MOGADISHU — The Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Transport summoned Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Hussein Ali Haji and other ministry officials to answer additional questions on the draft law to establish the National Weather and Climate Forecasting Agency .
The agenda of the meeting was for the Deputy Minister and ministry officials to respond to further questions raised by committee members regarding the draft legislation, and to provide additional clarification and explanation on certain provisions of the bill .
The Deputy Minister and accompanying officials provided detailed answers to the questions raised by committee members, offering interpretation and further explanation on provisions that required clarification .
Senator Saynab Ismail Mohamed, who chaired the meeting, thanked the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change officials for their responses to the committee’s questions and the explanations they provided on the bill’s provisions .
The Senator noted that such meetings and consultations are important for ensuring that the provisions of the law are clearly defined, understandable, and aligned with the needs, circumstances, and public interest of the nation .
Legislative Review Process
The committee has been reviewing the proposed law for several days as part of its mandate to examine and refine legislation before it advances to the full Senate. The draft law was prepared by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to strengthen Somalia’s legal and institutional framework for climate and weather services .
During an earlier session, committee members met officials from the federal Ministry of Energy and Minerals, who presented their assessment and recommendations on the proposed law .
The committee will continue consultations with relevant government institutions and other stakeholders before completing its review and advancing the legislation to the next stage of the parliamentary process .
Critical Note
The Senate committee’s scrutiny of the draft law to establish a National Weather and Climate Forecasting Agency reflects a necessary legislative process. Somalia is among the countries most vulnerable to climate shocks, including recurrent droughts and floods, and the absence of a dedicated national meteorological institution has long hampered early warning and disaster preparedness efforts.
However, the establishment of a new agency requires careful consideration of institutional capacity, coordination with existing bodies such as the Somali Disaster Management Agency and the Ministry of Environment, and sustainable financing. Without adequate resources and clear mandates, a new agency risks becoming another underfunded institution rather than a functional service provider.
The Senate committee’s questions on the bill’s provisions are a positive sign that lawmakers are taking their oversight role seriously. The success of this legislation will depend on whether it creates a genuinely operational agency with the technical capacity, infrastructure, and authority needed to deliver reliable weather and climate services to Somali citizens.
