The United States congratulated Hassan SheikhMohamud Tuesday on being elected Somalia's new president and said it was a "hopeful sign" for the troubled East African nation. "This presidential election was the final step in the road map to end the transition, which marks the end of the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia. It's also a hopeful sign of a new era of Somali governance," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nulandsaid. The White House late Monday called on Somali leaders to "usher in a new era of governance," strengthen democratic institutions, improve security and improve life for Somalis, as it noted the need for more work to be done.
