Somali PM Archives - Kaab TV

Somali PM Calls for New Approach to Global Partners

Staff Reporter — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:58:55 +0000

Somali PM Hamza Abdi Barre has urged UN agencies, donors and international organizations to change how they operate in Somalia, saying the country should no longer be treated as a transitional state lacking functioning institutions.

Barre said Somalia has made significant progress in rebuilding its state institutions and developing a functioning legal and constitutional framework, and argued that international partners should adjust their policies and operations to reflect those changes.

The prime minister criticized what he described as outdated working practices in which some international organizations continue to manage important aspects of their Somalia operations from outside the country, particularly from neighboring Kenya.

“There are people working for us who still want to manage Somalia from Nairobi. That is the way they have become accustomed to working, but that is no longer possible. We want them to adapt to the new Somalia and where we are heading,” Barre said.

Government seeks to move beyond the transitional model

Barre linked his criticism to the Federal Government’s broader state-building agenda, particularly the National Transformation Plan (NTP), which the government has presented as a framework for moving Somalia away from the prolonged transitional and externally managed systems that characterized much of the country’s post-conflict recovery.

For years, Somalia’s international engagement has involved extensive reliance on UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, foreign donors and international implementing partners.

Many programs have also been coordinated from regional hubs outside Somalia, particularly Nairobi, because of security concerns and the limited capacity of Somali institutions.

The prime minister’s comments indicate that the government now wants international assistance to increasingly operate through Somali institutions and within Somalia rather than maintaining structures designed for an earlier stage of the country’s recovery.

Barre argued that the country’s development priorities should be increasingly determined and implemented through national institutions as Somalia seeks to strengthen its sovereignty, administrative capacity and ability to deliver public services.

A call for international partners to adapt

The prime minister urged UN agencies, donors and international organizations to recognize the changes taking place within Somalia and abandon approaches that were developed during periods when state institutions were significantly weaker.

He said international partners should not continue operating under the assumption that Somalia lacks the institutions, laws and systems necessary to manage national programs.

The call is particularly relevant to development and humanitarian operations, where international organizations continue to play a major role in providing assistance, financing projects and supporting government institutions.

Barre’s position appears to be that such assistance should increasingly strengthen Somalia’s own institutions rather than create parallel systems that remain dependent on international organizations.

Government officials also face pressure to change

The prime minister acknowledged that the transformation cannot be expected from international partners alone.

He said Somalia’s own ministers, government officials and technical experts must also adapt to the new system and take greater responsibility for managing national programs and institutions.

According to Barre, the change must begin within the government itself, with public officials expected to develop the skills and capacity required to operate modern state institutions and engage international partners on a more equal footing.

This approach reflects a broader argument within Somalia that state-building should eventually move from externally supported administration toward stronger national ownership.

Why Nairobi remains central to international operations

Nairobi has for decades served as a major regional base for international organizations working on Somalia.

During the years of conflict and weak central government, security concerns and limited infrastructure made it difficult for many international agencies to operate fully from Mogadishu and other parts of the country.

As Somalia’s security and government institutions have developed, however, successive administrations have pushed for greater international presence and decision-making inside the country.

Barre’s remarks therefore revive a longstanding debate over the extent to which international organizations should maintain regional offices outside Somalia while implementing programs inside the country.

The prime minister’s argument is that continuing to manage major operations from abroad risks reinforcing a model of international engagement that belongs to Somalia’s transitional period rather than its current state-building phase.

The wider significance

The government’s position also reflects Somalia’s broader effort to strengthen national ownership of development, security and institutional reforms.

Somalia continues to rely heavily on international financial and technical assistance, particularly in areas such as humanitarian relief, infrastructure, governance and security.

At the same time, the government wants to reduce long-term dependence on externally managed systems and increase the capacity of Somali institutions to plan, implement and monitor national programs.

The challenge will be finding a balance between greater Somali ownership and the continued need for international expertise, financing and technical support.

For international partners, the prime minister’s message is that cooperation with Somalia should increasingly be based on partnership with national institutions rather than arrangements designed around the country’s former transitional status.

Barre’s remarks ultimately underline the government’s ambition to present Somalia as a state moving toward greater institutional maturity and self-reliance.

