Somalia
Somalia: 32 Cabinet ministers sworn-in, two ministers resign
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Feb 22, 2009 - 1:59:26 PM

DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti Feb 22 (Garowe Online) - Newly appointed Cabinet ministers in Somalia formally took the oath of office Sunday in the neighbouring Republic of Djibouti, as two government ministers announced their resignation, Radio Garowe reports.

Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmake and parliament Speaker Sheikh Adan "Madobe" Mohamed were all present as 32 ministers of a 36-seat Cabinet took the oath of office.

"Your duty is to succeed where others [Cabinet ministers] before you failed," Somalia's president advised the new government ministers.

Speaker Madobe said the new Cabinet will be brought in front of the Somali Parliament for ratification, after which point the Cabinet will relocate to the Somali capital Mogadishu and begin work.

Resignation

Abdullahi Ahmed "Azhari," appointed as the Minister of Diaspora Community, announced his resignation two days after Prime Minister Sharmake named members of Somalia's new Cabinet.

Mr. Azhari said Somali MPs from his clan met privately in Djibouti City and pressured him not to accept the position, with MP Mohamed Hussein Ilkogab saying the Leelkase-Darod clan was supposed to receive the post of Minister of Ports and Marine Resources.

Another official, Mr. Abdiwahid Elmi Gonle, named as the Minister of Petroleum and Energy, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said he is "happy" with the post but that Marehan-Darod clan members have demanded that he resign.

Somalia's 'unity government', endorsed by the UN and created in Djibouti, is the 15th attempt by the international community to establish a national government for the war-torn Horn of Africa country.

Source: Garowe Online