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East Africa's bloc calls on Somalia to hasten cabinet appointment

Xinhua, January 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

East Africa's bloc on Friday called on Somalia institutions to work together to rapidly conclude the cabinet appointment process and focus their attention on the country's stabilization and reconstruction.

The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said the Somali leadership must focus its energy on the critical security and state-building tasks ahead.

"The Somali leadership must act in the best interest of the Somali people. IGAD member states remain committed to supporting Somalia in its journey towards peace and stability," the regional bloc said in a statement received in Nairobi.

According to the IGAD, the recent regional conference by foreign ministers in Mogadishu called for political stability between now and 2016, and looked forward to the swift appointment of a cabinet capable of delivering the key political and security milestones envisaged in the government's Vision 2016.

"In order to avoid further delays and end the prolonged political crisis, it is critical that the President, Prime Minister, and Parliament leadership work together to ensure that a new Cabinet is in place before the end of the current Parliament session," the statement said.

"We look forward to this cabinet making swift progress on the state formation process, integration of forces, adoption of key outstanding legislation, establishment of key commissions and stabilization in recovered areas," it added.

Somalia Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke on Tuesday named a 20-member cabinet for the second time in two weeks following extensive consultation with the country's leadership.

The list, which will be taken to parliament for approval, has three female ministers and deputy and state ministers will be named soon. The new government has 30 days to request the parliament the vote of confidence.

The Somali government is tasked to deliver the country the planned vision of 2016, with the most important task ahead being holding national elections, referendum of draft constitution and formation federal states of the country. Endi