Somali Cabinet Approves Key Legislative Amendments, Including Overhaul of the National Penal Code

Mogadishu (Sahan Post) – The Council of Ministers of the Federal Government of Somalia, chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, convened today for a critical meeting in which several significant legislative items were approved, including amendments to the Somali Penal Code.

According to an official statement issued by the government, the Cabinet endorsed revisions to the Draft Bill of the Somali Penal Code following extensive consultations with religious scholars, civil society groups, and legal experts. The updated draft aligns the legal framework with Islamic principles, the national Constitution, and international human rights standards.

The revised Penal Code clearly outlines the criminal offenses and corresponding penalties to be administered by civilian and military courts. Achieving harmony between international human rights conventions, Islamic law, and the traditional Somali customary codes—practiced in some self-governed communities—has long been one of the most complex legal challenges since the collapse of the Somali central government.

In addition to the Penal Code revisions, the Cabinet discussed and advanced the following legislative items:

2. Draft Bill on the Establishment of the National Environmental Management Authority.

3. Draft Bill of the Somali Penal Code (revised).

4. International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR 1979).

5. Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, including Additional Protocols.

Meanwhile, the Council also deliberated on the security preparations for the upcoming local council elections, scheduled to take place in selected regions of the country in early 2026.

Sahan Post
info@sahanpost.com