Somalia: Federal Parliament approves Cabinet of Ministers 13 Nov 13, 2012 - 11:35:11 AM
MOGADISHU, Somalia Nov 13 2012 (Garowe Online) – Somalia’s Federal Parliament gave a vote of approval for Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon’s 10-minister Cabinet in Mogadishu on Tuesday, Garowe Online reports.
The undersized Cabinet was approved by Parliament in a unanimous decision on Tuesday in Mogadishu’s parliament.
Out of 225 votes, 219 MPs voted to approve the 10 Minister Council, 3 voted no and 3 abstained.
President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud spoke to MPs before they took a confidence vote on the Cabinet.
According to MPs who spoke to Somali media after the vote, President Hassan urged for MPs to approve the Council of Ministers.
Prime Minister Shirdon gave a statement to Parliament after the approval of his cabinet, saying: “The vote of confidence by the Federal Parliament is a crucial step by parliament to cooperate with the Cabinet."
UN Special Representative to Somalia Augustine Mahiga welcomed the vote of confidence by parliament is a “milestone” in Somalia history.
On Thursday, 30 MPs issued a letter to Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari stating that the Cabinet should not be approved until they complete the list of Ministers and Deputy Ministers which the Somali Provisional Constitution reiterates.
Former Constitution Minister Abdirahman Hosh Jibril was among the MPs who drafted the letter that was issued to Speaker Jawari.
The approved Cabinet of Ministers by Parliament has cemented the new administration of the new Federal Republic of Somalia.
