The National Securities Exchange of Somalia (NSES) held its formal launch on 19 June 2025, according to this report on Xinhua. A coalition of local investors and financial experts established the exchange and it will start by operating as a private, self-regulatory organization, according to a statement issued in Mogadishu. The Central Bank of Somalia has pledged full technical support with the aim of ensuring international best practices are followed.

The NSES feed on X reports H.E. Hassan Sheik Mohamud, President of Somalia, saying: “Somalia is open for business and is open for everyone. Somalia has started launching its Stock Exchange which we hope soon there will be a market whereby the Somali people and our international partners can buy and sell the shares of their companies. That is the new Somalia in the horizon”.

According to this news report on News Central Africa, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said during the launch that the NSES “marks a new dawn” for Somalia’s economy: “We are opening the gates to investment, to entrepreneurship, to progress.” Somalia’s Finance Minister Bihi Iman Egeh was also present.

The move comes as Somalia embarks on broader structural reforms to stabilize and modernize the economy.
The new bourse says it will work with the Ministry of Finance and other government agencies to develop the policy and legal frameworks for a securities exchange. The exchange officials are drafting listing and compliance regulations and are targeting listings from at least 10 firms in the next 2 years. The full set of listing requirements was completed in January 2025 and is available for download here.

The aim is to start trading shares in early 2026. The NSES said it had launched its market data and analytics platform on 3 April 2025.

The NSES has appointed as CEO Yasin M. Ibar, who previously served as CEO of the Somali Bankers’ Association. In a statement he said: “NSES will create opportunities for companies to access capital, for investors to support Somalia’s growth, and for our economy to integrate effectively into regional and global markets.”

“This is more than just a market. It’s a chance to connect Somali businesses to global capital”.

The new bourse will target equity listings by companies in the telecommunications, banking, real estate, energy and agriculture sectors. It will provide a platform for issuing government-backed, Shariah-compliant Sukuk (bonds) to finance priority infrastructure and development projects.

A key target is the Somali diaspora. According to this study by the Danish Institute for International Affairs: “Remittances sent by Somalis abroad are estimated to be between $1.4 billion to $2bn a year. As approximately 40% of all Somali households receive remittances for purposes of food security, education, health, investments and emergencies, this constitutes an indispensable lifeline.” The NSES plans to launch financial literacy campaigns at home and among the diaspora.

Another stock exchange, the Somali Stock Exchange (SSE) was founded by the Somali Economic Forum (SEF) and began selling its first shares on 1 September 2015 at the exchange’s offices in Garowe, Mogadishu and Hargeisa. It has 10 listed companies, according to its website. Its aim is to promote Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Somalia and promote private sector development.

The SSE and its CEO Hassan Dude organized a Somali Capital Markets Forum on 23 June, which was expected to focus heavily on green finance, healthcare investment and the evolution of Islamic finance as a cultural and strategic asset. These sectors are viewed as offering strong returns alongside social value.

Both Somali securities exchanges and the Ethiopian Securities Exchange are among the nine members of the East African Securities Exchanges Association. This press release by the Nairobi Securities Exchange is about the launch of the East Africa 20 Share Index and has updated information on the Association.