Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has inaugurated two major government facilities in Hirshabelle, opening new buildings for the regional parliament and Ministry of Security during a visit to the state capital, Jowhar.
The president presided over the inauguration ceremony on Monday, marking a new development in the regional administration’s efforts to strengthen public institutions and improve the delivery of government services.
The newly opened facilities are expected to provide better working environments for members of the Hirshabelle House of Representatives and officials in the regional Ministry of Security.
Speaking during the ceremony, Hassan Sheikh praised the regional leadership for investing in government infrastructure, arguing that properly equipped public institutions were necessary for effective administration.
“The construction and upgrading of public institutions would help government officials carry out their responsibilities more effectively and improve services delivered to citizens,” the president said.
He also challenged members of the regional parliament to use their positions responsibly, reminding them that their decisions should reflect the needs and interests of the communities they represent.
The visit comes at a politically sensitive moment for the regional administration, following the re-election of President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Gudlawe and the election of Abdifatah Hassan Afrah as vice president in October.
The electoral process has faced objections from some traditional elders and political figures in Hiiraan, who have questioned the process and called for wider consultations on political representation and power-sharing.
Hassan Sheikh’s presence in Jowhar comes as the Federal Government continues engaging Hirshabelle’s leadership amid the disagreements. His visit also provided an opportunity to publicly reinforce the importance of institutional development, unity and cooperation between the regional and federal administrations.