The passages below were spoken during the official visit of the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat to the Federal Republic of Somalia, 16 to 18 August 2026. Each has been checked against the record and cleared for citation with the speaker or his office. They may be quoted with the attribution given.
Q1
“This is the first time that we are here, and this first engagement will not be the last.”
H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat
Press point with the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mogadishu, 17 August 2026
Q2
“Africa’s industrial development must be financed primarily, though not exclusively, by African institutions.”
H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat
Press point with the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mogadishu, 17 August 2026. The qualification is part of the statement and is not to be separated from it.
Q3
“Our business people are eager, and they are right to be. They want to see the fruits. We need to move faster, and to make sure that they see results. Five East African countries have already submitted their schedules. I would like Somalia to be the sixth.”
H.E. Amb. Gamal Mohamed Hassan, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Federal Republic of Somalia
In his meeting with the Secretary-General, Mogadishu, 17 August 2026
Q4
“Somalis are natural traders. Trade is already in your DNA. What this Agreement gives you is a market beyond your own region: West Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa and North Africa.”
H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat
Private sector dialogue, Mogadishu, 18 August 2026
Q5
“Somali businesses are ready. What they need is certainty, affordable finance and functioning infrastructure.”
Mr Yassine Ibar, President of the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Private sector dialogue, Mogadishu, 18 August 2026
Q6
“You are not only becoming part of a single continental market. You are creating jobs for the young people and the women in this room, and you are contributing to peace in your country.”
Ambassador Mohamed Salem
Private sector dialogue, Mogadishu, 18 August 2026, addressing the enterprises present
Conditions of use
These quotations may be reproduced with the attribution as given, including the occasion and the date. They were spoken in English. The Secretariat asks that the qualification in the second quotation not be separated from the sentence it qualifies, since a separated version changes the position stated. Where an outlet needs a quotation on a point not covered here, the Communications Division will supply one on request rather than leave a gap to be filled by inference.
Verification
Communications Division, AfCFTA Secretariat, Accra. Alexandre.Siewe@au-afcfta.org, +233 302 986 252.
