# National Independent Human Rights Commission of Somalia

> How Somalia's human rights commission was set up in 2025 and 2026, its members and chair, its budget, and what it reports doing in 2026.

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

## What it does

The commission is mandated to document human rights violations, support victims and advise the government on rights-based governance ([TRT Afrika](https://www.trtafrika.com/english/article/558136916a1a)). The constitution lists a human rights commission among Somalia's independent commissions; see [independent commissions](/en/institutions/independent-commissions/).

## How it was set up

| Date | Step | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 25 September 2025 | Federal cabinet votes to end the mandate of the UN independent expert on human rights in Somalia | [SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/senate-endorses-commissioners-of-the-national-independent-human-rights-commission/) |
| 8 October 2025 | UN Human Rights Council resolution ends the expert's mandate, giving Somalia full control of its human rights affairs for the first time since 1993 | [SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/senate-endorses-commissioners-of-the-national-independent-human-rights-commission/) |
| 11 October 2025 | House of the People endorses the commission | [SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/senate-endorses-commissioners-of-the-national-independent-human-rights-commission/) |
| Late 2025 | Senate approves the nine commissioners, 28 votes of 55 present, one abstention; they take their oath | [SONNA](https://sonna.so/en/senate-endorses-commissioners-of-the-national-independent-human-rights-commission/) |
| Early December 2025 | President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signs the law creating the commission | [TRT Afrika](https://www.trtafrika.com/english/article/558136916a1a) |
| February 2026 | Commissioners elect Dr Maryan Qasim Ahmed as chairperson | [TRT Afrika](https://www.trtafrika.com/english/article/558136916a1a) |

The nine nominees were put forward by the Minister of Family and Human Rights Development and endorsed by the cabinet ([TRT Afrika](https://www.trtafrika.com/english/article/558136916a1a)).

## Who leads it

Dr Maryan Qasim Ahmed was born in [Baardheere](/en/regions/baardheere/) in 1959. She trained in medicine at Somali National University and has held ministerial posts covering women and family affairs and social development ([TRT Afrika](https://www.trtafrika.com/english/article/558136916a1a)).

## The money

The figures are from the federal Appropriation Act for 2027 as submitted to parliament, where the body is sub-head 012400 under Special Commissions ([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) | 474,000 |
| 2027 (proposed) | 502,040 |

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

## What it reports doing in 2026

- **April:** the National Union of Somali Journalists gave the commission its 2025 State of the Media report, which records 72 media freedom violations. The chair said the commission would review the findings ([NUSOJ, 27 April 2026](https://nusoj.org/2026/04/27/national-human-rights-commission-receives-state-of-the-media-report-nusoj-urges-decisive-action-on-media-freedom-violations/)).
- **April:** it agreed to work with the Centre for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) on monitoring and accountability in security operations, after Somalia approved a national policy on protecting civilians in military operations ([Dawan Africa, 27 April 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somali-rights-commission-partner-with-civic-on-security)).
- **June:** it condemned a video showing a woman being abused in Mogadishu and called for an investigation and prosecution ([Dawan Africa, 22 June 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalias-rights-body-condemns-abuse-of-woman-in-mogadishu)).

## Other records

An opinion piece in The Standard (Kenya) reported criticism that some of the commission's officials had become involved in politics, which critics said affected its neutrality ([The Standard](https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/opinion/article/2001544156/why-somalias-human-rights-commission-is-in-the-spot-over-political-involvement)).

## How the work is shared

The commission works alongside the [Ministry of Family and Human Rights](/en/institutions/ministry-of-family-and-human-rights/), which proposed its members, and the courts ([courts and judiciary](/en/institutions/courts-and-judiciary/)).

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