MOGADISHU — The Minister of Defence of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, officially inaugurated the Defence Board meeting today, launching a strategic platform designed to strengthen defence governance and enhance coordination among the nation’s security institutions.
The gathering serves as a critical forum for unifying operations and advancing force reform as the country moves toward assuming full security responsibilities.
High-Level Security Gathering
The inaugural meeting was attended by key figures in Somalia’s security and diplomatic architecture, including:
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Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation, H.E. Ali Yusuf Ali (Ali Hoosh).
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Minister of Internal Security, H.E. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag.
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State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ali Balcad.
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National Security Adviser, Ambassador Aweys Haji Yusuf.
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Commander of the Somali National Army (SNA), Major General Odowaa Yusuf Rage.
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Commander of the Somali Police Force, Brig. General Asad Osman Abdullahi.
The session also saw the participation of commanders from various armed forces branches, ambassadors from international partner nations, and representatives from international organizations based in the country.
Strategic Direction and Reform
In his opening remarks, Minister Fiqi stated that the Defence Board will play a central role in steering Somalia’s strategic defence direction. He emphasized its function as a mechanism to align operational objectives, institutional reforms, and national-level leadership decisions to ensure an integrated and transparent defence system.
“Somalia’s future security can be secured through building a professional force with both operational and financial capacity,” the Minister noted.
Transition to Full Responsibility
Concluding the session, Minister Fiqi highlighted that the Federal Government is currently undertaking a planned transition to assume full responsibility for national security.
He expressed gratitude to the international community for its continued support of the defence sector and affirmed that the Ministry of Defence will continue working closely with partners to implement the Somalia Security Development Plan and the broader security transition framework.
