PM Khaire fills vacant posts, appoints Hassan Mohamed to defense

Prime Minister Hassan Khaire Thursday filled all the vacant posts in his cabinet some of which have remained without substantive ministers for about seven months.

Hassan Ali Mohamed was appointed defense minister replacing Ambassador Mohamed Mursal who successfully contested last month to be Lower House speaker.

The PM who strongly backed Mursal rewarded Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed aka Lafta Green with Energy and Water portfolio. Lafta Green came third in the speaker elections but withdrew from the race as the contest proceeded to the second round.

The Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management  Ministry which had been vacant since then minister Dr. Maryan Qasim quit November 15 last year will now be headed by Hamza Sai’d Hamza who is currently an MP from Baidoa.

Former ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dahir Gelle will be in charge of Information docket left by current Mogadishu mayor Abdirahman Yarisow while Hassan Moalim Hussein takes charge at the Religious and Endowment ministry.

Others are Abdifitah Mohamed Ibrahim (Public Works and Housing) and Dahir Abdi Abdullahi (State Minister for Trade).

The PM also filled vacancies at deputy ministerial levels appointing Isaaq Mohamed Mohamed to Interior, Aden Isaaq Ali (Information), Abdirahman Idris Yunis who was hitherto deputy minister information (Posts and Telecommunication). Others are Mohamed Sai’d Abdullahi (Health) and Abdirashid Mohamud Hassan (Humanitarian Affairs).