# National Commission for Higher Education: who checks Somalia's universities

> What Somalia's higher education commission does, the 2024 law, its members and leaders, its first budget in 2027, and its 2026 plans for checking universities.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/national-commission-for-higher-education/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## What it does

The commission works under Somalia's Higher Education Act No. 30, which came into force in December 2024. It is mandated to lead, supervise and reform universities and other post-secondary institutions in line with national education policy and standards ([Hiiraan Online, July 2025](https://hiiraan.com/news4/2025/July/202161/somali_cabinet_approves_15_member_higher_education_oversight_body.aspx)).

## Who leads it

The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister [Hamza Abdi Barre](/en/people/hamza-abdi-barre/), approved the commission's 15 members in July 2025, on a proposal from the Ministry of Education. The ministry said the members include professors, researchers and administrators chosen through several vetting stages ([Hiiraan Online, July 2025](https://hiiraan.com/news4/2025/July/202161/somali_cabinet_approves_15_member_higher_education_oversight_body.aspx)). The Prime Minister then appointed Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Nageeye as its Secretary General ([Goobjoog News](https://en.goobjoog.com/pm-barre-names-dr-ahmed-nageeye-as-head-of-higher-education-committee)).

Reports in 2026 name two different people as chair:

| Date | Name and title | Source |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | Dr Abdinur Sheikh Mohamed, chairperson; Mohamad Ali Farah, deputy chairperson | [New Vision, May 2026](https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/education/somalia-benchmarks-ugandas-higher-education-s-NV_233716_052026) |
| August 2026 | Mahmoud Ahmed Jimale, chairman | [Dawan Africa, 26 August 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-starts-review-of-higher-education-standards) |

## The money

The figures are from the federal Appropriation Act for 2027 as submitted to parliament, where the body is sub-head 040204 under the Ministry of Education and Higher Education ([Ministry of Finance, Appropriation Act 2027](https://mof.gov.so/storage/documents/2026/11/xihvtskp/Appropriation%20Act%20for%202027%20Submitted%20to%20Parlement.pdf)):

| Year | US$ |
|---|---|
| 2025 (actual) | none (new line) |
| 2026 (budget) | none (new line) |
| 2027 (proposed) | 730,500 |

All federal bodies' budgets are compared on [federal bodies and their budgets](/en/institutions/federal-bodies-and-budgets/).

## What it reports doing in 2026

- **May:** a delegation visited Uganda's National Council for Higher Education in Kampala to study how it licenses universities and accredits programmes ([New Vision, May 2026](https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/education/somalia-benchmarks-ugandas-higher-education-s-NV_233716_052026)).
- **August:** it held a two-day consultation with universities in Mogadishu, opened by Education Minister Farah [Sheikh](/en/regions/sheikh/) Abdulkadir. The chairman said it had drafted a national policy, strategy and regulations, and standards with up to 200 criteria for evaluating universities. Universities will assess themselves first, followed by site visits, and the results will be published ([Dawan Africa, 26 August 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-starts-review-of-higher-education-standards)).

At the same meeting the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Hassan Mohamed Ali, said Somalia has about 130 registered universities, and asked whether their graduates can compete in the region ([Dawan Africa, 26 August 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-starts-review-of-higher-education-standards)).

## How the work is shared

The commission works with the [Ministry of Education](/en/institutions/ministry-of-education/). The largest universities are listed on [main universities](/en/institutions/main-universities/).

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