Somalia’s Prime Minister Resigns, Citing Political Tensions

MOGADISHU, Somalia (Reuters) — Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke of Somalia resigned on Tuesday, paying the price for the government’s failure to beat back an Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands of civilians.

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Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke of Somalia resigned on Tuesday.

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• Times Topic: Somalia

Politicians who support President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed said that Mr. Sharmarke’s departure would end the internal divisions that have plagued the Transitional Federal Government and slowed government business to a crawl.
The president, who said he welcomed Mr. Sharmarke’s decision to step down, appointed the deputy prime minister Abdi Wahid Goonjeeh as an interim prime minister. He said he would nominate a new prime minister soon, although it was not clear who might be candidates for the post.
Thousands of African Union peacekeeping troops have been sent to support the interim government, but hard-line Islamic militants now control much of Mogadishu, the capital, and large parts of the southern and central regions. Read More