Somali Parliament Approves New Prime Minister Saturday Dec 21,2013

The Somali Parliament on Saturday Dec 21,2013 approved the appointment of the new prime minister, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed, who is expected to lead the government for the next three years.

The speaker of the Parliament, Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari, said that 239 of the 243 lawmakers present voted in favor of the appointment.

Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed assured lawmakers and the Somali people “that I will form a capable government to move this country forward and to a better future.”

The Somali president, Hassan Sheik Mohamud, nominated Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed, a Somali-Canadian, after lawmakers forced out the former prime minister in a no-confidence vote

The new Prime Minister, former economist at Islamic development bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and a newcomer to politics replaces Abdi Farah Shirdon who was impeached in parliamentary confidence vote earlier this month.