Somali region president names new executive council after reelection

Jigjiga (HOL) — Somali Regional State President Mustafe Mohamud Omar Cagjar appointed a new 27-member Executive Council on Thursday, hours after regional lawmakers reelected him for another five-year term.

The new council, which functions as the regional cabinet, includes officials responsible for security, finance, justice, agriculture, health, education, trade, investment, infrastructure and other government sectors.

Mohamed Sheikh Adan Ismail was named to the Education Office, while Faysal Rashid Omar was appointed to Skills and Job Creation. Muse Ahmed Ibrahim will lead the Health Office, Siyad Nur Abdi the Water Office and Ibrahim Hassan Ali the Livestock Office.

Hussein Gaydh Ahmed was appointed to the Revenue Office, Omer-Farouk Haji Warfaa to Planning and Hibo Ahmed Omar to Trade. Halimo Hassan Mohamud will lead the Women’s Affairs Office, while Ayan Abdi Mohamed was appointed to the Civil Service Office.

Mohamed Fatah Mohamed was named to the Irrigation Office and Abdi Ahmed Hassan, known as Abdirauuf, to the Information Office. Khadra Bashir Mohamud was appointed to Investment and Industry, while Idiris Muse Abdi will oversee Roads and Ahmed Shukri Abdi will lead Urban Development.

Mohamed Ali Dahir, known as Gurey, was appointed to the Innovation and Technology Office, while Ahmed-Yasin Sheikh Ibrahim Abdi was named to Disaster Management. Fadumo Abdirisaq Adow will lead the Minerals and Petroleum Office and Ayan Mohamed Mohamud the Culture and Tourism Office.

Muhyadin Abdi Hussein was appointed to the Social Affairs Office, Mohamed Mahdi Adan to Youth and Sports and Hani Mohamed Khayre to Environmental Protection and Climate Change.

The appointments came after the Somali Regional State parliament reelected Mustafe during the first session of the region’s seventh council.

Lawmakers also reelected Ibrahim Osman Farah as vice president and chose Mubashir Dubad Rage as speaker of the regional parliament.

Mustafe Cagjar, has led the Somali Regional State since August 2018, when he took office following the removal of former regional President Abdi Mohamoud Omar, commonly known as Abdi Iley.

He was returned to office after the 2021 regional election, when the Somali branch of Ethiopia’s Prosperity Party won control of the regional council.

His latest reelection gives him another five-year term and extends his leadership of the region into a third political phase since 2018.