Do Somalis know any businesses other than coffee shops and hotels?

[Idilinaa]

Its no longer feasible to control media now that the internet is around.

Especially considering that most of the worst offenders are diaspora.

If the government cared more they would work with telecom and internet providers to ban and block western social media platforms in Somalia. And provide alternative platforms that can be regulated and are not driven by ads profits. Make them more localized in engagements as well.

It would honestly make a big difference, it will also relocate Somali online interactions and discussions into their own spaces and keep them rooted in real realities.

The biggest damage in my mind that these platforms do (which can be felt globally) that it's a waste of time and it takes people away from their every day life. They are specifically designed to steal your time & data and make you glued to it so these apps can make a profit from it.

 

[bobby_hill-Punt]

I wonder how many anicent structures are all over the somali peninsula. The only mapping I've seen done is by sade mire where she seems to mark like several dozen abandoned towns.

I really think there are thousands of them or tens of thousands. There are thousands of ghosts towns coastal cities and each one has large structures similar to these. We haven't even spoken about the once that are more the 600 years old because those have been sunkan under ground due to sand. There was an archlogist that scanned just over Puntland with lidar scanner and they found millions of ancient structures roads castle and pyramids just below our feet. Just imagine how much history we lost. But we will have problems with islamists that will state those should be forgotten because we were pagan .

 

[Midas]

I really think there are thousands of them or tens of thousands. There are thousands of ghosts towns coastal cities and each one has large structures similar to these. We haven't even spoken about the once that are more the 600 years old because those have been sunkan under ground due to sand. There was an archlogist that scanned just over Puntland with lidar scanner and they found millions of ancient structures roads castle and pyramids just below our feet. Just imagine how much history we lost. But we will have problems with islamists that will state those should be forgotten because we were pagan .

And most somalis are clueless about these cuz nobody has taken any pictures of these structures. Even the most famous like gondershse and zayla. Only have a few photos online.

 

[Midas]

No it used to be expensive due to it being diesel generated but electricity prices has come down a lot in prices due to investments in green energy and technological advancement by local energy companies to provide cheaper and more efficient electricity.
View attachment 359038
View attachment 359039

Somalia invests $220 million in green energy - Best news channels in Mogadishu | Best news channels in Somalia | News channels in Mogadishu

Somalia's energy and electricity sector is undergoing a huge transformation as BECO, the largest energy provider, signed a $220 million investment in green

mogadishu24.com

The largest single price reduction will come this year between 2025-2027.
View attachment 359040

There are many Energy companies like (BECO), (NEPCO), (SECO), (KEPLC), Sompower, (CECO), Kube Energy and there is bunch of other smaller ones like Indho Power , NESCO, SECCO etc

Consequently a rural area of Somalia has more reliable and efficient 24 hour electricity supply than large parts of Nairobi who also experience frequent blackouts because its connected to a national grid and not a decentralized mini-grids like Somalia.



Reality in Kenya for comparison:

Kenya: recurring power cuts disrupt daily life

Massive power cuts in Kenya underscore urgent need to modernize electricity infrastructure and tackle technical challenges

energynews.pro

My suspicion is that a lot of this change is happening at a very local level across the entire country instead of being concentrated in a city or two. So the scale of change while immense is not very visible.

 

[Idilinaa]

My suspicion is that a lot of this change is happening at a very local level across the entire country instead of being concentrated in a city or two. So the scale of change while immense is not very visible.

You are 100% right. This what i come to understand when i looked into it.

Aside from many local electricity companies. Each region or town has many different water companies and they deal with digging/building wells, boring holes, piping and aquifers (Ijaabo Water, Shaba water company,Aqua Systems Somalia, horseed, Mina Water Company) .
Each town and region has it's own water company supplier Northwest: HABA, (WWA) , (GWA), BWA, (BuWA), (EWA) NorthEast: (GUMCO), (HOWACO) , (NUWACO) , (MAWASU), (GWA), (GALWA), Central-South (DWMC), (Warjinay), (FWSC),.

