Somalia’s cabinet issues a stern order apprising that all organizations operating inside Somalia but have bases in overseas to establish their offices in Somalia within a matter of 90 days. This was reached by Somalia’s council of ministers in a meeting held yesterday and chaired by its Prime Minister, Hon. Hasan Ali Khaire. The council of ministers unanimously endorsed a circular issued by the ministry of planning and investment.
The minister responsible for planning and investment, Hon. Jama Mohamed Hasan apprised of all agencies currently engaged in local project implementation in Somalia must have a presence and establish offices in Somalia. The minister said this after conferred with agencies officials on 29th of August, 2018 and further informed that they must set up their bases before the the 2019. The organizations that fail to comply with will face severe consequence whereby the govt will revoke their operational license. A civil society member believes that this is a step taken in the right direction by Somalia gov’t once organizations are told to operate inside the country. The reasons for agencies to have offices in Somalia is to create jobs for the youth and keep track of the projects that they are carrying out in the country. This order was not complied after previous gov’t led by Hasan Shiekh . Will international organizations which do not have offices in Somalia establish new ones so that they will operate inside the country remains unknown as far as many argue that there is a high risk for their safety.
