Wednesday July 1, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre used this week’s 66th anniversary of independence to unveil a string of development projects in Mogadishu, including a paved road, new government offices and the Somalia Diaspora Centre.
His first stop was Dayniile district, where he officially opened a two-kilometer paved road completed under the Banadir Regional Administration.
Hamza thanked the Banadir administration and Mogadishu residents for backing the project, saying the new road would make travel easier for communities, particularly those moving between Banadir Region and Lower Shabelle Region.
He said the roadway would also help economic recovery, strengthen infrastructure and add to the capital’s appearance.“Roads are not just roads to travel, but are a symbol of progress, beauty and national reconstruction,” Hamza said.
He noted that Mogadishu had endured hardship and was now advancing along a path of recovery and development. He urged residents to safeguard peace and stability, describing them as the foundation for meaningful progress.
The prime minister also pressed for greater efforts to keep the city clean and called for public awareness campaigns and enforcement of road-use regulations to improve safety and order.
Hamza then inaugurated the new headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, a modern building constructed to international standards.
He commended the ministry’s leadership and staff for completing the project and encouraged Somali businesspeople and farmers to focus on domestic production.
Somalia, he said, must reduce its dependence on imported food by producing goods that can be grown at home.He added that agriculture remains one of the central pillars of the national economy and argued that true independence is impossible so long as the country relies heavily on foreign food supplies.
Hamza later opened the Somalia Diaspora Centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The center, built with support from the People’s Republic of China, is designed to deepen ties between the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali communities overseas.
It is expected to serve more than 4 million Somalis living across five continents and help carry out Somalia’s National Diaspora Policy.
Chinese Ambassador Wang Yu said the center, completed with assistance from the Chinese government, reflected the enduring friendship between Somalia and China.
“China firmly supports Somalia to safeguard its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and to pursue a development path suited to the nation’s conditions,” Wang said.
Hamza also praised the Somali diaspora for its role in national development, saying Somalis abroad have consistently supported their country while preserving their religion, culture and mother tongue around the world.
In another ceremony, the prime minister laid the foundation stone for new central facilities for the ministries overseeing livestock, forestry and livestock research.
He said the facilities would be vital to advancing the livestock sector, which remains one of the mainstays of Somalia’s economy.
Hamza said research is key to improving the quality of Somali livestock and expressed hope that the project would be finished soon.
The launches came as Somalia marked the 66th anniversary of independence, with federal officials presenting the projects as part of wider reconstruction and state-building efforts.
