Somalia gets new Prime Minister
By John Stephen Katende
18th Oct 2010
Embattled Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has appointed a new Prime Minister after Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke stepped down as Prime Minister last month.
President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed named Mohamed A. Mohamed on 14th October as the war torn country’s new Prime Minister. Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke stepped down as Prime Minister because of what Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative for Somalia Dr. Mahiga called “…yet another manifestation of the serious disputes within the Transitional Federal Institutions [TFIs]”.
The top United Nations envoy to Somalia has however welcomed the appointment of the new Prime Minister and stressed in a statement that “…time will not allow for any further crises within the leadership of Somalia”.
He said the international community expects a new Government to be appointed as soon as possible to focus on tasks that are critical to wrapping up the transitional period which ends next August. “…The UN and Somalia’s international partners are ready to support the new Government under Mr. Mohamed’s leadership”, the envoy said.
Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991 when President Hussein Said Barre was overthrown. Since then, Somalia has been engulfed by incessant conflicts. The present Transitional Federal Government [TFG] is facing a serious challenge from Al-Shabaab, an Islamist militant group.
Last month, a mini-summit on Somalia held at the UN Headquarters called on the TFG to end its differences and deliver basic services. It also urged the international community to do more financially to support efforts to bring peace to Somalia. END. If it’s Monday, it’s Uganda Correspondent. Never miss out again!
