MOGADISHU, Somalia – The 27th Session of the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI) Ministerial Meeting officially commenced in Mogadishu today, marking a significant diplomatic milestone for the Federal Republic of Somalia. Finance Minister H.E. Bihi Egeh, who is the current Chair of the Initiative, presided over the high-level gathering, welcoming delegations from across the region and international development partners to the Somali capital.
In his opening address, Minister Bihi Egeh set a bold agenda for the forum, emphasizing the need to shift the regional narrative from conflict to economic interdependence. He articulated a vision of “transforming fragile borderlines into vibrant economic zones,” urging member states to utilize infrastructure and trade as tools to stabilize the region’s periphery. The Minister highlighted that economic integration is the most effective pathway to securing long-term peace and prosperity for the Horn of Africa.
The summit was attended by high-level dignitaries, including the Minister of Finance of Djibouti, the Minister of Finance of Ethiopia, and the Minister of Planning of South Sudan. Key international partners were also heavily represented, with senior officials from the European Union (EU), the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Kingdom, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) participating in the strategic discussions.
The primary focus of the meeting was the region’s energy deficit. The forum reviewed critical data presented by the World Bank and the EU, which indicated that nearly half of the region’s population lacks access to electricity. The discussions underscored the urgency of regional power integration to lower costs, particularly for Somalia, where electricity tariffs are among the highest in the region.
Delegates reviewed the roadmap for the planned Ethiopia-Somalia 500kV interconnector line, a flagship project expected to receive board approval in March 2026. The Ethiopian Finance Minister reaffirmed his country’s commitment to acting as the region’s “energy interconnector,” pledging to share its renewable energy surplus while noting a funding requirement of $3.7 billion to fully modernize the sector.
The atmosphere of the summit was marked by a strong sense of fraternity. The Djiboutian Finance Minister drew applause for delivering his remarks in the Somali language, praising the warm reception in Mogadishu and the city’s visible recovery.
The meeting is expected to conclude with a joint communique outlining binding commitments to accelerate cross-border trade, energy harmonization, and the development of the economic corridors that Minister Egeh championed as the future of the region.
