Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday signed into law the establishment of the country's first ever National Human Rights Commission.

The presidential assent marks the final step in a long reform process that has involved extensive legislative and governmental approval.

The commission, aimed at advancing justice, accountability, and legal transparency, was endorsed by both Houses of the Federal Parliament and approved by the cabinet.

The process reached a milestone on July 3, 2025, when Somalia nominated the commission’s first officials. Minister of Family Affairs and Human Rights, Khadija Makhzoumi, hailed that moment as “a historic breakthrough 65 years after Somalia’s statehood,” saying the country was finally joining the ranks of nations with dedicated, independent national human rights bodies.

President hails milestone

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called the commission “a reflection of Somalia’s firm commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of its citizens.”

The establishment of the commission comes during a broader reform to shift human rights oversight from international mechanisms to national institutions.

In September, the cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, unanimously endorsed ending the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on the Human Rights Situation in Somalia, as part of the government’s Human Rights Transition Plan.

The UN mandate is set to conclude at the end of October 2025.

Push for commission establishment

Parallel developments occurred at the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session held on October 8, 2025, when the council ended the mandate of the Independent Expert on Somalia.

Civil society groups have long pushed for a national authority capable of documenting violations, supporting victims, and guiding human-rights-based governance.