Somalia’s Interior Minister Leads Second Annual Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Meeting

Mogadishu, Somalia – The Second Annual Meeting of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Steering Committee was inaugurated by the Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation of the Federal Government of Somalia, HE Ahmed Moalim Fiqi. The event saw the participation of representatives from federal and state levels, including the sectors of Interior, Justice, Health, and Education, along with members of the United Nations.

According to Somali National News Agency, the committee, composed of representatives from both the federal and state levels, plays a pivotal role in the government’s service delivery and decentralization efforts. The meeting’s primary goal was to review the achievements of the past year and plan for the upcoming year.

George Conway, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, emphasized the significance of the National ID and Civil Registration in the planning and execution of national services. The event featured presentations by experts from the Ministry of Interior Federal Affairs and Reconciliation, focusing on the National CRVS Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 and the Digital CRVS System.

The Deputy Minister of Health and Human Services, Dr. Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Bulaale, spoke about the critical role an effective Civil Registration System plays in their work. He noted that the registration of births and deaths is essential for improving health service delivery.

Oliver Chinganya, Director of the African Centre for Statistics, acknowledged the significant progress made since 2012 in strengthening CRVS systems in Somalia, despite the challenges of a fragile administrative environment.

Representatives from various federal, state, and regional levels in Somalia expressed their gratitude to Minister Fiqi for his leadership in uniting different government institutions and steering the Civil Registration efforts in the country. This meeting represents a key step in enhancing governance and service delivery in Somalia through improved civil registration and vital statistics.