Somaliland adopts a three-year roadmap to reform judiciary

Somaliland has adopted a three-year roadmap to reform its judiciary, following a national conference in Hargeisa.

July 14, 2026

Dignitaries in colorful robes seated at a conference with banners in the background.

The National Judiciary Conference on Judicial Reform, Independence and Access to Justice, held from 28 to 29 June 2026, brought together more than 150 judges, government officials, legal professionals, civil society representatives, academics and development partners to chart the country’s next phase of justice sector reform.

The Judiciary Reform Implementation Roadmap (2026–2029), adopted on the final day of the conference on 29 June, provides a coordinated framework to guide implementation over the next three years, translating reform commitments into practical action through stronger institutions, improved coordination and measures aimed at expanding access to justice across Somaliland.

Alongside the roadmap, participants adopted a national communique — building on commitments made during the National Justice Conference in December 2025 — reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening judicial independence, improving judicial accountability, expanding legal aid services, promoting institutional coordination and increasing public confidence in the rule of law.

The communiqué sets out a series of priority actions to guide implementation of the reform agenda. These include strengthening the Judicial Commission, increasing the number of Supreme Court judges, improving judicial remuneration and welfare, modernizing case administration and case management systems, establishing the Somaliland Judicial Training Institute, reinforcing judicial accountability and complaints mechanisms, enhancing the legal and institutional response to cybercrime and cyberbullying, improving judicial infrastructure and technology, strengthening the enforcement of court judgments and advancing a comprehensive package of legislative reforms. The legislative agenda includes reviewing and updating key laws governing the judiciary, evidence, judicial welfare, the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court, the Penal Code, customary justice, counterterrorism, prevention of violence against women, family law, notaries, advocates, anti-corruption, the Somaliland Bar Association and dispute resolution mechanisms for land and tax disputes.

While participants acknowledged progress in strengthening Somaliland’s justice sector, they also recognized that access to justice remains uneven. Court backlogs, limited legal aid services, and resource constraints were identified as continuing challenges affecting the timely delivery of justice, particularly for women, children, persons with disabilities and people living in remote communities. The roadmap seeks to address these challenges by strengthening judicial performance, improving institutional capacity and expanding access to justice.

Photograph of a man in a suit speaking at a podium, with a green flag behind.

Addressing these challenges requires sustained national leadership. Speaking at the conference, H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, President of the Republic of Somaliland, said, “The judiciary and justice are the most important pillars for protecting the rule of law, the rights of citizens and the foundations of statehood.”

Portrait of a woman in a black hijab and fur coat with glasses, standing against a dark gray wall.

Discussions throughout the conference also highlighted the importance of ensuring that judicial reform delivers tangible improvements for people who face the greatest barriers to justice. Ifrah Aden, Chairperson of the Somaliland Women Lawyers Association (SWLA), drew attention to the challenges many women, particularly mothers, experience during divorce proceedings when they cannot afford legal representation.

Portrait of a woman in a black hijab and dress seated at a table in a banquet hall.

“Every mother going through divorce proceedings should have access to a lawyer free of charge. Justice should not depend on whether a woman can afford legal representation.”

For Balkisa Ibrahim, a lawyer with Raven Law Firm, the conference reflected both the progress achieved and the responsibility that lies ahead.

“Participating in the conference deepened my understanding of the reforms taking place within the justice system. The discussions and recommendations exchanged underscored the necessity of a judiciary founded on fairness and equal justice for all.”

Photograph: man in a white blazer and sunglasses holds a leaflet before a bright green backdrop.

Participants also emphasized that sustaining judicial reform depends on investing in legal education and preparing the next generation of legal professionals. Abdifatah Mohamed Saed “Hagerlaawe”, Dean of the School of Law and Legal Studies at Franz Fanon University, highlighted the role universities play in strengthening the justice sector.

“Law faculties in our universities are the cornerstone of a strong and independent judiciary. By educating competent, ethical and justice-oriented legal professionals, they lay the foundation for the rule of law, judicial excellence and sustainable national development in Somaliland.”

Man in suit and red tie speaks at a podium, with a green-red banner and logos behind.

H.E. Adam Haji Ali, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Chairman of the Judicial Commission, emphasized the progress achieved since the 2025 National Justice Conference has laid the groundwork for this next phase, adding that the priority now is to ensure reform commitments are translated into lasting improvements for institutions and the people they serve.

The conference reaffirmed that judicial reform in Somaliland is nationally led, with development partners supporting priorities identified by the judiciary and government institutions. The conference was supported by the UN Joint Rule of Law Programme II, implemented by UNDP, UN Women and UNODC with funding from the European Union, which continues to provide technical and financial support to strengthen institutional capacity, improve access to justice and advance the rule of law.

Timeline infographic of Somaliland justice sector and GBV milestones with blue bars.

About the project:

The UN Joint Rule of Law Programme for Somaliland (JROLP II) is a UNDP-led initiative, implemented in partnership with UNODC and UN Women, that supports the Government of Somaliland to extend justice and security services to rural and underserved communities through a regional hub model. Running from 2023 to 2026 with funding from the European Union and the Multi Partner Trust Fund (MPTF), the programme works with institutions including the Ministry of Justice, the Somaliland Police, the Supreme Court, and traditional elders to improve access to justice, strengthen police accountability, and advance gender-responsive rule of law, with a focus on reaching women, IDPs, and other marginalized groups.