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INAUGURATION OF JUBBA INTERIM ADMINISTRATION

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• published: 20 Jan 2014
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STORY: Jubba Interim Administration Inauguration TRT: 02:43 SOURCE: AU/UN IST RESTRICTIONS: This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is not to be sold on and is restricted for other purposes. All enquiries to news@auunist.org CREDIT REQUIRED: AU/UN IST LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/FRENCH/SOMALI/NATS DATELINE: 20 JANUARY 2014, KISMAYO, SOMALIA STORY: Somalia today (20th January) took a step further towards institution of an all-inclusive federal system, with the inauguration of the Jubba Interim Administration Executive Council. The administration was recognized by the Somali Federal Government in August last year and the Executive Council launched today, is comprised of the President, his two Deputies and 10 ministers. The ceremony comes as a result of months of reconciliation efforts, championed by IGAD brokered talks held in Addis Ababa last year. A reconciliation conference was then held in Mogadishu in November last year, followed by a two day visit to Kismayo by the Somali President H.E Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, to strengthen the reconciliation drive. Speaking during the ceremony, the Head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, Nicholas Kay noted that today’s events are significant in the country’s history and pledged the support of the international community; “Today is a demonstration that you are not alone, the international community is here in impressive presence. From AU, IGAD, EU from all corners and the UN is here and we will stay here and we will help you to build a better future for you and for your children, I thank you,” he stated. The leader of the Jubba Interim Administration Ahmed Sheikh Mohamed Islam expressed his gratitude to AMISOM for helping restore the peace that has allowed for such processes to take root. He also challenged his administration to ensure that economic activity is revived, noting that poverty and unemployment create room for civil war and exploitation of the population by al Shabaab insurgents. “This is the moment to do something. The people of Jubbaland and the people of Somalia need us to do something. It is hunger that creates al Shabaab. Problems create enmity. Unemployment fuels clan conflict. A bad economy creates civil war. In order for us to overcome this, we must collectively depend on ourselves and on each other. We need to expend our resources and tap our potential and maximize what we can do for ourselves and the international community should support us with the resources we will require,” he appealed. The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Mission in Somalia (SRCC), Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif congratulated the new administration and the people of Somalia, upon this major achievement. “We are witnessing a historical event today, but above all, an event which symbolizes hope, the hope for peace and stability in Somalia. What has happened in Jubbaland is an example to follow for the other regions, in accordance to the Somali Federal constitution, but above all it allows them to reconcile. Puntland just gave us another positive example by organizing very good elections. We are hoping that the new administration can accelerate things. Their African brothers, AMISOM, will always support them and we promise that the year 2014 will be a crucial year in the fight against terrorism in Somalia,” he said. The ceremony was attended by senior officials from AMISOM, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, the European Union, IGAD, as well as representatives from Sweden, Ethiopia and Kenya. Also in attendance was a high level delegation from the Federal Republic of Somalia, Puntland and Members of Parliament, led by the deputy speaker Jaylani Nur Ikar. The inauguration of the Jubba Interim Administration Executive Council comes two weeks after Puntland elected its leadership, showing the positive steps taken by Somalia, to end clan conflict and establish an effective federal system. The Interim administration is still charged with establishing a regional assembly and is expected to hold polls in two years’ time to have an elected federal government in place. The interim administration consists of Gedo, Lower Juba and Middle Juba regions, with Kismayo, as its main city. Somalia is on the path to instituting an all-inclusive federal system, with support from African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the international community. END.