Madaxweynaha Ganacsiga Afrika oo kulan la yeeshay ururka shaqaalaha Soomaaliya
Wamkele Mene, afhayeenka Ganacsiga Afrika ee AfCFTA, ayaa magaalada Muqdisho kula kulmay hoggaamiyayaasha Ururka Shaqaalaha Soomaaliya (FESTU) bishii August 2026, iyadoo Soomaaliya ay ku guuleysatay inay dhammaystirto qorshaha gudaha ee heshiiska ganacsiga Afrika.
Kulanka iyo xaaladda heshiiska
Kulanka oo ka dhacay Muqdisho, ayaa ahaa mid muhiim u ah Soomaaliya, iyadoo Wamkele Mene uu sheegay inuu soo maray booqashadiisa ugu horreysay dalka Soomaaliya. Kulankaan ayaa ka dhacay xilli Soomaaliya ay dhammaystirtay qorshaha gudaha ee heshiiska AfCFTA bishii July 2026.
Mene ayaa sheegay inuu soo dhaweynayo xaqiijinta FESTU ee heshiiska AfCFTA, isla markaana uu aad uga xumahay inuu la shaqeeyo ururka shaqaalaha Soomaaliya. Kulankaan ayaa sidoo kale ka hadlaya xaaladda shaqaalaha iyo horumarinta ganacsiga Soomaaliya.
FESTU oo ka hadlaya faa'iidooyinka heshiiska
FESTU ayaa sheegay in heshiiska AfCFTA uu ka caawinayo Soomaaliya inay horumarto nidaamka ganacsiga, isla markaana uu ka caawinayo inay Soomaaliya ka faa'iideysato suuqyada Afrika. Ururka ayaa sidoo kale sheegay inuu diyaar u yahay inuu la shaqeeyo AfCFTA si loo horumariyo shaqada iyo ganacsiga Soomaaliya.
FESTU ayaa sheegay in heshiiska AfCFTA uu ka caawinayo Soomaaliya inay horumarto nidaamka ganacsiga, isla markaana uu ka caawinayo inay Soomaaliya ka faa'iideysato suuqyada Afrika. Ururka ayaa sidoo kale sheegay inuu diyaar u yahay inuu la shaqeeyo AfCFTA si loo horumariyo shaqada iyo ganacsiga Soomaaliya.
Heshiiska iyo horumarinta shaqaalaha
Mene ayaa sheegay inuu soo dhaweynayo xaqiijinta FESTU ee heshiiska AfCFTA, isla markaana uu aad uga xumahay inuu la shaqeeyo ururka shaqaalaha Soomaaliya. Kulankaan ayaa sidoo kale ka hadlaya xaaladda shaqaalaha iyo horumarinta ganacsiga Soomaaliya.
FESTU ayaa sheegay in heshiiska AfCFTA uu ka caawinayo Soomaaliya inay horumarto nidaamka ganacsiga, isla markaana uu ka caawinayo inay Soomaaliya ka faa'iideysato suuqyada Afrika. Ururka ayaa sidoo kale sheegay inuu diyaar u yahay inuu la shaqeeyo AfCFTA si loo horumariyo shaqada iyo ganacsiga Soomaaliya.
The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area, Wamkele Mene, held talks with leaders of the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) in Mogadishu on Monday, 16 August 2026, as Somalia moves into the implementation phase of the continental free trade agreement following its domestic ratification on 31 July 2026.
Mene's First Visit and Somalia's Ratification Milestone
The meeting was part of Mene's first official visit to Somalia, which ran from 16 to 18 August 2026, and followed the country's completion of its domestic ratification process on 31 July 2026. Discussions focused on Somalia's participation in the continental free trade market, protection of labour rights, decent job creation and the role of social dialogue in the integration process.
Mene cited FESTU's active participation in Somalia's implementation process as a positive example and highlighted wider efforts to strengthen relations between the AfCFTA Secretariat and organised labour across Africa. The federation welcomed Mene's decision to engage directly with organised labour and emphasised that Somalia's participation in the AfCFTA should help strengthen domestic production, value addition and exports rather than position the country primarily as a consumer of goods produced elsewhere.
FESTU's Call for Permanent Social Dialogue
FESTU highlighted the importance of involving trade unions in AfCFTA implementation, pointing to its participation in Somalia's National AfCFTA Implementation Committee as a positive example of social dialogue among government, business and organised labour. The national trade union federation stressed that decisions on trade and investment have direct implications for employment, wages, working conditions and labour standards.
Reflecting positions advanced by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and ITUC-Africa, FESTU advocated permanent and structured dialogue between the AfCFTA Secretariat and organised labour, including trade union representation within relevant continental structures. General Secretary Omar Faruk Osman said: 'Workers are at the heart of production, services and trade. As Somalia advances its participation in the AfCFTA, we want to see trade and investment creating decent jobs, protecting labour rights and delivering real benefits to working people and their families.'
Collaboration Ready as Somalia Implements AfCFTA Commitments
Mene welcomed FESTU's role in Somalia's economic integration process, including its advocacy for the ratification of the AfCFTA Agreement and its efforts to promote social dialogue with the Federal Government. The meeting also addressed the importance of cooperation among government, the private sector and trade unions as increased intra-African trade opens new opportunities for production, investment and employment.
FESTU and the AfCFTA leadership are ready to collaborate as Somalia implements its AfCFTA commitments and organised labour seeks a greater role in Africa's evolving free trade architecture. Osman added that a permanent channel between trade unions and the AfCFTA, in Somalia and across the continent, would help ensure that Africa's free trade agenda remains people-centred and delivers tangible economic and social benefits to working people.
