The Minister of Trade and Industry of the Federal Government of Somalia, Amb. Gamal Mohamed Hassan, met in Mogadishu with the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, who is on an official visit to Somalia.
The meeting focused on Somalia’s transition from the ratification phase of the AfCFTA to its implementation and benefiting from the continent’s trade market.
The Federal Parliament of Somalia ratified the AfCFTA, while the President of Somalia signed the ratification bill on 31 July 2026. The next step is for Somalia to submit the official ratification document of the agreement to the African Union.
The two sides also discussed issues such as rules of origin, certificates of origin, trade tariffs, non-tariff barriers and how to prepare Somali businesspeople to benefit from the opportunities arising from the AfCFTA.
The AfCFTA agreement connects a market of over 1.4 billion people, with the economies of the member countries estimated to be worth over $3.4 trillion.
Somalia, which has the longest coastline on the African continent and ports on key routes linking the Horn of Africa, East Africa and the Gulf, is looking to leverage the agreement to expand exports and trade in the region.
The government specifically highlighted opportunities in exporting products such as processed meat, frozen or processed fish, hides and skins, sesame and rubber.
The meeting also discussed the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which facilitates trade payments between African countries, and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, which is designed to support governments and businesses facing the costs of implementing the agreement.
Somalia is also interested in participating in discussions on digital trade, with the government seeking to leverage the country’s expertise in mobile money services and digital commerce to shape the future of digital trade on the African continent.
Wamkele Mene’s visit is also set to conclude with a meeting with Somali business leaders and the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which will discuss trade opportunities in goods and services, the role of the private sector, and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund.
