Somalia and Kenya Push for Stronger Trade and Investment Ties
Somalia and Kenya are seeking to deepen economic cooperation, with trade facilitation, investment and regional integration at the centre of discussions between senior officials from the two countries.Somalia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Ambassador Gamal Mohamed Hassan, is scheduled to meet Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, in Addis Ababa on September 3, according to information released by the Somali side.The talks are expected to focus on reducing obstacles to cross-border commerce and creating a more predictable environment for businesses operating between Somalia and Kenya.
Key areas include the movement of goods, customs procedures, border operations and opportunities for investment. The two sides are also expected to examine cooperation in agriculture, livestock, fisheries, manufacturing, logistics and services.The discussions come as Somalia works to translate its membership in the East African Community (EAC) into practical economic benefits. Somalia became a full EAC member in March 2024, joining Kenya and seven other regional states in the bloc.The EAC’s Customs Union provides a framework for freer movement of goods within the region, while its Common Market framework covers the movement of goods, people, labour, services and capital.
For Somalia and Kenya, the potential benefits are significant because the two countries already have longstanding commercial links. Earlier in 2026, Kenya’s government said trade relations with Somalia had strong potential for further growth following Somalia’s entry into the EAC.Data cited during the Somalia–Kenya Trade Week in Nairobi showed that Kenyan exports to Somalia increased by 89.7 percent between 2020 and 2023, although they declined by 19 percent in 2024. Kenyan imports from Somalia also recorded major fluctuations during the same period.
Somalia has recently intensified efforts to remove trade barriers and improve access to regional markets. In June, Minister Gamal said the government was working with neighbouring countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti, to make cross-border trade easier and safer for Somali businesses.The discussions also come as Somalia moves toward implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area. The AfCFTA Secretariat said in August that Somalia intended to deposit its ratification instrument with the African Union in September 2026, a step that would make Somalia the agreement’s 50th State Party.
The broader objective is to move beyond agreements and turn regional integration into tangible opportunities for businesses and consumers.For Somali traders, progress on customs procedures, border systems, logistics and market access could reduce the costs and delays associated with moving goods between the two countries.For Kenya, stronger economic ties with Somalia could provide additional opportunities for exports, investment and access to Somali markets.
The outcome of the discussions in Addis Ababa is therefore likely to be closely watched by businesses on both sides, particularly as Somalia seeks to use its EAC and AfCFTA membership to expand regional and continental trade.
