Somali Senate Approves Power Bill, Opening Path for Energy Sector Reform

On 20 February 2023, Goobjoog News reported that Somalia's Senate had endorsed the country's electricity bill, moving the long-debated legislation one step closer to enactment. The report, based on the Senate's regular session in Mogadishu, said the chamber discussed the bill and ultimately gave its approval after members raised no significant legal errors during debate.

The debate included concerns about the current electricity sector. Goobjoog News reported that Osman Abukar Dufle, speaking on the implications of electricity, said electric provider companies do not give compensation to people whose properties burned, and that electricity sometimes takes lives. These statements were attributed to the session discussions and did not represent formal Senate findings.

The bill now goes to the president. Goobjoog News reported that the legislation has already been backed by the House of the People and "awaits the president to inaction it," a phrase that likely means the president has not yet signed the bill into law. The report does not establish whether the president has taken action since 2023-02-20.

Minister of Energy and Water Resources Jama Takal Abbas thanked the senators for approving the bill, which he called important for the country, according to Goobjoog News.

The report does not provide the full text of the bill, its exact provisions, or any official confirmation from the Somali government about the legislative process. It also does not state the exact date of the Senate session, referring only to "Sunday" before 2023-02-20. As of the publication date, the bill's enactment remained pending presidential action.