Baidoa, Somalia, July 9 (Angola Press) – The Somali interim government has appointed Mohamoud Mohamed Aden (Barbaar) as new governor for the Bay Region in central Somalia as part of its reconciliation and peace-building efforts, UN officials said here Friday.
Aden`s appointment was a result of the joint Somali Transitional Federal Institutions/international community District-based Peace-building and Reconciliation Project, backed by a cross- section of the Somali community.
“This is really a milestone for us in this region, Aden said. “This is a process that consults the people on the kind of administration that they want and that they feel will best address their needs.”
He said the people of Somalia should know the people who they have selected to represent them in the Council to provide them with a sense of ownership of their local administration.
UN officials said the reconciliation and peace-building talks brought together various opinion leaders including traditional elders, the civil society, political and, religious groups, women, young people and intellectuals to work towards re- establishing representative local administrations.
Source: Angola Press, July 9, 2006
