By Ahmed Mohamed
BAIDOA, Somalia (Reuters) - Somalia's new prime minister named an "all-inclusive" cabinet on Sunday and called for talks with opponents to end an Islamist-led insurgency that a rights group said had killed nearly 6,000 civilians this year.
The Elman Peace and Human Rights Organisation said it had verified 5,930 deaths, 7,980 people wounded, and 717,784 displaced from homes in Mogadishu, during a year that saw the toppling of an Islamist movement, then an insurgency.
In some of his first public comments on the conflict, Somalia's new prime minister, Nur Hassan Hussein, said he was open to talks with an Eritrean-based opposition alliance.
"We are ready to speak with the Asmara group as long as they are ready to discuss with us," Hussein told Kenya's NTV news. "We are not naming anyone from the opposition leaders, but we are ready for positive advice and criticism."
Somalia's interim government, formed in neighbouring Kenya in 2004 and due to hold elections in 2009, is under pressure from international backers to reach out to the opposition.
Hussein's appointment at the end of November to replace sacked predecessor Ali Mohamed Gedi was viewed by many as an opportunity for reconciliation in a nation wracked by conflict since warlords overthrew a dictator in 1991.
In the NTV interview, Hussein said he would take advantage of new legislation allowing ministers to be chosen from outside parliament to allow "an all-inclusive government."
Later on Sunday, his new 31-minister cabinet was unveiled in Baidoa, the seat of the Somali parliament.
NEW FACES
It included at least two ministers from outside parliament -- Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Hamud and Information Minister Abdirahman Ali Hussein.
Thirty-one deputy ministers were named, at least one, deputy planning minister Jamilo Saeed Muse, was also from outside parliament.
It was not immediately clear what clans the new ministers belonged to in a formula intended to ensure fair representation from all major clans.
At the ceremony, President Abdullahi Yusuf urged parliament to endorse the new cabinet in two days' time. "I also ask the international community to help us reach 2009 when there will be an election in this country," he said.
Hussein said he hoped stabilisation in Somalia would pave the way for the exit of the government's Ethiopian military backers, who are resented by many Somalis. "As the situation improves, the need for Ethiopian troops will decrease."
After forming his cabinet, Hussein said priorities would be establishing security, helping resolve the humanitarian crisis -- with 1 million internally displaced refugees, according to
the United Nations -- and promoting reconciliation.
"We will try to get the confidence of our people," he said in the interview.
A career public servant and lawyer who worked as a senior police officer and attorney general, Hussein won wide praise for his work heading the Somali Red Crescent Society since 1991.
His interim government is the 14th attempt to establish an effective central authority in Somalia since 1991.
Elman rights group's head, Sudani Ali Ahmed, said he was in hiding and planned to leave Somalia due to pressure over his organisation's reports on the violence.
"The government is looking for me because of my work. Some intelligence officers told me that if I don't shut up they will shut me up," he said by telephone.
Somali and Ethiopian officials have in the past disputed the Elman group's figures and accused it of being close to the Islamist side. But many outside analysts believe the group's figures are probably close to the mark. Ahmed said he has 106 people helping him collect and verify information.
(Additional reporting by Abdi Sheikh in Nairobi and Aweys Yusuf in Mogadishu; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)
SOURCE: Reuters, December 2, 2007
Some of you will never be contended, therefore Nur cadde should be sidelined because of his age and that should be his crime. kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
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Many people including me were thinking that the new man may change something for the better. Now that hope evaporated when he named the same people, who were accused of inept,corruption, incompetence etc. Today several cabinet ministers resigned and the whole facade is falling apart before it even started. Nur cadde disappointed many people and from now on he will be seen as a useless servant of Ethiopia. We will see if he is man enough to say no to illegal oil exploration by clan adminstration. All the natural resources of the country must be managed by the "federal state".
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WHY? people are always negative you do not live or even visited somalia last few years.
just pray and hope the gov't stands it is two feet. so you can all come back.
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Shabeel, lopsided quote!
The New Prime Minister has appointed new ministers and made significant changes
into cabinet. Please familiarize yourself with the list of names appointed and remmeber his cabinet waits the approval of the Parliament.
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Well said brother Shabeel waxaad tahay qof aad u fiiro dheer commentgaadaa sheeko ku dhantahay
mar hadii waali ina soo gashay waa dhab in wasiirka kaneecada iyo iyo iyo
la abuuro. laakiin awalba laguma rajo fiicnayn.waa quus xaalkeen
u.Albert Einstein must have had hard time repeating the same exp
eriment over and over again to come up with this quote.
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" Albert Einstien once said - Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results - ".
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Perhaps warlord Shatigadud is not happy to reclaim his former post, or may be he is upset that Foreign Affairs went Ali Hamud, a well-respected statesman? All the 4’s got 7 each, .5 got 3. Even though I would have liked Jerer Weyn to receive an important post.
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What D&M are complaining, giving up Ministerial posts like that. Shaati Gaduud oo ah Wasiirka Amniga, maxuu ka calaalcalaya iyo sad bursiga uu ka hadlo, Waxaan la yaabay quursiga uu ka hadlaayo, walee dadkii waa waasheen oo dhuuni ayay wada noqdeen oo wax deeqsin kara ma jiro. D&M aad ayaa loo siisay qaybta miisaankooda kaga aadan dowlada iyo barlaamankaba. Laakiin haddi aadadn helin booskaad rabtid maaha inaad lug goysid qoloda aad booska ugu fadhido, waxaan rajeynaya odeyaasha iyo waxgaradka D&M inay wada tashi la yeeshaan Nur cadde sidi boosaskaas loo buuxin lahaa. Haddii aysan rabina ha la siiyo beelaha quursiga runta ah lagu hayo, markii si run ah loo hadlo.
