The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has welcomed the announcement of the nomination of a new Federal cabinet by the Prime Minister of Somalia, Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, on 27 January 2014. “This announcement is an important step towards the establishment of a new cabinet,” Special Representative Kay said in statement released by his office.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, left-President-of-the-Somali-RepublicSecretary-General-Ban-Ki-moon-meets-with-
President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud with UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon

Somalia has, for over a two decades, been rocked with violence from civil war and terrorism which led to the collapse of state institutions. But the failed state is gradually regaining some shape with the forming of a Federal Government in 2012, the first permanent central government in the country since the start of the civil war. The nation has concurrently experienced a period of intense reconstruction, particularly in the capital, Mogadishu.

Kay said once the cabinet is approved by the Federal Parliament, the Federal Government will need to address urgently Somalia’s state and peacebuilding goals. “Much remains to be done to complete Somalia’s Vision 2016,” he said. “The Federal Parliament has an important and urgent role to play in passing key legislation and establishing the remaining independent commissions foreseen in the provisional constitution, particularly the National Independent Electoral Commission.”

Kay also urged for a spirit of compromise and reconciliation among the differing factions in the country. Two days before the UN Rep’s call, a leader of Somalia’s Islamic extremist group, al-Shabab, announced Tuesday that he has quit the insurgency and renounced violence perpetrated by the al Qaida-linked group. Zakariya Ismail Hersi, who was al-Shabab’s intelligence chief, called for reconciliation while speaking to the media for the first time since his surrender to Somali authorities in late December.

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