Somalia’s Politician of the Year 2022 is H.E. Mohamed Hussein Roble, the former prime minister of Somalia from September 23, 2020, to June 25, 2022.
Background
He was born in Hobyo in February 1968. He received a BSc in Civil Engineering from the Somali National University and later attended the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, where he completed an MA in environmental engineering and sustainable engineering. [5] Before his appointment as Prime Minister, he served as a member of the United Nations at the International Labour Organization in Nairobi, Kenya, as a technically advising environmental engineer. [6]
Political career
Appointment as Prime Minister
He was appointed to the post of prime minister by Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed in September 2020. In his initial address to parliament after taking office, he pledged to form a cabinet that would steer Somalia through the 2021 election transition. Roble reappointed Khadar Mohamed Gulaid as deputy prime minister, and he appointed 26 ministers to his cabinet, 15 of whom are from the previous cabinet. The new cabinet includes 17 state ministers and four women.
2020 Galkayo bombing
Main article: 2020 Galkayo bombing
On December 18, 2020, Roble was due to address a gathering at a stadium in Galkayo. Minutes before his arrival, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the stadium, killing seven civilians and three soldiers. Roble offered his deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims and called for unity among the Somali people in the struggle against terrorism to promote peace and development in the country.
2021 elections: Elections in Somalia
On May 1, 2021, Roble was given the mandate by the Federal Government of Somalia to oversee the election process according to the agreement reached on September 17, 2020 by the National Consultative Forum and the Baidoa Framework of February 16, 2021, as well as security arrangements for elections. [10]
Freedom of the Press
On World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2021, Roble congratulated Somali journalists, praising them for their sacrifice, resilience, and commitment. He also guaranteed journalists’ safety and access to information, particularly through the upcoming elections, encouraging them to approach their work with responsibility and professionalism.
On January 10, Somali leaders announced they had struck a deal to complete parliamentary elections by February 25, after repeated delays that have threatened the stability of the country. The agreement was reached after several days of talks hosted by Roble with state leaders aimed at ending an impasse over the polls.
After President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud began his second term on June 9, 2022, he appointed Hamza Abdi Barre to replace Roble as prime minister. Barre was approved in a vote by the House of the People on June 25, 2022.