South West Strengthening Districts' Resilience to Drought

South West shares drought experience

Mogadishu, June 8, 2026 – The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the South West State, Mr. Abdifitah Ali Mursal, participated today in the 3rd Forum of Somali Mayors, where he shared the state government's experience in local governance, adapting to the impacts of droughts, and community development, as the forum was held in the city of Mogadishu.

This forum is of great importance at this time, as Somalia has faced prolonged droughts that have affected many areas. South West is among the regions most vulnerable to droughts, but joint efforts have helped mitigate the impact by strengthening district administrations and community participation.

“The districts of South West have faced prolonged droughts in recent years, however, joint efforts have helped reduce the impact of these challenges,” said Deputy Minister Abdifitah Ali Mursal. “Strengthening district administrations and community participation is fundamental to the efforts addressing the existing challenges.”

The Deputy Minister specifically emphasized the importance of investing in sustainable water solutions, noting that rainwater harvesting and improving water infrastructure are key to reducing the impacts of droughts. He also reported on the progress made in establishing local councils and conducting elections in some local areas.

On the other hand, the Director General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Federalism, and Reconciliation of the Federal Government of Somalia, Mr. Abdulkadir Elmi Ali, stated that this forum is an important opportunity for mayors and district chairpersons to share their experiences and solutions for improving local governance. He added that this year, particular emphasis is being placed on the impacts of droughts, preventing conflicts arising from resource scarcity, and how to strengthen the resilience of districts.

Finally, the Director General urged participants to work towards finding sustainable solutions to address droughts, while also strengthening collaboration and internal cooperation to support the development and stability of the districts in the country.

The post South West Strengthening Districts' Resilience to Drought first appeared on Radio Dalsan .