Somalia's seaports: Mogadishu, Berbera, Bosaso and Kismayo

Why ports matter

Somalia imported $7.3 billion of goods in 2025, including food, fuel, building materials and machinery, and exported $1.26 billion (Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025). Most of this moves by sea. The country's coastline, about 3,333 kilometres, is the longest in mainland Africa (same source).

Mogadishu

The capital's port is the main entry point for southern and central Somalia. The Turkish company Albayrak took over its operation and modernisation in late 2014, after Turkey's engagement with Somalia grew from 2011 (Anadolu Agency, September 2025). Trade between Turkey and Somalia is close to $500 million a year (same source).

Berbera

Berbera, on the Gulf of Aden, is Somaliland's main port. DP World of Dubai signed a $442 million joint venture with Somaliland to manage and expand it (Gulf News).

Bosaso

Bosaso is Puntland's port on the Gulf of Aden. In 2017 P&O Ports, part of DP World, signed a 30-year, $336 million concession to manage and develop it, including a 450-metre quay (Seatrade Maritime; WAM). Research from the University of Birmingham and Durham University describes a later revamp of the port (Durham University).

Kismayo

Kismayo is the main port of Jubaland and the far south. Jubaland raised $37 million of its own revenue in 2025 (Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025).

Ports and the internet

Undersea internet cables also land at the ports. PEACE lands at Mogadishu, Kismayo, Berbera and Bosaso; DARE1 at Mogadishu and Bosaso; 2Africa at Mogadishu and Berbera; G2A at Berbera and Bosaso; EASSy at Mogadishu (National Communications Authority). See Telecoms and internet.

The 2026 dispute over UAE agreements

On 12 January 2026 the federal government announced it was cancelling all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including port arrangements at Berbera, Bosaso and Kismayo and security agreements, citing actions it said undermined Somalia's sovereignty and unity (Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Africanews).

Responses differed:

• Somaliland called the cancellation legally invalid (The Standard).
• DP World said its operations at Berbera continue under existing agreements (same source).
• Puntland objected to the description of a Bosaso agreement (same source).
• The North East State backed the federal decision (Dawan Africa).