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Somalia PM appoints two new ministers in cabinet reshuffle

Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Bare. (Photo: OPM)

By Hassan Mohamed | Tuesday, January 30, 2024

The PM appointed Mohamed Abdi Hayir Mareeye, who returns as Agriculture Minister having served as Information Minister in the previous administration.

Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Bare on Monday reshuffled his cabinet for the second time appointing two new ministers to key ministerial portfolios.

In a short statement shared on social media and read by his Spokesperson Farhan Jimale, Prime Minister Hamza appointed Mohamed Abdi Hayir Mareeye, who returns as Minister having served as Information Minister in the previous administration.

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He was appointed as the new Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation replacing Ahmed Madoobe Nuunow.

Abdisalaan Abdi Ali was also appointed the new Minister of Public Works and Housing replacing Ismail Sheikh Bashir. No explanations were given for the mini cabinet reshuffle except the Spokesperson said the changes were done after the Prime Minister saw the need to make the changes to better service delivery.

“The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia Hamza Abdi Bare this morning appointed new ministers into the Somalia cabinet,” Somalia Government Spokesperson Farhan Jimale said in his announcement before going ahead to name the new Ministers appointed by the Prime Minister.

Vacant posts

Three other vacant cabinet positions are yet to be filled namely Foreign Affairs, Security and Women and Human Rights.

Two ministers had resigned for various reasons including former Foreign Affairs Minister Abshir Omar Jama “Haruse” who resigned in December to pursue the Puntland Presidency and former Internal Security Minister Mohamed Sheikh Dodishe resigned for personal reasons before being later appointed Somalia Ambassador to Qatar.

The third vacant position is that of the Women's Affairs and Human Rights which was held by Khadija Mohamed Diriye, who recently passed away.

“The Somalia Parliament recently passed a motion allowing parliament to change the provincial constitution. The opposition was against the move and some government officials are aligned to those perceived opposition leaders. I believe that was the main reason they were replaced,” Political analyst Ali Abdi Hassan told The Eastleigh Voice.

When parliament approved the procedures that need to be followed for making constitutional changes on January 24, the opposition cried foul saying the government has no powers to change the constitution.

They said the country is facing more pressing matters like Ethiopia’s aggression which calls for unity and yet the government chose to defy their calls.