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MOGADISHU — The House of the People of the Federal Parliament of Somalia has officially ratified the legislation establishing the National Meteorological and Climate Services Agency, a strategic milestone aimed at strengthening national capacity to address climate change and enhance disaster preparedness.
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Major General Bashir Mohamed Jama, expressed his sincere appreciation to the House of the People for passing this important law, commending the technical support provided by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) during its development.
The Minister praised the pivotal role of Dr. Guleid Abdiqadir Artan, Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the WMO, for facilitating the adoption of the law and coordinating international and national efforts to ensure the success of this strategic scientific project.
Major General Bashir described the approval as a distinguished national achievement, noting that the new agency will serve as a modern national institution responsible for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and providing precise scientific data to support evidence-based development planning.
The agency is expected to play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of farmers, pastoralists, and fishers by providing accurate climate information that enables local communities to better prepare for and respond to immediate environmental challenges and avoid risks.
The Ministry emphasized that establishing this agency will contribute to building a comprehensive national climate database, making it easier for policymakers to devise long-term strategies to mitigate the impacts of droughts and floods, which have recently increased in frequency.
The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to implementing the new law’s requirements with transparency and effectiveness, ensuring the agency performs its national duties fully to serve the best interests of the Somali people and achieve sustainable development goals.
This step is part of the Somali government’s move to digitize and develop scientific services, linking them with international climate institutions to ensure the exchange of information and expertise that contributes to environmental and natural resource protection.
The Parliament concluded the ratification process by confirming that the agency will be the sole official reference for weather data in the country, ending information inconsistency and establishing a new era of organized institutional environmental work.
The establishment of a national meteorological agency in Somalia marks a transition from “dependence on external reports” to “informational sovereignty” in the environmental sector. In a country where over 80% of the economy relies on agriculture and pastoralism, the accuracy of weather forecasts is a matter of national food security. Having a national scientific institution will reduce human and material losses resulting from severe climate fluctuations in the Horn of Africa. Furthermore, it grants Somalia an active role in international organizations by providing accurate field data that contributes to understanding global climate change and improving local adaptation strategies.
