President Mohamud Orders Urgent Drought Response, Waives Taxes on Relief Aid

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Federal government of Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has ordered all government institutions to treat Somalia’s deepening drought as a national emergency, calling for swift, coordinated action to prevent a wider humanitarian crisis.

The directive followed a visit to the National Disaster Management Agency’s (SoDMA) emergency response centre in Mogadishu, where the president was briefed on the scale of the drought, including the hardest-hit regions, rising displacement, environmental damage and reported loss of life.

Officials warned that without immediate intervention, the situation could escalate into famine.

President Mohamud instructed federal agencies to place drought response at the top of their priorities and to strengthen coordination with federal member states to ensure aid reaches affected communities without delay.

He also appealed to public officials, the private sector, humanitarian organisations and international partners to mobilise emergency assistance, protect livelihoods and avert further deterioration.

To speed up relief operations, the president directed financial and revenue authorities to exempt all drought-related humanitarian assistance, donations and services from taxation, a move aimed at cutting costs and removing administrative bottlenecks.

Somalia is experiencing one of its most severe climate shocks in recent years, with prolonged drought threatening food security, livestock and access to water across wide areas of the country. Aid agencies have warned that millions remain at risk unless support is rapidly scaled up.

The presidency said the government would continue to monitor the situation closely and work with domestic and international partners to expand relief efforts and prevent a broader humanitarian emergency.