Somalia, UK Advance Port Revenue Reform in Key Mogadishu Visit

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their partnership on fiscal reform following a high-level visit to Mogadishu Port aimed at accelerating domestic revenue modernization.

Somalia’s Finance Minister Bihi Imaan Ige hosted UK Ambassador Charles King and officials from the UK’s Development Office to assess progress on the SOMCAS system, a digital platform developed to enhance port revenue collection and transparency.

The system, supported by the UK, links port authorities with Somali businesses, automating processes that have traditionally been vulnerable to inefficiency and loss. Officials say the platform is central to Somalia’s efforts to expand its tax base, reduce reliance on donor aid, and strengthen state institutions.

“The platform is a milestone in our broader reform agenda,” said Minister Ige. “It allows us to track revenue in real time and increase national income with transparency and accountability.”

Ambassador King described the visit as a reaffirmation of the UK’s long-standing commitment to Somalia’s economic recovery.

“These reforms are not just technical, they are building blocks of state resilience and public trust,” he said.

The visit marks a step forward in Somalia’s strategy to improve fiscal governance, boost domestic resource mobilization, and lay the groundwork for sustainable economic growth.