Thursday 29, Jan 2026 {CBB}Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday closed the 27th meeting of the Horn of Africa Initiative Forum of finance ministers, marking the first time the high-level regional gathering has been hosted in Mogadishu.
The meeting brought together finance ministers and senior officials from across the Horn of Africa to discuss regional economic cooperation, with a particular focus on energy trade as a driver of integration and sustainable growth.
President Hassan Sheikh praised the participating ministers for their efforts to strengthen economic coordination and promote experience-sharing among countries in a region facing shared challenges ranging from climate shocks to infrastructure deficits.
Hosting the forum in Mogadishu, he said, was a clear sign of Somalia’s recovery and a reflection of growing international confidence in the country after decades of conflict and instability. He added that Somalia’s current chairmanship of the forum offers an important opportunity to deepen regional collaboration and advance common economic priorities.
The meeting was chaired by Somalia’s Minister of Finance, Bihi Imaan Cige, under Somalia’s presidency of the forum. Finance ministers from Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and South Sudan attended in person, while Sudan and Kenya participated virtually. Representatives from international partners, including the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the European Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Kingdom and Germany, were also present.
Discussions centered on expanding regional energy trade, which participants identified as a key pillar for economic integration and long-term development in the Horn of Africa. Ministers examined ways to improve cooperation on cross-border energy projects and reduce the cost of power for households and businesses.
Cige said the forum focused on practical solutions to deliver affordable energy across the region, including mobilizing financing for energy infrastructure projects. He emphasized that improved access to reliable and low-cost energy is essential for economic growth, job creation and regional stability.
The Horn of Africa Initiative Forum brings together finance ministries to coordinate policy, share expertise and address common economic challenges. Somalia’s hosting of the meeting underscored its ambition to play a more active role in regional economic diplomacy as it seeks to consolidate political stability and rebuild its economy.
