Addressing the country’s Federal Parliament on Sunday, President Omar Abdirashid Ali laid out the roadmap for his government and the achievements reached during their first 100 days in office.
Mr Sharmarke said that his government is focusing on ways to restore security and eradicate terrorism from the whole country.
‘’Security is the top priority of the government….. Our enemies [al-Shabaab] have intensified their campaign of brutal violence in the last three months and doubled their massacre on the Somali people,’’ he said in his speech, revealing that the government is training special forces to fight against terrorism and bring back stability to the war-ravaged nation.
Though al-Shabaab was pushed out of key towns in South and Central Somalia, the group has been able to hit high-profile targets in Mogadishu’s heavily fortified areas, including the national courts, the UN compound, the Turkish embassy, and popular gathering places.
Since last year, al-Shabaab seems to have increased attacks on soft targets – shopping malls, hotels, tourist sites, bus stops, railway stations, and restaurants as well as religious venues and schools – both in Somalia and Kenya.
On the issue of formation Federal states, the Prime Minister stressed that the on-going process of establishing a new state in the Central region – which is on its last stages – indicates how the government is determined to implement Federalism.
He also said that the Ministry of Constitution is working on the amendment of the Provisional Constitution ahead of the national elections expected to be held in next year.
Prime Minister Sharmarke called for the Parliament to approve the newly controversial appointment of Electoral, boundaries and judicial service commissions. He did not comment on the statement from the regional administration of Puntland on the appointment of the nominations -accusing the Federal government breaching the constitution.
The three-month old cabinet faces many formidable challenges. One of them is the implementation of 2016 vision which one of its objectives states a national election should be held across the country. But prospects of success are overshadowed due to the period of time left.
