Hassan Ali Kheyre named as new Somalia prime minister

Mogadishu: Hassan Ali Kheyre, a former aid worker and oil executive, was named prime minister of Somalia on Thursday by the country`s new President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.

Mohamed, popularly known as Farmajo, made the announcement on Twitter.

After his nomination Kheyre — also spelt Khaire — promised to “tirelessly work with the president and try to form a government that represents the public”.

Tensions between Somali presidents and their prime ministers in recent years have frequently stymied government business and undermined political progress in the fragile Horn of Africa nation, so the relationship between the two men will be crucial.

Kheyre is a political newcomer and, like Farmajo, is from the diaspora, holding dual Norwegian and Somali citizenship.

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.

The appointment must now be approved by parliament.

Pakistan’s original request included the sale of 1,000 AGM-114 R Hellfire II missiles as well.

Pakistan will also receive four Russian-made Mi-35M attack helicopters in 2017.

The US media noted that the Mi-35M was the export version of the Mi-24 gunship and was particularly suited for operations in mountainous terrain.

Pakistan Army Aviation could acquire up to 20 Mi-35Ms in the years ahead.

Islamabad is also considering the Turkish Aerospace Industries T-129 attack helicopter or the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group Z-10 helicopter gunship as an alternative to the Mi-35M.

The new gunships would slowly phase out Pakistan Army Aviation’s obsolete fleet of US-made AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters, the media reported.

Pakistan signed another USD 35 million deal with a US firm, Navistar Defence, for manufacturing 40 mine-resistant ambush-protected MaxxPro Dash DXM vehicles.

The contract, awarded under US foreign military sales arrangement, includes manufacturing of various support items, logistics and technical support services.

At least eight persons were killed and 20 others injured today in a powerful explosion that ripped through a building in a defence locality in Lahore.

On February 16, a suicide bomber killed 88 people at a famed Sufi shrine in Sindh province. Following the attack, the army launched an offensive against militants and claimed to have killed more than 130 terrorists across the country.