Nairobi, Kenya
The Kenyan government this week presided over the inauguration of a transitional president for Somalia, which has had no central government for more than a decade. Former warlord Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, 67, was elected by a new parliament whose members were appointed by Somalia’s clans. The milestone comes after two years of peace talks overseen by Kenya, which has been trying to help its war-wracked neighbor find some stability. After the fall of Mohamed Siad Barre, in 1991, warlords divided Somalia into separate, largely lawless fiefdoms. Since then, nearly 2 million people have been left homeless. The capital, Mogadishu, is a ravaged wasteland with almost no infrastructure, so the new president will set up temporary headquarters in the nearby city of Baidoa.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claimsSpeed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
-
'Another day of chaos in DC'Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
-
6 scenic white water rafting destinations to get your heart racingThe Week Recommends Have a rip-roaring time on the water
