Appointment signals focus on strengthening Somaliland’s ports, trade infrastructure and investment-driven free zones.
HARGEISA, Somaliland (Horn Post) — Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro has appointed Ambassador Mohamed Abdikarim Mohamed Marshal as chairman of the country’s Ports and Free Zone Authority, a key body overseeing maritime infrastructure and tax-exempt trade zones.
Marshal previously served as Somaliland’s deputy ambassador to Ethiopia and is regarded as part of a new generation of educated Somali professionals who have played an active role in the territory’s political landscape over the past decade.
He was also among figures associated with the political rise of the Waddani party, which assumed power in late 2024 following a closely watched election.
The appointment has been widely welcomed in the capital, Hargeisa, and across Somaliland, with congratulatory messages circulating on social media throughout the day.
The Ports and Free Zone Authority is considered a strategic institution for Somaliland’s economic ambitions, particularly in expanding trade through its ports and developing free economic zones aimed at attracting foreign investment.
While some observers suggested Marshal could have been considered for a higher-ranking post, others noted that the position carries significant national importance and requires strong administrative and diplomatic experience.
Here you can watch Ambassador Muhammad Marshall, geopolitical analyst and former deputy ambassador of Somaliland to Ethiopia. He joins ITV now from Adiss Ababa
Prepared by:
Horn post staff
