Somalia’s construction boom in Mogadishu gives women high ambitions

Construction explodes in the capital of Somalia, and as Mogadishu literally rises from the ashes of the violent past, Fathi Mohamed Abdi and Saadia Ahmed Omar also give unexpected opportunities.

Two young female engineers control the construction of a 10 -storey apartment complex in Taleh in the Hodan region of the city.

They wear hard hats, move through construction materials, give instructions to a team of workers who are all male.

Arkan Engineering Services, a construction company belonging to Somalia, 24 -year -old Mrs. Abdi, the BBC, said, “When I started, people doubted me.”

“” How can we trust a house built by a woman? How can I trust my money and my property with a young female engineer? “

He and his colleague Mrs. Omar have been doing engineers for the last five years.

“Mogadishu needs us,” says Omar, 24 years old.

Somalia, a former Italian colony, experienced a long civil war after the government of President Siad Barre collapsed in January 1991.

Even now, traces of war scars can still be seen for decades – as in the central region of Shangani, where bombed buildings are located. However, the remains are hidden or replaced by a dotted silhouette by long office complexes and circles and crane and scaffolding.

Both young women were born during the civil war and witnessed the disintegration of their country. While choosing many Somalia separation, they remained with the passion of rebuilding, although an uprising was carried out by Al-Shabab, a group of Al-Qaeda.

“Some of the reason why women get more chances in this field is that there is too much work to do and not being professional enough to do so. This creates space for us.”

İbrahim Abdi Heyle, President of Somalia Engineers Association, acknowledges that high demand for talented professionals is traditionally caused by Somalia to change even in the male -dominated society.

“The workload has increased significantly with many ongoing infrastructures, energy and technology projects. As a result, the association actively encourages more participation than women, and is also vital to filling the critical gaps in the labor force.”

“The association believes that strengthening women in engineering not only helps to meet the increasing demand, but also brings various perspectives and innovative solutions to the sector.”

According to the Mayor of Mogadishu, more than 6,000 buildings have been built in the last five years and a significant change in the view of the city has been pointed out.

Mayor spokesman Salah Hassan Omar said, “Security in Mogadishu developed and led to an increase in high -rise and commercial buildings.”

However, since only 5% of the engineers are women, Mrs. Abdi and Mrs. Omar have not been an easy way for – and usually there are few mentoring opportunities.

“When I apply for an internship, most companies have rejected me, Omar Omar remembers. “They didn’t think a woman could fulfill the physical demands of engineering. I called for three months before someone gave me a chance.”

Today, two of them are among the most well -known female engineers in Mogadishu and control more than 30 multimillion dollars projects.

“The city is now home to longer buildings and modern infrastructure, and it is a complete contrast to the Mogadishu of the past.”

However, not everyone is satisfied with the transformation. Experienced architect Siidow Cabdulle Boolaay is licensing the loss of the historical character of the city.

“The buildings that once decorated Somalia before the war were not only beautiful, but also drew attention due to the rare Italian -style architecture in Africa at that time.” “Mogadishu’s urban planning was highly structured.”

Mr. Boolaay also has security concerns: “The sand used in the buildings of Mogadishu is salty, which weakens its effectiveness.”

Sand from the long coastline of Somalia is often used to make cement – usually courageous is a practice that has been discharged and is restricted by international building standards, because high salt content can cause steel corrosion.

“These high buildings are not designed to withstand fire or heavy rain, and for tenants are not taken into account during development. Most of these buildings lack fire extinguishers and suitable electrical installations.”

It is careful against the speed in which the buildings it says compromise on quality control are built.

For years, there was no regulation that led to concerns about their structural integrity.

Omar admits that this is the case until three years ago – and he says that nothing can be done about these buildings.

But now he insists that “quality control and no one will build a building without it”.

“We [also] The preparation of new laws that will clearly define where high -rise buildings can be built and where housing houses should be built. “

Nevertheless, although the arrangements are in force – there are worries that there is often no tracking controls due to the speed of the building explosion.

Ms. Abdi and Mrs. Omar, who graduated from Plasma University Mogadishu Faculty of Civil Engineering, says that all their projects are approved by local authorities under their companies.

Although the rapid growth of construction projects is still aimed at the city, the Islamist militants, who control the large areas of South Somalia, are still attributed to diaspora investments and advanced security.

According to the World Bank, the wire transfer made up 16.7% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022 – something that gives the architects and engineers an opportunity.

However, rapid urbanization has exposed Mogadishu to infrastructure difficulties – lacking an appropriate sewage system and irregular drilling drilling risks consume groundwater reserves.

UN Climate Safety and Environmental Consultant Christophe Hodder warns that the uncontrolled construction explosion can lead to long -term environmental results.

“We need a coordinated approach to water management or we risk a crisis in the future. Each new building is digging its own drilling … 10 or 20 drilling in a small area,” he said.

The government is working on a new sewage system in partnership with international organizations, but it may require the demolition of existing buildings – this is a controversial movement that can replace residents and businesses.

Mr. Hodder adds that there is a high population density in Mogadishu – people who are deported to the city with drought and conflict.

Authorized, the urban population, especially the increase in shanty regions of the poverty and social inequalities can increase, he says.

Despite these difficulties, the future of Mogadishu seems to be promising. The city is trying to implement urban development regulations, improve infrastructure and provide sustainable growth.

Even the bombings of the Islamist armed group El -Shabab, which tend to target Plush hotels, which are generally occupied by politicians, do not break the enthusiasm of the Somali Engineers Association.

Mr. Heyle states that it can be sad for architects and engineers whose buildings are destroyed, but that the Somalis have become flexible – especially the fields of engineering education.

“There were too many explosions; our dreams did not emphasize it. Today we are playing the collapsed engineering profession 30 years ago. This means that there is hope.”

And ambition is that in five years, Mogadishu will not only be a modern city, but also a post -conflict model.

“I believe that Mogadishu is a different city compared to the 1990s, and the development of Mogadishu is compatible with the new world.”

“I am proud of walking the streets and seeing the buildings I help to build. We do not only build buildings, we build hope.”

Abdi accepts by adding the following: “We prove that women can not design buildings not only, but also lead to projects and shape the city.”