Somali lawmakers pass proposed Cabinet

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia's parliament has passed the proposed Cabinet of the country's new prime minister.

Parliament Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheik Aden read out the results Saturday, saying that 251 lawmakers voted for the Cabinet in a session held in the capital, Mogadishu. He says 92 voted against it.

Saturday's endorsement will offer Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, a Somali-American, an opportunity to focus on his programs as his government's term will end in August next year.

Earlier this month, Mohamed appointed an 18-member Cabinet drawn from technocrats living outside the country, down from the 39-member Cabinet of his predecessor.

The new Cabinet has been praised by the international community, but local politicians accused Mohamed of reducing some clans' influence and tapping strangers to Somali politics.