By Asma Mohamud - Reporter
Somalia, 11 June 2026 – Turkish shipping company Akkon Lines has launched a direct service to Mogadishu Port, marking a new maritime link between Somalia and Türkiye, Somali officials and port operator Alport Mogadishu said.
Mogadishu Port received the first Akkon Lines vessel on Thursday at a ceremony attended by Somalia’s Minister of Ports and Marine Transport Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, Mogadishu Port Manager Mohamed Ali Nur ‘Ameriko’, representatives from the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Turkish embassy officials.
Alport Mogadishu said the service was part of efforts to improve trade, logistics and maritime connectivity, allowing faster cargo movement and stronger supply chains between the two countries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Nur said the arrival of a direct vessel from Türkiye was a major step for Somali traders, reducing the need for cargo to pass through third-country transit points before reaching Mogadishu.
He said the new service reflected both the role of Somali businesses and improvements at Mogadishu Port, which is operated by Türkiye’s Albayrak Group.
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“This is a major achievement for both the government and Somali traders,” the minister said.
Abdulkadir said the direct route should not only support imports but also encourage Somali producers and traders to increase exports.
“When the ship comes here, it should not only bring goods. It should also carry goods,” he said, urging Somali businesses to strengthen production and prepare export-quality products.
The ministry said Akkon Lines was expected to help facilitate the movement of goods between Somalia and Türkiye through direct shipping operations.
Officials said the new route could support trade, investment and wider economic exchange between the two countries.