By Zakarie Hassan - Reporter
Somalia, July 14 2026 – The Heritage Forum 2026 opened in Mogadishu on Tuesday, bringing together government officials, researchers, academics and civil society representatives to discuss Somalia's political transition and the country's long-term development.
The two-day forum is jointly organised by the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies and City University, focusing on pathways to strengthen governance, preserve national unity and advance Somalia's state-building process.
Deputy Prime Minister, Salah Ahmed Jama, who presided over the opening, underscored the importance of dialogue at a time when Somalia faces critical political and constitutional challenges.
Discussions on the first day focused on Somalia's transitional political phase and strategies for overcoming current challenges while safeguarding national unity and sustainable development.
Tomorrow, the forum will examine structural weaknesses in Somalia's governance system, institutional reforms and options for strengthening state institutions.
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Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is expected to deliver the closing remarks at the end of the conference.
Speaking at the opening session, Heritage Institute Director Mursal Saney said this year's forum comes at a particularly sensitive moment in Somalia's political journey.
"This year's forum comes at a critical time. Somalia is passing through a difficult political phase, and Somalis everywhere are asking how the country can move beyond the current situation as the state-building process enters another challenging electoral period," he said.
Previous editions of the Heritage Forum focused on education and Somalia's economy, while this year's conference centers on the country's political transition, state-building and long-term development.