By - Reporter
Loading article content...
Loading article content...
MOGADISHU, 21 October 2026 - Somalia’s Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs said on Wednesday that marriages can only be conducted by a judge or by an officiant officially registered with the ministry, under a new procedure meant to regulate how marriages are performed and recorded.
The ministry said the procedure sets out systems for the registration, training, licensing and oversight of marriage officiants, as well as the steps for conducting, documenting and registering marriages.
It applies to officiants and to government institutions responsible for registering and licensing them, conducting marriages, and recording marriage contracts, the ministry said.
The ministry urged officiants across Somalia to register with it and comply with the requirements. It said the privacy and personal rights of the people involved in a marriage must be protected in line with the law.
Related articles
It also asked citizens to follow the procedure so that marriage disputes can be resolved through official channels.
The ministry called on the judiciary, the justice ministries of Somalia’s federal member states, the Banadir Regional Administration and other relevant bodies to strengthen cooperation to address challenges in marriage matters.
The ministry said it issued the procedure under Article 122 of Somalia’s constitution and a government regulation issued by prime ministerial decree in February 2025.