United Nations calls on new Somali Prime Minister to form government

United Nations calls on new Somali Prime Minister to form government

2010-11-01 11:23:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations on Sunday called upon Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, the new Prime Minister of Somalia, to form his government and take steps to meet the challenges affecting the Horn of Africa nation.

"I congratulate Prime Minister Mohamed and encourage him to form his government so that he can gain momentum in completing the critical tasks ahead during this transitional period," said Augustine Mahiga, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia.

Mahiga also acknowledged the support and close collaboration of the international community, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in supporting and encouraging the cohesion and coherence within the Somali transitional institutions.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also congratulated Mohamed for being named prime minister and encouraged him to form his cabinet without further delay in order to complete the priority tasks of the transitional period.

"The Secretary-General commends the Somali leadership, particularly President Sheikh Sharif, the Speaker of Parliament, Sharif Hassan, and members of the Transitional Federal Parliament on reaching a consensus on procedural arrangements that allowed for the confirmation of the new Prime Minister through a consultative and transparent process," said Martin Nesirky, Ban's spokesman.

Nesirky further said that Ban hopes the Transitional Federal Institutions will continue with this spirit of putting the interest of their nation first, for the sake of unity, stability and peace for the Somali people.

Mohamed was named prime minister by Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ah on October 14 following the resignation of Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke in September.

Somalia has been without a functioning central government since 1991 and faces not only conflict and factional strife, but also a dire humanitarian crisis in which 3.2 million people are in need of aid.

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