Bartamaha (Nairobi):- African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping has welcomed the endorsement of Somali Prime Minister Mohammed Abdullahi Mohammed by the country’s parliament.
Ping also urged Somali MPs to equally endorse the soon to be constituted government, reported Xinhuanet on Tuesday.
‘The chairperson expresses the hope that an efficient and representative Cabinet will be appointed and endorsed very soon to enable the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) to focus on the transitional tasks,’ an AU released statement said.
‘He (Ping) congratulates the new Prime Minister and wishes him success in his mission,’ the statement added.
Ping called on Somali stakeholders to demonstrate maturity and leadership in order to overcome the many challenges facing their country.
He reiterated the AU’s continued commitment to support the Transitional Federal Government and the people of Somalia in their efforts to bring to a definite end to the conflict and violence that have been tearing their country apart for two decades.
The new government should build on and consolidate the momentum generated by the decisions adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU, Ping believed.
In a recent assembly, PSC ministers requested that the UN Security Council slap naval blockades on Somalia and declare a no-fly zone to prevent arms shipment. In addition an additional 12,000 troops for the African Union Mission in Somalia were approved to contain resurgent militia activity.
The Somali parliament voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to endorse Mohammed, replacing Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke who resigned in September.
Sharmarke quit following political differences with the President, notably over the fight against terror and the writing of a new constitution.
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Source:- Press TV.
