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Somalia inaugurates elected president after 20 years of strife

September 16, 2012 · 3504812 Comments2012-09-16+19%3A48%3A05goth+Mohamed

inaguration ceremony for somalia president

MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia’s new president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office on Sunday, calling for an end to terrorism and piracy in a nation mired in conflict for more than two decades.
Mohamud’s inauguration, the first of its kind since the country slid into civil war after warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, follows a regionally-brokered, UN-backed effort to end fighting in which tens of thousands of people were killed and many more fled.
Mohamud is a relatively new face in Somali politics, but the one-time academic will have to encounter old problems: acrimonious clan politics, rampant corruption, maritime piracy and a stubborn insurgency by al Shabaab Islamist rebels.
“We want Somalia free from piracy, terrorism and asylum seekers abroad. We want to create a united community so that Somalis and the neighboring countries can live peacefully,” Mohamud said during his inauguration at a ceremony in a fortified hall in Mogadishu’s police training camp.
“Somalia has now turned a fresh page.”
Islamist suicide bombers attacked the hotel where Mohamud and the visiting Kenyan foreign minister were addressing a news conference on Wednesday. They were unhurt.
Mohamud’s inauguration ends a succession of United Nations-backed transitional governments since 2004.
He takes over from Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, who took over as head of a transitional government in 2009 but was defeated in this week’s vote among members of parliament to appoint a new leader.
“I urge all Somalis to work cordially with the Somali president, his government and the parliament,” the outgoing president said during the ceremony.
An African Union (AU) force comprising Ugandan, Djiboutian, Kenyan and Burundian soldiers is fighting al Shabaab in various parts of the country and is planning an onslaught on Kismayu, Somalia’s second biggest city, which is a base for the group linked to al Qaeda.
Weakened by internal divisions and financial constraints, al Shabaab still control swathes of southern and central Somalia, while pirates, regional administrations and local militias also vie for control of parts of the Horn of Africa country.
During the inauguration, AU and government forces blocked key city roads and the only planes allowed to land or take off were those carrying dignitaries attending the ceremony.
Among those in attendance were Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh, Ethiopia’s incoming Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, AU Chairman Jean Ping, UN Special Envoy for Somalia Augustine Mahiga and other officials from the AU, UN and Arab League.
“Meles Zenawi, our late great leader, always worked very hard to stabilise Somalia. I wish he were with us today to witness the fruits of his labour – stabilization and democracy,” Hailemariam said during the ceremony, his first international assignment after being approved to take up the post of prime minister on Saturday.
Source: Reauters

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By goth Mohamed

Tags: inaguration, new president, Somalia

Abdiwahab says:

I respect XSM for that he said that if somaliland and somalia was to unite then it would not be like in 1960 when it was rushed and unplanned. he stated that somaliland can not reunite through hatred and bitterness but through dialogue and mutual respect with a deal suitable for both sides to reunite. however somaliland will never reunite and no one in their right mind will challenge us so therefore recognition is inevitable despite what the naysayers spout out of their snouts oink oink lol

1:58 pm on September 16, 2012

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- amal says:
  
  loool deal suitable for both hmm that sounds nice lol
  
  3:11 pm on September 16, 2012
  
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Abdi2 says:

We welcome you Mr president. You have been entrusted to lead the people of Somalia in such difficult time. May Allah make it easier for you and guide you. You seem genuine and good leader. Good luck…Somaliland will support you all the way.

2:54 pm on September 16, 2012

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- amal says:
  
  He seems to be a good leader and quite decent compared with the previouse war lords and mischievouse. I hope he takes wise actions and lead his country out of violence. Somalis are hard to lead thou lol
  
  3:14 pm on September 16, 2012
  
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sahra says:

somali people have a big opportunity head of them to reshape their image for the first time in their nation history that requires all of us working together and letting go the animosity toward each other then we can take different direction the one we have been on so long. it will take quit effort and determination let hope we can make it god bless somalia.

3:03 pm on September 16, 2012

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ali ottawa says:

mashallah all somalis united from saylac to kismayo god bless djbouti president ismail ghella and somali president prof xasan sheik maxamud god bless somali unity long live somalia and djbouti

3:32 pm on September 16, 2012

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- hornid says:
  
  Ali i am sure ur are djiboutian from Issa clan which rule country since independence without real power sharing. So if u want ‘Somali unity’ show ur somalinimo love and come to join Somali Republic as it was supposed to be otherwise Somaliland withdraw from fake and unfinished union. I can’t stand Djiboutian speaking about Somali unity. Worst, walalwayn consider Ismael omar Guelleh as a hero he is abashi born and grow up in Dire Dawa. Shame.
  
  8:04 am on September 17, 2012
  
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- wanlaweyn says:
  
  many people dont understand why somalis in djibouti didnt unite with their brothers people like hornid included. france, afars and arabs rigid the referendum. djiboutians are the only clean somalis free of tribalism. i was so proud to isma umar gueleh singing soomaliyeey toosoo yesterday!!!!!!!!
  
  9:04 am on September 17, 2012
  
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  - hornid says:
    
    It is always funny how walalwayn try to justify now Djibouti , former french Somaliland,not part of Somali union becoz they are not only somali. Bull shit Ethiopa is full of abashi, Kenya full of Masai?. The fact is Djibouti is wide majority somali population, backed military and financially by Barre regime for their independence ,ruled always by Somali and for ur info, Djibouti is by far the worst tribal state comparing to Somaliland and Somalia as one clan get everything. Djibouti belong to Somaliweyn, pictorial by one side of star in blue flag. Please walanweyn revise Somali history. Somali djiboutian dont want to mess up with Somalia affairs that is sad reality as Somaliland now becoz nobody could not stop them if they really want to join their somali brother. They rather prefer to send troops in order to protect their’brothers’ lol,Shame again.
    
    3:05 pm on September 17, 2012
    
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mohamed cheers says:

So far so good. The new Somalia President inherited huge difficult crisis.
Inaddition to the roadmap signatories agendas, Somaliland remains one of his
daunting tasks to deal with and remains to be seen how different he could be
than all his predecessors since 1991 todate. The sooner the two entities
finalize their opposing and conflicting issues the better.
Cheers.

7:53 pm on September 16, 2012

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xariir says:

The new president is no different previous ones when it comes deal with s/land region nothing will change. s/land region will remain self autonomous region,also Puntland and probably jubbaland is coming soon.

10:05 pm on September 18, 2012

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Yahye Abdi says:

the we love Hassan Sh. Mohamud the new academician leader, we believe he can handle the work we assigned him and solve countries problems. good luck Mr President.

5:24 am on October 17, 2012

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