The Somali parliament on Wednesday approved the appointment of new prime minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, who vowed to appoint an inclusive cabinet.
Sharmarke, who is current ambassador to the United States, replaces the last premier, Abdiwali Sheikh Ahmed, who was forced out by parliament members in a vote of no confidence after falling out with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in early December.
Parliament speaker said 218 out of the 224 members at the session voted in favor of Sharmarke, while six others abstained, and none opposed his nomination.
“My government will work with parliament and other institutions in order to move the country forward towards the realization of Vision 2016 and will focus on one political stability of the country,” said Sharmarke. “My government will improve security, health, education and reconstruction, and will soon name inclusive cabinet,” Sharmarke said after being sworn in.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who briefly spoke to the parliament, said he expects the new prime minister to form an effective government in order to realize peace and stability of whole Somalia and implementation of federalism.
Sharmarke, 54, was up to his appointment as Somali ambassador to the U.S. since July this year. Prior to that he was the prime minister of Somalia from 2009 to 2010.
