Wednesday July 29, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited the Port of Mogadishu on Wednesday, inspecting infrastructure improvements and reviewing plans to modernize one of the country’s most vital economic gateways.
The president toured fuel storage facilities, warehouses and the newly built port administration headquarters. Officials briefed him on work to restore critical infrastructure and deliver better services to businesses and the public.
After the tour, President Hassan Sheikh held talks with the Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport and the port’s general manager. They provided updates on current development projects and proposals for the New Port of Mogadishu, a planned facility intended to increase capacity in the capital and handle rising trade volumes as Somalia’s economy expands.
President Hassan Sheikh said developing the port was crucial to Somalia’s economic future, arguing that stronger maritime infrastructure would increase trade, generate jobs and deepen the country’s connections with international markets.
He called on the ministry and the Mogadishu Port Authority to move faster in modernizing operations and raising efficiency across the port.
The inspection took place one day after Finance Minister Bihi Imaan Egeh warned that shrinking external financial inflows were placing Somalia’s economy under increasing pressure.
Speaking in Mogadishu on Tuesday, Egeh said the country was no longer receiving between $450 million and $600 million that had previously flowed into its economy, describing the loss as a major economic challenge.
“The $450 million to $600 million that used to enter the country is disappearing,” Egeh said. “So the situation is really not easy, and it is important that we strengthen the private sector, which is the backbone of economic development.”
Amid concerns about declining international financial support, Somalia faces heightened economic uncertainty. The government has responded by prioritizing domestic revenue, private-sector expansion and strategic infrastructure investment as foundations for sustainable, long-term growth.
