Somali merchants have begun seeking alternative shipping routes as security tensions in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz impact the flow of goods and regional trade.
Somali companies typically import goods from Asia via Gulf nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. However, some merchants are now attempting to use direct routes, as regional tensions have heightened concerns regarding cargo transport.
“The tensions in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz have severely affected us,” said Mohamed Ali Nur, the manager of the Port of Mogadishu. He stated that the port has taken measures to avoid these disruptions and has collaborated with exporters to identify alternative routes.
“For the first time, we brought a ship carrying sugar directly from Sri Lanka,” he said, noting that this move could be a strategy born out of the regional tensions.
The internationally recognized government of Yemen and Saudi Arabia have been at war with the Houthis for 12 years. The latest flare-up in the conflict has disrupted the ceasefire that had largely halted the fighting in Yemen since 2022. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated on Sunday that more than 85,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of the month, with over 2,000 arriving in Djibouti, a neighbor of Somalia.
Mogadishu’s busy port continues to receive ships carrying food and other goods. Somalia relies heavily on maritime trade for many essential daily commodities. Changes to shipping routes could eventually impact domestic markets, as longer voyages or difficult passages may lead to increased transport costs and delays.
Captain Ali Jemdi, a Syrian national who transports sugar shipments, said that regional uncertainty has caused concern among vessels using vital trade routes.
“There is trouble in that area due to the war,” he told The Associated Press, referring to the Arabian Gulf and surrounding waters. He added that the Bab al-Mandab Strait could also pose challenges for shipping. Tensions along key maritime routes are consequently forcing Somali traders to alter their supply lines, as the conflict in Yemen continues to impact regional movement and trade.