The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology of the Republic of Somaliland (MICT) () () is a member of the Somaliland government ministries which is responsible for formulating developmental policies aimed at accelerating growth of telecommunication and technology services in the country.
The name of this ministry was originally the Ministry of Post and Communication (). By presidential decree in 2018, it became the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology. This ministry is also translated as Ministry of Communications and Technology or Ministry of Telecommunications and Technology.
History In 2013, Mohamed Jama Abgaal was appointed Minister of Posts and Communications. He stated that before assuming office he had felt dissatisfied with being appointed to what he believed was not a major ministry, but shortly after taking office he realized that the ministry held a highly significant role. He further noted that the objectives for which the ministry had originally been established had not yet been fully achieved, due to various circumstances and constraints. He also explained that Somaliland’s telecommunications sector was effectively managed by independent private companies that had grown economically strong, while the government institutions that were expected to regulate and oversee them remained comparatively weaker, resulting in a considerable gap between the state and the private sector.
In January 2015, after a local newspaper reported that the Ministry of Posts and Communications had sold part of its compound, the ministry denied that any such sale had taken place.
In August 2017, the Federal Government of Somalia announced a telecommunications regulatory law that included Somaliland within its scope, but the Somaliland Minister of Posts and Communications stated that Somaliland is an independent state and that the Somali law does not apply to Somaliland.
In March 2019, elders from Somaliland diaspora communities living in the United Kingdom issued a press statement criticizing the Ministry of Posts and Communications, stating that it was unclear what work the ministry was undertaking for the country.
Ministers Image Minister Somali Name Term start Term end Osman Adan Dool Cismaan Aadan Dool 1993 Hassan Abdi Kheyre Xasan Cabdi Kheyre July 2003 June 2006 Liban Duale Asayr Liibaan Ducaale Casayr June 2006 Ali Mahamud Ahmed Cali Maxamuud Axmed December 2009 Abdirisaq Ibrahim Mohamed Cabdirisaaq Ibraahim Maxamed 28 July 2010 15 January 2011 Ahmed Hashi Oday Axmed Xaashi Oday 15 January 2011 13 March 2012 Ali Cilmi Gele Cali Cilmi Geele 13 March 2012 26 June 2013 Mohamed Jama Abgal Maxamed Jaamac Abgaal 26 June 2013 April 2016 (Vacant) April 2016 Mahamud Sheikh Abdillahi Ige Maxamuud Sheekh Cabdillaahi Cige August 2016 June 2017 Mustafe Farah Abrar Mustafe Faarax Abraar June 2017 Abdiweli Sheikh Abdillahi Cabdilaahi Sheekh Cabdilaahi Jibriil 14 December 2017 14 November 2023 Ahmed Yusuf Idris Cawale Axmed Yuusuf Idiris Cawaale 14 November 2023 Jamal Mohamed Jama Jamaal Maxamed Jaamac December 2024 Abdisalaan Hussein Awale Cabdisalaan Xuseen Cawaale April 2026Present
See also Politics of Somaliland Cabinet of Somaliland
References
External links Official Site of the Government of Somaliland