Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamze Abdi Barre has issued a decree renaming the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs to the Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs, reinforcing the country’s constitutional position of Islam as the state religion.
The rebranding reflects Somalia’s longstanding identity as a Muslim nation, where Islam has been deeply woven into the fabric of society and governance. The ministry has historically focused on serving Somalia’s Muslim population and maintaining relationships with the broader Muslim world.
Under Somalia’s constitution, Islam holds a unique position as the sole officially recognized religion, with no provisions for religious pluralism. This stance is evident in the urban landscape of major cities like Mogadishu, where historical Christian churches are no longer present.
The ministry’s responsibilities remain centered on overseeing religious endowments and Islamic affairs within the Federal Republic of Somalia, continuing its role in administering religious matters in accordance with the country’s constitutional framework.
This ministerial rename aligns with Somalia’s existing legal and social structure, where Islamic institutions play a central role in both governance and daily life. The change in nomenclature appears to be part of the government’s effort to more precisely reflect the ministry’s actual scope and function within Somalia’s Islamic state framework.
