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President Farmaajo seeks Arab League support to fight drought

Storyline:National News
Somalia's newly-elected President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo addresses lawmakers after winning the vote at the airport in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, February 8, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
Somalia’s newly-elected President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo addresses lawmakers after winning the vote at the airport in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, February 8, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has called on the Arab League to support Somalia in alleviating the effects of the ongoing drought which the UN has warned is fast slipping into a famine.

During a meeting with envoys from the Arab League in Mogadishu Friday evening, the newly elected leader called on the bloc which Somalia is a member to marshal resources for millions of Somalis who are suffering from a severe drought.

In a five point request, President Farmaajo also implored upon the Arab League to support his country build a strong and strategic security infrastructure to ensure the stability of the country.

The president further asked the envoys to drum up support for his national reconciliation and dialogue agenda in the country while also seeking international investment in Somalia. Noting that Somalia was emerging from a difficult period which made it hard for foreign investment, the president called on the envoys to be Somalia’s ambassadors of goodwill in the world to spread a message of a stable Somalia.

The meeting was among a series of engagements the president has had since his election Wednesday night in a tightly contested race.