Somalia's new PM Barre takes office
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Hamza Abdi Barre's arrival to premiership comes a month after the election of the new Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
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Somalia's newly appointed prime minister, Hamza Abdi Barre (Reuters)
Hamza Abdi Barre became Somalia's 21st prime minister Saturday after receiving unanimous approval from Lower House MPs, as per Somalia's Radio Dalsan.
On June 15, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud appointed lawmaker Hamza Abdi Barre as the new Prime Minister.
At the time, Somalia's President said: “I have based on my decision after assessing the knowledge, experience, capability of Hamza, and I came to the conclusion he is the right person who can discharge this new responsibility in this new Somalia at this new time.”
He ordered lawmakers to approve the new prime minister "as soon as possible," adding that he had asked Barre to advance the new government's key priorities most notably security, drought response, reconciliation, community development, and climate shock response.
Four consecutive failed rainy seasons, combined with high inflation, have left millions of Somalis facing food insecurity. Barre vowed to form a capable government capable of rescuing the country and its people.
“I pledge to you as president and to the Somali people that I will work day and night and will stand up in discharging by obligation,” he said.
Who is Hamza Barre?
Last December, Barre, 48, was elected to parliament for the first time. He was previously the chairman of the Jubaland regional electoral commission.
From 2011 to 2017, Barre was the secretary-general of Mohamud's Peace and Development Party. He is also a former senior adviser to the federal government and the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs.
He taught for many years in Mogadishu and Kismayo. He is a senior lecturer at Mogadishu University and a co-founder of Kismayo University.
Barre's appointment came exactly one month after Mohamud was elected president in a parliamentary vote, defeating Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.
