AU congratulates Somalia on appointment of new Prime Minister

FILE: Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, AU commission chairman

ADDIS ABABA - The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat on Thursday congratulated Somalia on the appointment of a new Prime Minister.

In a press statement, Mahamat said he has sent his congratulations to Hamza Abdi Barre on his appointment as the twenty-first Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

“The Chairperson reaffirms the AU’s firm support to the new Prime Minister under the government led by Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in fulfilling the pressing needs of Somalia and its people for peace, stability, and development,” the AU statement said.

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday appointed Hamza Abdi Barre as the country’s new prime minister to replace Mohamed Roble who has been in office since September 2020.

Barre is a member of the Lower House of Parliament and a member of the president’s political party.

Barre will now be tasked with the formation of a new Council of Ministers which has to be approved by Parliament.

However, Parliament will have to approve the appointment of Barre first before the new prime minister proceeds to name a cabinet.