A national call to power Somalia's energy future

Some moments define a nation's trajectory — when citizens, businesses, investors and leaders converge around a shared vision of what the future could be. The Somalia Renewable Energy Conference and Expo 2026, SREC26, is one such moment.

Organised by the Somali Green Energy Association, SREC26 is more than a conference; it is a declaration that Somalia is ready to engage, compete and lead in the global energy transition.

For years, SOGEA leadership have travelled across Africa, the Middle East and Europe to attend energy summits and investment forums, witnessing how strategic convenings transform economies.

The question that followed was simple: why not Somalia?

Why should Somali companies keep travelling abroad to tell their story, when investors could experience the country's opportunities firsthand?

SREC26 answers that question. This inaugural event — a national platform, not a SOGEA initiative alone — will give Somali energy companies, entrepreneurs, project developers, policymakers and investors a stage to showcase their capabilities to regional and international audiences.

The case for urgency

Markets are evolving, technology is advancing, and competition for capital is intensifying. Across East Africa, nations have built major annual events to attract investors and development partners.

Kigali has become a recognised hub for business dialogue and innovation; Nairobi, a regional gateway for investment and cooperation. These outcomes were not accidental — they were built through deliberate convening.

Somalia deserves the same opportunity. The country has among Africa's most dynamic private-sector-led energy markets, exceptional solar and wind resources, and a young, entrepreneurial population driving innovation.

What it has lacked is a platform to make that progress visible to the world.

A call for collective ownership

Realising this vision requires collective ownership. We call on business leaders to exhibit their products; entrepreneurs to showcase their innovations; professionals and academics to share expertise; policymakers to champion the platform; and the diaspora to serve as ambassadors for Somalia's renewable energy future.

We ask every Somali to help carry this message.

If we do not tell our story, others will tell it for us, and likely through an outdated lens. SREC26 is our opportunity to present a different narrative: one of innovation, investment and resilience, grounded in the reality of Somalia today.

The future of renewable energy in Somalia will not be built by one organisation alone, but through collaboration and shared vision. Together, we can make SREC26 a defining moment for the sector and for the country.

Eng. Bashiir Mohamud
Chairman, Somali Green Energy Association