Stories from the Horn #142
November 23, 2021
My book Pillars is on sale for another week or so. Don’t miss your chance to get a kindle copy now for only $1.99! I will say, though, that the print copy is beautiful. The cover is so soft and has a built-in flap you can use as bookmark, the color is gorgeous.
If you’ve read it, would you please leave a review? It would be amazing to hit 100!
Here’s what’s happening in the Horn of Africa lately (or in the early 2000s, thank you Simpsons)
Djibouti on The Simpsons, circa early 2000s
Now to the news:
How does Djibouti compare in the cost of groceries? I have to say this finding is 100% bull-sh*t. They say Djibouti has the world’s cheapest groceries and that these 12 items: “breakfast cereal, carton of eggs, boneless chicken breast, local cheese (16 oz.), bottle of vegetable oil, fresh white bread, milk, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, tuna and water” can be purchased in total, all together, for $7.00 (USD). What on earth?! Would you like me to show you my grocery receipts? Please can someone tell me where to buy tuna in water, not oil? Or could you please tell me where to buy “local” cheese?! I worked as a price checker here for about 6 years. I have also purchased food here for almost 20 years. I know of what I speak and what I spend. Hmmm….
Nurse in Somalia is asking “Where are the vaccines for Somalia?” Less than 2% of the population has received a jab while parts of the world are going for boosters.
Video claims Somalia’s bananas are worm-infested and Somalia says this is false. (Personal note - Mogadishu bananas are so good. I can barely choke down bananas in the US - the flavor is a big zero and the texture is like fingernails on chalkboard. Somalia bananas are so good.)
Ethiopia’s war’s impact on the Djiboutian economy
Al-shabaab suicide bomber kills well-known Somali journalist in Mogadishu
UN warns about Somalia’s worsening famine
Berbera, Somaliland opens international airport
The BBC interviews US commander in Djibouti. I have several issues with this interview. I’ll let Ethiopians and others comment on, or make decisions about the actual interview content. But the words and images make it seem like the entire region is unstable and dangerous. The video clips of the soldiers loading up their machine guns and then driving along the perimeter of Camp Lemonier - outside that wire is exactly where I run at least once a week. A foreign woman, alone, running, and I am perfectly safe. No need for full military gear and machine guns. It is really misleading and I would even say irresponsible reporting.
Somalis settle near Salt Lake City, “This is the place for us”
Have a happy American holiday week! We will be eating turkey this year - I found the most massive turkey I have ever seen in Djibouti. It barely fits in my small oven but we’ll make it work, even if my husband has to hack off some of the leg bones.