Addis Ababa (Dawan Africa) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has used the Second Africa Climate Summit to call for urgent and fair climate financing, stressing that despite contributing almost nothing to global emissions, Somalia is among the most climate-vulnerable nations.
Speaking before African heads of state and international delegates in Addis Ababa on Monday, President Mohamud underscored the toll the climate crisis has already taken on his country. “Between 2021 and 2023, our country endured the most severe drought in four decades, affecting 7.8 million people, nearly half of the population. This resulted in widespread food insecurity, loss of livelihoods and millions of internally displaced people,” he said.
The Somali leader emphasized that his country fully supports Africa’s common climate position, which calls for reforms in the global financial architecture to unlock affordable and predictable climate finance, the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, and major investments in adaptation. “Africa's case is compelling and just. Decarbonizing the global economy is inseparable from delivering development in Africa. Let Addis Ababa be remembered as the moment we moved from declarations to delivery — together,” he told the summit.
Somalia also showcased its domestic climate priorities, from launching the Green Somalia Initiative to plant 10 million trees to becoming the first East African nation to submit its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0). President Mohamud highlighted new partnerships, including a $100 million agreement with the Green Climate Fund, and pointed to debt relief as creating fiscal space to invest in resilience.
With electricity access below 50 percent and vast potential in solar and wind energy, the president said Somalia is committed to expanding renewable mini-grids and unlocking its blue economy through sustainable fisheries and coastal resilience. “Our climate priorities are clear: protect lives and livelihoods through adaptation, advance early warning and risk management, accelerate affordable energy, unlock the blue economy, and cut deforestation and charcoal,” he declared.
President Mohamud concluded by urging global partners to match Africa’s ambitions with real financing and delivery on commitments, warning that vulnerable frontline states like Somalia cannot continue to endure repeated climate shocks without urgent support.
