Medeshi
Sheikh Sharif Ahmed elected president of Somalia
1/31/2009 Saturday, moderate Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed was elected Somalia's president by the members of the Somali parliament. The legislators elected the new president through a secret ballot, under a United Nations-brokered deal to establish a unity government between the transitional government and moderate Islamists. (Photo: Somali men celebrate the election of the new president)People celebrated in the streets immediately after the announcement, with shots being fired into the air, announcing a beginning of an end to Islamist militia control. Sheikh Sharif Ahmed is due to be sworn in as president later on Saturday
Sheikh Sharif Ahmed defeated Gen. Maslah Mohamed Siad Barre, the son of the former dictator, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Siad Barre, in the second round of voting. The other strong frontrunners for the presidency, Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein also withdrew from the balloting following the first round, after winning only 59 votes in the initial round. Islamist al-Shabab militia says it will not recognise the new government.
Forty-four year old Sheikh Sharif Ahmed was the leader of Somalia's ousted Islamic Courts Union which briefly controlled much of Somalia in 2006. Last year, he signed a peace agreement with the government. However, hardliners Islamists did not accept that peace deal, and insurgents continue to fight for more territory across the country. The Islamist al-Shabab militia said it will not recognize the new government.
The election followed the resignation of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed last month after four years in office. He had been widely accused by the prime minister and parliament for Somalia's deepening crisis. Somalia has been functioning without a central government since 1991, when General Siad Barre was removed from power and the army fell into the hands of clan militias, who turned on one another and left the country largely in anarchy.
The northern regions of Somaliland and Puntland have broken away to govern themselves. Most of Somalia is controlled by various Islamist militias, although some of the moderate Islamist groups support the government.
Sheik Sharif Ahmed has his task cut out as the new president with the burden of reconciling Somalia's 10 million people and to put an end to 18 years of bloodshed. Somalia's government controls only parts of the capital, Mogadishu, with the help of several thousand African Union troops.
Sheikh Sharif Ahmed elected president of Somalia
1/31/2009 Saturday, moderate Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed was elected Somalia's president by the members of the Somali parliament. The legislators elected the new president through a secret ballot, under a United Nations-brokered deal to establish a unity government between the transitional government and moderate Islamists. (Photo: Somali men celebrate the election of the new president)People celebrated in the streets immediately after the announcement, with shots being fired into the air, announcing a beginning of an end to Islamist militia control. Sheikh Sharif Ahmed is due to be sworn in as president later on Saturday
Sheikh Sharif Ahmed defeated Gen. Maslah Mohamed Siad Barre, the son of the former dictator, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Siad Barre, in the second round of voting. The other strong frontrunners for the presidency, Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein also withdrew from the balloting following the first round, after winning only 59 votes in the initial round. Islamist al-Shabab militia says it will not recognise the new government.
Forty-four year old Sheikh Sharif Ahmed was the leader of Somalia's ousted Islamic Courts Union which briefly controlled much of Somalia in 2006. Last year, he signed a peace agreement with the government. However, hardliners Islamists did not accept that peace deal, and insurgents continue to fight for more territory across the country. The Islamist al-Shabab militia said it will not recognize the new government.
The election followed the resignation of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed last month after four years in office. He had been widely accused by the prime minister and parliament for Somalia's deepening crisis. Somalia has been functioning without a central government since 1991, when General Siad Barre was removed from power and the army fell into the hands of clan militias, who turned on one another and left the country largely in anarchy.
The northern regions of Somaliland and Puntland have broken away to govern themselves. Most of Somalia is controlled by various Islamist militias, although some of the moderate Islamist groups support the government.
Sheik Sharif Ahmed has his task cut out as the new president with the burden of reconciling Somalia's 10 million people and to put an end to 18 years of bloodshed. Somalia's government controls only parts of the capital, Mogadishu, with the help of several thousand African Union troops.
