Liibaan

The Minister of Communications and Technology, H.E. MP Mohamed Hassan Mohamed (Soomaali), emphasized the importance of strengthening national cyber resilience as Somalia continues expanding digital services and connectivity.

The Somali leader was among five heads of state attending the summit in person at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC), alongside Kenya's William Ruto (current EAC chair), Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, and Burundi's Évariste Ndayishimiye. Rwanda's Paul Kagame, Democratic Republic of Congo's Félix Tshisekedi, and South Sudan's Salva Kiir delegated ministers to represent them.

According to market observers in Mogadishu, the price of petrol has climbed from a stable $0.65 per liter earlier this week to $1.15 by Friday evening. The dramatic overnight surge has caught consumers and businesses off guard, raising fears of cascading economic pressure across the country.

For Somalia, the summit carries particular weight. Having officially joined the East African Community in late 2023 after a prolonged accession process, the country is working to translate its membership into tangible benefits. Participation in the Arusha gathering offers an opportunity to engage directly with regional partners and advocate for greater collaboration in trade, development, and stability.