Somali president arrives in Egypt for Africa economic forum

Cairo (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Egypt’s Al-Alamein city on Friday to attend high-level meetings and conferences focused on economic cooperation, investment and development in Africa.

Hassan Sheikh and his delegation are taking part in the Alamein Africa Forum, where discussions are focused on investment opportunities, trade expansion and strengthening economic cooperation among African countries.

Somalia’s participation gives the federal government an opportunity to present the country’s investment potential and highlight areas where it seeks to strengthen economic ties with other African nations.

The first Alamein Africa Forum opened Friday in the northern Egyptian coastal city, bringing together about 1,500 African business leaders to discuss investment, trade and economic cooperation.

The forum, which runs from Oct. 2 to 4, is co-organized by the Egyptian government, the African Export-Import Bank and the African Union Development Agency.

Egyptian Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom said Africa represents “a top strategic priority for Egypt,” calling for a shift from viewing the continent only as an export market to treating it as an integrated economic system.

Rostom proposed a “co-innovation” model between Egyptian and other African entrepreneurs, based on technology exchange and cross-border regional value chains.

He also called for more “patient capital” and a greater role for venture capital in supporting investment under the African Continental Free Trade Area, saying this would help position Egypt as a launchpad for African startups seeking global markets.

The forum was established as an African business gathering to be held every two years in Egypt.

While in Al-Alamein, Hassan Sheikh is expected to meet leaders and officials attending the forum. The discussions are expected to focus on Somalia-Egypt relations and cooperation across several sectors.

The visit comes ahead of the eighth annual coordination meeting between the African Union, Regional Economic Communities and regional mechanisms, scheduled to be held in Al-Alamein on Oct. 4, 2026.