Ambassador Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke favourite to be next Somali PM

Current Somali Ambassador to Washington ,Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, was appointed the prime minister of Somalia on February 13, 2009.

Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, current Somali Ambassador to United States and the former holder of the premiership, appears to be the top choice to replace outgoing Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed.

If confirmed, Ambassador Sharmarke will succeed Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, who was removed from office on December 6, 2014 after losing a confidence vote in parliament.

Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, chosen to be prime minister by President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed as part of a Western-backed unity government, held the post from 2009 to 2010, and resigned due to irreconcilable differences with President Sharif Ahmed.

On July 14, 2014, Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke became Somalia's first ambassador to the United States in more than 20 years.

Official confirmation is due to be announced at the Villa Somalia in the coming hours.