Somali business delegation explores trade opportunities in DRC

The mission, led by Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, follows a year of sustained engagement between the DRC Embassy in Nairobi and Somali entrepreneurs based in Kenya. Its goal is to expand investment opportunities, facilitate trade consultations, and reinforce commercial cooperation.

The program also includes meetings with Somali entrepreneurs already active in the DRC to discuss challenges they face and explore possible solutions.

“This visit represents a vital step in deepening commercial and people-to-people ties between Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Ambassador Abdulle said. “Our business community has always been resilient and adaptable, and we are here to ensure they are well supported in new and emerging markets.”

The initiative builds on earlier diplomatic efforts, including the Somali Embassy’s successful intervention in securing the release of Somali traders previously imprisoned in the DRC. Ambassador Abdulle underscored that such actions reflect Somalia’s commitment to protecting and empowering its citizens abroad.

Somali businesses have steadily expanded their footprint across Africa, particularly in Eastern, Central, and Southern regions. In the DRC, they are active in the fuel trade and cross-border vehicle business, often linking markets between Kenya and Congo. Kenya’s position as a commercial hub continues to play a key role in supporting Somali trade networks.

Ambassador Abdulle also highlighted the strengthening of Somalia–Kenya economic ties in recent years, noting, “Kenya remains a crucial partner for Somali traders. Our shared history, geography, and economic interdependence continue to open new opportunities for growth in both countries.”

The DRC has increasingly positioned itself as East Africa’s next economic frontier, driven by vast mineral wealth, a large consumer base, and deeper regional integration. With both Somalia and the DRC now members of the East African Community (EAC), they have joined a trade bloc of more than 400 million people and a combined GDP of about $500 billion. The EAC promotes the free movement of goods, services, and people—opportunities Somali entrepreneurs are keen to harness.