President Ahmed Mahmoud SilanyoBy: Yusuf M Hasan

HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – Formerly vacant Director General Positions in four key ministries have been filled.

A press statement released by the presidency informed that, in exercising his presidential powers of appointed H.E Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo has named four Director General's and fired a director who was subsequently replaced.

The press statement read:

In a presidential decree # JSL/M/XERM/249-1158/062012, the president of Somaliland H.E Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo has appointed Director Generals to the following ministries Foreign affairs, Religious endowment, Information, Finance and Interior.

Those appointed are:

1. Mr. Feisal Ali Sheikh – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2 Mr. Ahmed Omar Faahiye – Ministry of Interior

3 Mr. Abdirashid Abdilahi Mohamed –ministry of Religion and Endowment.

4 Mr. Suleiman Jama Diriye – Ministry of Finance

5 Mr. Abdirashid Jibril Yonis – Ministry of Information

Another change made was in the office of Food coordination that deals mostly with the World Food Program-WFP where the incumbent was fired to be replaced by Mr. Mohamed Dahir Ahmed.

The president also appointed Mr. Ismail Hasan Mohamed as deputy regional governor for Sanaag region.

The president asked the officers to effect assumption of office immediately for the smooth running of public affairs.

The new DG of foreign affairs Mr. Feisal Ali Sheikh has been transferred from the ministry of information where he has been ensconced since the new government came to power two years ago. He replaces Mr. Raage M Farah who resigned earlier this year in protest against purported graft at the ministry

Appoint of Mr. Ahmed Omar Faahiye to the Interior docket became necessary after the holder Abdilahi Hussein Egged "Blacky" resigned to fill the parliamentary seat that become vacant after Abdiaziz Samale was appointed Finance minister.

Mr. Abdirashid Abdilahi Mohamed takes over at the ministry of Religion and Endowment which has been devoid of a DG after its former holder Ibrahim Ismail Mohamed absconded to Puntland in October 2011 with a land cruiser vehicle he had hired in Hargeisa. He is reported to have recanted his allegiance to Somaliland.

Appointment of Mr. Suleiman Jama Diriye – Ministry of Finance was occasioned by the recent resignation of Finance Mr. Jama Ahmed who is said to have resigned either due to differences with minister Samale or as a prelude to being appointed Sultan by his clan.