Somalia’s cabinet has approved an Ebola preparedness plan and established a six-ministry committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Haji Abdi amid growing regional concerns over the disease.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Somalia's cabinet has approved a national preparedness plan to prevent the spread of Ebola into the country, establishing a six-ministry committee as regional concerns grow over the deadly disease.
The decision was announced after the Council of Ministers held its weekly meeting on Thursday, chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, during which officials reviewed reports on security, health, elections, trade and other national priorities.
The Ministry of Health and Social Care presented a report on the Ebola situation and measures needed to prevent the disease from reaching Somalia. Following the briefing, the cabinet approved a resolution outlining preparations for a potential outbreak.
The committee will be chaired by Second Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Haji Abdi and include representatives from the ministries of health, security, foreign affairs, transport, information and livestock.
The government did not provide further details on specific measures to be implemented under the preparedness plan or the resources allocated to the committee.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people. Preparedness measures typically include disease surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention, public awareness and coordination between health authorities and border agencies.
The cabinet also reviewed reports on recent one-person, one-vote elections held in the federal member states of Galmudug and Hirshabelle.
The Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation briefed ministers on the polls, which the government described as successfully completed. The cabinet praised public participation in the elections, saying the process formed part of wider efforts to implement Somalia's constitution.
The elections are part of the federal government's push towards a more direct electoral system, although the country's political landscape remains shaped by debates over constitutional reforms and electoral arrangements.
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Ministers also received a report on the benefits Somalia has gained since joining the East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc promoting economic integration and cooperation among member states.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, membership has helped Somali students access university education at established regional fee rates and allowed Somali tourists to benefit from reduced charges in some destinations.
The ministry said Somali businesspeople and professionals had also gained greater opportunities to work in the region without facing certain restrictions imposed on foreign nationals. Membership had further eased procedures related to residency, travel and healthcare, it added.
For the first time, Somalia has also been allocated a quota for permanent staff positions within the regional organisation, according to the ministry's report.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry briefed the cabinet on Somalia's accession process to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which it said had been underway for about a decade and was approaching its final stages.
Somalia is completing outstanding requirements, including setting tariffs on imported goods and establishing the necessary administrative institutions, the ministry said.
Prime Minister Barre urged ministers to accelerate priority government programmes and strengthen cooperation between state institutions to ensure the delivery of planned services to the Somali public.
The cabinet also approved the appointment of a nine-member board for the National Fisheries Company, following a proposal from the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy.
The decisions reflect the government's efforts to strengthen public health preparedness, advance electoral reforms and expand Somalia's participation in regional and international economic institutions.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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