Somalia gets first female foreign minister
The president of Somalia Sheikh Sharif Ahmed waves to hundreds of Mogadishu residents at a ceremony north of the capital on August 6, 2012. Somalian MPs elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the next president on September 10, 2012.
Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adam is to be Somalia's first female foreign minister in a cabinet formed by new Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon.
"After long discussions and consultations, I have named my cabinet which consists of only 10 members. Among them is a female foreign affairs minister for the first time in Somali history," the prime minister said, according to Agence France-Presse.
Adam is among 10 politicians joining Somalia's new cabinet, which has been significantly reduced in size, reported BBC News. She described her new post as "historic" for both her country and Somali women in particular.
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"My nomination as the foreign minister is historic for the Somali country and particularly for the women of Somalia, it turns a new page for the political situation of our country and will lead to success and prosperity," said Adam, who comes from the self-declared independent state of Somaliland and lived in Britain for a long time, noted AFP.
Shirdon is an ex-businessman who took office last month after his nomination from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was approved by members of parliament, BBC also reported. Mohamud's election in September was considered the first fair vote in Mogadishu in the past 42 years.
The prime minister also appointed a female public services development minister, Maryan Qasim, according to the Associated Press. She previously served as women's minister.
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