On Sunday, Somaliland’s President, Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi, also known as Irro, announced a cabinet reshuffle which included the dismissal of the water, agriculture, and telecommunication and technology ministers. Mr. Barkhad Jama Hersi Batun, who received the highest votes in the recent parliamentary elections held in 2021, has been appointed as the Minister responsible for information, culture, and national guidance. This appointment comes after the resignation of the previous minister, Mr. Ahmed Yasin Sheikh Ali Ayanle. Other changes in the cabinet include the appointment of Mr. Adan Qayad as the minister in charge of agriculture and Mr. Mohamed Abdimalik as the Water Development Minister. Mr. Abdisalan Hussein Awale has also been named as the minister responsible for telecommunication and technology. Some officials have been shifted to new positions, such as Mr. Mukhtar Haji Muhumed Farah, who was previously the deputy minister of agriculture development and has now been transferred to the deputy minister of Water Development. Eng. Mohamed Elmi Hussein, also known as Huuno, has been moved to the position of deputy minister of Labour and Social Affairs. Mr. Mohamed Muse Haji Abdi, known as Galaaydh, has been shifted to the deputy minister of information, and Mohamed Yusuf Ibrahim Faacuul has been transferred from the deputy minister of education to the deputy minister of Energy and Minerals. Additionally, Dr. Mohamerd Aw Dahir Ibrahim has been moved from the Deputy Minister of environment and Climate Change to Deputy Minister of Health Development, while Ms. Zamzam Mohamed Salah Yacniile has been shifted from the deputy minister of health to the deputy minister of environment. In other changes, Eng. Maliki Abdi Hassan Hersi has been transferred from the deputy minister of telecommunication and technology to the deputy minister of agriculture development. Mr. Khadar Haji Ali Yusuf Abdilahi has been named as a member of Somaliland’s Higher Education Commission, and Dr. Mohamed Osman Fadal has been appointed as a senior adviser to the President on Foreign Policy. It is worth noting that the former Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Isse Kayd, is expected to fill the seat vacated by Mr. Barkhad Batun as a member of Somaliland’s House of Representatives.
