Women’s organizations in Somalia have voiced strong concerns over what they describe as a deliberate rollback of hard-earned gains in women’s political representation and leadership. The latest government actions, particularly the dissolution of the Ministry of Women and the removal of one of the few female ministers in the Federal Government’s latest cabinet reshuffle, have sparked outrage among gender equality advocates.
“The Ministry of Women has been a cornerstone in advancing women’s empowerment across all facets, and its dissolution erases decades of progress. This appalling development is a monumental injustice inflicted upon Somali women and a grievous setback to the hard-won gains of women’s empowerment and political participation in an already male-dominated arena,” a statement issued by a consortium of Somali women’s organizations read.
Systematic Exclusion from Public Leadership
The coalition of women’s organizations has documented a growing pattern of exclusion, listing several key government positions from which women have been removed since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office. These include:
The suspension of the National Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission , which was led by a woman.
The removal of Deputy Police Commissioners without appointing female replacements.
The dismissal of the Accountant General.
The removal of the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank.
The dismissal of the Permanent Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office.
The removal of the Acting Director General and the Director of the Finance Department in the Ministry of Agriculture.
The denial of qualified female parliamentarians from competing for positions in continental and global institutions.
Women leaders argue that these changes amount to a deliberate sidelining of women in Somalia’s governance, violating the country’s provisional constitution, which mandates a 30% quota for women’s participation in politics.
A Dangerous Precedent for Women’s Rights
The Ministry of Women, before its dissolution, played a pivotal role in championing policies to ensure women’s representation and rights, spearheading advocacy campaigns, and fostering an inclusive political environment. Its abolition, according to critics, signals a dangerous trend that threatens the future of Somali women and girls.
“The executive’s recent actions are an overt violation of women’s right to participate in Somali affairs, paving the way for increased abuse and exploitation of an already vulnerable segment of society,” the statement continued.
The removal of female leaders from key government positions, along with growing restrictions on women’s political participation, has sparked fears that gender equity progress in Somalia is being systematically dismantled.
“It is profoundly disheartening that not long ago, Somali women condemned the lack of support for the Female AU candidate from Somalia, including interference aimed at forcing her withdrawal—a move deserving unequivocal condemnation,” the statement further added.
A Call for Immediate Action
The consortium of women’s organizations has issued an urgent call to Somali female parliamentarians, particularly Deputy Speaker of the House of the People, MP Saadiya Yaasiin, and other women MPs who were elected through the gender quota system, to take immediate action.
“We call upon all Somali women parliamentarians to convene an emergency session, publicly denounce this regression, and hold Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and his administration accountable for the deliberate violation of Somali women’s basic human rights,” the statement read.
Furthermore, the group demands that the Somali government immediately reinstate the Ministry of Women and reverse recent dismissals of women in leadership positions to restore fairness and gender balance in governance.
“Somali women are an integral part of Somalia’s history, present, and future. We will not stand idly by as our hard-fought gains are systematically dismantled. We demand immediate answers and apologies for this violation,” the statement concluded.
Global Attention Urged
Somali women’s rights advocates are now calling on the international community, including the United Nations, the African Union, and human rights organizations, to apply pressure on the Somali government to reverse policies that undermine women’s leadership and political participation.
The recent developments have raised serious concerns about the future of women’s rights in Somalia, with activists warning that without intervention, the marginalization of women will set a dangerous precedent for governance and democracy in the country.
The world is now watching whether Somalia will uphold its commitments to gender equality or slide further into a system that excludes women from decision-making processes critical to the nation’s progress.