LASANOD, (HAN) – The president of Somalia’s newly established Northeastern State, Abdiqadir Ahmed Ali (Firdhiye), has unveiled a 21-member cabinet, according to an official decree issued from his office on Monday.
The announcement marks a key step in consolidating the administration of the emerging Northeastern State, also known as SSC-Khaatumo, which recently declared autonomy following months of political and military tension in the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn regions.
President Firdhiye’s cabinet comprises 21 ministers, including one female minister, a modest but symbolic step toward gender inclusion in a region where women’s representation in politics has been historically limited.
Several appointees are former Puntland lawmakers and ministers, suggesting that the president sought to blend political experience with regional representation. A number of ministers also served in the previous SSC-Khaatumo administration, reinstated by Firdhiye in what he described as an effort to ensure continuity and stability during the state’s formative period.
“This cabinet represents the aspirations of our people and the beginning of an inclusive government that will address the social, economic, and security challenges facing the region,” President Firdhiye said in his statement.
The president emphasized that the formation of the cabinet was guided by consultations with community elders, scholars, and youth representatives, aiming to reflect the diversity of the Northeastern State’s constituencies.
While the list of deputy ministers and state ministers has not yet been released, sources close to the presidency indicated that those appointments are expected to be announced in the coming days.
The cabinet formation comes after reports of a power-sharing disagreement between President Firdhiye and his deputy, the well-known poet Abdirashid, who also serves as the state’s vice president. The two leaders were said to have disagreed over the allocation of key ministerial portfolios, but insiders confirmed that the dispute was resolved amicably shortly before Monday’s announcement.
The newly appointed ministers are expected to be sworn in later today in Lasanod, the administrative capital of the Northeastern State, in a ceremony expected to draw traditional leaders, civil society representatives, and members of the media.
The formation of this cabinet is seen as a critical milestone in the Northeastern State’s journey toward establishing functioning institutions and asserting its governance framework in a region long affected by instability and contested authority.
