Federal government: ministries and agencies

Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development of Somalia: what it does

Somalia's federal Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development, earlier called the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development, leads government policy on women, children, families, disability and human rights. Ambassador Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi is minister. After the UN ended its Independent Expert on Somalia in October 2025, the ministry told the UN that Somalia is ready to monitor human rights itself.

Last checked 2026-11-12 10 sources Reading time: 2 min

What it does

The ministry is the federal government's lead for women's rights, families, children, people with disabilities and human rights. Its work, as reported:

  • Human rights: it speaks for Somalia at the UN Human Rights Council. Since 1993 the Council had appointed an Independent Expert on Somalia; in October 2025 it adopted Resolution 60/28, without a vote, ending that mandate. At the Council's 63rd session on 3 October 2026, the minister said Somalia is "ready to take on its new role in monitoring and protecting human rights" and asked for an OHCHR office to open in Mogadishu soon (Dawan Africa, 4 October 2026).
  • The Human Rights Commission: it led the process that set up the Independent National Human Rights Commission, whose members the President confirmed by decree in December 2025 (AllAfrica, December 2025; SONNA). See Independent commissions.
  • Women's rights: it seeks partners for women's rights programmes (Dawan Africa).
  • Disability: the Somali Disabled Agency sits under it with its own budget line (Appropriation Act for 2027, as submitted).

Who leads it

Ambassador Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi is minister (Dawan Africa, October 2026). She was earlier Minister of Environment and Climate Change (SONNA). Maryan Ali Abukar was reported as deputy minister in August 2026 (AllAfrica, August 2026). An earlier minister was Deqa Yasin Hagi Yusuf (World Bank).

The money

From the federal budget (Appropriation Act for 2027, as submitted):

Line 2025 actual (US$) 2026 budget (US$) 2027 proposed (US$)
Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development 1,063,113 1,191,624 1,186,908
Somali Disabled Agency 600,306 637,036 643,336

The World Bank's "Rajo Kaaba" project, Somalia Empowering Women through Education and Skills, is a separate project line of US$21.0 million proposed for 2027 (same source).

Other records on its work

  • In 2026 the ministry expressed sorrow over the death of a mother at a hospital in Hargeisa (AllAfrica, August 2026).
  • A Dawan Africa report, "Somali women take back their ministry", covers the ministry's history and its name (Dawan Africa).
  • Each member state has its own ministry of women and human rights; Galmudug's minister in 2026 was Hodon Abdullahi Shire (Garowe Online).

Chapter 2 of the 2012 Provisional Constitution, the Bill of Rights, as amended in 2024 and 2026; the law setting up the Human Rights Commission; and the ministry's mandate from the Council of Ministers.

Sources

  1. Dawan Africa, 4 October 2026 · dawan.africa
  2. AllAfrica, December 2025 · allafrica.com
  3. SONNA · sonna.so
  4. Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
  5. Appropriation Act for 2027, as submitted · mof.gov.so
  6. SONNA · sonna.so
  7. AllAfrica, August 2026 · allafrica.com
  8. World Bank · blogs.worldbank.org
  9. Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
  10. Garowe Online · garoweonline.com

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