It's like this across many different service sectors. So it shows a highly decentralized locally driven competitive economy.

Somali businesses are actually extremely diverse. It crosses into many different sectors.

You can also see it on how there is many different conglomerates that deal with different things.

Moumin Group

moumin.com

View attachment 359024

Home - Horseed Group

Horseed Group Our Portolio Access webmails here Mail us to start business with us: info@horseedgroup.com Business Units We pride ourselves on a broad range of specialties Learn how we’ve worked to deliver cutting-edge customer-focused solutions. Foodstuffs Industry We make available a wide range...

horseedgroup.so

View attachment 359025

Star Group of Companies

www.stargroup-som.com

View attachment 359026

National Group Of Companies | Home

nationalnfs.com

View attachment 359027

View attachment 359028

Salma Group Of Companies

View attachment 359029
View attachment 359031

There is soo many different conglomerates in Somalia it would take a page and more to list them all i have found.

In Somalia they don't really have corporatism you see in the west they behave more like cooperative enterprises. They are often community driven and collectively owned.

The last i said above is one thing that actually surprised me. Unlike in the U.S. or other capitalist economies, Somalia’s private sector operates on a unique model where businesses are deeply tied to communities rather than controlled by a small elite.

They are diverse in scope because they tend to focus on fulfilling local needs over profit.

In the U.S., corporations are owned by shareholders and investors whose main goal is maximizing profit, even if it means cutting wages, outsourcing jobs, or raising prices.

In Somalia businesses often behave more socially responsible , for example major businesses like Hormuud Telecom and Dahabshiil have community investment models where profits are often reinvested into local infrastructure, mosques, schools, and welfare projects.

In the U.S., profits from businesses often go to corporate executives, multinational shareholders, and offshore tax havens, draining wealth from local communities.

In Somalia, the wealth stays within Somali hands, whether it’s through diaspora investments, local business expansions, or community projects

When you think further about it it makes a sense to me after the time i spend to study history and how societies operate. The west and others their feudal system did not really abolish it just evolved into corporate capitalism,, as the basic model of wealth being concentrated among a few powerful entities stayed the same. They often require government intervention .i.e Socialism to re-distribute the wealth which they bitterly do with resistance.

It's called "Robber Baron" mentality (where industrialists got rich while workers lived in slums)

 

[Internet Nomad]

Every 15 seconds a new cafe shop opens up in Somalia In fact its becoming a international emergency as the world coffee supply is being soley sucked up by Somalia.

 

[Shimbiris]

If the government cared more they would work with telecom and internet providers to ban and block western social media platforms in Somalia. And provide alternative platforms that can be regulated and are not driven by ads profits. Make them more localized in engagements as well.

It would honestly make a big difference, it will also relocate Somali online interactions and discussions into their own spaces and keep them rooted in real realities.

The biggest damage in my mind that these platforms do (which can be felt globally) that it's a waste of time and it takes people away from their every day life. They are specifically designed to steal your time & data and make you glued to it so these apps can make a profit from it.

It's not even about public mental well-being. More countries need to wake up and imitate the Chinese model. Every nation other than China has basically let the USA turn them into a digital fief:



You want web servers? You’re likely using Amazon Web Services (AWS). Need to search for something or map it? Google or Apple are your default gateways. Looking to set up data servers or centers? Insert an American tech giant. Need computer chips or even just consumer electronics? Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Apple, the list goes on. Your population wants social media? It's Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, LinkedIn... and maybe, just maybe, TikTok — from China — on the side.

It's madness. The U.S. has monopolized the digital infrastructure and platform ecosystem of much of the world.

 

[cunug3aad]

It's not even about public mental well-being. More countries need to wake up and imitate the Chinese model. Every nation other than China has basically let the USA turn them into a digital fief:



You want web servers? You’re likely using Amazon Web Services (AWS). Need to search for something or map it? Google or Apple are your default gateways. Looking to set up data servers or centers? Insert an American tech giant. Need computer chips or even just consumer electronics? Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Apple, the list goes on. Your population wants social media? It's Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, LinkedIn... and maybe, just maybe, TikTok — from China — on the side.

