HARGEISA, Somaliland (HornPost) President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro” on Sunday officially launched a ceremony announcing the recruitment of 1,393 new Somaliland government employees, as the government moves to fill positions left vacant by public servants retiring in 2026.
The recruitment marks a significant development in Somaliland’s public-sector employment system, coming as the government begins implementing a formal retirement and pension framework for civil servants and national security personnel.
The new employees will be distributed across Somaliland’s regions under a regional quota system announced by the government.
Awdal Gets Largest Share of New Government Jobs
According to the allocation announced at the ceremony, Awdal region will receive the largest share of the new government employees, while Sool and Sahil will receive the smallest allocations.
The regional distribution is as follows:
- Awdal — 25%
- Marodi-Jeh — 20%
- Togdheer — 20%
- Sanaag — 15%
- Sool — 10%
- Sahil — 10%
The government said the overall number of employees to be recruited is 1,393, while 768 positions classified under grades A and B will be subject to competitive recruitment.
The allocation is part of the government’s effort to replace employees reaching retirement age while maintaining the continuity of public services across the country.
Somaliland Begins Formal Retirement System
The introduction of the recruitment program coincides with the implementation of Somaliland’s retirement system, which establishes a formal framework for managing the retirement and pension rights of government employees.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Irro said civil servants and members of the Somaliland National Armed Forces have a legal right to receive their salaries and retirement benefits in accordance with the country’s laws.
The president said the Retirement and Benefits Law for Government Employees establishes a system for managing retirement rights and places responsibility for administering the system on the government’s retirement and employee benefits institution.
“My government is committed to ensuring that this system is transparent, fair, sustainable and protects the dignity and rights of government employees…”
— President of Somaliland
President Irro emphasized that implementing the retirement and benefits system is not merely an administrative measure but also represents the fulfillment of a constitutional obligation and the protection of the legal rights of public servants who have spent many years serving the country.
President: Retirement Is Not the End of National Service
The president stressed that retirement should not be viewed as the end of an individual’s value or dignity after years of public service.
Instead, he described retirement as a stage in which the government fulfills its responsibilities toward those who have served the country by providing them with recognition, care and their legally guaranteed benefits.
“The retirement and benefits system will become a permanent annual mechanism, with the institution systematically registering and retiring employees who reach retirement age every year, in accordance with the law and the country’s regulations.”
— President of Somaliland
President Irro also thanked government employees who have reached retirement age, praising their years of service and the sacrifices they made while working under difficult circumstances.
“Retirement is not the end of national service, but rather an honorable stage in which recognition is given to a person who has fulfilled their national duties for many years.”
— President Irro
He added:
“I would like to thank here all the government employees who have reached retirement age today, who devoted many years of their lives to serving their country.”
— President of Somaliland
Government Agencies Ordered to Cooperate
President Irro praised the Retirement and Benefits Agency for Government Employees for the work it has carried out in a relatively short period.
He instructed all government ministries, agencies and other national institutions to fully cooperate with the retirement and employee benefits institution to ensure the new system is implemented effectively.
The president’s remarks place emphasis on establishing a predictable and institutionalized retirement process rather than treating retirement as an occasional administrative exercise.
Under the system outlined by the president, government employees who reach the legally defined retirement age will be registered and retired annually according to established procedures.
Awdal Receives Highest Recruitment Allocation
Government ministers and officials also addressed the ceremony, explaining the regional allocation of the new government positions.
The chairman of Somaliland’s Civil Service Commission, Abdiasis Mohamed Hirsi, highlighted Awdal’s position as the region receiving the largest share of the government’s new recruitment.
“Awdal region has received the largest share of the employees the government will recruit this year, which is 25%.”
The regional quota system means that the 1,393 new positions will be distributed among Somaliland’s regions according to the percentages announced by the government.
The move comes as Somaliland seeks to balance the replacement of retiring public servants with the recruitment of new employees while strengthening the institutional management of its civil service.
Key Figures
1,393 — Total new government employees to be recruited
768 — Grade A and B positions subject to competitive recruitment
25% — Awdal’s share
20% — Marodi-Jeh’s share
20% — Togdheer’s share
15% — Sanaag’s share
10% — Sool’s share
10% — Sahil’s share
The government’s announcement represents a major transition for Somaliland’s civil service, combining the annual retirement of eligible employees with the recruitment of new personnel to fill vacancies and maintain government services.
Prepared by:
Horn post staff
Hargeisa, Somaliland
