The demos was organised by the local administration in the region. Participants chanted slogans meant to welcome Shirdon’s appointment as the new Somali PM.

Speaking at a rally in Luq, the area district commissioner Abdullahi Kuredow praised the procedure used to name the new PM, saying it was fair enough and urged the new Premier to work hard in leading the country out of the two decades old trouble and unite the Somali people.

He said the locals in the region will stand shoulder to shoulder with the new prime minister designate as he works for the interest of all Somalis.

His Beled-Hawo counterpart Mohamed Ahmed Bayhani was also quoted as saying that locals in the region expect a lot from Mr Shirdon including fair engagement of all people in the country regardless of their regions.