In a minor cabinet reshuffle announced yesterday, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre made changes affecting three key government positions.
Reading a statement to the media, Government Spokesman Farhan Mohamed Jimale detailed the reshuffle, which impacted the Office of the Second Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Defense.
Former Defense Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi was appointed as the Second Deputy Prime Minister, replacing Abdusalam Abdi Ali Dhay, who in turn was named the new Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, who had been serving as the Foreign Minister, was appointed the new Minister of Defense, taking over from Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi, who had held the role briefly.
In recent days, there had been widespread speculation about impending cabinet changes, particularly concerning the security sector. However, no leadership changes have yet been made within Somalia’s armed forces command structures.
The news that Ahmed Moalim Fiqi had been named Defense Minister was met with swift and enthusiastic support, especially from the Hawadle clan’s militia groups known as the Macawiisley.
Widely seen as a battle-hardened leader, Fiqi’s appointment was celebrated as a turning point in Somalia’s ongoing security challenges.
Videos circulated on social media showed jubilant scenes from the Hiiraan region, where Macawiisley fighters and local residents fighting Al-Shabaab welcomed the news with singing and dancing.
Fiqi now becomes the third person to hold the Defense portfolio in just a month, underscoring the critical importance and volatility of the role.
While many Somalis are hopeful that broader reforms in the security sector will soon follow, no formal changes have yet been made within the military and security agencies.
