By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Djibouti (Dawan Africa) President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of the Republic of Djibouti has appointed new members to the government following a cabinet reshuffle. The new appointees have been assigned key ministries and portfolios affecting public services, the economy, youth, culture and local governance.
Hana Farah Assoweh, appointed Minister of Women and Family Affairs, is a senior official with experience in social protection, institutional governance and the development of public services. In 2007, she became a member of the Board of Directors of Djibouti’s electricity company, EDD, before being appointed Director General of the National Social Security Fund, CNSS, in 2014. In 2017, she became Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Labour, where she worked on issues related to social legislation, employment and institutional governance. Her new role is expected to focus on family protection, women’s empowerment and strengthening social cohesion in Djibouti.
Orbis Helaf Orbis, appointed Minister of Commerce and Tourism, is a diplomat with long experience in international relations, multilateral cooperation and economic diplomacy. He joined Djibouti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2000, working in the Multilateral Affairs Department. In 2006, he was posted to Djibouti’s embassy in Japan as a diplomatic adviser, before being promoted in 2010 to First Adviser. In 2018, he was appointed Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department. His appointment is seen as potentially strengthening Djibouti’s role in trade, tourism and regional economic cooperation.
Fardoussa Moussa Egueh, appointed Minister of Youth and Culture, is a leader with experience in education, sports and cultural development. She began her career as a teacher of Physical and Sports Education, known as EPS, working at Gabode Lycée and the Industrial and Commercial Lycée in Djibouti. She also holds a Master’s degree in sports management and organisation. Fardoussa led Djibouti’s National Taekwondo Federation and served as First Vice-President of the Djiboutian National Olympic and Sports Committee, CNOSD. At the continental level, she joined the Executive Committee of ACNOA before being elected Vice-President of the organisation. She also has a visible role in arts and culture, having worked in theatre and film.
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Omar Houssein Omar, appointed Minister for Decentralization, is a senior official with more than 40 years of experience in energy, local administration and regional development. He began his career at Djibouti’s electricity company, EDD, in 1980, holding technical and administrative positions. Between 1984 and 1987, he supervised projects to establish power plants in Dikhil and Ali Sabieh. In local governance, he served as Vice-President of the Tadjourah Regional Council from 2003 to 2006 and was elected President of the council in 2017. Since 2022, he has chaired Djibouti’s National Association of Local Authorities, ANCLD, working to strengthen cooperation among local authorities and support decentralization.
Fatouma Ali Abdallah, appointed Secretary of State for Sports, is a public health expert who earned a Master’s degree in 2010. She began her career at the Ministry of Health in 2000 as Coordinator of the Development Programme, BDN. She later held strategic roles including Director of Priority Health Programmes and Director of Studies, Cooperation and Planning. She worked on establishing health committees for community mobilization and management committees to involve the public in the administration of first-level health facilities. She also served as Director of Maternal and Child Health at the Ministry of Health. Her appointment brings experience in public administration, public health and community mobilization to the sports sector.
The appointments show that Djibouti’s new government brings together diverse experience from public administration, diplomacy, health, sports, culture and local governance. The new officials are now expected to contribute to strengthening public services, youth development, economic growth and the expansion of decentralization in the country.