Wednesday June 17, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Fisheries authorities from four Somali federal member states have pulled out of talks on the National Fisheries Stock Assessment Strategy (NFSAS), saying the federal government failed to carry out proper consultation with the main stakeholders.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the directors general of the fisheries ministries in Hirshabelle, South West, Jubaland and Galmudug said they were suspending participation in the strategy process over concerns about consultation, participation and the pace of implementation.
The statement was signed by Hirshabelle Fisheries Director General Amin Muktar Ahmed, Southwest Fisheries Director General Salmo Mahmoud Ali, Jubaland Fisheries Director General Mahmoud Abdi Ahmed and Galmudug Fisheries Director General Hassan Abdullahi Omar.
The officials said they support efforts aimed at strengthening the governance and management of Somalia’s fisheries, including the development of the National Fisheries Stock Assessment Strategy.
Even so, they argued that the draft had not been shaped through full and meaningful consultation with the federal member states, which they described as both central implementers of the strategy and legitimate stakeholders in the country’s fisheries management.
According to the directors general, they asked during a validation meeting that the session be postponed so additional consultation could take place and new agenda items reflecting the recommendations of the federal member states could be added.
They said that request was turned down, and the meeting moved ahead, leading them to walk out.
“Therefore, we would like to clarify that our withdrawal from the meeting is not a rejection of the strategy itself, but rather concerns about the process and level of consultation that went into its preparation and rapid implementation,” the statement said.
The officials cautioned that proceeding without proper involvement from the member states could undermine the distribution and management of Somalia’s fisheries resources.
They said they remained willing to cooperate and called for a joint process bringing together the federal government, federal member states and other relevant stakeholders to produce a comprehensive national document.
The disagreement underscores the persistent strain between Somalia’s federal government and member states over control of natural resources, the balance of authority in governance and the role of consultation in shaping national policy.
