representatives for the united nations, the european union and the united states government all welcomed jawari's appointment, urging the somali authorities to hold the scheduled presidential elections without delay. us ambassador to somalia james c. swan described the speakership ballot as an "historic election", with un special envoy to somalia augustine mahiga writing in a statement that "this is a moment of progress and optimism." similarly, alex rondos, the eu special representative for the horn of africa, called jawari's selection "another positive step forward."