Women Engineers Lead Mogadishu’s Construction Boom
By Wafric - Business
WafricNews – June 15, 2025
Mogadishu, Somalia – In the heart of Mogadishu’s fast-transforming skyline, two young women in hard hats are rewriting the narrative of post-war reconstruction—and challenging gender norms along the way.
Fathi Mohamed Abdi and Saadia Ahmed Omar, both 24-year-old civil engineers, are leading the construction of a 10-storey apartment complex in Taleh, part of the capital’s busy Hodan District. Among a sea of male workers, their voices are clear, authoritative, and respected.
“When I started, people doubted me,” says Abdi, now Chief Operating Officer at Arkan Engineering Services, a Somali-owned firm. “They’d ask, ‘Can I trust a building made by a woman?’ But now, we let our work speak for itself.”
Both women began their engineering journeys five years ago, at a time when Somalia was still struggling to emerge from decades of civil war, insecurity, and economic collapse. But they chose to stay, build, and lead.
“Mogadishu needs us,” says Omar. “When I was a child, this city was broken. Now we are helping rebuild it with our own hands.”
Over the last five years, more than 6,000 buildings have been constructed in Mogadishu Rebuilding Amid Ruins
Once a city of ruins and rubble, Mogadishu is experiencing a construction renaissance. Over 6,000 new buildings have been erected in just the last five years, according to the mayor’s office. The city’s landscape—scarred by decades of conflict—is now dotted with cranes, scaffolding, and modern high-rises.
But behind this transformation lies a deeper shift: women, long sidelined in Somalia’s patriarchal society, are now stepping into engineering, a field still dominated by men.
“There’s just so much work and not enough professionals,” says Omar. “That shortage opened the door for women like us.”
According to Ibrahim Abdi Heyle, Chair of the Somali Engineers Association, women are vital to Somalia’s reconstruction.
“We have more infrastructure and energy projects than ever before,” he says. “We actively encourage women to join the profession. Their perspectives bring innovation, and their presence is reshaping the future.”
It is rare to see women taking charge of a construction site in Somalia Overcoming Barriers, Building Legacies
Despite their growing reputation, Abdi and Omar are among a small group—just 5% of engineers in Somalia are women. Both faced repeated rejections when looking for internships, often told that engineering was too physical for women.
“I searched for three months before someone finally gave me a chance,” recalls Omar.
Today, the two have led over 30 multimillion-dollar projects, helping transform Mogadishu into a modern city.
“When I walk past buildings I’ve worked on, I feel proud,” Omar says. “We’re not just raising structures—we’re raising hope.”
There are fears that the classical look of old Mogadishu will be completely lostThe engineers hope Mogadishu will become a modern city and a model for post-conflict reconstruction New City, New Challenges
But not everyone is thrilled about the pace of change. Siidow Cabdulle Boolaay, a veteran architect, warns that modern buildings are replacing the city’s historical charm.
“Before the war, Mogadishu had beautiful Italian-style architecture,” he says. “Now, much of that is lost.”
Boolaay also raises serious concerns about safety and materials, noting that salt-heavy sand from Somalia’s coastline is often used in construction—despite its corrosive impact on steel.
“Many of these buildings aren’t fireproof or rainproof. Safety isn’t always a priority.”
In response, the mayor’s office says new quality control laws have been introduced, though enforcement remains inconsistent.
“We’ve begun regulating construction, and no new building gets approval without meeting standards,” says Salah Hassan Omar, spokesperson for the mayor.
Yet, the speed of urbanisation often outpaces oversight, raising fears that structural safety may be compromised in the rush to build.
Diaspora Fueling the Boom
Much of Mogadishu’s construction surge is funded by diaspora investment. According to the World Bank, remittances made up 16.7% of Somalia’s GDP in 2022, giving engineers and architects the capital to grow.
But rapid urbanisation comes with risks: unregulated borehole drilling threatens water reserves, and the city still lacks a modern sewage system. Experts like Christophe Hodder of the UN warn of future environmental crises if planning isn’t prioritised.
“In just one block, there could be 10 to 20 boreholes,” he warns. “We need coordinated water management now, or we face disaster.”
Still, there’s hope. A national sewage system is in the works—though its construction may require demolishing buildings, sparking concerns of displacement.
Resilience as a Blueprint
Even attacks by al-Shabab, the extremist group still active in southern Somalia, have not derailed the work of the Somali engineering community.
“Our buildings were bombed. Our dreams weren’t,” says Heyle. “We are reviving a profession that almost died 30 years ago. That alone is victory.”
For Abdi and Omar, the journey is personal. Both graduated from Plasma University Mogadishu, and both are determined to build not just buildings—but a new Somalia.
“We are proof that women can lead, design, and engineer the future,” says Abdi. “Somalia’s story is changing—and we’re proud to be writing this chapter.”
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