Somalia: Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud invested in front of important political figures

Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud during his investiture, Wednesday June 8, 2022. AFP - HASSAN ALI ELMI

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1 min

The 10th president of modern Somalia was officially sworn in on Wednesday June 9, during a ceremony under tight security in Mogadishu.

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Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud

, who has already presided over the country in 2012 and 2017, wanted to be a unifier and reconciler on the occasion of his investiture.

Especially since important political figures from the region had made the trip to the Somali capital.

Three distinguished guests —

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta

, Djibouti's Head of State Ismaïl Omar Guelleh and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed — were treated, like the others, to the red carpet and fanfare upon their arrival in Mogadishu .

They also took part in a private meeting with the new Somali Chief Executive and his predecessor Mohamed Farmajo.

Relations between Somalia and its three neighbors have not always been easy in recent years, particularly with Kenya.

And for Abiy Ahmed, the departure of his close ally Farmajo was not good news.

This is why photography was symbolically important.

The Heads of State then all joined, under the huge hangar decked out in blue and white, the twenty foreign dignitaries invited for the official enthronement.

Among others, the Egyptian Prime Minister and the Emirati Foreign Minister were present.

The two even gave a short friendship speech.

During his speech, the new Somali president presented in detail his project for the next five years, and warned of the drama of the drought in the country.

Then, all smiles, he surrounded himself with his two predecessors and raised their arms in sign of victory and, which obviously was the watchword of the day, of national reconciliation.

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  • Somalia

  • Hassan Sheikh Mohamud