Interior Minister Chairs Super El Niño Preparedness Meeting in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Interior Minister Ali Yusuf Ali (Xoosh) chaired a meeting of the High Committee for the National Disaster Risk Management Fund, to discuss government preparedness for Super El Niño, according to a statement from the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation.

The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), brought together committee members to assess risks associated with Super El Niño and coordinate a joint response to the anticipated disaster.

Origins of the High Committee

The High Committee was established by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre through a decree issued in June 2026, which appointed its members and tasked them with guiding the management of the National Disaster Risk Management Fund.

Under the decree, the committee is composed of ministers, economic experts, and religious scholars, and is mandated to oversee the fund’s management, monitor disaster situations, and work to secure the financing needed for disaster response.

Interior Minister Ali Yusuf Ali (Xoosh) was appointed as Chairman, while Finance Minister Bihi Iman Egeh serves as Vice-Chairman. The committee also includes the Ministers of Planning, Livestock, Environment and Climate Change, Health, Commerce and Industry, and State Minister for the Office of the Prime Minister, alongside the head of SoDMA. Religious leaders from the Somali Scholars Union, representatives of the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Hormuud Salaam Foundation, and civil society advocates are also members.

Benadir Region and SoDMA Present Preparedness Proposals

During the session, representatives from the Benadir Regional Administration and SoDMA presented proposals on the preparedness plan and outlined ways in which different parties could collaborate. The meeting also addressed clearing waterways, strengthening early warning systems, and taking measures to reduce flooding risks.

Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, who participated in the meeting, called for coordinated preparedness and early action based on El Niño forecasts, stressing the need for full readiness in Banadir to protect its large and vulnerable population.

Civil society leaders at the meeting emphasized the importance of working collectively to prevent and manage the risks posed by Super El Niño.

The Interior Minister, who also serves as Chairman of the High Committee, has previously overseen disaster coordination efforts at the ministry, including meetings with UN officials on flood preparedness and anticipatory action.

Critical Note

The High Committee meeting signals that the government is taking the Super El Niño threat seriously, bringing together federal agencies, regional authorities, and civil society. However, the public statement offers no details on the specific measures proposed, budget allocations, or timelines for implementation. Without concrete commitments, the meeting risks remaining a procedural exercise rather than a substantive step toward protecting vulnerable communities.

The Interior Ministry has convened similar coordination meetings in the past, yet Somalia’s disaster response capacity remains strained by limited resources and weak inter-agency coordination. The involvement of civil society is a positive signal, but their role in implementation, beyond consultation, remains undefined. The National Disaster Risk Management Fund’s actual funding level and disbursement capacity are also not addressed in the official statement, leaving open the question of whether the government has the financial means to mount an effective response before the rains intensify.