Somalia: Huge challenges stare Farmajo

As Somalis awaits the inauguration of a new president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Wednesday February 22.

The first act of the new president has been the convening of a special meeting on the drought situation in Somalia.

President Mohammed Abdullahi was a prime minister from 2010 to 2014 during which he slashed the size of the cabinet and was credited with appointing technocrats.

“I personally promise to build a good government which deserves your confidence and that can compete with the world. I want to compete with the world in terms of development and progress and you have to work with the government in terms of security,” the incoming head of state Mohammed Abdullahi Mohammed said.

Rashid Abdi, a Horn of Africa project director for the International Crisis Group (ICG) based in Nairobi, says the new president has shown early commitment to tackling issues.

One of his main campaign promises is to halt corruption and ameliorate the situation of those affected by health problems and famine.

But I think clearly he has signaled more than any other leader his willingness and his intent to tackle the corruption problem. Whether he is going to do that in the next four years, no one can tell because this is a very entrenched culture. However, I think, again if there is someone who has the ability it must be this president,” said Rashid Abdi, project director for the International Crisis Group in the horn of Africa.

As al-shabaab is being pushed back, president Mohammed has sent emissaries to Nairobi and Addis Ababa to reassure his neighbours that they have a common objective to wipe out terrorism.