Somali leader urged to form all-inclusive government

By PPS

President Kibaki has urged newly elected Somalia President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed to reach out to all groups and include them in his government.

Kibaki said peace and security would be achieved when leaders and citizens put aside personal differences. The President assured Somalia that Kenya would continue supporting peace efforts and called for operationalisation of the Joint Commission of Co-operation between the two countries launched in March last year.

President Kibaki with Somalia leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed at Harambee House, Nairobi, Monday. [PHOTO: PPS]

Kibaki spoke yesterday at a meeting with the Somali President, who paid him a courtesy call at his Harambee House office.

He congratulated President Ahmed on his election by Parliament.

The Somali leader briefed Kibaki on the recent political developments in Somalia including the formation of government and his road map to stabilising Somalia.

Road map to peace

"We will speak to those who want peace in our country," said the Somali leader.

President Ahmed was accompanied by his ministers Mohammed Abdullahi Omaar (Foreign Affairs), Shariff Hassan Aden (Finance), Omar Hashi Aden (National Security), Mohammed Abdi Gandi (Defence), Abdullah Boos (Water and Mineral Resources) and Abdirizak Jurille (Post and Telecommunication).

Ahmed was elected President in January following the resignation of President Abdullahi Yusuf.

Present were ministers Moses Wetang’ula, George Saitoti and Yusuf Haji and Foreign Affairs PS Thuita Mwangi.