Puntland was an oasis of peace for a quite good time but the time of reckoning has just arrived. The political environement of Puntland is now a days as muddy as that of the south and in the best part of the past six months assasinations, sucide, tribal wars, ethiopian intelegence abduction of somali west people, forced repatriation of Somali refugees from Ethiopia and opperssion of Islamists is the norm just like Mogadishu. I am afraid Puntland is becoming a new theatre of war between the Islamists and nationalists on one side and what is seen as the Ethiopian stooges on the other side. Security is becoming a thing of the past because assasinations of politicians, tribal elders, businessmen and Ogadeni notables and refugees from Gaalkaayo to Bossaso makes the headlines of the news and managed to get a sizable slot in the breaking news as well.

It is a sad reality but Puntland must balance its priorities and limit its master's demands(Ethiopia) if it wants to stay afloat - Puntland has no choice but to concentrate on wining the heart of Somali nationalists and Islamists for its survival.