Int'l community lauds approval of Somali cabinet

The international community on Tuesday welcomed the approval of the new cabinet list by Somali lawmakers.

In a joint statement, the UN, African Union, EU, Britain, U.S. and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) reiterated their call for the president, prime minster, and parliament to move expeditiously toward the implementation of the remaining Vision 2016 objectives through the new cabinet approved by parliament.

"We call on Somalia's leaders and institutions to work together to accelerate delivery of the milestones of the government's Vision 2016 which, together with the New Deal Compact for Somalia, remains the guiding framework for our engagement,"said the statement.

The Horn of Africa nation's parliament on Monday approved a new list of 66-memnber cabinet submitted by the country's prime minister, paving way for the formation of a fully functional government.

Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke has in the last two months faced stiff resistance from parliament, forcing him to withdraw his cabinet two times over concerns that some of the nominated ministers were the president's allies.

Somalia had been without a functional government with the process of forming a new government riddled with power struggles since the ousting of the former PM Abdiweli in a no confidence vote by parliament in December 2014.

The international community said it was now important to preserve the unity and stability of the government in order to stay the course in implementing the Vision 2016 agenda. "We are also encouraged by the inclusion of female ministers. The participation of women, youth and minority groups and the commitment to work in an accountable way, will remain vital as we move forward," it said.

The statement also said this year is a critical year to ensure continued success on the road to sustained security and stability in Somalia and to improve the lives of ordinary Somalis. Endi