Somalia Participates in 2nd Africa Cities Forum

By Nuh Mohamed - Reporter

Somalia, 9 April 2026 A delegation from the Somali government is participating in the 2nd Africa Cities Forum, which officially opened on Wednesday in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Somali delegation is led by the Minister of State for Public Works, Reconstruction, and Housing, Said Mohamed Mahmoud Heyd, and Somalia's ambassador to Kenya, Jibril Ibrahim Abdulle, who is also the country's Permanent Representative to the UN Habitat.

The forum, which will run for three days, is being attended by participants from various African countries and representatives of international organizations. The Africa Cities Forum is a continental-level meeting where governments, businesses, and civil society gather to discuss the development and future of African cities.

This year’s forum is focusing on managing the rapid growth of African cities, increasing investments, strengthening political cooperation, and improving urban planning. Special attention is also being given to enhancing labor-related operations and urban planning initiatives.

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The forum comes at a time when Somalia has been elected to join the UN Habitat’s Central Governing Board. Additionally, Somalia has been chosen to lead the global housing and settlement program, a project impacting over 190 countries.

During the forum, Somalia and Azerbaijan will co-chair high-level meetings, presenting highly anticipated reports.

The forum also serves as a key opportunity for Somalia to present its policies and new initiatives on urban development and international cooperation.