Mandates
The Office of the Solicitor-General is a ‘one-stop shop’ for all the legal needs of the Government of Somaliland, its agencies, and Statutory Bodies including government-owned and controlled Commercial Bodies.
The Office of the Solicitor General has the following Mandates:
1: Civil Litigation and Representation
The Office of the Solicitor General acts as the legal representative of the Government of Somaliland, its agencies, and instrumentalities including government-owned and controlled corporations and their subsidiaries, officials, and agents in any proceeding, investigation, or matter requiring the services of a lawyer.
The office represents the Government in the Court and tribunals in all civil actions in which the Government or any officer thereof in his official capacity is a party. Hence it is the responsibility of the Solicitor General to initiate and conduct civil action on behalf of the government and also defend the government in all civil matters initiated against it.
2: Legislative Drafting
Legislative drafting constitutes a vital component of the work of the Solicitor General’s office. The Office of the Solicitor General is the government institution responsible for the government in Legislative and legal drafting Services. The office conducts drafting original bills, amendment bills, and subsidiary pieces of legislation with a view to giving effect to the objectives of the Government, in terms of the constitutional, political, social, and economic goals and aspirations of the Government.
3: Legislative Drafting
Legislative drafting constitutes a vital component of the work of the Solicitor General’s office. The Office of the Solicitor General is the government institution responsible for the government in Legislative and legal drafting Services. The office conducts drafting original bills, amendment bills, and subsidiary pieces of legislation with a view to giving effect to the objectives of the Government, in terms of the constitutional, political, social, and economic goals and aspirations of the Government.
In addition, the office advises Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Government on proposed legislation by assisting in developing the legislative proposal.
The Solicitor-General also works in close collaboration with the Executive Counsel by Attending sittings of the Executive Counsel when bills are being presented, rendering legal assistance to the Counsel by incorporating amendments made in the bills during the sittings, and preparing cabinet memoranda for bills to be laid before the Parliament.
4:Publication of laws in the Official Gazette
The office of the Solicitor General is responsible for publication through the official gazette of all laws and legal rules of the country and the dissemination thereof
The Office of the Solicitor General, as provided by Regulation No. 0187/012 (the Official Gazette Regulation), shall have the responsibility to publish all legislations passed by the Parliament and signed by the President in the Official Gazette announcements, as well as decrees, circulations, notifications or information of bodies governed by public law. Hence the office conducts Exact and timely publication of legal acts in the Official Gazette in printed and electronic form and it Keeps and updates the office database of laws. Furthermore, the office coordinates the work with all state institutions: central, local, judicial, and other institutions that are obliged to publish their acts in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Somaliland, which were approved and required to be issued based on the laws in force.
This publication aims to ensure the right of private individuals to be informed regarding their rights and duties, regulating the laws, proclamation, publication, and validity of and access to legal acts and official notices binding thereto.
