Somalia Joins African Push to Build Homes with Local Materials at Algiers Summit

GOOBJOOG NEWS | ALGIERS, Algeria: Somalia has thrown its weight behind a continental push to reduce Africa’s reliance on imported construction materials, as government officials participate in the 44th Annual General Meeting of Shelter Afrique in Algiers.

Led by the Minister of State for Public Works, Reconstruction, and Housing, Siciid Maxamed Maxamuud-Xayd, the Somali delegation is attending the four-day summit alongside housing and infrastructure leaders from across the continent.

The high-level gathering is focused on boosting Africa’s capacity to produce building materials locally, a move seen as key to making housing more affordable and creating jobs in the region.

Shelter Afrique, the pan-African finance institution organizing the event, is urging member states to embrace local solutions in housing development and commit to deeper cooperation over the next five years. For Somalia, the conference offers both a platform and an opportunity.

“This is not just a meeting, it’s a turning point for how African countries can work together to solve housing challenges,” a Somali official at the summit said. “Somalia is ready to be part of that solution.”

The Somali delegation was warmly received in Algiers by senior Algerian officials, including the Director General of Algeria’s Ministry of Public Works, and Somalia’s Ambassador to Algeria, Yusuf Ahmed Hassan (widely known as Yusuf Jeego). The cordial welcome underscored growing ties between the two nations and Somalia’s renewed engagement on regional development platforms.

For Somalia, which is in the midst of rebuilding its cities and infrastructure after decades of conflict, reducing dependence on costly imports could be transformative. Officials say the country is looking to tap into African expertise and partnerships to accelerate its housing sector reforms and deliver affordable homes to a rapidly growing population.

By attending the Algiers summit, Somalia is positioning itself as both a beneficiary and a contributor in Africa’s collective effort to solve its housing crisis from within — using African resources, African ideas, and African cooperation.

The summit runs through the end of the week, with outcomes expected to shape the policy and financing landscape for housing development across Africa in the years ahead.