Although The Ministry of The Interior has existed since 1962, from 1977 to 1984, it was renamed ‘The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development’. The functions of The Ministry of the Interior were reinstated by Law No. 30 enacted on July 30, 1984.
The law stipulated the following responsibilities:
- The organization and Development of regional and district administration.
- Rural community development.
- Supervising and protecting the activities of local governments as well as regional and district agencies.
- Maintaining peace and stability in the country.
- Supporting the national army in defending the nation against foreign attacks.
- Nationality/Citizenship management.
- Inspection and protection of prisons in the country.
The Ministry also has the following roles:
The administration of regions and districts of the country except for Banadir region.
- Oversight of the Somali Police force.
- Maintaining peace.
- Custodian corps
Currently, Somalia is a federal state operating under a transitional constitution that was ratified on August 1, 2012.
The Ministry is now known as ‘The Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation’ and its responsibilities include:
- Establishment of a complete federal system.
- Building and strengthening local councils, developing local governments.
- Creating frameworks for dialogue and reconciliation as well as social and political conflict resolution.
- Completion and maintenance of laws concerning Federal Member States, status of Mogadishu, and demarcation of borders.
- Strengthening relations between the member states of Federal Government.
- Licensing NGOs and monitoring of their activities.
- Management, regulation, resettlement and finding durable solutions for Somali refugees.
- Creating and implementing plans to stabilize the country.
- Planning and Implementation of a Social Media Relations framework.
- Developing the country’s democracy.
- Census and developing rural communities in the country.
- Supporting National Institutions that fall under The Ministry’s purview.
- Strengthening the relationship & cooperation between The Ministry and Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations that work along with The Ministry.
- Empowering The Ministry’s departments and agencies to carry out mandated work.
- Preparation of legislative proposals and revision of previous laws related to The Ministry’s obligations.
- The mobilization of the public and rewarding individuals and independent committees that create value for the country and its people.
- Completing National Laws and finding solutions for the internally displaced.
- Implementation of civil registrations and a Public Identification System.
Play Video