It was one of my 2007 new year resolutions to devote my time writing about Somalia with the intention of shedding light on the suffering of the people who were caught up in a war raging between factions in their contest over power at the expense of the people's life.

It was my plan to bring the Somalia tragedy to the attention of the world while attempting to find ways and means of proposing viable solutions for the seemingly incurable political ills of Somalia.

As the year is now drawing to an end I think I have accomplished a great deal of my resolution as I have written so much about Somalia with a fair and balanced view and analysis in the form of articles, stories and poetry. I am pleased to have taken this assignment as a matter of high priority and have covered it with the best of my ability, integrity., commitment and dedication.

My aim of posting this short write is to show the world that in the heart of despair one can still maintain some courage to keep the fire of hope glowing. I have been writing in a situation of war where there was no security, no peace, no employment or even proper housing and shelter and where killings and kidnappings were the order of the day.

Yet with the grace of God, Allah, the Almighty I have managed to write hundreds of titles this year alone with the objective of casting light on the terrible incidents that have been taking place in Mogadishu over the past 12 months.

With an invitation I received from the Swedish Forum for Human Rights I flew to Sweden on November 17 to attend a two-day conference in Stockholm. I was honoured to be a keynote speaker of the conference, which was participated by 2000 persons.

In preparing to go back home I was shocked by the news coming from home as the Somali writing community such as journalists, writers and poets were subjected to summary executions, bombings and torture. It was against this bleak and rather grim situation in Somalia that I have approached the Swedish government to provide me protection till such time my country becomes a safe place to return. I hope the Swedish government shall consider my application to seek asylum in their country.

Lastly I wish to thank all of you here at the Den for the persistent encouragement and support you have accorded to me to inspire me in a situation of utter disappointment. You have made me face danger with undiminished strength, pushing against almost unbearable security and survival hardships.

I also thank those friends and family members who gave me similar support during the time I was engaged in this risky writing business one of the most dangerous places on earth where journalists and writers are hunted down by marauding gunmen employed by warlords and religious extremists.
Thank you