Somalia: Puntland welcomes new US envoy nomination
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- Posted On 25-02-2015, 07:38PM
GAROWE, Somalia, February 26, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Puntland Government in northern Somalia has welcomed what has been billed as historic nomination that signals the deepening relationship between war-torn East African nation and the United States on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.
President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali said in a press statement from his office that the US went a step further, appointing Katherine Dhanani, a career diplomat as envoy to the country for the first time since 1991.
“The decision to appoint ambassador Dhanani is critical for Somalia. Not only does it reflect world confidence in Somalia but it would bolster the ties between Somalia and the US,”said Puntland President.
Continuing, Ali added that he warmly welcomes the historic nomination: “We look forward to closely working with Ambassador Dhanani on key issues regarding finalization of constitution, federalism, improved security and transparent election [by 2016]”.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki announced that President Barack Obama cherry picked veteran diplomat, Dhanani for ambassadorial post, marking the first US envoy to lead a mission to war-ravaged Mogadishu.
US closed its embassy in Mogadishu in 1991 when armed opposition groups toppled the country’s military government.
GAROWE ONLINE