But achieving that objective will require not only changes in how international organizations operate, but also continued improvements in the capacity, transparency and accountability of Somalia’s own public institutions.

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Somali PM Mandates Certification for Quran Teachers

Staff Reporter — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:15:27 +0000

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has announced a sweeping overhaul of the country’s Islamic education system, introducing mandatory standards for Quranic schools and teachers as part of a nationwide reform aimed at integrating religious education into Somalia’s formal education framework.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony of the first master’s cohort in Da’wah and Judiciary at the Higher Institute for Da’wah Affairs and Islamic Studies of Somali National University, Barre said the reforms are intended to improve the quality, oversight, and credibility of Islamic education while strengthening national education standards.

Under the new policy, Quranic schools (Dugsi Qur’aan) will be formally recognized as part of Somalia’s national education system and placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, ending the previous arrangement under which they were overseen by the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs.

The schools will be required to adopt a unified national curriculum, obtain official accreditation, issue recognized certificates, and operate under regular government inspection.

As part of the reforms, Prime Minister Barre announced that all Quranic school teachers will be required to undergo standardized professional training and obtain government-recognized certification in order to continue teaching.

The requirement forms part of a nationwide registration and reform campaign covering all Quranic schools, Islamic institutes, and educational institutions, which the federal government says is designed to improve teaching standards, strengthen accountability, and ensure consistent educational quality across the country.

The government also plans to establish a Supreme Council of Somali Scholars, a national body that will be responsible for issuing unified Islamic rulings (fatwas), replacing the fragmented system in which individual clerics issue separate religious opinions.

Legislation establishing the council has already been approved by the Council of Ministers and is awaiting parliamentary approval.

In addition, Barre announced the introduction of a digital registration system that will record Quranic schools, Islamic institutes, and universities nationwide.

The system will verify students’ academic records and certificates, improve transparency, and modernize the administration of Somalia’s education sector.

The Prime Minister also urged Somali universities to produce graduates with expertise in fields critical to the country’s future development, including maritime law, petroleum and natural resource disputes, financial crime investigations, auditing, and Islamic jurisprudence, saying Somalia requires specialists capable of addressing emerging legal, economic, and governance challenges.

The reforms represent one of the most significant restructurings of Somalia’s Islamic education system in recent decades.

Officials say the initiative is intended to strengthen institutional oversight, standardize religious education, improve teacher qualifications, and align Quranic education with the country’s broader education system as part of wider state-building and education modernization efforts.

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Somali PM Announces Islamic Education Reforms

Staff Reporter — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:00:54 +0000

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has announced a wide-ranging package of reforms aimed at integrating Islamic education into the country’s formal education system, standardizing religious institutions, and strengthening oversight of Quranic schools as part of broader efforts to modernize governance and public administration.

The reforms were unveiled during the graduation ceremony of the first master’s cohort in Da’wah and Judiciary at the Higher Institute for Da’wah Affairs and Islamic Studies of Somali National University.

Addressing graduates, academics, and religious scholars, Barre described the initiative as a historic step toward improving the quality, accountability, and recognition of Islamic education across Somalia.

Under the new policy, the Federal Government will formally recognize Quranic schools as part of Somalia’s national education system for the first time.

The schools will be required to follow standardized curricula, obtain official accreditation, issue recognized certificates, and operate under government supervision.

Prime Minister Barre said responsibility for overseeing Quranic schools has been transferred from the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs to the Ministry of Education, a move intended to integrate religious education into the country’s broader education framework and improve regulatory oversight.

The government also plans to introduce national standards for Quranic school teachers, requiring instructors to receive formal training and recognized professional qualifications before teaching.

Officials say the reforms are designed to improve the quality of religious instruction while ensuring greater consistency in educational standards nationwide.

As part of the reforms, the Prime Minister announced plans to establish a Supreme Council of Somali Scholars, a national body tasked with issuing unified religious rulings (fatwas).

The council is intended to replace what the government describes as fragmented interpretations issued by individual clerics.

According to Barre, legislation establishing the council has already been approved by the Council of Ministers and is awaiting parliamentary approval.

The government is also constructing a permanent headquarters for the council, which will include offices, research facilities, and libraries for Somali Islamic scholars.

Barre said the initiative aims to strengthen institutional religious leadership and provide coordinated guidance on religious matters.

