Somalia: Sharmarke takes office as third PM

MOGADISHU, Somalia Dec 26, 2014 (Garowe Online)-Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, the former Somali Ambassador to the United States has taken office for the second time as the third Prime Minister under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s incumbency in two years on Thursday, Garowe Online reports.

Sharmarke received the oath from his predecessor Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed with President Mohamud and acting cabinet ministers present.

Mohamed wished successor Sharmarke well, unveiling that the new Prime Minister would take advantage of the past experiences in governance.

Outgoing Prime Minister briefed the crowd at the ceremony on the achievements of his government and the challenges that have been facing war-torn country.

Meanwhile, Somalia’s incoming Prime Minister hailed the work being done by Mohamed as remarkable and pledged that he will be forming a new cabinet in the coming days.

Speaking at the event, President Mohamud commended Mohamed for tremendous job during his tenure of office.

On December 17, following a month-long political infighting and the subsequent ouster of Abdiweli in parliamentary no confidence vote, Somalia President named career diplomat to the premiership.

Who is Sharmarke?

Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke is a Somali-Canadian diplomat, from privileged background, and is the son of former President and Prime minister, Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke who was assassinated by his bodyguard in Sool regional capital of Lasanod on October 15, 1969 during a visit to drought-stricken regions in northern Somalia.

Before taking on a diplomatic post as Somalia ambassador to the United States in 2009, interim President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed cherry-picked Sharmarke for premiership.

Besides, He is the son of Ruqia, the daughter of renowned Islamic scholar Dahir Ali Boss. Sharmarke graduated with BA in Economics from Somali National University (SNU), and subsequently studied at Carleton University in Ottawa, earning BA in Political science and MA in Political Economics.

On September 21, 2010, Somali envoy to the US left his top political job after bitter stand-off came into being between him and President Ahmed.

In July 2014, President Mohamud named him Somalia’s first ambassador to the United States in 20 years.

In contrast to his predecessors, he will not be a novice in Somali politics.

GAROWE ONLINE