Somali-American first-time politician named as new PM
Somalia’s president named a new prime minister on Thursday, bringing a first-time politician into government. Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed replaces Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, who had a long-running feud with President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. Sharmarke resigned last month.
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The 48-year-old prime minister, who was educated in the United States, spoke to journalists minutes after his nomination.
Correspondent report
"I am very happy to be nominated as Somalia’s prime minister. I will work with both the parliament and cabinet, and hope to work closely work with President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed," said Abdullahi Mohamed.
Abdullahi Mohamed is a Somali-American who was formerly a diplomat at the Somali embassy in Washington.
His appointment will have to be confirmed by the Somali parliament
The new prime minister faces the daunting task of bringing peace to the failed Horn of Africa country after almost 19 years of violence.
The federal government has failed to end a three-year insurgency by hardline al-Shabab militants who control much of the capital and huge chunks of south and central Somalia.
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