Somalia Brief: Leaders meet, elections pushed, drought urgent

Jan 25, 2026 — Leaders push elections, drought relief, justice reforms

Top story

• National Consultative Council meets; federal and state leaders agree next steps. President Hassan Sheikh chaired a virtual National Consultative Council (NCC) on Jan 24 that brought federal and state heads together to review security, the drought, and the political calendar. The Council endorsed the Banadir council results, called to expedite local council elections across federal member states, and invited stakeholders to national consultations on Feb 1, 2026.Why it matters: The NCC statement signals coordinated federal–state support for the government’s security and electoral agenda and prioritises urgent drought assistance.Source: SONNA — President chairs NCC meeting

What else happened

Governance & Elections

• Prime Minister Hamza appointed Salah Xiirey Kheyre as Director General of Constitutional Affairs at the Justice Ministry, urging integrity and transparency in the constitutional process. (Source: SONNA)
• President Laftagareen of South West State chaired a meeting of Directors General in Baidoa to accelerate ministry plans, strengthen coordination, and address drought impacts. (Source: SONNA)

Justice & International Support

• Justice Minister Hassan Moallim Mahmoud received UN Special Representative James Swan to discuss cooperation on justice sector reform, constitutional affairs and state-building. (Source: SONNA)
• Minister of Planning Mahmoud Beenebeene met UNFPA Representative Dr. Mary Otieno to align development projects with Somalia’s National Transformation Plan and the UNFPA Country Programme. (Source: SONNA)

Foreign Relations & Security

• Prime Minister Hamza received a Turkish delegation led by the Turkish MFA Director General for Africa to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation on security and counterterrorism. (Source: SONNA)
• Somalia and Pakistan signed an agreement abolishing visas for diplomatic passport holders; talks also covered law enforcement cooperation, counter‑narcotics and regional security. (Source: SONNA)

Economy & Development

• The Information, Culture and Tourism Minister said the government prioritises tourism development, has identified key sites, drafted a national tourism plan and plans an institute for tourism studies to boost national revenue. (Source: SONNA)
• Prime Minister Hamza attended a University for Peace graduation, stressing higher education’s role in building institutions and supporting the National Transformation Plan (NTP 2025–2029). (Source: SONNA)

Health & Humanitarian

• Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji welcomed 25 Somali children back from Italy after specialised cardiac surgeries, thanking Hormuud Salaam Foundation and the Italian Embassy and reporting improving health among the children. (Source: SONNA)

On the ground

• 25 children returned to Mogadishu after cardiac operations in Italy; officials said the children are showing signs of successful treatment and recovering. (Source: SONNA)
• Graduation ceremony scenes: Somali Master’s and PhD graduates celebrated at the University for Peace with Prime Minister Hamza attending and urging graduates to help rebuild institutions. (Source: SONNA)
• Officials at federal and state levels repeatedly flagged worsening drought conditions and called for urgent assistance; regional meetings stressed the drought’s impact on service delivery. (Sources: SONNA, SONNA)

Watchlist

• Feb 1, 2026 National Consultations — watch for outcomes and any timetable for federal‑member state or local elections. (Source: SONNA)
• Progress on expedited local council elections across federal member states and official electoral timetables following the NCC endorsement. (Source: SONNA)
• Implementation details of the national tourism development plan and establishment of the tourism institute announced by the Information, Culture and Tourism Ministry. (Source: SONNA)
• Follow-up on justice sector reform cooperation between Somalia and the UN, including any concrete reform timelines or technical assistance packages. (Source: SONNA)

Sources: Somali National News Agency (SONNA)

Compiled from public reporting; links above.