaxo kugu maqan on steroids.
I will also add 2 things
1. Starting at Bangeelle village, the tracks in Caabudwaaq have no rocks. None. Waa completely soft, blood red, compact soil. It is like that completely through Marehan territory until you get to the Ethiopian road connecting Galadi and Wardheer.
You can only understand how special that type of soil is for travel when you realize---OUTSIDE of rain---that track is easier, faster, and even more efficient for motor travel than dilapidated road, even mildly unkept paved road.
Wallahi anytime I left Caabudwaaq to go West, the car traveled 55+- Miles Per Hour (MPH). For reference, in the US, freeways have a speed limit of 60 MPH. In Caabudwaaq to Raqo for example, when the land flat and clear, multiple times the car reached close to 70 MPH.
For example, I traveled from Mogadishu to Afgooye once and, forget how ridiculous travel was in Mog (and Hargeisa tbh) because of the degredation of the pavement, you spend more tippy toeing around potholes than traveling---but we didn't pass 40 MPH between Mog and Afgooye
But literally inside Caabudwaaq and through it across Marehan country, on average you can go as far as the same as US freeway and even 70's MPH when coast is clear.
The soft, blood red compact soil has 1.) no rocks, none whatsoever and 2) when compact (any place you put your foot down or a motor vehicle goes through once) is as structurally sturdy enough as condensed gravel. In fact the compact, red soil of Caabudwaaq without rocks is actually buoyant forming as shock absorber over the wheels and alignment. This is why Rer Caabudwaaq vehicles last considerably longer than their neighbors.
I actually even describe the travel as pleasant and comfortable. It is sort of like invisible sturdy road "on clouds." Was very relaxing wallahi.
The only problem is when it rains---which is not a great problem, since rain is the exception not the norm.
2.
Because of that + the security, THE ROUTE FOR TRADE IS NOT THE NORTH/SOUTH "highway." From the border of Galgaduud with Hiiraan or Middle Shabelle, the trade does not go north from Dhusamareb to Cadaado to Gelinsoor to Gaalkacyo. The trade ENTERS Somalia at Caabudwaaq then it goes through Cadaado all the way to Hobyo or it goes From Caabudwaaq to Dhusamareb to Ceelbuur to Ceeldheer to Cadale along the coast or goes from Caabudwaaq to Guriceel down to Beled-Weyne to merge with the central Somali region trade entering through Hiiraan to Jowhar, etc.
But if any of that trade comes from Berbera or the North, even Boosaaso, almost 100% that trade came through Caabudwaaq border with Ethiopia before going south. In fact even Boosaaso port, what is not destined immediately for Galkacyo town separated at Garowe to go through Bookh to Galadi through the Caabudwaaq soft compact road going through Galaadi-Yamaarugley-Duuban-Ceelay-Booso-Bali Abdi Ali-Abudwaaq.
For some who might be wondering why are 3 Xawaadle trucks lying around in Caabudwaaq. Dude, I saw AJUURAAN TRUCKS.I saw Sacad Muuse/NUUX ISMAACIIL TRUCKS, I saw TUNNI trucks. Caabudwaaq is a town of trucks, and trucks, and trucks. Imagine Tunni trucks in Mugdi Mudug? You sit outside for tea at Casbudwaaq city center and every 1/2 of an hour, you will see 1-3 long haul big xamuul trucks either filled with goats or livestock or with badeeco/commercial stuff coming in through the border with Ethiopia or coming into Caabudwaaq from the south or east through Dhusamareb.
Caabudwaaq waa meel yaab leh wallahi.
It is sort of like the "American heartland."
When the most powerful people in the world like Bush and Cheney leave Washington D.C, they go and retire in their ranches or farms in the rural heartland.
Abudwaaq has the most disproportionately rer Magaal citizenry, but have completely retired to their heartland and simpler way of doing things. This guy next to you could be talking to his grandsons and camel drivers about where his flock of camels he bought since coming back were last seen grazing. Waxaa la oran "Libaaxseexay" ama "Abda Caale" sii marayeen or the young Aaran have reached Raqo and then all of a sudden drinking tea listening, he whips out his sell phone and is speaking English to a contractor at Berbera port about exactly when his trucks transporting a consignment for "Baxdo" will be sent off.
Wa cajiib meeshaas wallahi.
Mojoka, they are not even poor wallahi. Caabudwaaq per capita has more diaspora and sees more remittances than probably any other town Somalis settle and
probably has more hard asset to any teenagers name too. There isn't a boy who has reached 10, that doesn't have 10 camels to his name and nowadays like big town boys want a bajaaj, the Caabudwaaq teen expects a transport van to take part in the trade.
Just this past half year, we bought a booyad worth $20K because too many people wanted to loan one for kin, and my mom made us fork over transport van for a 22 year old cousin of hers because she "promised." He wanted to start his own camel milk business buying daily from Marehan herdsman in the villages between Raqo to Burgeesoole to then go and service the drivers of the trade lines heading to Caabudwaaq through Wardheer. I am told he just started breaking even meaning he is selling enough to pay for his petrol and car upkeep and spenditure. I am following carefully to see his trajectory and at what point he starts making good profit. This is potentially something to replicate.
Disrupting that trade from Caabudwaaq is going to displease a lot of communities if the guys in Beled-Weyne do not rectify this with "xaal."
per hour in outside currency day in and day out 365 days a year? 
