Cape Town, South Africa – Somali Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Hagi Abdi on Wednesday represented President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the 2025 AU-AIP Africa Water Investment Summit, delivering a strong message on the country’s commitment to advancing water infrastructure and fostering regional development.
Addressing delegates in Cape Town, Deputy PM Jibril underscored the Federal Government of Somalia’s priority to expand access to clean and sustainable water, a critical need in a nation grappling with climate shocks, recurrent droughts, and rapid urbanization. He highlighted ongoing national projects to rehabilitate existing water systems, invest in new infrastructure, and strengthen community-led water management initiatives.
“The future of our region depends on equitable access to water. Somalia is investing in both technology and partnerships to ensure that this vital resource supports peace, health, and economic growth,” he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Somalia’s water agenda is closely linked to its broader development vision, which aims to enhance resilience, support agriculture, and create jobs. He also called for stronger cross-border cooperation to address shared water challenges and mitigate the risks of climate change.
The summit, organized under the African Union’s African Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP), brought together African heads of state, ministers, policymakers, development partners, and private sector leaders to mobilize investment in water security across the continent.
Somalia’s delegation included Ambassador Mohamed Sheikh Issak, the country’s envoy to South Africa, who participated in bilateral discussions on strengthening partnerships for water development and climate resilience.
The event served as a platform for Somalia to reaffirm its commitment to regional collaboration, with the Deputy Prime Minister urging partners to view water security as an enabler of stability and prosperity across Africa.