newsisndieThe Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia (AMISOM), Ambassador Nicolas Bwakira has congratulated the President of Somalia Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed following his election in Djibouti today. More on AMISOM Congratulates Somali President

Many Mogadishu residents see Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed’s election as Somali president Saturday as their best chance in a while of emerging from the grip of political instability and civil bloodshed. More on Mogadishu residents hopeful after Sheikh Sharif election

The United States Government congratulates Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on his election as president of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government.  President Sharif has been a strong proponent of the Djibouti Process and has worked diligently on reconciliation efforts in Somalia.  More on US Government Congratulates the new president of Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A moderate Islamic cleric was elected president of Somalia early Saturday morning by the Somali Parliament, which was meeting in Djibouti.

The cleric, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, headed the Islamic courts movement that governed the capital, Mogadishu, and most of southern Somalia until 2006. Some analysts had said they thought that Sheik Sharif had the best chance of all the candidates for president to unite Somalis, because of his Islamist roots and his acceptability to a variety of factions. More on Moderate Elected President in Somalia