Somali Senate Approves Bill Establishing National Environmental Management Agency (NEMA)

MOGADISHU (SONNA) – The Upper House of the Federal Parliament of Somalia has approved the bill establishing the National Environmental Management Agency (NEMA) after completing its third reading during the 12th sitting of its eighth session.

The session was chaired by the Speaker of the Upper House, H.E. Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, accompanied by the Second Deputy Speaker, H.E. Abdullahi Ali Hirsi (Timacadde).

All senators present voted in favour of the bill, with none abstaining or voting against it, following a report presented by the Chairperson of the Senate Resources Committee, Senator Zaynab Ismail Mohamed. The report outlined amendments made to the bill and how they incorporated senators’ recommendations from the second reading.

The Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Mr. Hussein Ali Haji, thanked the senators for approving the legislation and explained its importance and the issues it seeks to address.

During the same sitting, senators conducted the second reading of the Somali Cybersecurity Bill and the International Judicial Cooperation Bill. Reports on the two bills were presented by the Deputy Chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Ibrahim Awgaab Osman, and Senate Justice Committee member Senator Said Abdi Hussein Awke.

Several senators shared their views on the provisions and refinement of the proposed legislation.

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mr. Hassan Macallin, and the Minister of Communications and Technology, Mr. Mohamed Adan Macallin (Soomaali), responded to questions from senators concerning the two bills.