Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has announced major reforms to the federal civil service, with the first phase focusing on departmental directors and merit-based appointments.
Speaking at a press conference at his office on Thursday, the Prime Minister said the reforms are intended to strengthen the professionalism, efficiency and accountability of government institutions by ensuring that public positions are filled on the basis of merit, qualifications and experience.
Hamza directed all members of his cabinet and other government officials to fully implement a merit-based system for recruitment and appointments within the federal government.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, the directive is based on Article 161(1) of Somalia’s Federal Constitution, the Civil Service Law, and other regulations and decisions governing the federal civil service.
The Civil Service Commission has been instructed to begin the first phase of the reforms on September 20. The initial stage will focus on departmental directors, which the government described as a key component of the administration of public institutions.
The Prime Minister said departmental directors play an important role in institutional leadership, implementing government policies, executing development plans and ensuring continuity in the operations of government agencies.
Following the first phase, the government plans to review and restructure the positions of directors general across federal government institutions. The appointments will be based on qualifications, knowledge, professional experience, leadership abilities and performance.
The government says the reforms are aimed at establishing a professional and accountable administrative leadership capable of translating government policies into measurable results for the Somali people.
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Prime Minister Hamza also highlighted what he described as progress made by his administration over the past four years in strengthening the institutional and administrative capacity of the federal government.
He said the government had taken steps to improve the structure, management and quality of government institutions, with the broader objective of creating public institutions supported by a strong legal and administrative foundation and a civil service equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills.
“We have established the necessary legal and institutional pillars for reforming and developing the civil service,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the government had approved laws, policies, regulations and institutional frameworks intended to guide the management of government institutions and public employees.
Under the new directive, federal ministries and government agencies have also been instructed to implement their approved organizational structures.
Departmental director positions are expected to be filled through an open and competitive recruitment process. The government says qualified civil servants will be given equal opportunities to compete for the positions.
The directive further requires any vacant government position to be filled through an open, competitive process in accordance with the country’s laws and regulations.
The reforms come as the Somali federal government seeks to strengthen the capacity of its public institutions and establish a more structured civil service system. The implementation of the first phase, beginning September 20, is expected to provide an early test of the government’s plans to make merit-based recruitment and competitive appointments a standard practice across federal institutions.
About the Author
Bashir Guhad is a reporter at Somali Report covering politics, security, business, and trade across the Somali region.
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