The African Union welcomed Friday the establishment of Somalia's transitional federal government by interim Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gheedi. The A.U. hailed the announcement "a crowning success" in a statement following the successful conclusion of the Somali National Reconciliation Conference. The Chairperson of the A.U. Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare, said the transitional government came as the organisation was trying to to help Somalia proceed with the transition. He stressed, "the unwavering commitment of the A.U. to assist the people and government of Somalia by all means possible to ensure the stabilization and the reconstruction of Somalia" and called upon the international community for their support. Gheedi announced 27 out of a total 31 ministers in his new cabinet Wednesday in Nairobi, Kenya. ---SP 2017 Local Time 1717 GMT
