Tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians, passed on from generation to generation, says that 'when you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount'. However, in the NGO community a range of far more advanced strategies are often employed, such as:

• Changing riders
• Appointing a committee to study the horse
• Arranging to visit other countries to see how others ride dead horses
• Lowering the standards so that dead horses can be included
• Reclassifying the dead horse as 'living impaired'
• Hiring outside contractors to ride the dead horse
• Harnessing several dead horses together to increase the speed
• Providing additional funding and/or training to increase the dead horse's performance
• Doing a productivity study to see if lighter riders would improve the dead horse's performance
• Declaring that as the dead horse does not have to be fed, it is less costly, carries lower overhead, and therefore contributes substantially more to the mission of the organization than do some other horses
• Rewriting the expected performance requirements for all horses
• Preparing a workshop with paid attendants on the subject of experience gaining in riding dead horses in post war setting
• Preparing a second workshop on environmental hazards caused by horses..., and the advantage on using dead horses since they do not excrete, therefore are of no hazard to the environment

Very little is written in the international media about Somaliland. A lot more attention goes to Mogadishu, Al Shabab and more of this type of horror. Consequently the average media consumer is not able to make a distinction between Somaliland and Somalia

But the reality in Somaliland is so much different: a democratic political system en surprisingly much freedom for local press. There are many problems too; corruption, poverty and deeply rooted clan conflicts are just a few examples.

Somaliland has many newspapers, most of them independent. Some are in English and although the journalistic standards are low they do make an interesting read. A bit of polishing up would be enough to make them very interesting global media content.

Kenyans are going to the polls. On August 4 they will decide in a referendum on the new proposed Constitution. In 2005 a similar referendum was held, but then 58% voted against. It resulted in a tumultuous political situation in which President Kibaki sacked all ministers and their deputies.

Now a new version of the Constitution is on the table which comes after a long process that has been criticised by many. Numerous proposed amendments were not considered. Church leaders have critised an article which they claim legalises abortion, although others interpret it differently.

Article 26(4) states that “Abortion is not permitted unless, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is a need for emergency treatment, or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law.” According to some this provides more than sufficient protection for the unborn life. Others call article 26 the beginning of the end.