WTO-ITC visit to Mogadishu supports Somalia’s preparations for next phase of WTO accession

The WTO and the International Trade Centre (ITC) conducted their first joint technical assistance activity in Mogadishu, Somalia, from 10 to 15 October to support the government's preparations for the second meeting of the Working Party on the accession of Somalia. Supported by the United Kingdom, the technical assistance event also included discussions on regional integration and the forthcoming Trade for Peace Somalia Initiative.

WTO-ITC visit to Mogadishu supports Somalia's preparations for next phase of WTO accession

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This first joint in-person event marks a significant step forward in Somalia's preparations for the next phase of its WTO accession process. Under the coordination of Somalia's Office of the Chief Trade Negotiator, Sadiq Abdikarim Haji Ibrahim, the week-long event brought together technical experts from several ministries and agencies across the Government of Somalia. Participants worked with the ITC and the WTO Secretariat on substantive documentation that will form the basis of the second meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Somalia. Parties are aiming to hold the meeting in 2027
. The first meeting of the Working Party took place in February 2025.

Over the course of the week, technical sessions focused on finalizing replies to questions raised by WTO members at the first meeting, completing accession-supporting documents and discussing the preparation of Somalia's initial market access offers on trade in goods and services. The sessions benefitted from the experience of Liberia's former Trade Minister and Chief Trade Negotiator, Axel Addy, who participated in the activity as an ITC adviser to the Office of the Chief Negotiator.ý

Recognising Somalia's broader regional integration objectives, the event featured a dedicated working session on synergies between WTO accession, integration into the East African Community (EAC) and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). During their visit to Mogadishu, the delegation also attended the East African Conference (ECON) 2026, which focused on deepening Somalia's EAC integration through the domestic incorporation of relevant treaties, strategic investments and improvements in education and training. In his remarks, Mr Ibrahim emphasized "the importance of aligning Somalia's EAC integration agenda with WTO accession and its participation in the AfCFTA."

Somalia has been a long-standing advocate for the Trade for Peace initiative in the WTO, most recently participating at the fourth edition of the Trade for Peace Week held in February 2025, which focused on the role of the private sector in supporting sustainable peace. During the visit to Mogadishu, the first stakeholder consultation was held to support the design of the Trade for Peace Somalia Initiative, which will be officially launched in the near future. The initiative will include a Trade for Peace Academy supported by Interpeace, an international peacebuilding organization, and the WTO.

The visit to Mogadishu ended with a wrap-up discussion on the next steps for WTO accession, at which the Government of Somalia reaffirmed its strong commitment to the accession process and the timely finalization of technical inputs needed for the second Working Party meeting in 2027. The ITC and the WTO remain committed to working alongside Somalia in its accession process.ý

This week-long activity in Mogadishu was made possible through the Making Trade Happen programme, an initiative funded by the United Kingdom and implemented by the ITC.

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