On 9 July 2026, the Council of Ministers of the Federal Government of Somalia approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in maritime transport and ports between the Ministry of Transport of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The approval marks a significant development in Somalia’s maritime policy and reflects the Government’s continued efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in support of maritime governance, institutional development, and sustainable economic growth.
Over the past decade, Somalia has pursued maritime cooperation with a number of regional and international partners, including the Republic of Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Eritrea, and the United Arab Emirates. These engagements have focused on areas such as port development, maritime transport, institutional capacity building, technical assistance, and the promotion of the blue economy.
However, Somalia’s maritime cooperation with the United Arab Emirates has, at times, been affected by legal and political disputes, particularly regarding certain port-related arrangements that the Federal Government considered inconsistent with Somalia’s sovereignty and national interests. Notwithstanding these developments, Somalia has continued to diversify its maritime partnerships as part of its broader strategy to strengthen international cooperation and advance national development objectives.
Within this context, the newly approved MoU with Egypt represents another important step in expanding Somalia’s maritime diplomacy and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation. The agreement reflects the Government’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations, facilitating the exchange of technical expertise, strengthening institutional capacity, and improving maritime transport systems in accordance with internationally recognized standards and best practices. It also demonstrates Somalia’s determination to develop a modern, efficient, and competitive maritime sector capable of supporting national economic transformation.
As one of Africa’s longest coastal states, possessing a coastline of more than 3,300 kilometers along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, Somalia occupies a strategically significant position on some of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes. This geographical advantage offers substantial opportunities for expanding maritime commerce, attracting investment, strengthening regional connectivity, and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Nevertheless, decades of conflict, institutional fragility, and limited investment have constrained the country’s ability to fully harness the potential of its maritime domain. Against this backdrop, the Somalia-Egypt Memorandum of Understanding constitutes an important milestone in Somalia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen maritime governance, enhance technical cooperation, and position the maritime sector as a key pillar of national development and regional economic integration.
The Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E. Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, has made significant contributions to advancing Somalia’s maritime governance and international cooperation. Under his leadership, the Ministry has signed 15 international maritime treaties and conventions and 4 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with partner countries, strengthening Somalia’s legal framework, institutional capacity, and international engagement in the maritime sector.
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