Somalia PM Hamza Abdi Barre announces Cabinet reshuffle

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre has reshuffled cabinet after several months, in what seems to be a move to fill some of the dockets that had remained vacant for a while after previous owners left for other greener pastures or otherwise interests.

Some of the dockets which will have new ministers include internal affairs, security, and foreign affairs. The changes were effected on Sunday and new holders are set to begin executing their duties immediately, the statement from the PM revealed.

Among those appointed for new assignment include Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, who becomes the new Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister. Previously, he was the minister in charge of the internal security and administration.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs now goes to Ali Yusuf Ali Hoosh, who is a member of the Lower House. Gen. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Faratag and Abdullahi Bidhan Warsame will assume responsibilities in Security and Energy respectively, the statement noted..

Also appointed was Mohamed Adan Moalim who is the new minister of Posts and Communications of the Federal Government, while Ahmed Omar Mohamed was appointed the Minister of State for Environment and Climate Change.

Last week, the council of ministers approved the appointment of Abdullahi Mohamed Ali alias Sanbalolshe as the new director of the National Intelligence Security Agency (NISA), a post he held a few years ago before leaving for other state assignments.

Somalia has been pushing for stability after years of internal fights and the Al-Shabaab menace which have threatened the state-building process. The changes also come just days after Parliament approved new constitutional changes which have since been signed into law.

The new changes would see reduced roles of the Prime Minister with the president now set to be in charge of appointments and sacking of senior public officials. The changes have been resisted by the Puntland State which decried of lack of consultations.

GAROWE ONLINE