Somalia’s cabinet has approved a resolution to accelerate implementation of the revised constitution, giving officials two months to draft a law defining the number and responsibilities of government ministries.
MOGADISHU (Somali Report) — Somalia’s cabinet has approved a new resolution to accelerate the implementation of the country’s revised constitution, directing government institutions to align their operations with constitutional provisions and preparing legislation to define the number and responsibilities of ministries.
The decision was adopted during an extraordinary meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Tuesday evening, according to a two-page document issued by the prime minister’s office.
The resolution establishes a ministerial committee and a technical committee to coordinate the implementation process, as the government seeks to translate the revised constitution into administrative and legal changes.
The five-point resolution instructs state institutions to take the necessary steps to implement constitutional provisions that do not require additional legislation before they can be enforced.
The government said the move was intended to prevent delays and legal uncertainty by establishing a coordinated framework to guide public institutions in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.
The ministerial committee will oversee, coordinate and schedule implementation activities, while monitoring plans being carried out by government institutions.
It will be chaired by the minister of justice and constitutional affairs and include ministers responsible for interior, federal affairs and reconciliation, religious affairs, finance, education, information, culture and tourism.
A key provision requires the preparation of a draft law regulating the structure of the government within two months. The proposed legislation will specify the number of ministries and define their respective responsibilities.
The prime minister’s office described the proposed law as the first of its kind since 1968, saying it would establish a new legal framework for the organisation and functions of government ministries.
The resolution did not specify whether the number of ministries would be reduced or increased, leaving the issue to be addressed in the draft legislation.
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The justice and constitutional affairs ministry and other relevant institutions were also instructed to inform the public about the implementation process and measures taken to enforce the constitution.
Speaking at the meeting, Barre said the revised constitution had entered into force and was being implemented in stages to bring the country’s administrative system and government institutions into line with its provisions.
He also said the government was working towards holding federal elections based on a one-person, one-vote system next year.
The resolution comes amid a separate constitutional dispute over the separation of ministerial and parliamentary roles. October 14 marks the end of a six-month transition period established for implementing provisions requiring individuals serving as both ministers and lawmakers to choose between the two positions.
The Independent Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission said last week that cabinet members who also sit in parliament would be required to relinquish one of their positions when the transition period ended.
The cabinet’s latest resolution did not specifically address the measures to be taken against officials affected by the dual-office restrictions after October 14.
Somalia’s federal parliament approved the revised constitution on March 4, 2026, and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed it four days later, concluding a constitutional review process that had lasted more than a decade.
However, the changes remain a source of political tension between the federal government and opposition groups, including the regional administrations of Puntland and Jubbaland, which have objected to the process and changes affecting the terms of federal institutions.
The dispute has complicated efforts to build consensus on Somalia’s political transition and the arrangements for future elections.
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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