Somalia and Uganda signed three new memoranda of understanding in Kampala to boost trade, labor mobility, and investment cooperation. The agreements cover education, labor, and immigration, including legal frameworks for Ugandans working in Somalia and skilled worker exchanges. Officials said the MoUs will enhance regional commerce, job creation, and service sector growth. Somali Education Minister Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir co-chaired the meeting, which underscored both nations’ commitment to expanding economic integration and sustainable development.

Somalia requested $40 million from the IMF to address budget shortfalls and sustain reforms under its Extended Credit Facility. The agreement, reached after discussions in Mogadishu, awaits IMF board approval. If endorsed, the funds will be released in two tranches to cushion the economy against aid cuts and climate shocks. The IMF praised Somalia’s fiscal discipline and reform progress, noting 4.1% growth in 2024, with projections of 3% in 2025 and 3.3% in 2026.

Somalia launched a National Consultation on the Strategic Digital Change (2025–2030) to shape its long-term ICT and innovation agenda. Communications Minister Mohamed Aadan Maalim said the strategy will align digital initiatives, expand infrastructure investment, and strengthen policymaking to boost innovation and public services. Organized with the ITU, the forum brought together government, telecom, and private-sector leaders to discuss reforms, funding, and regional integration, positioning Somalia as a key emerging player in Africa’s digital economy.

Somalia’s recent integration into the East African Community (EAC) is expected to expand regional economic opportunities. At the 2025 EAC Conference in Mogadishu, business leaders highlighted prospects in agriculture, trade, and cross-border investment within the 300-million-person market. Officials, including State Minister Ali Omar Balcad, noted that Somali products now have access to regional consumers, potentially boosting exports, employment, and income levels. Entrepreneurs expressed optimism about leveraging these opportunities to support national growth.

Somali businesses are set to benefit from Ethiopia’s first shipment under African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which began on October 10, 2025. Ethiopia exported meat, fruits, and other agricultural products to Somalia, Kenya, and South Africa, marking a new phase in regional trade integration. Somali importers are expected to gain access to lower tariffs and faster customs clearance. AfCFTA aims to boost intra-African trade, enhance competitiveness, and create a single continental market.

Somalia reaffirmed its commitment to regional integration and digital transformation at the 24th COMESA Heads of State Summit in Nairobi, where Commerce Minister Mohamud Adan Gesood represented President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The summit, themed “Leveraging Digitization to Deepen Regional Value Chains,” focused on enhancing trade and innovation. Somalia’s participation underscored its growing role in regional economic cooperation, as leaders adopted digital trade systems to improve efficiency and foster sustainable, inclusive growth across COMESA nations.