Mogadishu, Somalia — Somalia has taken a major step toward modernizing its maritime sector after the government officially switched Mogadishu Port to full around-the-clock operations, opening the way for uninterrupted cargo handling and movement at the country’s busiest gateway.
The launch, led by Minister of Ports and Marine Transport Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, gathered senior security chiefs, port administrators, and technical staff who have spent months preparing the facility for this transition. Their presence underscored how central the port is to the country’s commercial heartbeat and how heavily its performance influences everything from food imports to small business supply chains.
For years, limited operating hours meant vessels often queued offshore, costing traders time and money while placing pressure on already fragile logistics networks. Port workers say the shift to continuous operations will ease congestion, shorten turnaround times, and create a smoother flow of goods into the capital’s markets. It also aligns Somalia with global port standards, a milestone many in the maritime industry had long hoped to see materialize.
Officials emphasized that the change is not only about efficiency but also about confidence—an effort to show investors, shipping companies, and regional partners that Mogadishu is ready to compete as a reliable hub on the Horn of Africa. Security teams, who have played a crucial role in stabilizing operations inside the port, attended the ceremony to reaffirm their support as the facility moves into a more demanding operational rhythm.
The expanded schedule is expected to generate new jobs, particularly among young Somalis seeking work in logistics, stevedoring, customs support, and port maintenance. Traders say a faster port means fewer delays in the supply chain, a welcome development during a period in which import costs and inflation remain a heavy burden on ordinary families.
As lights now stay on through the night and cranes continue working long after dusk, Mogadishu Port enters a new chapter—one that government officials hope will strengthen national revenue, energize commerce, and give Somalia a stronger foothold in regional maritime trade.