Somalia celebrates the International Day for Women in Maritime
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Somalia marks International Day for Women in Maritime with new initiatives for gender equality.
Somalia celebrated the International Day for Women in Maritime on Sunday, hosting an event to recognize and elevate the vital role women play in the country’s maritime and blue economy sectors. Supported by the United Nations, the event emphasized the importance of women’s inclusion, education, and empowerment in a field where they have long been underrepresented.
The celebration, organized by Somalia’s Ministry of Ports and Maritime Affairs, brought together government officials, development partners, and community leaders to highlight progress and challenges in promoting gender equality at sea. The event also served as a platform to unveil a new initiative focused on empowering Somali women through targeted education programs and job creation in maritime industries.
Somalia’s Deputy Minister of Ports and Marine Transport, Fartun Abdukadir, spoke passionately at the gathering, pledging the ministry’s commitment to dismantling barriers that prevent women from participating in maritime activities. “The Ministry pledges to break down the barriers that prevent women from participating in maritime activities, as well as to combat any discrimination and create jobs and leadership opportunities for Somali women,” she said.
Gender disparities remain significant in Somalia’s maritime sector. Despite the country boasting the longest coastline in mainland Africa—stretching over 3,300 kilometers along the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden—women’s participation in the maritime economy is minimal. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), women own only about 4% to 5% of fishing boats in Somalia. Broader data on the presence of women in the sector remains scarce.
The event was also an occasion to reflect on the progress made since 2023, when the Somali government, in collaboration with the United Nations, introduced the Women in the Maritime Sector National Action Plan. The plan aims to increase women’s access to opportunities and leadership roles in the sector and is viewed as a significant step toward achieving gender parity.
One of the key highlights of Sunday’s event was the Women in Maritime Awards, which honored 23 individuals and one youth organization for their contributions to promoting gender equality and leadership in Somalia’s maritime sector. Among those recognized was Ikran Mohamed Abdulahi, the head of human capital development at the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy. In her remarks, Abdulahi urged women to remain hopeful and persistent. “Do not lose hope. Your efforts are shaping the future of Somalia’s maritime industry,” she said.
The importance of women in maritime is not unique to Somalia. Globally, women make up only 1.2% of the seafaring workforce, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This striking underrepresentation highlights the widespread nature of gender inequality across the maritime world and reinforces the need for focused initiatives like Somalia’s.
Speaking at the event, Nasrin Khan, Head of the Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group at the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), praised Somali women for their resilience and contributions. “To all the Somali women in Maritime, your leadership, vision, and courage are shaping Somalia’s future and inspiring the region. You are not just part of the maritime story; you are leading it,” she said.
The celebration served not only as recognition of achievements but also as a call to action to build a more inclusive maritime sector. As Somalia seeks to rebuild and expand its economy, especially through blue economy initiatives, women’s active participation will be critical.
With strong institutional support and increasing visibility of women in leadership roles, Somalia hopes to foster a new generation of female maritime professionals who will transform the industry and serve as role models for future generations. The message from the event was clear: empowering women in maritime is not only a matter of equality—it is essential for national progress and sustainable development.
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