The Milestones of the Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport of Somalia

Within a period of less than Five months, Somalia’s maritime sector has witnessed notable institutional and legal progress. During this time, the Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport has undertaken a series of measures aimed at strengthening maritime governance, expanding international cooperation, and improving the administration and operational performance of national ports, including the submission of eleven international maritime conventions to the Council of Ministers, which were subsequently approved.

Following the appointment of the Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport, Mr. Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, on 18 April 2025, a series of initiatives were launched to strengthen Somalia’s maritime governance framework. These measures have focused on deepening the country’s engagement with international maritime regimes, promoting bilateral maritime cooperation, and enhancing the operational efficiency of national ports. The initiatives undertaken by the Ministry may be categorized into four principal areas:

1. Accession to International Maritime Conventions
2. Bilateral and Intergovernmental Maritime Cooperation Agreements
3. Domestic Maritime Regulatory Reforms and National Strategies
4. Operational Improvements in Port performance

International Maritime Conventions Submitted by the Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport

A central aspect of the Ministry’s reform agenda has been the integration of Somalia into the global maritime legal system through accession to key international conventions administered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and related bodies. These instruments establish international standards governing maritime safety, environmental protection, seafarer welfare, and navigational regulation.

The accession to these instruments represents a major step toward the normalization of Somalia’s maritime governance within the international legal order. The conventions collectively strengthen four key pillars of maritime governance:

1. Maritime Safety and Navigation: Conventions such asCOLREG 1972, SAR 1979, and STCW 1978 enhance navigational safety and improve the professional standards of seafarers.
2. Marine Environmental Protection: Agreements such as the OPRC Convention and the 1992 Oil Pollution Compensation Fund Convention strengthen Somalia’s legal capacity to prevent and respond to marine pollution incidents.
3. Maritime Labour and Seafarer Welfare: The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC2006) integrates Somalia into the international framework protecting the rights, working conditions, and welfare of seafarers.
4. Port State Control and International Compliance: Membership in the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control allows Somali ports to participate in international ship inspection regimes, thereby improving compliance with global maritime safety standards and reducing the presence of substandard vessels.

Bilateral and Intergovernmental Maritime Cooperation Agreements

Alongside multilateral legal integration, the Ministry has pursued strategic maritime diplomacy through bilateral cooperation agreements aimed at enhancing technical capacity, port development, and maritime trade connectivity.

Somalia-Saudi Arabia Maritime Cooperation Agreement

On 19 February, a cooperation agreement was concluded between the Saudi Ports Authority and the Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The agreement was signed by Mr. Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport of Somalia, and Mr. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The cooperation framework includes: Development of port infrastructure, Improvement of maritime transport services, Promotion of maritime investment and Exchange of technical expertise and maritime knowledge

This agreement strengthens Somalia’s strategic maritime partnership with one of the leading maritime logistics actors in the Red Sea region. The cooperation has the potential to: improve port management standards, facilitate maritime trade routes between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and attract investment in Somali port infrastructure.

Somalia-Türkiye Intergovernmental Maritime Cooperation Agreement

An intergovernmental agreement between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Republic of Türkiye aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation. The key areas of cooperation include: enhancement of maritime transport and maritime trade, modernization of port services, recognition of seafarers’ certificates and technical cooperation and exchange of maritime expertise. The agreement complements Türkiye’s broader role in Somalia’s infrastructure development and provides a legal framework for technical maritime capacity-building, training, and port modernization.

National Maritime Regulations and Strategic Frameworks

Concurrently with its engagement in international maritime frameworks, the Ministry has introduced a number of domestic regulatory initiatives intended to reinforce Somalia’s maritime administrative system. These initiatives involve the adoption of national maritime regulations aimed at improving the governance and management of key maritime functions. Collectively, these measures support the institutional strengthening and modernization of Somalia’s maritime administration, particularly in relation to vessel registration procedures and the documentation and certification of Somali seafarers.

National Maritime Regulations

National Maritime Strategy

National Ports Strategy (2025): This strategy provides a long-term policy framework for: modernization of port infrastructure, improvement of port governance, enhancement of maritime logistics and integration of Somali ports into regional and global shipping networks. The strategy represents a structural policy shift toward long-term maritime sector development, positioning ports as key drivers of Somalia’s economic growth and trade integration.

Operational Improvements in Port Performance

In parallel with legal and institutional reforms, the Ministry, together with the Mogadishu Port Authority, has also focused on enhancing the operational capacity of Somalia’s principal port facilities. During the month ofNovember, the Port of Mogadishu handled 160,703.96 metric tonnes of non-containerized cargo.

This milestone represents a historic level of cargo handling, reflecting: improvements in port management, increased trader confidence, enhanced logistical efficiency and modernization of port services. The increase in cargo throughput demonstrates the economic impact of improved port governance and infrastructure management. As Somalia possesses one of the longest coastlines in Africa, the modernization of its port system has the potential to transform the country into an important maritime trade hub in the Western Indian Ocean and Red Sea maritime corridor.

Conclusion

The initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport since April 2025 illustrate a comprehensive effort to rebuild Somalia’s maritime sector through legal reform, international integration, diplomatic cooperation, and operational modernization. By acceding to major international maritime conventions, strengthening bilateral maritime partnerships, introducing new regulatory frameworks, and improving port performance, Somalia is progressively positioning itself to play a more significant role in regional maritime trade, ocean governance, and the global maritime economy.