Building boom in Somalia in Mogadishu gives women high aspirations

The construction flourishes in the capital of Somalia, and while Mogadishu literally rises from the ashes of his violent past, it also provides unexpected opportunities for women such as Fathi Mohamed Abdel -Souad Ahmed Omar.

Young engineers supervise the construction of a 10 -storey residential complex in a story in the Houdan area of ​​the city.

They wear hard hats, move on their way through building materials, and issue instructions to a team of workers – all of them men.

When I started, people questioned the 24 -year -old MS ABDI, CEO of Operations at Arkan Engineering Services, a Somalis -owned construction company for The BBC.

“They will ask,” How can we trust a house built by a woman? How can I trust my survival and property with a young engineer? “

She and her colleague, Mrs. Omar, have been practicing engineers over the past five years.

Mrs. Omar, who is 24 years old, says when I was young, this city was chaos. Now, we are part of its reconstruction. “

Somalia, a former Italian colony, witnessed a long period of civil war after the collapse of the government of President Siad Barry in January 1991.

Until now, decades of war contracts are still visible – as in the Changhani central region where there are bombed buildings. But the rubble has become hidden or replaced by long office complexes and apartments, and a horizon spread with cranes and scaffolding.

Both young women were born during the civil war and raised and grew up as they witnessed their country. While many Somalis chose to leave, with Qiwa, with passionately driven by rebuilding, despite the fact that the rebellion was waging by young people, a group linked to al -Qaeda.

“I think part of the reason that a woman gets more opportunities in this field is that there is a lot of work to do, and there is not enough professionals to do so. This creates a space for us,” says Omar.

Ibrahim Abdel Halei, President of the Somali Engineers Association, agrees to the high demand for skilled professionals to change – even if he is slowly in the male -dominated Somali society.

“With many continuous infrastructure projects, energy and technology, the burden of work has increased significantly. As a result, the association actively encourages greater participation of women, focusing not only that they have been welcomed, but also vital in filling the critical gaps in the workforce,” says 34 -year -old.

“The association believes that enabling women in engineering not only helps to meet the increasing demand but also brings various views and innovative industry solutions.”

According to the office of the mayor of Mogadishu, over the past five years, more than 6000 buildings have been built, which represents a major change in the scene in the city.

“Security has improved in Mogadishu, which led to an increase in tall and commercial buildings,” says Salah Hassan Omar, a spokesman for the mayor.

However, it was not an easy path for Mrs. ABDI and Mrs. Omar because only 5 % of the engineers are women – and they often find chances of rare guidance.

“When I applied for internal training, most companies refused,” Mrs. Omar recalls. “They didn’t think that a woman could deal with the physical demands of engineering. I looked for three months before someone finally gave me a chance.”

Today, the two are among the most well -known engineers in Mogadishu, where they have engraved more than 30 projects in millions of dollars.

“The city is now home to the longest buildings and modern infrastructure, and it is a blatant contradiction with the last Mogadisho.”

But not everyone is happy to shift. Veteran architect Cabdulle Boolaay regrets the loss of the historical personality of the city.

“The buildings that were one day before the war were not only beautiful, but also attracted attention because of its Italian -style structure, which was rare in Africa at the time.” “The urban planning of Magadisho was very organized.”

Mr. Boolaay also has safety concerns: “The sand used in Mogadishu buildings is salty, which undermines its effectiveness.”

Sands are often used from the long coastal line in Somalia to prepare cement – a practice that does not generally encourage it, and in many circumstances, international construction standards are limited because high salt content can cause steel erosion.

“These long buildings are not designed to carry fire or heavy rains, and safety of tenants is not considered during development. Many of these buildings lack fire extinguishers and appropriate electrical installations,” he adds – clearly disappointed.

It is warned of the pace of buildings that build buildings, which he says display quality control.

For years, there were no regulations, which leads to concerns about their structural safety.

Mr. Omar, from the mayor’s office, admits that this is the case even three years ago – and he says nothing can be done about those buildings.

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

“We (also) are preparing new laws that clearly determine where the tall buildings and the location of building houses can only be built.”

However, there are fears that although there are regulations – there are no follow -up examinations often due to the speed of the building mutation.

Mrs. Abd al -Omar, who graduated from the College of Civil Engineering at the University of Al -Balazma, says that all their projects have been approved by the local authorities.

The rapid growth of construction projects is due to the diaspora investments as well as improving security – although the Islamic militants who control large areas of southern Somalia are still targeting the city.

According to the World Bank, transfers accounted for 16.7 % of the country’s GDP (GDP) in 2022 – which gave opportunities to architects and engineers.

However, urban expansion also revealed Mogadisho for infrastructure challenges – it lacks the appropriate sewage system and the risk of digging the well -undergone well that exhausts the groundwater reserves.

Christophe Hudner, Climate and Environment Security Adviser at the United Nations, warns that an unreasonable construction mutation may lead to long -term environmental consequences.

“We need a coordinated water management approach, or we risk a crisis in the future. Every new building digs its own well … in a small area, there may be 10 or 20 wells,” he told the BBC.

The government, in partnership with international organizations, is working on a new sewage system, but its implementation may require the demolition of existing buildings – a controversial step that can replace the population and companies.

Mr. Hoder adds that there is a high population density in Mogadishu – leads people to the city through drought and conflict.

He says that the increase in city residents, especially in the areas of poor neighborhoods, may increase poverty and social disparities.

Despite these challenges, the future of Mogadishu seems promising. The city seeks to implement urban development regulations, improve infrastructure and ensure sustainable growth.

Even the bombings of the young Islamic Armed Group – whose fighters tend to target luxury hotels occupied by politicians – do not outperform the enthusiasm of the Somali Engineers Association.

Mr. Heyle admits that it may be annoying to architects and engineers whose buildings are destroyed but notes that the Somalis have become flexible – especially those who study engineering.

“Many explosions happened; our dreams did not stop. Today we revive the engineering profession, which collapsed 30 years ago. This means that there is hope.”

The aspiration is that within five years, Mogadishu will not only be a modern city, but will also be the reconstruction of post -conflict.

“I think Mogadishu is a different city compared to the nineties. The city has changed into a new style, and Mogadishu’s development is in line with the new world.”

“When I walk in the streets and see the buildings that I have helped build, I feel proud. We are not just building structures; we build hope.”

Ms. Abd Ali agrees, adding: “We prove that not only women can design buildings but also lead projects and form the city.”