MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia’s newly elected president on Thursday appointed the country director of British firm Soma Oil and Gas as the new prime minister, raising questions about possible conflicts of interest in the Horn of Africa country.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, known as “Farmajo”, named Hassan Ali Khaire as prime minister, state radio website Radio Muqdisho.net said.
“The president has requested Somali citizens to work with the prime minister,” the statement on Radio Muqdisho.net said.
Mohamed took office peacefully this month after legislators selected him from 21 possible candidates. A dual U.S.-Somali citizen with a reputation as a technocrat, he has promised to tackle hunger, corruption and violence in Somalia, which has been mired in civil war for a quarter of a century.
Khaire, his new prime minister, is a dual Norwegian citizen who once worked as a primary school teacher in Norway and also for the Norwegian Refugee Council before joining Soma Oil and Gas.
In 2015, U.N. sanctions experts accused the company of paying Somalia’s oil ministry nearly $600,000 to protect an 2013 energy exploration contract.
The accusation triggered an investigation by Britain’s Serious Fraud Office, but last December authorities concluded there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.
Khaire’s current status with Soma Oil was unclear on Thursday and the company did not return calls seeking comment. Continued…
