Somali Prime Minister Reshuffles Cabinet, Appoints New Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs
Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre announced a cabinet reshuffle on Sunday, replacing top officials responsible for defense, foreign affairs, and the second deputy prime minister post, according to the state-run Somali National News Agency.
Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, who had been serving as Somalia’s minister of foreign affairs, was named the new minister of defense. Fiqi previously held the roles of minister of interior for two years and minister of foreign affairs for one year.
Abdisalan Abdi Ali Dhaay, who had been the second deputy prime minister, was appointed to lead the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
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Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi, who spent only three weeks as the minister of defense, was reassigned as the new second deputy prime minister. Before his brief tenure at the defense ministry, Jibril served as the minister of commerce and industry.
The reshuffle comes as Somalia faces ongoing security challenges, including a persistent insurgency by al-Shabab, a terrorist group linked to al-Qaida. The country, with the support of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia and international partners, continues efforts to stabilize areas liberated from al-Shabab control.
Barre, who took office in 2022, has repeatedly emphasized the importance of strong leadership in the defense and foreign affairs sectors to advance national security and strengthen diplomatic ties.
No official reason was given for the sudden changes, but political analysts say regular cabinet adjustments are often used to address shifting political dynamics in Somalia’s fragile federal government.
