Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama led the high-level delegation in Geneva. Several government officials from a wide range of ministries and agencies joined virtually from Mogadishu. Mr Jama said that Somalia’s first Working Party meeting marks “a historic moment in the country’s journey toward economic recovery, integration into the global trading system, and the realization of the nation’s aspirations for sustainable development and prosperity.
“Somalia today is a nation on the rise, one that departed with the challenges of the past and has keenly focused on a prosperous future. Our government, under the leadership of His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mahamoud, has indeed embarked on very transformational changes,” he said.
“For Somalia, WTO membership is not merely an end goal but a vital mechanism to achieve sustainable economic growth, attract investment, and create meaningful opportunities for our people. We are dedicated to aligning our trade policies with global standards, enhancing institutional capacity, and ensuring that our economic transformation is inclusive and equitable, benefiting all segments of society,” he added.
Sadiq Abdikarim Haji Ibrahim, WTO Chief Trade Negotiator, recognized WTO accession as a rigorous process requiring transparency, policy coherence, and sustained engagement. He said that Somalia approaches this process with openness and a constructive spirit. “We are ready to work closely with WTO members to address concerns, provide necessary clarifications, and reaffirm our commitment to a rules-based trading system,” he stated.
WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang highlighted Somalia’s strong political will and commitment to moving the accession process forward. “Today is a historical moment for Somalia, but it is just the beginning of a journey where I am sure Somalia will make its own history, as Comoros and Timor-Leste did recently. They are both least developed countries and fragile and conflict-affected states, who can serve as a good model and inspiration for Somalia.” His statement is available here.
The Chair of the Working Party on the Accession of Somalia, Ambassador Nina Tornberg of Sweden, stated that Somalia has advanced technical work and stepped up its political engagement in the past few years, recalling her meeting with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in June 2024.
She added that the Working Party noted Somalia’s strong commitment to economic integration, both at the multilateral and regional level. “As Somalia joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2024, it is crucial to ensure coordination at all levels between EAC membership and WTO accession, to enable Somalia to focus on priority reforms and reinforce its economic resilience,” she said.
Members welcomed Somalia’s renewed commitment to joining the WTO, emphasizing the importance of the accession for the country’s integration into global trade and for its stability. Delegations acknowledged Somalia’s constraints as an LDC and committed to supporting Somalia’s accession process. Members said they are looking forward to discussing Somalia’s efforts to align its regulations with WTO rules, while providing support and guidance throughout the accession process.
Moving forward, Ambassador Tornberg invited the WTO Secretariat to prepare a Factual Summary of Points Raised based on the exchanges held, which will guide the continued examination of Somalia’s trade regime. Somalia was requested to submit a comprehensive set of negotiating inputs before the next Working Party meeting. The Chair said that, given Somalia’s interest in advancing its accession process, the aim would be for the next meeting to take place towards the end of the year, subject to the availability of the required inputs.
The Working Party meeting took place immediately before the 4th edition of the Trade for Peace Week, which has featured several sessions focused on Somalia and has discussed the private sector’s role for sustainable peace and stability.
The Working Party meeting was followed on 18 February by a Round Table on Technical Assistance for Somalia’s WTO Accession. The round table was attended by several members and developing partners, including the East African Community Secretariat, the European Investment Fund (EIF), the International Trade Centre (ITC), UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Bank, which provide capacity-building support to Somalia. The discussions aimed at presenting Somalia’s accession-related needs in terms of technical assistance and capacity building and coordinating available and future support.
Background
Somalia has the longest coastline on the African continent and a population of approximately 18 million. With an economy highly dependent on livestock production, the government has committed itself over recent years to developing key sectors of the Somali economy, with special emphasis on economic enablers such as energy, transportation and financial markets.
Somalia submitted its application for WTO accession, signed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in December 2015 during the 10th Ministerial Conference (MC10) in Nairobi, Kenya. The General Council established the Working Party on 7 December 2016. Somalia was a central part of the g7+ WTO Accessions Group launch during the 11th Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in 2017, inspiring the vision for the creation of the Trade for Peace Programme.
More information on this accession is available here.
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