New Ogaden President Omer approves a 27 member cabinet

Ethiopian Somali regional president Mustafa Mohumed. He has approved a 27-member cabinet. (Courtesy)

NAIROBI—The Ethiopian Somali regional state parliament has approved a 27-member cabinet.

Ahmed Shide, Chairperson of the Ethiopian Somali Democratic Party (ESDP), told journalist that the appointment took into consideration their educational background and work experiences.

“In order to bring better development in the region, about 96 percent of members of the new cabinet are master’s and doctoral degrees holders,” said Shide.

“Members of the new cabinet are drawn from all clans in the regional state and they will work to sustain the relative peace existed in the region,” he added.

The Somalia region of Ethiopia, last week welcomed  its new president after Mustafa Mohumed Omer was sworn into office in the capital, Jijiga.

Mr. Omer will head the region in acting capacity until the next party congress elections in May 2020.

During his oath taking ceremony at the parliament house, Omer pledged to protect and uphold rights of the people, deal with the humanitarian and security situation in the region.

The seat fell vacant following a break down of relations between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and  former president Abdi Omar Iley. This followed a standoff that led to the Ethiopian national army taking over the security of the Somali region.

Iley was a dictator who on several occasions was accused of violating the basic human rights.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, when asked about the fate of the ex-president, he said: “He will be brought to justice.”

The former Ogaden president was taken to custody after the regional parliament lifted his immunity.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) which had earlier protested the nomination of Omer finally decided to support him.

“ONLF decided to fully support the new Somali Regional president, Mr Mustafa Omer. However, it wishes to express its grave concern to the Federal Government of the process of interfering in the Internal Affairs of the Somali people.”