Somalia: New Puntland president appoints leaner cabinet

GAROWE, Puntland - Puntland president, Said Abdullahi Deni has named a leaner cabinet as Somalia's northeastern oil-rich region attempts to establish its first one person, one vote election in 2023, after two decades of a clan-based elections, Garowe Online reports.

Deni on Sunday night announced the appointments of 18 cabinet ministers, downsizing the executive from the previous 20 in the government whose mandate ended last January. He said his government would restore security and rebuild the state's economy.

The president appointed one female minister, in his 18-member cabinet who will lead the ministry of women.

1 - Awil Sheikh Hashi: Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs
2 - Mohamed Abdirahman Dhabanad: Minister of Interior
3 - Abdisamad Mohamed Gallan: Minister of Security
4 - Hassan Shire Abgaal: Minister of Finance
5 - Abdiqaafar Elmi: Minister of Planning and International Relationship
6 - Abdullahi Mohamed Hassan: Minister of Education
7 - Jama Farah Hassan: Minister of Health
8 - Ahmed Bashir Muse: Minister of Public works
9 - Mohamed Abdi Osman: Minister of Ports
10 - Hussein Osman Gibiley: Minister of Public works and Airports
11 - Amina Hajji Osman: Minister of women
12 - Ali Hassan Ahmed: Minister of Information
13 - Said Osman Aden: Minister of Livestock
14 - Ismail Dirie Gamadid: Minister of Agriculture
15 - Abdullahi Abdi Hersi: Minister of Commerce
16 - Farah Mohamud Awash: Minister of Fisheries
17 - Jama Farah Muse: Minister of Labor, Youth, and sports
18 - Ahmed Mohamed Yusuf: Minister of Water and Energy

The cabinet which awaits final approval from Parliament expected to help the president pursue his multi-faceted reforms aimed at realizing the vision of turning Puntland into an economic stable before his 5-year term expires.

GAROWE ONLINE