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.
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).
Its legal basis
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
- Dawan Africa, 4 October 2026 · dawan.africa
- AllAfrica, December 2025 · allafrica.com
- SONNA · sonna.so
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- Appropriation Act for 2027, as submitted · mof.gov.so
- SONNA · sonna.so
- AllAfrica, August 2026 · allafrica.com
- World Bank · blogs.worldbank.org
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- Garowe Online · garoweonline.com
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development of Somalia: what it does? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
Where this matters
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Every federal government body in Somalia and its budget, 2025 to 2027A directory of every body in Somalia's federal budget: ministries, agencies, courts, commissions and security forces, with 2025 spending, 2026 budget and 2027 proposed budget in US dollars, and a CSV download.
- The Federal Government of Somalia: how it is organisedHow Somalia's federal government is built: its history since 2012, its branches, ministries, agencies and independent offices, how it relates to the member states, its staff and budget, and where to find each part.
- Somalia's federal government: the President, the Prime Minister and the Council of MinistersHow Somalia's federal executive works: the President's powers, the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers, the list of ministries, and presidents since 1960.
- Ministry of Education of Somalia (Wasaaradda Waxbarashada): what it doesWhat Somalia's federal education ministry does: curriculum, national exams, teachers, school counts and higher education, how it shares the work with the member states, and the separate ministries in Puntland and Somaliland.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia (Wasaaradda Arrimaha Dibadda): embassies and diplomacyWhat Somalia's foreign ministry does, who leads it, where Somalia has embassies, the main issues in 2024 to 2026, and what Somalis abroad can get from an embassy.
- Ministry of Health of Somalia (Wasaaradda Caafimaadka): what it doesWhat Somalia's federal health ministry does: policy, vaccines, medicines, coordination of aid; who leads it; its budget 2025 to 2027; what it reports doing in 2026; and how the work is shared with Puntland, Somaliland and the member states.