The Somali Center for Rule of Law and Good Governance (SomLaw) and JustPeace jointly commemorated SomLaw’s Second Anniversary and celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of the Online Course on Lawmaking in Somalia (April–October 2025) on 5 February 2026. The event was held at the Green Paradise Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia.

The event was moderated by Prof. Said Bashir, who guided the programme, facilitated discussions among speakers and guests, and ensured the smooth flow of the ceremony.

The ceremony was formally opened and welcomed by Prof. Abdulkadir Yusuf, Managing Director of SomLaw, who highlighted the organisation’s journey over the past two years, the importance of partnerships such as that with JustPeace, and the role of e-learning in expanding access to legal education across Somalia.

The ceremony marked an important milestone for both organisations, reflecting their shared commitment to advancing legal education, legislative capacity building, and rule of law initiatives across Somalia. The graduation celebrated the successful completion of the first jointly implemented online course on lawmaking, designed to strengthen legislative knowledge and practical skills nationwide.

The course targeted three key groups: civil society actors, supporting staff of parliaments, and law experts, and brought together participants from all Federal Member States of Somalia. Through the online format, the programme ensured inclusive access to specialized legal training regardless of geographical location.

The event was honoured by the presence of distinguished guests, including Dr. Mohamed Nor Gacal, Speaker of the Galmudug State Parliament, who commended SomLaw and JustPeace for their contribution to strengthening legislative institutions and supporting democratic governance in Somalia.

Also in attendance was Prof. Omar Addou, a member of the Independent Constitutional Review and Implementation Commission (ICRIC) and a lecturer for the graduating students. Prof. Addou highlighted the importance of continuous legal education and congratulated the graduates on their achievement and dedication to public service.

On behalf of the graduates, a students’ address was delivered by Mr. Hassan Amir, Deputy State Attorney General, who reflected on the learning experience, highlighted the practical value of the course, and expressed appreciation to SomLaw, JustPeace, and the course lecturers for their support and guidance.

The event was formally concluded by E-Learning Coordinator, who reflected on the course journey, acknowledged the commitment of participants, and reaffirmed SomLaw and JustPeace’s dedication to expanding accessible and high-quality online legal education programmes in Somalia.

A total of 98 participants successfully graduated from the course. During the ceremony, graduates based in Mogadishu were awarded their Certificates of Completion in person, while participants from other regions were recognized as part of the graduating cohort through the online programme.

The ceremony also provided an opportunity to reflect on SomLaw’s achievements over the past two years and the growing impact of its partnership with JustPeace, particularly in the areas of e-learning, institutional capacity building, and legal reform.

SomLaw and JustPeace reaffirmed their joint commitment to expanding innovative legal education initiatives, strengthening legislative institutions, and promoting the rule of law and good governance across Somalia through inclusive and accessible capacity-building programmes.