MOGADISHU, Somalia
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday took the mantle of power for the second time, vowing to reconcile his country’s divided political groups, as well as relations with neighbours following years of bickering.
Mr Mohamud, who took over from
Mr Mohamed Farmaajo, said his country will remain neutral in the international
space, while befriending countries that will respect its sovereignty and seek
to tackle common problems like al-Shabaab and poverty.
“The event that we are
witnessing today [his inauguration] is a specimen of democracy being
reinstituted in Somalia,” he said, stressing that except when the country was,
for 21 years, under military rule (1969 – 1991), Somalis have always been
pro-democracy.
Mr Mohamud indicated that
reconciliation and peaceful coexistence is a priority for his government, addressing
a gathering that included his predecessors Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and Mr Farmaajo
with whom they raise up hands to show unity.
“To achieve true
reconciliation, we are going to address whatever is being felt,” he stated,
adding that the talks with the breakaway region of Somaliland will be
invigorated.
“An important instrument that
will boost reconciliation is to complete the review and implementation of the
provisional constitution,” the new President said, adding that democratization
is to return power to the people by allowing citizens to elect and get elected.
“We shall boost our
amicability with our neighbours and Somalia’s partners across the world.”
Mr Mohamud noted the ongoing
drought with devastating effects, illustrating that Somalia severely suffers
from climate change, sandwiched between floods and droughts.
“We cannot continue surviving
months of delivering water to drought affected people, then following by
rescuing people affected by floods,” the president said, calling for action.
He inherits a country whose
levels of government at national and federal levels remain broken, corruption
is endemic and al-Shabaab militants even fired mortars at the airport ahead of
the event.
He promised to work day and
night to lead accountable state institutions aiming at development, including
sound programmes to collaborate with the International Financial Institutions,
including on the issue of debt relief.
At the event, one after the
other, the leaders of Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti, the three countries
neighbouring Somalia, promised to continue their assistance in the
stabilization of Somalia.
Kenyan President Uhuru
Kenyatta, Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh and the Ethiopian Prime
Minister Abiy Ahmed had each flown from their respective capitals to join the
inauguration ceremony held in Mogadishu to mark the election of Somali
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud on Thursday.
Kenyatta hailed the peaceful
transfer of power between the immediate former president (Mr Farmaajo) and
Mohamud who has become President for a second time.
Mr Kenyatta indicated that Mr
Mohamud, whose first term as president lasted between 2012 and 2017, has an opportunity
to forge a closer regional collaboration.
“Kenya warmly welcome the
peaceful transfer of power,” remarked Kenyatta, stressing his country’s
readiness to work with Somalia’s leadership through Mr Mohamud’s development
agenda.
He indicated that working
together generates opportunity for successful Somalia, Kenya and the Eastern
Africa region.
Ethiopian PM Ahmed Abiy
attracted standing ovation when he greeted the masses with few remarks in
Somali language ‘Hambalyo, hambalyo Madaxweeyne, Waxaan kuu rajeeynaa
in Ilaheey kugu asturo. Waxaan u rajeeynaa Shacabka Soomaaliya nabad waarto iyo
barwaaqo.’ (Congratulations, congratulations Mr President. I wish God
will offer you blessings. I wish the Somali people a lasting peace and
prosperity).
Mr Ahmed’s visit was also
unique as he was leading a large delegation that included ethic Somali
officials in Ethiopia.
The delegation included Vice
Chairperson of the ruling Prosperity Party, Adem Farah, the Federal Finance
Minister Ahmed Shide as well as Security Advisor of the Prime Minister Redwan
Hussein and President of the Somali Region, Mustafa Omer Agjar, among others.
Mr Guelleh, arguably the
longest serving leader in the Horn of Africa, promised Djibouti’s brotherly
cooperation, especially in the sphere of experience sharing.
Following the regional
leaders’ remarks, former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Somalia’s 8th
head of state leading the Transitional Federal Government (2009-2012) sent a
special greeting to former President Farmaajo who lost the contest on May 15.
“Former President Farmaajo, I
tell you that loss of election may have been a blessing. Otherwise, you had won
it might have been interpreted as a leader rigging the election,” Sharif Ahmed
said, hinting his remarks was a humorous joke.
Mr Farmaajo was very thankful
to all those who helped him during his tenure, especially the countries
contributing troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and its
successor, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
“I thank you [AMISOM and ATMIS
peacekeepers] for supporting our courageous armed forces, co-striving to render
Somalia more stable,” Mr Farmaajo remarked, asking everybody to help the new
president.
“I know that presidency is an
arduous job. So, let all join hands to pray for and support the new
government,” he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment