Federal government: ministries and agencies
National Commission for Higher Education: who checks Somalia's universities
Somalia's National Commission for Higher Education oversees universities under the Higher Education Act No. 30, in force since December 2024. The cabinet named its 15 members in July 2025. In 2026 it drafted standards with up to 200 criteria for judging universities, and it will run self-assessments and site visits. The education ministry says about 130 universities are registered.
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).
Who leads it
The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister 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). The Prime Minister then appointed Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Nageeye as its Secretary General (Goobjoog News).
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 |
| August 2026 | Mahmoud Ahmed Jimale, chairman | Dawan Africa, 26 August 2026 |
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):
| 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.
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).
- August: it held a two-day consultation with universities in Mogadishu, opened by Education Minister Farah 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).
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).
How the work is shared
The commission works with the Ministry of Education. The largest universities are listed on main universities.
Sources
- Hiiraan Online, July 2025 · hiiraan.com
- Goobjoog News · en.goobjoog.com
- New Vision, May 2026 · newvision.co.ug
- Dawan Africa, 26 August 2026 · dawan.africa
- Ministry of Finance, Appropriation Act 2027 · mof.gov.so
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with National Commission for Higher Education: who checks Somalia's universities? 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.