Hamza Abdi picked as Somalia's PM by president Hassan Sheikh

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Almost a week after his inauguration as the 10th president of the federal republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud nominated Dr Hamza Abdi Barre as the next Prime Minister, ending speculations over who should hold the influential positions.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mohamud, who also served as president from 2012-to 17, summoned journalists to Villa Somalia, where he unveiled the new Prime Minister, whose sole responsibility will be to coordinate government functions.

Hamza Abdi, who hails from the Gedo region in Jubaland state, will be replacing Mohamed Hussein Roble, a technocrat who worked hard to conduct elections in the country, following political squabbles pitting opposition and the then-president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

Mr Barre was a lawmaker from Jubaland and comes from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's political party. He was the first member of the 11th House of the People elected in Kismayo, Jubaland in December 2021 during the parliamentary election in Somalia.

Earlier last night, Hassan Sheikh summoned Dr Hamza Barre to Villa Somalia just moments after the president held meetings with presidents of Jubaland and Puntland, who have been his main political pillars throughout his time in opposition.

Ahmed Madobe of Jubaland and Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland were regularly at loggerheads with Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo whom they often accused of sabotaging federalism. The two leaders worked around the clock to defeat Farmajo.

Hamza Abdi will now face the bicameral legislature for vetting before the official appointment as the Prime Minister. He's expected to sail through given the strong command of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as manifested in presidential elections where he floored Farmajo with 214 votes.

After his appointment, the new PM will form the government through the appointment of ministers, who will implement the agenda of the government. His predecessor Roble, assumed powers from Hassan Ali Khaire, who was kicked out of office in 2020 after falling out with Farmajo.

The new PM will be a bridge between the federal government and the Gedo region which was at the epicentre of wrangles between Farmajo and Ahmed Madobe. The federal government has for a long time tried to seize the Gedo region from Jubaland authorities.

Hassan Sheikh has already highlighted some of his key priorities, with standardization of security and revamping of the economy being the key agenda. He has also promised to avert the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa nation.

The Al-Shabaab menace is also one of the thorny issues in the country, given that the group has been termed as the most dangerous Al-Qaeda associate in East Africa. The Al-Shabaab controls huge swathes of rural central and southern Somalia.

Also of interest is the relationship between Hamza Abdi and Hassan Sheikh historically know each other as they worked together in education for years before jumping to politics. The new PM is a member of the UPD party founded by the president.

During the past governments, the Presidents and Prime Ministers of Somalia have often clashed midway. But Hassan Sheikh has already pledged to work closely with the Federal Member States.

GAROWE ONLINE