Somali President signs telecommunications bill

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Monday signed the National Communications law to regulate the country's telecommunication sector, Garowe Online reports.

The signing ceremony was held at the presidential palace and attended by the Senate speaker, Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, the deputy Speaker of the House of the People, Abdiweli Ibrahim Mudey, deputy PM, Mahdi Mohamud Guled, Ministers, lawmakers, scholars, and experts worked on the new telecom bill.

The Minister for Posts, Telecoms and Technology, Abdi Ashur Hassan, said the law was a longest to be approved by the Parliament, as its drafting started in 2005, which shows its importance to the country.

The act has been sitting in front of the 7th, 8th, and 9th parliaments. It was finally endorsed by the current national assembly, both Lower and Upper houses in August 2017.

President Farmajo has praised the various government agencies worked on the bill, noting that the positive product resulted in the teamwork was a sign for the good cooperation between them.

"It is true that there are many challenges, and we know that the problems of our country cannot be solved in one night, but everyone sees that Somalia is moving forward," said the President.

The telecoms Act comes into effect on the signing of the President as it had already been passed by the Cabinet and the two Houses of the Parliament (Senate and house of the people).

GAROWE ONLINE