Somaliland Honors Firefighters with Medals Rather Than Funding Its Mission
Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Cirro) honored fire and rescue service officers at the Presidential Palace this week, awarding military ranks in recognition of their role in saving lives and protecting public property during emergencies.
According to a statement from the Somaliland presidency, President Cirro praised the officers for their “sacrificial role” in responding to emergencies and safeguarding citizens, saying the ranks were a mark of honor, encouragement, and appreciation for those who risk their lives to protect the public. He said the ceremony was not merely about awarding ranks, but about the state recognizing the courage, effort, and valuable service of the fire and rescue forces.
The President urged the officers and the entire force to redouble their efforts and maintain their professionalism, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving the training, equipment, modernization, and operational capacity of the fire and rescue services. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Interior and National Security, the Minister of the Presidency and the National Ranks Committee, and the Commander of the National Fire Service.
The ceremony is a rare public recognition of a service that rarely receives attention in the Horn of Africa. Fire and rescue forces across the region operate in difficult conditions, with limited equipment, training, and funding. In the South of the border, the fire brigade has been criticized for slow response times and inadequate resources. In Hargeisa, the situation is better but still constrained.
The President’s emphasis on training, equipment, and modernization is significant because it acknowledges that the service needs investment. Firefighting requires specialized equipment, including fire engines, protective gear, breathing apparatus, and communication systems. It also requires trained personnel who can respond quickly to emergencies in dense urban areas. Hargeisa, like other cities in the region, faces the risk of fires in markets, residential areas, and public buildings, particularly during the dry season.
The ceremony also has a political dimension. President Cirro, who took office in December 2024, has been focused on consolidating his authority and building relationships with the security services, including the military, police, and fire brigade. Honoring the fire service is a way to demonstrate his government’s commitment to public safety and to reward loyalty, while also signaling that the state is investing in institutions that serve ordinary citizens.
The National Fire Service of Somaliland is responsible for fire prevention, firefighting, rescue operations, and emergency response across the territory. Its resources are limited, and its personnel often operate with equipment that is outdated or insufficient for the challenges they face. The President’s pledge to improve training and equipment is welcome, but it will require sustained investment, not just a ceremony.
Fire services in the region also face structural challenges. Urban planning in Hargeisa and other cities has not kept pace with population growth, and many buildings are not built to fire safety standards. Water supply is often inadequate for firefighting, and roads can be difficult to navigate during emergencies. These are problems that a fire service cannot solve on its own; they require coordination with municipal authorities, urban planners, and the private sector.
The ceremony’s recognition of individual officers is a morale boost, but it does not address systemic issues. The fire service needs a budget, a procurement plan, and a strategy for recruiting and retaining trained personnel. It also needs a legal framework that gives it the authority to enforce fire safety regulations and to investigate the causes of fires. The President’s statement suggests an awareness of these needs, but the test will be whether the government follows through with resources.
The ceremony at the Presidential Palace is a welcome gesture of recognition of firefighters who risk their lives to protect others. In a region where public services are often underfunded and underappreciated, it is good to see a government take the time to honor those who work in dangerous conditions for modest pay.
But a ceremony is not a policy. The President’s pledge to improve training, equipment, and modernization is exactly what the fire service needs, but it is also exactly what every government says in such settings. The question is whether the budget will follow the rhetoric. Hargeisa’s fire service has been waiting for investment for years. If the ranks are awarded and the ceremony is held, and then nothing changes, the officers who were honored will be left with medals and the same inadequate equipment they had before.
The President should be judged on whether his government invests in the fire service. The officers who stand ready to respond to fires and save lives deserve more than gratitude. They deserve the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. The ceremony was a good first step. The next step is the budget.