Somalia: Farmajo chairs Cabinet meeting in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has chaired a plenary cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu on Thursday, Garowe Online reports.

The meeting attended by the PM, Hassan Ali Khaire, the ministers, deputy ministers focused on several important agenda, including the achievements and challenges of the cabinet since it was formed in March 2017.

"Under the leadership of Farmajo was pleased to showcase roadmaps for the 4 central pillars of our governance. Through these ambitious roadmaps we will continue to transform our nation," said PM office in a Twitter post.

President Farmajo urged the Ministers to be competitive with their foreign counterparts around the world and burn the candle at both ends to move the country ahead and achieve sustainable development.

During the meeting, the President has praised his PM for doing a "remarkable work" and tireless efforts in helping Somalia stand on its feet again after the decades-long bloody conflict, clan rivalry, and chaos.

- Deputy minister suspended over laundering fake money -

The Prime Minister of Somalia, Hassan Ali Khaire has suspended the country's deputy minister of trade and industry Mohamed Khalif Diriye Shakut on Wednesday at the request of the Office of the Attorney General.

No reason has been given for the deputy minister’s suspension, but, sources said the move came after Shakut was accused of having a role in money laundering and manufacturing counterfeit US dollar currency.

The suspension of the deputy trade minister who is also a member of the House of the People of the Federal Parliament followed a week after security forces at Mogadishu airport seized Fake money printing syndicate.

- Somalia faces multi-faceted challenges -

Last September, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia [UNSOM] has warned that terrorism and political differences will derail progress in the country.

Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked extremist group still remains resilient in the Horn of Africa nation despite the efforts of the UN-mandated African Union peacekeeping mission and Somali security forces to contain it.

The deficit of trust between central government and Federal member states, and the recent decision by the latter to suspend cooperation with Villa Somalia is another worrisome and setback to the war-torn country.

Despite military gains against Somalia’s Islamist group Al-Shabaab, the insurgents continue to remain a potent threat to the national security as well as the neighboring East African countries.

GAROWE ONLINE