2/17/2025
Today from Hiiraan Online:  _
advertisements
Mustaf Duhulow appointed director general of Somalia’s immigration agency amid calls for reform


Thursday December 12, 2024


FILE - Mustaf Ali Duhulow, newly appointed Director General of Somalia’s Immigration and Naturalization Agency, in an 2020 photo.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Veteran Somali lawmaker Mustaf Ali Duhulow has been appointed Director General of the Immigration and Naturalization Agency. The decision was announced Thursday during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre.

The Council of Ministers, acting on a recommendation from the Ministry of Internal Security, unanimously approved Duhulow's nomination. "The Council of Ministers of the Federal Republic of Somalia has endorsed the Ministry of Internal Security's proposal to appoint Mustaf Sheikh Ali Duhulow as the Director General of the Immigration and Naturalization Agency," the official statement read.

Duhulow has been a member of parliament since the Mbagathi peace talks in the early 2000s. He has held key ministerial roles in both transitional and official Somali governments, including Minister of Information from January 2014 to January 2015 under Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed.

His predecessor, Ahmed Saeed Mohamed, recently met with agency staff, urging them to improve passport issuance services and prioritize citizens' needs, particularly those of vulnerable groups.

The Immigration and Naturalization Agency is central to Somalia's administrative framework, managing passport issuance and citizenship documentation. The department has faced scrutiny from the Attorney General's office after he uncovered a multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme. These challenges are compounded by persistent issues such as prolonged processing times and limited access to services for marginalized communities, underscoring the urgent need for reform. 

The leadership change comes as Somalia seeks to rebuild trust in its institutions and deliver on promises of improved governance. 
Duhulow's appointment could signal a push for reforms to streamline services, curb corruption and address inefficiencies. His immediate priorities include reducing bureaucratic hurdles, enhancing customer service, and modernizing operations to meet the growing demand for travel documentation. 



 





Click here