Washington D.C Metropolitan Area Somali Community event for the Somali delegation led by President Sh. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed

Washington, DC Metro, USA, Thursday, October 01, 2009: Close to one thousand Somalis and friends of Somalis extended a warm welcome to the Somali delegation led by H. E. President Sh. Sharif Sh. Ahmed. The community event took place in the ballroom of The Waterford Ballroom in Springfield, VA.


H. E. President Sh. Sharif Sh. Ahmed spoke about his government’s commitment to give every stakeholder a seat at the table so that Somalia can achieve lasting peace, security, law & order and government that represent the will of the Somalis. The President and his delegation spoke about the prevailing situation in the homeland, his government’s commitment to reconcile their differences with the opposition groups, the success & challenges faced by his government, the constructive role that the Somali Diaspora can play in the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Somalia. The president extended open invitation to the Diaspora community to join in his efforts to bring lasting peace and rebuild Somalia.


The event speakers included the President, members of the delegation, and representatives from Washington D.C Metropolitan Area Somali Community. Community speakers included Abdihakim Fiqi, Abdullahi Mohamed Mire, Faduma Omar Hashi, and Sophia Mohamed Abdi. In addition to the President, delegation speakers included the Deputy Prime Minister, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan; Deputy Prime Minister, Abdiwahid Elmi; Foreign Minister, Ali Ahmed Jama; UN Somali Mission Representative, Dr. Elmi Ahmed Duale; Member of Parliament, Mrs. Faduma Abdullahi Insania; and Chief of Staff, Adikarim Jama. The event was facilitated by Dayib Sheikh and Mumin Barre.




Given the daunting challenges that the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia faces, the Somali Diaspora community in the Washington D.C Metropolitan area and elsewhere in the U.S are mobilizing in a unified manner that has not been seen in the recent history of the community to help the Transitional Federal Government fulfill its mandate. The Diaspora community is ready to contribute in anyway it can to have Somalia rise from the ashes, realize peace and stability in the whole country, and find its place in the community of nations. The community event’s participation of all walks of the community in the Washington DC area is a testament to the tremendous optimism within the Somali Diaspora communities that President Ahmed’s government is the best hope for Somalia.