In another major initiative, the Prime Minister announced the creation of a digital registration system covering Quranic schools, Islamic institutes, and universities.

The system will be used to verify students’ academic records and educational credentials while improving transparency and accountability across Somalia’s education sector.

Barre also called on universities to produce graduates with specialized expertise in fields critical to Somalia’s future development, including marit-ime law, petroleum and natural resource disputes, financial crime investigations, auditing, and Islamic jurisprudence.

He said Somalia requires professionals capable of addressing emerging legal and economic challenges while providing sound Islamic legal guidance on contemporary issues.

The Prime Minister described the education reforms as part of a broader state-building agenda focused on strengthening public institutions, improving governance, and implementing long-term national development plans.

He acknowledged that the reforms would face implementation challenges but said the government remained committed to carrying them forward.

The announcement represents one of the most significant overhauls of Somalia’s Islamic education system in recent years, as the Federal Government seeks to bring religious education under a unified national framework while strengthening institutional oversight and aligning Quranic education with the country’s formal education system.

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Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre Appoints Somalia’s Minister of Information

Staff Reporter — Thu, 07 May 2026 04:32:31 +0000

Mogadishu (Kaab TV) – The Prime Minister of Somalia, Hamza Abdi Barre, has issued a decree appointing a new Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism after referencing Article 120, Sections 2 and 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia and consulting with the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

The Prime Minister appointed Abdifatah Qasim Mahmoud as the Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, citing the broad responsibilities facing the government and the need to accelerate key national duties. The appointment comes after the dismissal of former minister Daud Aweis, who had been one of the longest-serving ministers in the current administration.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre urged the new minister to demonstrate responsibility, transparency, and increased commitment in carrying out his duties.

It is worth recalling that on May 21, 2025, the Prime Minister removed Abdifatah Qasim Mahmoud from his previous position as Deputy Minister of Defense and replaced him with Idiris Osman Haji Ali. At the time, no official reason was publicly announced for his dismissal, although he later told the media that he had left to pursue his studies.

Notably, the newly appointed Minister of Information is also a member of the House of the People in the Federal Parliament of Somalia.

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Prime Minister Hamza Embarks on Official Visit to Dhusamareeb

Staff Reporter — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 14:45:24 +0000

Dhuusamareeb (Kaab TV) – The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hamza Abdi Barre, is expected to travel to the city of Dhuusamareeb, the capital of the Galmudug State.

The Prime Minister will attend the closing session of the Heritage Conference, which has been taking place in Dhuusamareeb for the past three days.

The conference focused on presenting ideas related to state-building in Somalia and preparations for a promising future that benefits the Somali community. During the event, the Prime Minister is expected to deliver a speech addressing the overall situation of the country, with particular emphasis on preserving the unity of the Somali people.

Additionally, the conclusion of the Heritage Institute Conference is expected to produce statements and messages that will be directed to both the Somali government and the public.

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Prime Minister Hamse meets with the Saudi Ambassador

Staff Reporter — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:09:16 +0000

MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hamza Abdi Barre, held a private meeting today with the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Somalia, H.E. Ahmed bin Muhammad Saleh Al-Muwalad.

The meeting focused on the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations and bilateral cooperation between Somalia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with particular emphasis on reinforcing the historical ties between the two countries in the areas of security, economy, investment, and social affairs.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its continuous support to the Somali people and government, noting the Kingdom’s increased investment in the country’s economic infrastructure.

For his part, the Saudi Ambassador affirmed his country’s commitment to further strengthening strategic relations with Somalia and emphasized that Saudi Arabia is ready to expand its support and development projects in the country.

In recent days, Prime Minister Hamza has also held meetings with ambassadors from other countries stationed in Somalia.

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Prime Minister Hamse Responds to Donald Trump

Staff Reporter — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:45:42 +0000

MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hamse Abdi Barre, has responded to recent critical remarks made by the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

The Prime Minister stated that Trump’s criticisms of the world are nothing new, noting that he has verbally attacked many countries.

“Donald Trump has spoken negatively about many countries; choosing not to respond and simply moving on is less troublesome,” Prime Minister Hamse said.

His remarks come shortly after President Trump stated that Somalis do not have an official government — a comment that sparked anger among the Somali public.

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