BAIDOA (Halbeeg News)- The newly elected President of Southwest state of Somalia, Abdulaziz Hassan Mohamed Lafta- Gareen has officially taken office on Wednesday.
The speaker of the regional assembly and the acting President, Abdulkadir Shekhuna Maye, members of federal and regional lawmakers and other notable guests were present during the handover ceremony held in Baidoa, the interim state capital.
The speaker of the regional assembly, Abdikadir Sharif Shekhuna who has been holding the position of the presidency on an acting capacity since the former president of the state, Sharif Hassan stepped down on 7th November handed over the power to the president-elect.
He urged the president to focus on security, reconciliation and rebuilding of governance institutions. The regional state witnessed a series of protests during the presidential election period.
The former state minister for trade who was elected into office on 19th December has pledged to rebuild the state during his brief speech during the occasion.
President Lafta Gareen garnered a hundred and one votes out of hundred and forty-seven by unanimously winning in the first round of the election.
He promised to embark on reconciliation efforts following clashes that broke out after the arrest of Mukhtar Robow who was one of the presidential candidates.
Reopening of the roads and trading routes, and liberation of the areas under the control of al Shabaab group are the challenges he will be facing during his tenure.
He is also expected to appoint a competent cabinet that will take responsibility from the current one.
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