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From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Oct 15 2010 - 16:59:08 EDT
Newly Appointed Prime Minister of Somalia is US Citizen
Mike Onyiego | Nairobi 15 October 2010
In an attempt to strengthen Somalia's fractious transitional government,
President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Thursday appointed 48-year-old
American-Somali Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed as the country's new Prime
Minister.
The president praised the experience of Mohamed, also known as Farmaajo, and
expressed confidence in his ability take up the difficult post.
If approved by the Somali Parliament, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed will replace
former Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, who resigned three
weeks ago after a bitter power-struggle with the president.
Late Thursday Mohamed thanked the president for the appointment and pledged
to work closely with him and parliament to tackle problems facing the
beleaguered government. But there are many in Somalia who doubt whether
Mohamed is up to the task.
Mohamed is a U.S. citizen who has lived in New York State for more than 20
years. Before becoming an American citizen, he was a Somali diplomat and
worked in the country's Washington embassy from 1986 until 1991. Mohamed
holds a Master's Degree in political science and was teaching at the Erie
Community College in the city of Buffalo when President Ahmed selected him
to be the next prime minister.
Mohamed's nomination has come as a surprise to many in Somalia and some
Mogadishu residents said they believe the appointment to be the result of
pressure from the government of the United States.
The U.S. State Department has not issued a statement regarding Mohamed's
nomination, but officials have privately dismissed claims of U.S.
involvement in the decision as "ridiculous."
Mohamed will be responsible for bringing stability to a country that has
been without a functioning government for more than 20 years. The weak
transitional government controls only parts of the capital, Mogadishu.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, unidentified gunmen abducted a Somali man and a
British aid worker who was consulting for the London-based organization Save
the Children. The two were taken from the town of Adado, near Galkayo in
central Somalia. Adado is home to various gangs and pirate groups and
control of the area has been disputed by al-Qaida-linked rebels al-Shabaab
and sufi militia Ahlu Sunna wal-Jama'a.
The hostages were reportedly moved from Adado after Ahlu Sunna forces took
control of the town early Friday. No group has claimed responsibility for
the kidnappings and it is not known where the victims are.
New Somali Prime Minister's "Experience" Praised by Analyst
Abdiweli Mohamed Aligas of New York's Niagara University says Prime Minister
Mohamed's experience will him deal with Somalia's many problems
James Butty | Washington, D.C. 15 October 2010
Somalia's President, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, has appointed Mohamed Abdullahi
Mohamed as the country's new prime minister.
Thursday's announcement comes just weeks after the previous prime minster,
Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmake, resigned after a long running political feud
with President Ahmed.
Abdiweli Mohamed Aligas, professor of economics at Niagara University in
Buffalo, New York, told VOA the new prime minister's experience should
enable him to handle Somalia's many problems.
"The Prime Minister, Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, has experience in the
Somali government. He worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia
before the collapse of the state in 1991 January. He worked at the embassy
in Washington, where he was the First Secretary. So, he has experience in
administration," he said.
Aligas said the new prime minister is also well versed in the protocols of
what he called classical democracies like the United States.
He said Mohamed also worked as Commissioner for Equal Employment at the New
York State Department of Transportation in Buffalo where he also lived prior
to his appointment.
If he is confirmed by the Somali parliament, Mohamed would be the fourth
prime minister since Somalia's Federal Transitional Government came into
being.
Aligas said, while a single individual may not be able to solve all of
Somalia's problems, the 48-year-old Mohamed has the right demeanor to make a
difference
"One individual cannot change a lot, but the question is does he have the
demeanor, the experience to at least contribute and change the government in
ways that will be more amenable to the liking of donors. So, in terms of
change in the situation on the ground, he can contribute, but also he will
need a lot of help from so many different areas," Aligas said.
Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991.
The U.N.-backed government is struggling to survive in the face of a fierce
insurgency from Islamic militant groups, who control most of Mogadishu and
southern Somalia.
Aligas said, while the new prime minister, whom he described as a 'good
Muslim,' may not able to defeat the Islamic militants like al-Shabab, he can
contribute in neutralizing them.
"The question is not whether they (al-Shabab) will accept him, but the
question is will he be able to deal with them, and with the help from the
Somali community and the international community will he be able to
neutralize them. That's the question, and I think he will be able to do
that," Professor Aligas said.
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