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I don't think it is is fake problem when it comes to Malaria, FYI this particular issue it comes under Ministry of health which PHD holder Drs.Qamar is responsible. LOL!! You can't blame somebody becasue of his age, that is lame excuse that the Anarchists have used when they couldn't say anything wrong with Nur Cadde, what a cheap shots, the same goes those who always talk about the Presidents's liver transplant or former PM being trained Veterinarian, that is not an issue. You complain about the eliterate Warlords's and fully trained officials. What the hell you want??.
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I think he is going to add more "fake cabinet portfolios" to silence the "clan oppositions"
I have a suggestion for the old-man:
Make another 30 ministerial positions such as:
wasiirka kaneecadda.
Wasiirka dhilmaanyadda.
Wasiirka Sansiyeeriga.
Wasiirka Malaariyadda
Wasiirka Kaloorakiinka.
Wasiirka Buufiska
Wasiirka Barxadaha
Wasiirka dhagaxda
Wasiirka bacaadka
Wasiirka badda
Wasiirka hirarka
Wasiirka jamaladda
Wasiirka Malaayga
Wasiirka maqaalinta
iyo weliba wasiirka Hoobaal iyo geel-laq
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ciyoontiiba 5 wasiir aa is casishay, beelo-ku-sheegyo badanna waa mucaaradeen.
Waa tii cali geedi oo la soo celiyay iyo Yeey aa waxaan soo abaabulay aa lala is dhexmaraa
Duqaan gaboowga ah ee Nuur Cadde waa laga inkaarsaday, sharaftiisii horena waxaa u maleeysaa in laba beri eey ku baaba'eeyso.
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You could be nostalgic about, once upon a time our strong nation. The fall of our state can't be blamed for two men or so, there are others who should equaly pertake the blame. Beside our downfall didn't start December 2006, but it had started long before, if we are not being myopic in regard to our real problems. Whether you completely blame outsiders/some individuals or you do not put some responsibilty on the shoulders of all the stakeholders who took part of that destruction, is entirely up to you.
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I am very surprised that this new Prime Minster again named so many ministerial positions. He would be smart if he named only 15 or less technocrat ministerial positions while MPs stick to legislating & law making. I don't think this new Prime Minister and Yusuf really understand what it means Transitional Governments. God help us…
After seventeen years of civil war & no functioning national government, we know what Somali people need a nationalistic & patriotic technocrat government that will re-build our beloved country, end the occupation from our long time enemy & bring back the respect of the Somali nation. Bring justice to those leaders who betrayed our people, sold our nation's sovereignty and humiliated the dignity of Somali people.
I don’t think Somali people will never forgive Yusuf, Gedi & those who supported them for bringing the Ethiopians into our beloved country. These two men destroyed symbol of our nation & what our forefathers like Axmed Guray & Maxamed Cabdulle Xassan, SYL and Freedom Fighters between the Two Rivers fought long, bloody battles for so many centuries.
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I am very surprised that this new Prime Minster again named so many ministerial positions. He would be smart if he named only 15 or less technocrat ministerial positions while MPs stick to legislating & law making. I don't think this new Prime Minister and Yusuf really understand what it means Transitional Governments. Good help us…
After seventeen years of civil war & no functioning national government, we know what Somali people need a nationalistic & patriotic technocrat government that will re-build our beloved country, end the occupation from our long time enemy & bring back the respect of the Somali nation. Bring justice to those leaders who betrayed our people, sold our nation's sovereignty and humiliated the dignity of Somali people.
I don’t think Somali people will never forgive Yusuf, Gedi & those who supported them for bringing the Ethiopians into our beloved country. These two men destroyed symbol of our nation & what our forefathers like Axmed Guray & Maxamed Cabdulle Xassan, SYL and Freedom Fighters between the Two Rivers fought long, bloody battles for so many centuries.
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Only three were selected from outside, not bad. I hope all the best this new Gov't and they have heavy tasks ahead of them. Many that appear in this new cabinet are educated, even though their past experience is very important. I see more ladies, eventhough is far from the women's quota. Next elections women should be getting more seats in parliament and Gov't posts.
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Sheekadaan iguma socoto aniga. Waxaa igu socoto tikree maanta gudaha loogu galay oo xeryihii kacarareen. Kuwaan tuugadaan baydhabo haku sii dhuuntaan marka tikree wadanka laga buriyo waxaan arkeenaa iyagoo tikree sii hor ordaayaan.
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I’m surprised that many of our compatriots believe that we can nominate decent Somalis onto high post-positions and still be able to maintain the fragility of clan-dominated politics that is very much volatile. Knowing what has transpired in Somalia, we are far from obtaining leaders that will equal Aden Abdulle. For such a leader to step up will require an entire nation to change its perception of representative government and change course. Warlords will be around for few more years.
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What a letdown! Different face but same formula: inflated cabinet with ineffectiveness, dominated by the Embagathi Mafia.
Where are the technocrats? This is Yeey's dictates and the new PM , with this first move is just proving to many what people were saying:
Ninaad ushaada ka qaadan karto aa loo dhiibtaa!
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Our new Prime Minster has set his Cabinet are the Somalis happy or should we kick him out with his election if this is bad deal for our beautiful flag Somalis say it before your hunt ends nowhere. I going to say to the helpers (UN) go away from Somali land. Somali grounds and the waters belong to Somalis. We love your help world helpers but Somalia is not for sale.
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