Mogadishu (Somalia Today) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday opened a regional business summit in Mogadishu and urged nationwide promotion of the Swahili language to speed Somalia’s integration into East Africa.
The initiative aims to strengthen economic and cultural ties across the region.
Speaking at the second East African Cooperation Business Conference (EACON-2025), President Mohamud said Somalia is ready to take a leading role within the East African Community. Somalia joined the bloc in March 2024 as its eighth member.
“Mogadishu is a city with a long history of trade and connectivity,” Mohamud said. “Hosting this conference shows Somalia’s commitment to playing an active role in regional integration and advancing peace and trade in East Africa.”
The summit gathered business leaders, academics, and policymakers to discuss ways to deepen economic, political, and social cooperation.
Mohamud asked experts to provide evidence-based research to guide investment and policy, aligning with his administration’s focus on structured national development.
A strategic push for Swahili
In one of the summit’s key announcements, President Mohamud directed Somali universities to lead efforts to promote and teach Swahili, a language spoken widely across East Africa.
The move signals Somalia’s intent to extend integration beyond trade and finance.
“I urge the Somali National University and all universities in the country to invest heavily in developing the Swahili language, which is the language of East Africa,” Mohamud said.
He described universities as essential institutions for producing and spreading knowledge that advances national priorities and regional cooperation.
Education Minister Farah Abdulkadir echoed the remarks, prompting broad public debate. Promoting Swahili, one of the EAC’s official languages, is seen as a practical step to reduce communication barriers and build a shared regional identity.
Solidifying a new regional role
Somalia’s entry into the East African Community followed years of negotiation and its admission early last year. The membership is a pillar of President Mohamud’s foreign policy, which seeks to anchor Somalia in regional economic and security frameworks.
Joining the bloc gives Somalia access to a common market of more than 300 million people. It also opens opportunities for tariff-free trade and shared infrastructure projects. The government says these links should support long-term stability and security at home.
The Mogadishu conference highlights Somalia’s progress and investment potential. By promoting business partnerships and cultural alignment, the administration aims to secure a durable, influential role in the region.
As EACON-2025 continues, delegates are expected to focus on harmonizing trade rules and identifying cross-border investment. The push for Swahili stands out as a long-term cultural and diplomatic shift, reflecting Somalia’s goal of becoming a fully integrated member of the East African bloc.
