Somalia’s new PM promises to fight corruption

Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke on Friday promised that he will fight corruption, saying corruption is the main obstacles to development in Somalia.

“My government will establish accountability and transparency among government financial departments,” said Sharmarke via state media.

Sharmarke added that he will form a united government that consists of 25 cabinet members that lead the country to free and fair election in Somalia.

He noted that his priority will be to restore peace and stability of Somalia, adding that the Somali government will capture the remaining areas controlled by Somali rebel Al-shabaab soon.

He also emphasized that he will focus on political stability among government institution and reconciliations among federal regional administrations in the country.

Sharmarke took over office from his predecessor Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed in a ceremony on Thursday in Mogadishu.

The new PM was approved on Dec. 24 by the parliament, but he is still waiting to take his expected cabinet to the parliament for approval.

Although the parliament approved the PM, the members are highly divided over the expected cabinet, of which the pro-president members want the president’s allies to be in the list, while the supporters of former PM, about 80 lawmakers, want all the former cabinet members not to be in the new list.

Source: Global Post