MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s lower house of parliament on Monday overwhelmingly approved a national tobacco control framework, a landmark move aimed at curbing tobacco use and tackling what lawmakers and health officials describe as a growing public health threat. The House of the People backed the measure with 139 votes in favor, three abstentions and none against, signaling rare cross-party consensus on the need to rein in tobacco consumption and marketing across the country.
Speaker Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur, widely known as Madobe, called the legislation critical to protecting families and easing pressure on a fragile health system. “This law is important for the safety and health of the Somali community,” he said, noting that tobacco-related illnesses are placing an increasing burden on households and care providers. “It directly targets the harm caused by tobacco use.”
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Health Minister Dr. Ali Haji Aden hailed the vote as a historic step that will “greatly contribute to the safety and health of the Somali community,” adding: “It is a courageous step to protect present and future generations.” He said the framework covers a range of tobacco products, including shisha, which he described as widespread and particularly dangerous for young people.
Public health officials say tobacco use has climbed in recent years, especially among urban youth, as shisha cafés and smokeless tobacco products have proliferated with limited oversight. Doctors warn the trend brings heightened risks of heart disease, cancer and respiratory illnesses in a country where access to screening and treatment remains uneven.
Lawmakers cast the framework as a cornerstone of broader efforts to prevent noncommunicable diseases and to modernize public health policy after decades of conflict disrupted services and regulatory capacity. While the full text was not immediately released, officials said the measure is designed to establish clear, enforceable rules that bring tobacco use more tightly under public health control.
According to parliamentary leaders and health officials, the framework intends to:
- Set clear rules on tobacco consumption in public spaces to reduce secondhand smoke exposure.
- Restrict advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products, including shisha.
- Limit access to tobacco for minors and strengthen sales and point-of-purchase controls.
- Cover a broad spectrum of products, from cigarettes and shisha to smokeless tobacco.
- Support national strategies to prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases.
The vote underscores a rare moment of unified national purpose. With no votes against and only three abstentions, lawmakers framed the decision as a public health imperative rather than a political contest, reflecting a wider shift toward preventive health measures and a recognition of the economic and social toll of tobacco-related disease.
Implementation details, including enforcement mechanisms, penalties and timelines for compliance, were not immediately provided. Health officials said those elements will be critical to the framework’s impact, given the rapid growth of shisha establishments and the presence of informal sellers who operate outside traditional retail settings.
The approval follows recent parliamentary action on health-related legislation, signaling sustained attention to public health as Somalia rebuilds institutions and regulatory systems. Advocates say the test now shifts from passage to practice: public awareness, coordination with local authorities and sustained enforcement will determine whether the framework curbs tobacco use and shields young people from initiation.
In the near term, public health campaigns are expected to accompany the roll-out, aiming to explain new rules to businesses and consumers. Officials also emphasized the need for community engagement to ensure widespread compliance and to reduce the social normalization of tobacco and shisha use, particularly among adolescents.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
