Appointment of Somali Prime Minister should spur reconciliation – Ban Ki-moon

The appointment of a Colonel Nur Hassan Hussein as Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia should spur efforts to promote reconciliation in the country, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban applauded the concerted efforts of members of the Transitional Federal Institutions that led to appointment and voiced hope that it would “increase the momentum among Somalis to unite their efforts and complete the implementation of the key tasks of the Transitional Federal Charter.”

“This will be an important step towards making reconciliation and reconstruction a reality,” the spokesperson said. Somalia, which has lacked a functioning government since 1991, has been wracked by violence in recent months which has displaced a total of 1 million people.

Mr. Ban welcomed Mr. Nur Hussein’s background and experience in humanitarian operations in Somalia and “thus his unique understanding of the challenges confronting his country.”

He pledged the UN’s continued assistance in promoting “an inclusive political process and reconciliation in Somalia.”

Approved by a 2004 National Reconciliation Conference, the Transitional Federal Charter envisages an all-inclusive political process in Somalia producing broad-based and representative institutions and calls for the drafting of a new constitution to be adopted by popular referendum.