Mogadishu – 14, September, 2025
The Somali Congress of Trade Unions (SOCOTU) General Council convened a statutory session today at the organisation’s headquarters in Mogadishu, approving a series of structural adjustments designed to strengthen its Executive Committee and boost the federation’s overall operational capacity.
The move comes as part of the implementation of the binding resolutions and decisions adopted at SOCOTU’s most recent Congress, where delegates underscored the need to modernise the union’s leadership structures and ensure the Secretariat is fully equipped to carry out its daily mandate.
Congress Authority Intact
According to officials, the restructuring process respects the provisions of the SOCOTU Constitution. The Congress, recognised as the supreme authority of the federation, remains untouched. Delegates elected at the last Congress retain their mandates, and no alterations have been made to the composition of Congress representatives.
General Council Oversight
The General Council, which operates as the highest decision-making body between Congresses, clarified that the changes do not represent an expansion of its membership. Instead, a number of existing Council members were reassigned to positions within the Executive Committee in order to enhance efficiency and improve policy execution.
Strengthening the Secretariat
At the centre of the reforms is the Executive Committee (Secretariat), the organ tasked with managing SOCOTU’s day-to-day affairs. The Council approved the appointment of additional members drawn from within its ranks, while some existing officers were moved into new portfolios better aligned with their expertise.
“These adjustments are not a violation of our Constitution,” one SOCOTU official noted. “They are a redistribution of roles that ensures Congress resolutions are implemented effectively and that the Executive Committee is fully empowered to deliver for Somali workers.”
A Step Forward
Union leaders hailed the changes as a lawful and legitimate measure, emphasising that they fall squarely within the framework of the SOCOTU Constitution. The restructuring, they said, is part of a broader effort to ensure democracy, accountability, and independence remain at the heart of the organisation’s work.
With these steps, SOCOTU believes it is now better positioned to respond to the needs and aspirations of Somali workers across all sectors, strengthening its voice at both national and international levels.
