Somalia Minister of Women Seeks New Post Over Lack of Lootable Funds - Sources Say

by: Ahmed Mohamed | 23 June 2025 20:37

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Somalia Minister of Women Seeks New Post Over Lack of Lootable Funds - Sources Say

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) – Somalia's Minister of Women and Human Rights, Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, is reportedly seeking a reassignment to a different cabinet post due to what sources say is a lack of access to lucrative proj

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According to officials familiar with internal discussions, Al-Makhzoumi's husband, Abdikarin Hussein Guled—a prominent political ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud—has been pushing for her reassignment.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) – Somalia's Minister of Women and Human Rights, Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, is reportedly seeking a reassignment to a different cabinet post due to what sources say is a lack of access to lucrative projects in her current ministry.

Two senior government officials confirmed to Horn Observer this week that Minister Al-Makhzoumi, who also serves as a Member of Parliament and was previously Somalia’s ambassador to Iraq and Pakistan, has been lobbying for a portfolio with greater financial opportunities.

According to officials familiar with internal discussions, Al-Makhzoumi’s husband, Abdikarin Hussein Guled—a prominent political ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud—has been pushing for her reassignment.

Guled, 59, is a former Galmudug State President and former Minister of Internal Security. Until recently, he served as President Mohamud’s special envoy for Somalia–Somaliland talks, a role widely criticized for lacking tangible outcomes despite substantial government funding.

"In April and May this year, Guled approached president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and requested that his wife be moved to a more resource-rich ministry,” said a cabinet insider. "The argument was that the current post offers little room for development projects or external funding.”

Another source close to Villa Somalia said President Mohamud is now seriously considering Al-Makhzoumi’s reassignment to prevent Guled from defecting to the opposition—a threat he reportedly made during recent political tensions.

Suggested posts include the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources or the Ministry of Petroleum—both of which oversee major donor-funded projects.

"The Ministry of Energy and Water Resources manages several World Bank and UNDP programs, including GEF-funded climate and energy initiatives,” the source said. "It’s seen as a lucrative ministry.”

Al-Makhzoumi first entered Somalia's local politics in 2022 when she was controversially appointed to parliament during a chaotic electoral process.

Her nomination, reportedly influenced by then-Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble—her husband’s cousin—sparked outrage from elders in the Banaadiri community, who accused Roble of manipulating the delegate selection process in her favor.

"PM Roble should return the parliamentary seat he looted and gave to his friend’s wife,” said Idiris Abdi, a Banaadiri elder at the time.

Roble acknowledged the controversy in a statement on February 19, 2022, and promised to form a committee to investigate.

Later, Al-Makhzoumi was appointed Minister of Environment and Climate Change in August 2022 under Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre.

Sources claim she used the position to steer donor-funded projects toward entities affiliated with the president—including SIMAD University, which President Mohamud is linked to.

In November 2023, her ministry awarded SIMAD a project through an agreement meant to create a climate research and training center. The so-called agreement was co-signed by Dahir Arab, who led the institution and currently serving as ambassador of Somalia to New York.

In a statement, SIMAD University stated: 'The MoU signifies the shared commitment of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and SIMAD University to work hand in hand to promote the preservation, protection, and sustainable development of a greener and healthier Somalia."

PHOTO: (Left) Somalia's current ambassador to New York, Dahir Arab, signed the agreement with Al-Makhzoumi [right] in November 2023.

Al-Makhzoumi's ministerial shift occurred again in December 2024 after public outcry led to the removal of General Bashir Mohamed Jama, also known as Goobe, from the Ministry of Women.

Jama, a former intelligence chief accused of overseeing human rights violations including rape of women detainees, was reassigned to Climate Change, while Al-Makhzoumi was moved to Women and Human Rights, as announced by the Prime Minister's Office.

Another controversy

Controversy has long followed Al-Makhzoumi. During her tenure as Somalia’s ambassador to Pakistan between 2015 and 2022, parliamentary aides allege she was involved in drug trafficking using diplomatic cover.

One aide claimed she used embassy privileges to transport heroin and amassed considerable wealth through illicit dealings—allegations that were widely known in parliament but never formally investigated.

"If there were an award for crookery woman, Al-Makhzoumi would win,” said a former aide to the Speaker’s Office who requested anonymity.

In 2017, Puntland students in Pakistan accused Ambassador Al-Makhzoumi and her embassy staff of discrimination, visa delays, increased fees, and even unlawful arrests.

Garowe Online reported that a student representative, Abdikarim Hussein Mohamed, complained that their concerns were ignored despite appeals to then-President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire.

While Al-Makhzoumi has never responded publicly to these allegations, political analysts say her potential reassignment underscores how personal networks and clan alliances continue to shape cabinet decisions in Somalia—often at the expense of governance and accountability.

When we contacted Minister Al-Makhzoumi's personal assistant and the Director General of her ministry, both said they were not authorized to speak on her behalf. Several calls to her went unanswered.

Horn Observer will continue monitoring developments on this story.