By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 19 November 2025 — Somalia’s Upper House has endorsed the nine nominated members of the National Human Rights Commission, moving the body a step closer to becoming operational pending presidential approval.
The list of nine commissioners was endorsed on Wednesday with 28 senators voting in favour and one abstaining. The members were sworn in immediately after the vote.
Human Rights Minister Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzumi welcomed the approval, saying the commissioners now carry a constitutional responsibility to safeguard the rights of citizens.
“We thank you for the trust placed in the Commission. We hope they will carry out their duties in service of the Somali people,” she said.
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The House of the People had approved the nominees on 11 October. The commissioners will now select a chairperson and deputy chairperson from among themselves.
Once operational, the Commission will oversee human rights monitoring, reporting and protection nationwide — a role previously filled mainly by international bodies.
The move follows Somalia’s re-engagement with the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last month, which reaffirmed the country’s authority over national rights oversight.
