UN endorses new Somalia Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The United Nations has welcomed the appointment of Mohamed Hussein Roble as the new Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, which has been struggling with stability, over 30 years after the ouster of military leader Siad Barre, who ruled the country for two decades.

In July, the Somali parliament kicked out Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, claiming that he had failed to prepare one-person-one-vote elections, after several months of negotiations. Khaire served in the office for three years, the longest period to ever in the history of Somalia, given that his predecessors served in a very short stint.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo picked Roble, an engineer by profession to replace Khaire just last week, almost two months after the post was left vacant. He was picked from the International Labour Organization, a UN outfit based in Nairobi, where he had worked for the better part of his life.

And on Wednesday, the United Nations endorsed the appointment of Roble, adding that it will closely work with him to deliver aspirations of Somalis. The UN, the agency added, will support him to deliver the aspirations of the people of Somalia, who have been struggling for peace and stability for the last couple of years.

"The UN family warmly congratulates Mohamed Roble on his confirmation as Somalia's new Prime Minister wishes him success as he assumes this key leadership role at a critical moment in the country's history, and assures him of the UN’s support, solidarity and cooperation," read the statement.

During Wednesday's parliamentary session in Mogadishu, Roble was endorsed by 215 MPs who attended the sitting. No MP abstained during voting further indicating that he has a firm grip of the House, which is responsible for putting him on the check by ensuring that various government projects are implemented across the country.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, who attended the parliamentary session, asked the new Prime Minister to work with MPs to ensure various projects are implemented by the government. He hailed the new PM for supporting government agenda for the last couple of years when he was working with the UN body.

"I am confident that you will help us to implement various projects that have been launched throughout the country. We are pretty sure that the government will do its work properly due to your experience on matters administration," Farmajo told him moments after swearing-in of the new PM.

Roble is expected to help the country hold timely elections later on this year, with the leadership having settled on constituency caucus model, which will see 101electors take part in the elections. However, the model is yet to be approved by the international community, which is responsible for supporting the country's institutions.

Somalia is expected to hold elections in November before the presidential polls in February 2021. Already, Farmajo is facing stiff competition from Wadajir leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud along with Khaire, who announced his bid last week.

GAROWE ONLINE