Somali President Sworn In

 

By Cathy Majtenyi
 
Six heads of state, dozens of dignitaries from almost all continents, and Somalis from every walk of life were on hand to witness the swearing-in of Somalia's new president.

On a raised platform in the middle of Nairobi's Kasarani Sports Stadium, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed pledged on the Koran to govern Somalia according to the constitution that was produced after two years of peace talks.

A 21-gun salute¹ followed, then a military band played Somalia's national anthem².

There was a feeling of euphoria in the stadium, as Somalis celebrated³ what they said was a new chapter in their country. Dancers, singers, and poets expressed the excitement many in the stands felt.

Spectator Amina Mohamed Mursal told VOA she is optimistic about the future.

"Today, I am very, very happy because it is a big day today," she said. "I want to go back my country. Now I am live [living in the] UK. I do not want to go back again [to the] U.K."

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki called the inauguration⁴ "a moment of great joy and victory" for Somalia's people.

He said Somalis have paid a heavy price for the country's 13-year civil war.

"More than 500,000 people have reportedly lost their lives, 500,000," he noted⁵. "Another two million have been displaced, with 1.5 million living as refugees outside Somalia. About 90 percent of all school buildings have been destroyed, and only about 17 percent of children are enrolled⁶ in schools. At the same time, 70 percent of the people of Somalia live below the poverty line."

President Kibaki urged Somalia's new president to practice what he called "self-sacrifice, accommodation, and commitment" to Somalia's people. He urged those who lost the election to work for the good of the country.

Mr. Yusuf, a professional soldier and a member of the Darood clan⁷, was declared Somalia's new president late Sunday after winning 189 votes to 79 over his nearest rival, former diplomat⁸ and minister Abdullahi Ahmed Adow.

The inauguration is the culmination⁹ of a two-year peace process conducted in Kenya during which 23 factional leaders, civil society representatives, traditional elders, and others came together to write a new charter for the country and pick a new government.

Somalia fell into anarchy¹⁰ after dictator Siad Barre was ousted¹¹ in 1991. Since then, groups based on clan and sub-clan affiliations¹² have controlled different parts of the country through the strength of their militias¹³, with no central government to provide law, order, and resources to the people.

Somalia's new government is expected to return to Somalia over the next couple of months.

Cathy Majtenyi for VOA News, Nairobi.

注释：
dignitary 显要人物
Somalis 索马里人
Nairobi 内罗毕，肯尼亚首都
Koran（伊斯兰教）可兰经
salute 鸣礼炮
national anthem 国歌
euphoria 兴高采烈
spectator 观众
inauguration 就职典礼
commitment 承担责任
culmination 巅峰
anarchy 无政府状态
dictator 独裁者
affiliation 从属关系

 

1 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

2 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

3 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

4 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 enrolled   

adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起

参考例句：

• They have been studying hard from the moment they enrolled. 从入学时起，他们就一直努力学习。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He enrolled with an employment agency for a teaching position. 他在职业介绍所登了记以谋求一个教师的职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 clan   

n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派

参考例句：

• She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
• The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。

8 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

9 culmination   

n.顶点；最高潮

参考例句：

• The space race reached its culmination in the first moon walk.太空竞争以第一次在月球行走而达到顶峰。
• It may truly be regarded as the culmination of classical Greek geometry.这确实可以看成是古典希腊几何的登峰造级之作。

10 anarchy   

n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• There would be anarchy if we had no police.要是没有警察，社会就会无法无天。
• The country was thrown into a state of anarchy.这国家那时一下子陷入无政府状态。

11 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

12 affiliations   

n.联系( affiliation的名词复数 )；附属机构；亲和性；接纳

参考例句：

• She had affiliations of her own in every capital. 她原以为自己在欧洲各国首府都有熟人。 来自辞典例句
• The society has many affiliations throughout the country. 这个社团在全国有很多关系。 来自辞典例句

13 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网