The Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat spoke to accredited media in Mogadishu on 17 August 2026, alongside H.E. Amb. Gamal Mohamed Hassan, Minister of Commerce and Industry. This page sets out the positions stated, so that they can be quoted accurately.
Consecutive interpretation into Somali was provided in the room. The passages below are the Secretariat’s own rendering of the positions stated by the Secretary-General. Where a figure was cited and is not reproduced here, it is because the Secretariat is confirming it against its validated sources and will publish it separately rather than circulate it unverified.
On the visit
The visit was presented as a first engagement with Somalia and explicitly not a last. The Secretary-General thanked the Federal Government for the invitation and for its hospitality, and described the morning’s discussions as covering areas of mutual interest in implementation.
On Somalia’s ratification
The Secretary-General congratulated the Government for completing ratification with Parliament and domestic stakeholders, and described the step as a milestone for the country, for the African Union and for the AfCFTA.
Somalia will be the fiftieth State Party to the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area. The deposit of the instrument of ratification with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission is the act that confers that status. At the conclusion of the visit, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry indicated that Somalia intends to proceed with the deposit in September 2026.
On what the Agreement should bring Somalia
Participation in trade under the Agreement, with effects sought in industrial development, job creation, regional integration and connectivity. An export profile extending, within a few years, beyond the East African Community, and imports drawn from the rest of the continent. And the country’s position, given its geography, as a trade and transit hub for the region, served by transport and logistics.
On industrialisation and how it is financed
Industrial development through special economic zones fostering production and value addition within the country, in agriculture and in mineral processing.
Africa’s industrial development, the Secretary-General said, must be financed primarily, though not exclusively, by African institutions. He called for a common approach to development finance partners, so that African institutions finance an African country for Africa’s own development.
On the private sector
A dedicated engagement with Somali enterprises was announced for the following day, described as a deep engagement to identify opportunities jointly, for export and for import. That session was held on 18 August with the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Somali Manufacturers Association and invited enterprises.
Available on this page
Photographs of the press point, captioned and credited, cleared for editorial use. The press release of 19 August in English and in French, for download. The positions above as a plain text file, so that they can be quoted without transcription error.
Not available, and why we say so
No audio or video clip. The Secretariat’s own recording of the press point captured the answers only and is not of broadcast quality. We prefer to state this rather than leave the impression that footage is being withheld. An outlet holding usable material of the press point is invited to write to the Communications Division.
Verification
Communications Division, AfCFTA Secretariat, Accra. Alexandre.Siewe@au-afcfta.org, +233 302 986 252. Queries on this page are answered within one working day.
