Somalia’s Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has announced new rules governing who can conduct marriages and how unions must be documented and registered, introducing a formal procedure aimed at strengthening oversight of marriage ceremonies and records across the country.
Under the new procedure, marriages may only be conducted by a judge or an officiant officially registered with the ministry. The rules also establish requirements for registering, training, licensing and supervising marriage officiants, alongside procedures for documenting marriage contracts and entering them into official records.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry urged marriage officiants across Somalia to register with the relevant authorities and comply with the new requirements.
The procedure applies both to marriage officiants and to government institutions responsible for their registration and licensing, conducting marriages and maintaining official records of marriage contracts.
The ministry said the new framework was intended to establish clearer procedures for conducting and registering marriages, while ensuring that disputes arising from marriage matters could be addressed through recognised official channels.
New Requirements for Marriage Officiants
Under the procedure, people authorised to conduct marriages must meet the ministry’s registration and licensing requirements. The framework also provides for their training and oversight, placing their activities within a more structured administrative system.
The ministry called on officiants to comply with the requirements, signalling that those conducting marriage ceremonies are expected to operate within the formal system rather than outside the established procedures.
The rules also address the documentation and registration of marriage contracts, which form an important part of establishing official records of marriages.
The ministry urged citizens to follow the prescribed procedures, saying this would help ensure that marriage-related disputes could be resolved through official institutions.
Government Agencies Asked to Strengthen Cooperation
The Justice Ministry called on the judiciary, justice ministries in Somalia’s federal member states, the Banadir Regional Administration and other relevant institutions to work together in addressing challenges related to marriages.
The appeal highlights the role of coordination between federal and regional authorities in implementing the procedure and handling disputes involving marriage registration and documentation.
The ministry also emphasised that the privacy and personal rights of individuals entering into marriage must be protected in accordance with the law.
The procedure was issued under Article 122 of Somalia’s Constitution and a government regulation introduced through a prime ministerial decree in February 2025, according to the ministry.
The new framework sets out the administrative requirements for conducting and recording marriages, with implementation expected to involve authorised officiants and the relevant government institutions across Somalia.