Wednesday April 29, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government officials and international partners on Wednesday held a high-level review of the country’s security sector, focusing on governance reforms, accountability and long-term sustainability of the armed forces.
The meeting in Mogadishu brought together representatives from the federal government, the World Bank and other international partners to assess progress and identify gaps in key institutional areas.
Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said Somalia’s security progress should be measured not only by military gains but also by the strength and integrity of its institutions.
“Security transformation is not measured by operations alone, but by the accountability of forces and the systems that support them,” he said.
Fiqi highlighted recent progress, including a nationwide force census and biometric registration system aimed at verifying troop numbers and establishing a credible national registry.
He said the government is moving toward a monthly personnel verification system linked to payroll and deployment, designed to ensure that salaries correspond with active service.
The minister also underscored the importance of reforms, including the Defence Bill, procurement oversight and the development of a sustainable pension system, as well as support structures for wounded soldiers and families of fallen soldiers.
The federal government representatives emphasized that the reforms are part of broader efforts to professionalize the Somali National Armed Forces and improve transparency in the management of public resources.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Internal Security, Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Abdiqafar Elmi Haange, the Director General of the Presidency, Mr Abdihakim Yusuf, the Senior Defence Affairs Advisor to the President, Ms Jihan Abdullahi Hassan, Mr Hideki. Matsunaga, World Bank Country Manager for Somalia, Verena Fritiz, Lead governance Specialist World Bank, and representatives of International Partners.
Somalia has made gains in recent years in its fight against militant groups such as Al-Shabaab, but officials say sustained reforms are essential to ensure lasting stability and effective governance of the security sector.
