By David Clarke
Saturday, January 31, 2009

DJIBOUTI, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Moderate Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed was sworn in after winning Somalia's president on Saturday and vowed to end conflict in the Horn of Africa nation, make peace with neighbours and rule with honesty and justice.

Analysts say Ahmed has a real chance of reuniting Somalis, given his Islamist roots, the backing of parliament and his acceptability to the West. But reconciling 10 million people and stopping 18 years of bloodshed remain a daunting task.

Ahmed headed the sharia courts movement that brought some stability to Mogadishu and most of south Somalia in 2006, despite being accused in the West of Islamist extremism, before Ethiopian troops invaded and drove it out.

"The conflict in Somalia will be resolved. We are urging our brothers in armed conflict to join us in peace-building," he told parliament. "We will govern the Somali people with honesty and justice, and give them back their rights."

His immediate task is to try to put together a unity government -- the 15th such attempt since Somalia descended into anarchy with the overthrow of the dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

His election was held in Djibouti due to the instability at home. But the legislators hope they have elected a man able to isolate or even possibly bring on board hardline insurgents, even if violence may spike in the short term.

Despite the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops this week, and the U.N.-brokered Djibouti peace process intended to reconcile the government and opposition, hardline Islamist insurgents led by al Shabaab have vowed to fight on.

Al Shabaab, which is on Washington's list of foreign terrorist groups, said just before the vote that it would start a new campaign of hit-and-run attacks on the government -- whoever came to power.

The group's spokesman, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Mansoor, urged jihadists to make ready in comments after prayers in Baidoa, the former seat of parliament that al Shabaab overran this week.

"Sheikh Sharif and the election in Djibouti is not something to be supported," Sheikh Hassan Yacqub, al Shabaab spokesman in the southern city of Kismayu, told Reuters on Saturday.

"MISINTERPRETATION OF ISLAM"

Ahmed said those fighting to impose a strict version of Islamic law throughout the country had misinterpreted the religion and he would try to correct that.

He also said his government would not tolerate any abuse of power or corruption and treat neighbours with respect.

U.N. envoy to Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, hailed Saturday's vote and called for a spirit of unity.

The Arab League also sent congratulations and urged "comprehensive Somali reconciliation."

Somalia expert John Prendergast, co-chairman of the U.S.-based advocacy group the Enough Project, cautioned that the election was just a "tiny step" towards peace.

"What lies ahead in a best-case scenario is a painfully slow political process," he said.

"The tent that Sheikh Sharif will preside over will have to be wide and deep, and consciously include genuine representatives of all clans, ideologies and regions ... (or) Somalia will continue to bleed."

In the past two years, more than 17,400 civilians and an unknown number of combatants have died during an Islamist-led insurgency against the government and its Ethiopian allies.

A third of the population relies on food aid.

Under Somalia's complicated clan system, Ahmed, a Hawiye, will now seek to appoint a Darod prime minister to ensure representation of the major groups.

Many Somalis doubted that Ahmed's election would bring peace, saying the armed threat from hardliners remained, and an election brokered abroad may lack legitimacy in the eyes of some.

"Sheikh Sharif will face a security challenge from al Shabaab. These chaotic Islamists will take no heed of his election. He will never tackle Somalia's crisis unless he is fully supported by the international community," said a Mogadishu local elder, Abdiqadir Farah. (Additional reporting by Abdi Sheikh and Abdi Guled in Mogadishu and Abdiaziz Hassan in Djibouti; Editing by Wangui Kanina and Kevin Liffey).

Source: Reuters, Jan 31, 2009

hymohamed @ 2/2/2009 6:13 AM EST  There are many who are blaming Shabaabka and other Somali groups who liberated the country.  The ball is on Shariif Axmed and co who need to choose between the Somalia's national interest and foreign interest.   If he and his company are going to be used the same way the last TFG was used, then he is going to face the brunt of the men and women who threw the Ethios out.  If he and co engage them islamically, then we have a good future.  If he continues the fight the Ethios could not succeed, then we are in a long war that will derail all Somali hopes.   So, put all of the pressure on him to talk genuinely to the people he use to lead, that is if you have any contact with him.

xamarweyne @ 2/1/2009 11:54 AM EST  Test. What happened to my previous writing.....

fiqicigaal @ 2/1/2009 8:20 AM EST  Mahare_Is_Here You are talking to the wrong man. I have always made it clear that i supported alshaabaab when they fought my enemy , your enemy , our enemy and they have done the unthinkable , they single handedly defeated the ethos , forced it to retreat to its landlocked enclave and alshabaab will always be remembered as the sole saviours of occupied Somalia in the year 2006-2008. Having said that, it is my understanding that Somalia needs to stand on its feet and that can only be done and acheived with unity and understanding, through dialogue and power sharing. That is exactly what i have been advocating for two years or so in this forum. But if fighting the enemy and  promoting our unity regardless of our differences will make me dabadhilif in your opinion, then so be it.

@ 2/1/2009 4:17 AM EST  I welcome the different views expressed here of course no body expects all Somalis to aggree on the election of the Sheikh as the Somali President.Sheikh Aweys and the rest in Islamic Courts found him ideal during their sting in Mogadisho and it seems those in Mogadisho and the international community must have discoverd the same leadership qualities in him. The bottom line is those who disagree with the present political process must learn to challenge it politically. The goverment is transitional and an opportunity will be given to all to present their agenda to the Somali people in two years time, so if one thimks he has something better to offer to the Somalis let him or her use the next two years to organize. I beleive Somalis irrespective of clan will not allow anyone to drag them to yet another war nor will the international community.Again everyone is free to support or oppose the new President but those who will try to use violence to impose achieve political end will be end up in the Hugue.

mohamedxx @ 2/1/2009 12:11 AM EST  few words ...Sheikh Sharif and Mr Obama have both were given Messed up Country nad i think Sheikh has easier job, So let us give a chance and see what he can do. Let us put behind our elder generation tought us (REER HEBEL IYO REER FULAN FULAN BAA KA FIICAN )