Federal government: ministries and agencies
Ministry of Youth and Sports of Somalia: what it does
Somalia's federal Ministry of Youth and Sports makes policy for young people and sport, oversees the National Youth Council and sports bodies, and leads the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security for 2026 to 2030, which has an indicative cost of US$56 million. Mohamed Abdulkadir Ali, a former footballer, is minister. Its budget is about US$1.26 million.
What it does
The ministry is the federal body for youth and sport. Its work, as reported:
- Youth, peace and security: on 21 September 2026 the government endorsed a five-year National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security for 2026 to 2030, with an indicative cost of US$56 million. Its six pillars are youth in governance and peace processes; protection and security; empowerment and livelihoods; conflict prevention, climate and resilience; institutional partnerships; and disengagement and reintegration. The minister signed its foreword (Dawan Africa, 22 September 2026). It was launched in Mogadishu on 28 October 2026 (Dawan Africa).
- Jobs and skills: in August 2026 the minister announced a joint programme with the labour ministry to give jobs and training to 28,000 young people (Dawan Africa, August 2026).
- National Youth Council: in July 2026 the minister said the ministry was preparing a policy for the council's leaders to be elected rather than appointed by the President (Dawan Africa). He denied that the removal of the council's chairman was linked to the chairman's criticism of the government (Dawan Africa).
- Sport: it oversees national sports bodies. The minister called for a legal review of the framework of the Somali Olympic Committee (Dawan Africa), and the government suspended the committee's leaders, citing misconduct (Dawan Africa). The minister has said the national football team relies more and more on players from the diaspora (Dawan Africa).
- States: it convenes the youth and sports ministers of the member states (SONNA).
Who leads it
Mohamed Abdulkadir Ali, a former footballer, became minister in May 2025; the Somali Football Federation welcomed his appointment (Inside World Football, 7 May 2025). He took over from Mohamed Barre in a handover overseen by the second Deputy Prime Minister (SONNA).
The money
From the federal budget (Appropriation Act for 2027, as submitted):
| Line | 2025 actual (US$) | 2026 budget (US$) | 2027 proposed (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Youth and Sport | 1,077,754 | 1,234,276 | 1,258,936 |
The youth plan's US$56 million is far more than the ministry's own budget; the report on the plan names no funding source (Dawan Africa). Larger youth job programmes sit in other budgets, such as the World Bank social protection and youth employment project under the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
Other records
Somalia's referee Omar Artan was unable to take part in the 2026 World Cup after a US entry setback (AllAfrica, June 2026). For young Somalis and work, see Jobs in Somalia.
Its legal basis
The ministry's mandate from the Council of Ministers under the 2012 Provisional Constitution, as amended in 2024 and 2026.
Sources
- Dawan Africa, 22 September 2026 · dawan.africa
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- Dawan Africa, August 2026 · dawan.africa
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- SONNA · sonna.so
- Inside World Football, 7 May 2025 · insideworldfootball.com
- SONNA · sonna.so
- Appropriation Act for 2027, as submitted · mof.gov.so
- AllAfrica, June 2026 · allafrica.com
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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.
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- 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.
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