Somali Cabinet Reviews Security, Approves Key Agreements and Laws in Special Session

Somalia Cabinet reviews security, lauds Mogadishu vote, approves Uganda, Saudi pacts

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Council of Ministers held an extraordinary meeting Monday to review the national security situation, assess recent operations against extremist groups and mark the completion of one-person, one-vote local council elections in the Banadir region, government officials said.

Chaired by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and attended by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, the session signaled the political weight the administration is placing on security consolidation, governance reforms and external relations amid rising regional tensions.

President Hassan Sheikh briefed ministers on the overall situation and praised the Cabinet’s “visible and effective” role in facilitating Mogadishu’s one-person, one-vote municipal elections on Dec. 25, 2025. He called the ballot a historic milestone for the capital after years of skepticism over whether such polling could be held there.

The president also condemned what he described as a “blatant assault” on Somalia’s sovereignty, saying the government had achieved tangible results through recent diplomatic steps. He urged ministers to maintain unity in defending territorial integrity and emphasized cohesion, consultation and collective responsibility as the government confronts layered challenges.

Israel’s decision to recognize North Western State of Somalia has drawn sharp reactions inside Somalia and across the region, with critics warning it violates international law and risks further destabilizing the Horn of Africa.

In a move to widen external partnerships, the Cabinet approved two memoranda of understanding: a security cooperation agreement with Uganda and a maritime transport cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia.

Ministers also endorsed a slate of draft laws and national policies aimed at strengthening governance, maritime capability and rights protections. The measures approved included:

• Evidence Bill
• Ratification of the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)
• Law establishing the Somali Maritime Institute
• Regulations tied to the Public Data Protection Law
• National Policy on Persons with Disabilities

The Cabinet received an update from Petroleum and Minerals Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed on preparations to begin oil production, a sector the government views as critical for future revenue and development. The briefing came as Turkey readies the Cagri Bey drilling vessel for deployment to Somali waters in February in what Ankara has described as its first deepwater energy exploration project abroad, according to Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar. He did not disclose details on potential reserves or investment scope.

Somalia’s National Disaster Management Agency, SODMA, briefed ministers on worsening drought conditions affecting parts of the country, underscoring a humanitarian backdrop to the government’s security and economic agenda.

Monday’s meeting followed weeks of intensified military operations against extremist groups, while the administration has sought to convert momentum from the Mogadishu municipal vote into broader governance gains. Officials framed the combined push — security, legal reforms, maritime capacity-building and energy exploration — as central to stabilizing the country and bolstering state authority.

The presidency reiterated that defending sovereignty and advancing reforms would require close coordination across ministries and with regional and international partners. No timeline was announced for when the newly approved bills and agreements will take full effect.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.