Saturday June 11, 2022
Somalia's newly elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was
inaugurated Thursday as the country's tenth leader amid tight security in
Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The ceremony was graced by leaders from Ethiopia, Egypt,
Djibouti, and Kenya, as well as representatives from more than 20 countries.
In his speech, Mohamud promised to stabilize Somalia which
has been facing terror threats and spearhead efforts to bring peace and
cohesion to the country.
The 66-year-old Mohamud, who was elected on May 15, pledged
to deal vigorously with corruption, tackle the severe drought which is ravaging
the country, and reduce poverty across the country. He appealed to the
international community to help Somalia overcome the current drought, the worst
in at least 40 years, that has forced more than half a million people to
abandon their homes in search of food and water in the last four months.
The president also said his government will promote global
peace, remain neutral in global affairs, and cooperate with countries that do
not violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Somalia.
"Somalia is ready to have a relationship with any
country. However, the country must respect the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Somalia," he said.
Mohamud, who served as Somalia's president between 2012 and
2017, promised to prioritize reconciliation and strengthening of institutions
to give hope to the citizens.
The Somali leader said he would initiate appropriate reforms
to promote trade and economic cooperation, noting that Somalian people are
known for their entrepreneurial creativity.
"The Somalian people are known to be very good at
trade, having large businesses in many countries in Africa, the Middle East,
and the West that play a major role in the economic development of those
countries," he said.
Immediate former President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also
known as Farmajo, congratulated Mohamud on his inauguration and assured him of
his unwavering support as the new president embarks on his four-year term.
"We celebrate your success and commit to offering you
our strongest support to deliver your vision. We are truly proud of ourselves
for our longstanding tradition of democracy as this day signifies victory for
our nation," Farmajo said.
The African leaders present lauded the peaceful transfer of
power in Somalia and promised to further bilateral relations between their
countries and Somalia.