Keypoints:
- Young female engineers lead Mogadishu’s reconstruction
- Rapid building boom drives urban revival and inclusion
- Concerns rise over safety, planning, and environment
IN a city once devastated by war, the cranes and concrete of Mogadishu’s new skyline are symbols of resilience—and increasingly, of female leadership. As Somalia’s capital experiences an unprecedented building boom, young women like Fathi Mohamed Abdi and Saadia Ahmed Omar are emerging as trailblazers in an industry long dominated by men.
At just 24, both women are leading engineers at Arkan Engineering Services, a Somali-owned firm that has overseen more than 30 multimillion-dollar construction projects. On a ten-storey apartment site in Taleh, within the Hodan district, the two women stride through scaffolding and construction debris, issuing confident instructions to their all-male teams.
‘When I started, people doubted me,’ Abdi told the BBC. ‘They would ask, “How can we trust a house built by a woman?”’
But times are changing, and so is Mogadishu.
A capital rising from conflict
Somalia, once torn apart by decades of civil war, is undergoing a dramatic urban revival. While parts of the capital, like Shangani, still bear the scars of war, many neighbourhoods have seen sweeping transformation. Over 6,000 buildings have been constructed in the past five years, according to the mayor’s office.
‘Mogadishu needs us,’ said Omar, also 24. ‘When I was young, this city was in chaos. Now, we are part of its reconstruction.’
Though Islamist militant group al-Shabab still threatens security, improved stability and an influx of diaspora investment—fueled by remittances making up 16.7 percent of Somalia’s GDP in 2022—have catalysed the city’s rebirth.
Breaking barriers in engineering
With only around five percent of Somalia’s engineers being women, the rise of Abdi and Ms Omar is not just exceptional—it’s groundbreaking.
‘I applied for internships for months before someone took a chance on me,’ Omar said. ‘Most companies didn’t believe a woman could handle the physical side of engineering.’
Both women graduated from Plasma University Mogadishu’s civil engineering faculty and now lead major projects that are fully certified by local authorities.
The booming construction sector has created new opportunities for women. ‘There’s so much work and not enough professionals,’ Omar added. ‘That creates space for us.’
Ibrahim Abdi Heyle, chair of the Somali Engineers Association, told the BBC that inclusion is now essential. ‘The workload has increased dramatically. We encourage women to join. They bring diversity, innovation—and they’re needed.’
Between progress and pitfalls
Despite the optimism, there are concerns. Veteran architect Siidow Cabdulle Boolaay laments the loss of Mogadishu’s Italian-inspired colonial architecture, once unique in Africa.
‘The city’s old charm is vanishing,’ he said. ‘Today’s buildings are rushed and often unsafe. Many use salt-laden sea sand, which corrodes steel and weakens foundations.’
He warned that many new buildings lack basic safety features, including fire systems and proper electrical wiring. Until three years ago, there were virtually no building regulations in the city.
City officials admit the legacy of unregulated construction is troubling. ‘Nothing can be done about those earlier buildings,’ said mayoral spokesperson Salah Hassan Omar. ‘But now we enforce quality control and are drafting new zoning laws.’
Still, follow-up inspections are limited, raising concerns about long-term safety.
Urban growth and environmental strain
The pace of construction is straining Mogadishu’s infrastructure. There is no modern sewage system, and each new high-rise digs its own borehole, risking groundwater depletion.
‘Without a coordinated water plan, we could face a crisis,’ warned Christophe Hodder, the UN’s climate and environmental adviser in Somalia. ‘In small areas, there are 10 or 20 boreholes. It’s unsustainable.’
Meanwhile, the capital’s population is swelling, fuelled by rural displacement due to drought and conflict. Informal settlements are expanding, deepening poverty and widening inequality.
Plans are underway, with international support, to develop a sewage system. But implementing it could require demolishing new buildings—an unpopular and politically sensitive move.
Building hope, not just high-rises
Despite the challenges, there is a renewed sense of purpose among Somali engineers. Even continued al-Shabab attacks haven’t deterred professionals like Heyle.
‘Explosions happened, but our dreams did not stop,’ he said. ‘We’re reviving an industry that collapsed 30 years ago. That means there is hope.’
Omar agrees. ‘When I walk through Mogadishu and see the buildings I helped create, I feel proud. We’re not just constructing walls—we’re building hope for our country.’
For Ms Abdi, the mission is deeply personal. ‘We’re proving women can lead. We’re not just engineers—we’re shaping Mogadishu’s future.’
