Sunday September 21, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s busiest port remained closed for a second straight day on Sunday after traders refused to pay new charges they called illegal, halting shipments of food and other essential goods into the capital.
Importers said the fees, recently imposed on incoming cargo, were not based on any law or prior agreement. They warned the charges would drive up costs, squeeze businesses already struggling with inflation, and further strain Somalia’s fragile economy.
The shutdown has fueled fears of shortages and soaring market prices if the standoff continues. Analysts cautioned that prolonged disruption could ripple across the supply chain, hitting both major importers and small retailers who rely on daily goods arriving through Mogadishu’s docks.
The dispute has erupted just weeks after Somalia inaugurated a
new container terminal at Mogadishu port, nearly doubling its cargo-handling capacity in a bid to spur economic growth and strengthen regional trade links. Traders warn that the standoff over fees risks undermining those gains, stalling efforts to position the port as a competitive alternative to established regional hubs like Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.