Introduction
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change （MOECC） in Somalia has come under intense public scrutiny, prompting a defensive video release that purports to showcase the achievements of Minister General Bashir Mohamed Jama during his first seven months in office. In a detailed fact-check, the Green Media Initiative (GMI) has systematically dismantled these claims, revealing a significant discrepancy between the ministry’s public narrative and the verifiable reality of its operations. This investigation raises profound questions not only about the ministry’s efficacy but also about the political appointments that place individuals without relevant expertise in critical governmental roles. Compounding these issues are persistent reports from credible sources of rampant corruption and administrative incompetence, which have allegedly led to the Ministry of Finance assuming direct oversight of MOECC’s core mandates.
Public Reactions
Screenshots reveal growing public criticism of the MOECC’s top leadership, raising questions over their competence, qualifications, and credibility in steering Somalia’s environmental and climate agenda.
Detailed Findings and Critical Analysis
1. Institutional Establishment and Development: The Illusion of Progress
The ministry’s claims regarding the establishment of two key environmental bodies appear to be demonstrably false.
- Somali National Meteorological Agency (SNMA): The video misleadingly suggests that the SNMA has been established under the current leadership. GMI’s investigation confirms that the legislative framework for this agency was submitted to both the Cabinet and Parliament in October 2023, and its development has been an ongoing process for over three years. The ministry’s current leadership has done little more than inherit a long-standing obligation, presenting it as a new achievement.
- National Environmental Management Agency (NEMA): The claim that this agency exists is unsubstantiated. GMI found no evidence of a formal structure or legal framework. While preliminary discussions may be underway, the assertion of its establishment is a significant overstatement. Such misrepresentation misleads the public and erodes trust in government.
2. Policy and Legislative Frameworks: Claiming Predecessor’s Work
A central theme of the ministry’s self-promotional video is the finalization of three crucial legal and policy instruments. However, a critical review reveals that these frameworks were all completed and approved before Minister Bashir’s appointment.
- Environmental Protection & Management Act: Validated in April 2024.
- National Environmental Policy: Endorsed in February 2023.
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Regulations: Finalized in May 2024.
By including these pre-existing achievements in its list, the current administration is deliberately co-opting the work of its predecessor, Ambassador Khadija Almakhzoumi, to create a false impression of productivity. This tactic highlights a deep-seated lack of substantive progress during the current minister’s tenure.
3.”Green Somalia” Initiative: Verifiable Evidence vs. Hyperbole
- Afforestation Claims: The assertion of planting over 2 million trees is highly suspect. GMI’s documented findings are limited to a modest, small-scale tree-planting campaign in 10 schools in Banadir Region. The ministry has provided no data or verifiable evidence to support the monumental figure it has publicized, suggesting a profound disconnect between rhetoric and reality.
- Energy-Saving Stove Distribution: The distribution of energy-saving stoves is cited as a recent achievement. However, GMI’s investigation traced this initiative to the PROSCAL project in early 2023. No new distribution efforts under the current administration have been confirmed. This recycling of past project successes suggests an inability to initiate and execute new, meaningful programs.
The MOECC’s narrative on the “Green Somalia” initiative relies on unverifiable claims and re-packaged past activities. Much like the minister’s repeated appearances in his trademark green suits, these exaggerated claims reinforce the idea that his leadership is more symbolic than practical — projecting an image of environmental commitment while failing to deliver measurable results.
4. Plastic Ban Campaigns and Waste Management: Stagnation and Symbolic Gestures
The momentum from previous plastic ban campaigns has effectively collapsed. While the ban was actively implemented in 2024, the current administration’s efforts in 2025 have been reduced to just two symbolic events in Baidoa and Dusamareb. The absence of comprehensive data on the scale or impact of waste management activities reinforces the perception of a ministry adrift, relying on token gestures rather than substantive policy implementation. As a result, plastic use remains widespread, with little evidence of enforcement on the ground — making this yet another project where money has been wasted without measurable impact.
5. Project Launches: UGBAAD and GEED—The Specter of Non-Existent Projects
- UGBAAD Project: The video’s representation of the UGBAAD project is particularly misleading. The project, a landmark climate finance initiative, was secured in 2024 under the previous administration. Minister Bashir’s involvement was merely attending a ceremonial launch. Claiming this as an achievement is a transparent attempt to take credit for a foundational initiative he inherited.
- GEED Project: GMI’s exhaustive search for information on the “GEED” project yielded no results. There is no publicly available documentation or official reference to its existence or implementation. The inclusion of this project in the ministry’s video points to a pattern of manufacturing achievements to pad the list, a practice that severely undermines the ministry’s credibility.
6. Participation in International Conferences: Appearances Without Impact
While the ministry’s representation in global forums is highlighted, GMI found no evidence of tangible outcomes or concrete benefits for Somalia. Attending international conferences without securing new climate finance, transferring critical knowledge, or advancing Somalia’s climate resilience agenda amounts to little more than a perfunctory exercise. The lack of demonstrated impact from these high-level engagements suggests a fundamental failure to leverage these opportunities for national benefit.
Conclusion: A Ministry in Crisis
The evidence compiled by the Green Media Initiative paints a stark picture of a ministry in disarray. The MOECC, headed by a minister drawn from the army and supported by deputy and state ministers who themselves display minimal experience and knowledge in environmental science or climate policy, has demonstrably failed to generate any substantial or verifiable progress. The ministry’s public relations campaign relies heavily on misattribution, hyperbole, and the appropriation of its predecessor’s accomplishments.
Moreover, credible sources report that, due to a combination of incompetence and corruption within its leadership, the ministry’s core mandates — particularly climate finance — are now being overseen directly by the Ministry of Finance. This extraordinary intervention, if confirmed, stands as a damning indictment of the MOECC’s leadership and its systemic failures.
This state of affairs is not merely an administrative issue; it represents a significant national security and development risk. In a country uniquely vulnerable to the ravages of climate change, the stewardship of environmental policy requires informed, competent, and honest leadership. The current administration’s demonstrated shortcomings and alleged malfeasance threaten to derail Somalia’s efforts to build resilience, protect its natural resources, and secure a sustainable future. Without a radical shift in leadership and a commitment to genuine accountability, Somalia risks falling further behind in the global climate crisis.
Transparency and Access to Information: Watch the original video of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1APzAgeUao/
- Watch our Full Fact-check and Investigative Video here:
Published by GMI Editorial Team on October 1,2025
