Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud appointed lawmaker Hamzi Abdi Barre as the country's new prime minister on Wednesday, as the Horn of Africa nation faces myriad challenges including a looming famine and terror attacks.
"I ask the parliament to approve him as soon as possible. I ask the prime minister to fulfill his work before him like tackling insecurity, drought, climate change and good relations with all countries," Mohamud said.
Last month Mohamud won the presidency for the second time, having previously served from 2012 to 2017, after a long-delayed election that took place against a backdrop of the worst drought in 40 years and a bloody Islamist insurgency.
"I thank god for making Somalia hold a fair election after a period of such uncertainty," said Barre, a lawmaker elected in December last year for the city of Kismayo, where he co-founded a university.
