New Delhi:
Hassan Ali Kheyre on Thursday was named the prime minister of Somalia by country’s new President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. Kheyre, former aid worker and oil executive is a political new-comer, and holds dual citizenship of Norway and Somalia.
After his nomination, Kheyre promised to “tirelessly work with the president and try to form a government that represents the public”. The 49-year-old has been a regional director of the Norwegian Refugee Council charity and a director of controversial British oil company Soma Oil and Gas.
Britain‘s Serious Fraud Office in December closed an investigation into Soma over bribery allegations after finding “insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction”.
Kheyre is a close associate of former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and a member of the Hawiye clan, meaning his nomination maintains the traditional clan balance alongside Farmajo who is a Darod.
