Director-General’s Message
Bismillaahi Raxmaani Raxiim!
Welcome to the Somali National Library (Maktabadda Umadda Soomaaliyeed).
It is with My Great honer and responsibility that I welcome you to this national institution — a sanctuary of knowledge, memory, and culture for the Somali people. The National Library of Somalia was first established under Sharciga L. 41 ee 26 Maajo 1977, Sharciga Maktabadaha Soomaaliyeed, with the mandate to serve as the custodian of our nation’s intellectual and cultural heritage. However, the outbreak of civil war in the 1990s left this institution devastated — its collections destroyed, its services suspended, and its role diminished for decades.
In 2021, the Isxilqaan campaign reignited hope by mobilizing Somali youth, civil society, and government to begin rehabilitation. Yet, the full revival of the Library required stronger leadership and national commitment. On 2 July 2025, I was entrusted to lead the National Library of Somalia, with the mission to transform this historic institution into a modern, accessible, and future-oriented center of knowledge. This effort is strongly supported by H.E. Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, Minister of Education, Culture, and Higher Education, whose vision links the re-operationalization of the Library with Somalia’s strategy to advance education, preserve cultural identity, and promote lifelong learning.
Today, the Library stands once again as both the national bibliographic agency and the guardian of our collective memory. Its renewed mandate includes:
– Preserving and disseminating Somalia’s publications, manuscripts, and archives of enduring value.
– Implementing the legal deposit system and publishing the Somali National Bibliography.
– Serving as Somalia’s official ISBN Agency, supporting publishers and authors.
– Providing reference and information services for education, research, and innovation.
– Promoting literacy, reading culture, and lifelong learning across all communities.
– Advancing digitization and forging international partnerships to safeguard and share Somalia’s heritage globally.
As we move forward, we envision the National Library of Somalia as a beacon of knowledge and culture — a living bridge between our past, present, and future. I warmly invite scholars, educators, development partners, the Somali diaspora, and all citizens to stand with us in this journey of renewal. Together, we will restore the Library as a symbol of unity, resilience, and national pride. Welcome to the National Library of Somalia , your library, your heritage, your future.
Mr. Mohamud Mohamed Siad
Director-General
National Library of Somalia
Wadadda Jubba, Degmada Xamar-Weyne, Mogadishu
dg@snl.gov.so
+252 61 5819990