Congratulating Somalia’s New President, Secretary-General Urges Expeditious

Appointment of Accountable, Inclusive Government to Begin Peacebuilding

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General congratulates Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on his selection as President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, following the vote of the New Federal Parliament in Mogadishu yesterday.  The selection of the new President brings an end to the eight-year political transition.  The Secretary-General congratulates the New Federal Parliament and its Speaker for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the process.  He also pays tribute to all the signatories of the Roadmap for Ending the Transition for the important role they have played to bring the process to a successful conclusion.

The Secretary-General encourages the new President to move expeditiously to appoint an inclusive, accountable Government that can begin the work of peacebuilding in the country.  He urges Somali and international actors alike to pledge their continued support.

The Secretary-General looks forward to the upcoming high-level meeting on Somalia in the margins of the General Assembly, which will be an opportunity for Somalia’s new leadership to consolidate the partnership with the international community.

The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to thank his Special Representative, Augustine P. Mahiga, and the staff of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) as well as the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and other stakeholders for their tireless and dedicated work in support of the peace process in Somalia.

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For information media • not an official record