Somalia's president highlights 5 issues for accomplishment in 2023

President Hassan Sheikh waves to MPs as he arrives at parliament to preside over the opening of the 4th session on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Photo: Villa Somalia]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has highlighted five issues he believes should be accomplished by the end of 2023, adding that he will push for the fulfilment as part of his strategy to help the country recover on security and economic fronts.

For the last 12 months, Hassan Sheikh has put spirited effort into the restoration of peace and stability in Somalia, a country which has struggled for the last three decades. Somalia is battling economic downturn and terrorism.

At parliament on Saturday, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said he is optimistic that the United Nations Security Council will lift the decades-long arms embargo, which has made the fight against Al-Shabaab militants almost difficult despite help from the international community.

“We have five main points to be accomplished this year, two of them depend on us, on the Somalis and the remaining three depend on the international community,” President Mohamud said.

The two points that the Somali people need to accomplish are the offensives against the Al-Shabaab terrorists, which is on a great path and the completion of the constitution, state media reports.

“The elimination of the terrorist militants is progressing well and the constitution needs to be completed by the Somali people,” President Hassan said.

The third, which has already been achieved, he added, was joining the East Africa Community. The country became the 8th member on Friday, making Hassan Sheikh divert attention to the lifting of arms embargo and debt relief.

“I sat apart from the other seven presidents because it depended upon them for Somalia to be part of the EAC, they called to be on stage to join them and then our flag was put beside the other flags.

"Lifting the arms embargo and the debt relief are all in December. In the beginning of December, the arms embargo will be lifted and on the 13th of December the debt will be relieved,” President Hassan.

GAROWE ONLINE