GAROWE, Somalia Jan 21 (Garowe Online) - A widely respected politician has been sworn-in as interior minister by a new administration in Somalia's semiautonomous state of Puntland, Radio Garowe reports.

Gen. Abdullahi Ahmed "Ilkajir" officially took the oath of office Wednesday in Garowe, the capital of Puntland.

Gen. Abdullahi Ilkajir, Puntland Interior Minister [middle]

Puntland President Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed "Farole" was present at the ceremony, as the deputy ministers of security, women's affairs and public works were also sworn-in.

"I am happy to inherit a functioning ministry, thanks to the people before me," new Puntland Interior Minister Ilkajir said, while shaking hands with the ex-Deputy Interior Minister Ahmed Adan Arab.

Gen. Ilkajir's predecessor, ex-Interior Minister Abdulhamid Garad Jama, was reportedly in Djibouti and could not attend the hand-over ceremony in Garowe.

Puntland's new interior minister urged the Ministry employees to work harder, saying that he will defend their labor rights.

A politician from Sanaag region, Gen. Ilkajir lost to President Farole in the peaceful Jan. 8 parliamentary vote that ushered in a new era of change in Puntland.

Farole's appointment of Gen. Ilkajir – and two other ex-presidential contenders – was widely seen as a compromise move to settle political differences for greater common interests in the region.

The new administration in Garowe faces many challenge in the coming four years, such as restoring security, providing public services and leading Puntland in a new direction by playing a positive role in efforts to restore national order in Somalia.

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Source: Garowe Online