MOGADISHU — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday officially 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 forum brought together finance ministers and senior officials from countries across the Horn of Africa to discuss regional economic cooperation, with a particular focus on strengthening integration, experience-sharing, and economic stability. President Hassan Sheikh commended participating delegations for their efforts to advance collective economic priorities in a region facing shared challenges.
In his closing remarks, the president said hosting the meeting in Somalia’s capital reflects the country’s continued recovery and growing confidence from regional and international partners. He noted that Somalia’s current chairmanship of the forum provides an important opportunity to deepen cooperation among member states and advance shared economic interests.
The meeting was chaired by Somalia’s Minister of Finance, Bihi Imaan Cige. 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 United Kingdom, Germany and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), also took part.
Discussions during the forum focused on enhancing regional economic coordination, including cooperation on key sectors such as energy trade, which participants identified as a driver of integration and sustainable growth. Officials emphasized the importance of joint efforts to address common economic challenges and promote long-term stability across the Horn of Africa.
The successful conclusion of the forum in Mogadishu was described by Somali officials as a milestone in Somalia’s re-engagement with regional economic platforms and its broader efforts to strengthen economic diplomacy and regional integration.
