Somalia, EU Agree To Deepen Cooperation on Mogadishu Port Expansion

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia and the European Union have agreed to strengthen cooperation on the expansion and modernisation of the Port of Mogadishu, a move the government says will boost trade, improve maritime security and support economic recovery.

State Minister for Ports and Marine Transport Mohamed Abdulkadir said talks with an EU delegation led by Ambassador Karin Johansson (Francesca Di Mauro) focused on aligning European technical and financial support with Somalia’s master plan for upgrading the country’s main seaport.

The agreement is expected to enhance the port’s operational capacity, reduce congestion and lower the cost of imports, with officials saying a modernised Mogadishu port would position Somalia as a more competitive trade hub for the Horn of Africa and the wider East African region.

Maritime safety and security were also central to the discussions, with both sides underlining that safer shipping lanes would protect trade flows and reinforce investor confidence. The minister said EU support would help strengthen regulatory frameworks and improve oversight of Somali waters.

EU officials later toured the port facilities to assess ongoing improvements, a visit Somali authorities said would inform future support aimed at accelerating infrastructure development and increasing throughput at the strategically important port.