Federal government: ministries and agencies
Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation of Somalia (Wasaaradda Arrimaha Gudaha)
Somalia's Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation handles the federal government's relations with the member states, local government and district councils, reconciliation between communities, and the move to one-person-one-vote local elections. It oversaw Mogadishu's first local council election in nearly 60 years on 25 December 2025, after which 390 Banadir councillors were sworn in in April 2026.
What it does
The ministry is the federal government's link to the member states and to local government. Its work, as shown in its public statements and the cabinet's decisions, covers:
- Federal affairs: relations between the federal government and the member states, Banadir and the district administrations. See Federal member states and Institutions of the member states.
- Local government: forming district councils and setting their rules. In 2026 the cabinet approved new administrative rankings for Banadir's districts on the ministry's proposal (Dawan Africa).
- Local elections: working with the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on the move from clan selection to one-person-one-vote, starting with the capital (AllAfrica, November 2025).
- Reconciliation: supporting peace talks between communities and national consultative meetings with the member states. A national consultative meeting in January 2026 backed national unity and the push for elections (AllAfrica, January 2026).
Somalia's police and internal security sit with a separate Ministry of Internal Security; see the Somali Police Force.
Who leads it
Ali Yusuf Ali "Hosh" is named as Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation in 2026 (Raxanreeb).
The Banadir local elections, 2025 to 2026
- The vote: on 25 December 2025 Mogadishu held its first local election in nearly 60 years, by one-person-one-vote, under heavy security (Gulf Times, December 2025). In January 2026 the ministry called the vote historic (Dawan Africa, January 2026).
- The councillors: 390 local councillors for Banadir's districts were sworn in in April 2026 (Dawan Africa, April 2026).
- District chairs: by a circular of 13 June 2026 the ministry set the election of district council chairpersons for 5 July 2026 (Dawan Africa; SONNA).
For Mogadishu's own administration, see Banadir.
How to use it
- District services: most day-to-day local services, such as land papers and business licences in Mogadishu, are run by the district and the Banadir Regional Administration, not by the ministry.
- Elections: voter registration is run by the electoral commission; see Independent commissions.
Its legal basis
The 2012 Provisional Constitution, as amended in 2024 and 2026, which sets the federal system and the levels of government (Chapter 5); the ministry's mandate is set by the Council of Ministers.
Sources
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- AllAfrica, November 2025 · allafrica.com
- AllAfrica, January 2026 · allafrica.com
- Raxanreeb · raxanreeb.com
- Gulf Times, December 2025 · gulf-times.com
- Dawan Africa, January 2026 · dawan.africa
- Dawan Africa, April 2026 · dawan.africa
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- SONNA · sonna.so
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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.