Somalia’s newly elected President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud pointed out that “there are fears of famine in some areas” and called on expatriates and the world to “play a role in saving our drought-stricken people.”

“These conditions are the result of cumulative problems such as climate change, the destruction of our economic resources, and the weakness of our government institutions, which is why my government will create an Environment Agency,” he explained during his inaugural address.

On the other hand, Mahmoud promised to turn Somalia into a “peaceful country living in harmony with the world” and to repair the damage caused by months of political infighting, whether at the executive level or between states and the center. He called for the promotion of “political stability through consultation, mutual support, and unity between the federal government and the states.”

Aid agencies have warned of a looming famine with increasing cases of acute malnutrition among children in this troubled Horn of Africa country, which is battling a record drought after four straight rainy seasons.

The drought crisis also affected Somalia’s neighbors Ethiopia and Kenya, whose presidents were among the foreign leaders who attended the inauguration ceremony, which was held under heavy security at Mogadishu airport.