A New Start In Somalia

Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf has resigned as President of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government. In his address to Parliament, Yusuf emphasized his continued support for the political process, but conceded that he had been unable to improve security and stability during his 4-year tenure. Yusuf’s resignation marks the end of a more than 30-year political career. But in closing one chapter of Somalia’s history, it also can be seen as the opening of another. The challenges facing Somalia -- continued attacks from violent extremists, a humanitarian crisis affecting much of the population, and pirate bands raiding cargo ships off the nation’s coast -- are daunting ones, and were only further complicated by the recurrent disputes and power-sharing struggles among the Somali leadership. The United States acknowledges Mr. Yusuf’s efforts to seek greater stability for his country and respects his decision to resign. His commitment to continue supporting the Djibouti peace process is another of his important contributions. more..http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2009-01-06-voa1.cfm