Friday May 26, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama chaired the weekly Council of Ministers meeting in Mogadishu on Thursday, assuming the role in the absence of Prime Minister Hamza Barre,
who is currently in Egypt participating in the annual African Development Bank Group meeting.
The meeting addressed several crucial issues, such as the flooding of the Shabelle River in the Hiiraan region, the National Examination preparations in secondary schools, and the regulation enforcement for auto-rickshaws in Mogadishu.
The Minister of Internal Security and Defense provided the Cabinet Ministers with an update on the nation's security and stability, focusing mainly on the government-led operations against al-Shabab across various regions.
The Council of Ministers lauded the army for its successful efforts against al-Shabab and for enforcing the Council's resolution to regulate Bajaj vehicles in the capital.
A few weeks ago, a cabinet directive was issued to classify the auto-rickshaws operating in Mogadishu into two groups. Beginning on Thursday, each group will work on their respective days.
The Cabinet of Ministers also discussed the humanitarian crisis resulting from the Shabelle River flooding in the Hiiraan region, affecting both people and livestock. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Reconciliation gave an update on the government-led humanitarian aid initiatives for the flood-affected population in Hiiraan.
Since early May, Beledweyne, the capital of Hiiraan, has been heavily flooded, displacing over 200,000 residents. The Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) unit of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that approximately 79% of the town is currently underwater.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Shabelle River began to flood the Buulaburte district in the Hiiraan region, marking it as the second district in the area affected by the floods. Residents have reported that four neighbourhoods, including Wadajir and Indhaceel, are severely affected, leading to the displacement of hundreds of families.
Lastly, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education presented a report on the preparations for the national high school exam. They focused specifically on the 12th grade of the 2022-2023 academic year, an annual examination conducted by the government. The test is held in Mogadishu and other regional states, except for Somaliland and Puntland, where the examinations are run independently.