Somalia Forms Six-Ministry Committee to Prepare for Ebola

MUQDISHO — The Council of Ministers of Somalia has approved a plan to prepare for the Ebola virus, and a committee consisting of six ministries has been established, while the government has also discussed the one-person, one-vote elections and Somalia's progress in joining international organizations.

The weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers, chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, presented reports on security, health, elections, trade, and other issues.

The Ministry of Health and Social Care provided the Council of Ministers with a report on the Ebola situation and the measures to prevent the disease from reaching Somalia. The Council then approved a resolution regarding the preparation for the disease, establishing a committee of six ministries chaired by the Second Deputy Prime Minister Jibriil Haji Abdi.

The committee includes the Ministries of Health, Security, Foreign Affairs, Transport, Information, and Animal Husbandry. The government stated that the committee will focus on measures to prevent the risk of the disease and strengthen the preparedness of government agencies.

Regarding the elections, the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation presented a report on the one-person, one-vote elections that took place in the federal states of Galmudug and Hirshabelle. The Council of Ministers stated that the elections were successfully concluded, praising the participation of the public.

The government views the one-person, one-vote elections as part of the efforts to implement the Constitution and the plan to transition the country to a voting system in which the people participate directly.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reported on the benefits Somalia has gained from joining the East African Community (EAC). The government stated that Somali students have benefited from the region's educational fees, while citizens traveling to EAC member countries have received facilitation in terms of travel and other services.

The ministry also mentioned that Somali traders and professionals have received additional opportunities, as Somalia has been granted a permanent workforce quota within EAC institutions for the first time.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry informed the Council that the process of Somalia joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), which has been ongoing for nearly ten years, is in its final stages.

The ministry stated that Somalia is completing the necessary requirements, including the standardization of tariffs on imported goods and the establishment of the administrative bodies required for membership.

Prime Minister Xamsa called on government agencies to expedite priority activities outlined in the DanQaran Government plan, while also strengthening cooperation among agencies to implement the government's plans for this year.

Finally, the Council of Ministers approved the committee of the National Fisheries Company, which consists of nine members, following a proposal from the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy.