Somalia Welcomes AfCFTA Secretary-General for Official Visit

Mogadishu, (SONNA) — The Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Federal Government of Somalia, Ambassador Jamal Mohamed Hassan today welcomed the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, who arrived in the country on an official visit.

The visit, which runs from August 16 to 18, 2026, comes as Somalia takes important steps toward joining and benefiting from the continent’s free trade market.

During his stay, the Secretary-General will hold meetings with Federal Government officials and Somali business leaders. Discussions will focus on the implementation of AfCFTA, opportunities the agreement offers Somali businesses, and ways Somalia can fully benefit from the African continental market.

The visit also provides an opportunity for Somalia to strengthen its role in Africa’s economic integration, promote trade and investment, and prepare Somali businesses to benefit from opportunities in a market of more than 1.4 billion people.