In the weeks following his presidential victory, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (HSM) has earned high public approval and praise from international partners, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He has wasted no time assembling his team, appointing former rivals Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame to special envoy roles focused on Somaliland talks and drought response, respectively. These strategic, non-controversial appointments reflect a calculated effort to unify political factions after a contentious election. HSM also named Hussein Sheikh Ali as National Security Advisor, a widely welcomed decision due to his security expertise. However, the appointment of Mahad Mohamed Salad as director of NISA sparked donor concern due to his lack of intelligence background—though he may serve as a political placeholder or be complemented by a skilled deputy. As speculation swirls around the choice of prime minister, attention turns to Puntland’s Sa’id Abdullahi Deni, whose support helped HSM win. Yet concerns about Deni’s strong-willed nature could complicate governance. These early decisions reflect HSM’s pragmatic leadership style within Somalia’s semi-presidential system. While some appointments are political, they suggest a deliberate effort to build stability, and many analysts advise giving HSM time before drawing conclusions.