Press Statement
PM boosts local government as first stage of national Listening Tour closes in Galgadud
Good government in Somalia will come from a strong partnership between local communities and the federal government, His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said today after signing a landmark agreement with Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa to cooperate on security and set up a local administration in Galgadud.
Both sides had their obligations to fulfill in such a partnership, the premier said.
“The government has a responsibility to deliver public services to the regions and we are expecting you in the regions to honour your side of the bargain, stand up acceptable local administrations and speed up the process of reconciliation,” the Prime Minister said. “We will stand shoulder to shoulder with you every step of the way.”
The Prime Minister led the visit with another series of public and private meetings as the first stage of his Listening Tour in Galgadud came to a close in Abudwak and then Adado. He negotiated a deal with the local community to establish a district administration and signed an agreement with Ahlu Sunna Waljamaa to work together on security.
The Prime Minister’s latest tour, in which he was accompanied by Minister of Interior, Abdikarim Hussein Guled, the Minister of Defence, Abdihakim Mohamud Haji Fiqi, and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jaylaani Nur Ikar, took in Guri’el, Dusamareb, Abudwak and Adado. The Prime Minister said his visits to the regions would continue.
“The Somali government is not confined only to Mogadishu. Now we are in the process of directly witnessing how the people in the regions are living and how they are managing. We want to listen to them, establish their priorities and work hard to meet them in cooperation with local administrations. And we are committed to continue travelling to the different regions of Somalia. There’s no turning back.”
ENDS
Ahmed Adan
Prime Minister’s Media Office
Mogadishu, Somalia
Email: media@opm.gov.so
Mobile: +252 (0) 616 440 028
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