It's madness. The U.S. has monopolized the digital infrastructure and platform ecosystem of much of the world.

This is why i advocate for the geeljire hijra

 

[Internet Nomad]

It's not even about public mental well-being. More countries need to wake up and imitate the Chinese model. Every nation other than China has basically let the USA turn them into a digital fief:



You want web servers? You’re likely using Amazon Web Services (AWS). Need to search for something or map it? Google or Apple are your default gateways. Looking to set up data servers or centers? Insert an American tech giant. Need computer chips or even just consumer electronics? Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Apple, the list goes on. Your population wants social media? It's Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, LinkedIn... and maybe, just maybe, TikTok — from China — on the side.

It's madness. The U.S. has monopolized the digital infrastructure and platform ecosystem of much of the world.

yeah we and every nation needs digital autonmy

 

[Midas]

You are 100% right. This what i come to understand when i looked into it.

Aside from many local electricity companies. Each region or town has many different water companies and they deal with digging/building wells, boring holes, piping and aquifers (Ijaabo Water, Shaba water company,Aqua Systems Somalia, horseed, Mina Water Company) .
Each town and region has it's own water company supplier Northwest: HABA, (WWA) , (GWA), BWA, (BuWA), (EWA) NorthEast: (GUMCO), (HOWACO) , (NUWACO) , (MAWASU), (GWA), (GALWA), Central-South (DWMC), (Warjinay), (FWSC),.

It's like this across many different service sectors. So it shows a highly decentralized locally driven competitive economy.




The last i said above is one thing that actually surprised me. Unlike in the U.S. or other capitalist economies, Somalia’s private sector operates on a unique model where businesses are deeply tied to communities rather than controlled by a small elite.

They are diverse in scope because they tend to focus on fulfilling local needs over profit.

In the U.S., corporations are owned by shareholders and investors whose main goal is maximizing profit, even if it means cutting wages, outsourcing jobs, or raising prices.

In Somalia businesses often behave more socially responsible , for example major businesses like Hormuud Telecom and Dahabshiil have community investment models where profits are often reinvested into local infrastructure, mosques, schools, and welfare projects.

In the U.S., profits from businesses often go to corporate executives, multinational shareholders, and offshore tax havens, draining wealth from local communities.

In Somalia, the wealth stays within Somali hands, whether it’s through diaspora investments, local business expansions, or community projects

When you think further about it it makes a sense to me after the time i spend to study history and how societies operate. The west and others their feudal system did not really abolish it just evolved into corporate capitalism,, as the basic model of wealth being concentrated among a few powerful entities stayed the same. They often require government intervention .i.e Socialism to re-distribute the wealth which they bitterly do with resistance.

It's called "Robber Baron" mentality (where industrialists got rich while workers lived in slums)

I feel like a large part of this is that wealth in somalia doesnt come from owning land but from doing business. we were never an agirculutral centered society so we never developed a class of elite landowners who's wealth comes from extracting rents from land ownership.

Wealth ≠ landownership in somali society means the mindset of our elite is very different. This also means we'll never really have to do land reform or worry about local land -owning elites interfering with development. This probably one of our largest hidden advantages.

 

[Garaad Awal]

Maxaa qosol ah?

What do they have in common?

 

[OhMan]

Spoiler

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[cunug3aad]

Spoiler

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You make a good point

 

[Rayaale]

Somali businesses are actually extremely diverse. It crosses into many different sectors.

You can also see it on how there is many different conglomerates that deal with different things.

Moumin Group

moumin.com

View attachment 359024

Home - Horseed Group

Horseed Group Our Portolio Access webmails here Mail us to start business with us: info@horseedgroup.com Business Units We pride ourselves on a broad range of specialties Learn how we’ve worked to deliver cutting-edge customer-focused solutions. Foodstuffs Industry We make available a wide range...

horseedgroup.so

View attachment 359025

Star Group of Companies

www.stargroup-som.com

View attachment 359026

National Group Of Companies | Home

nationalnfs.com

View attachment 359027

View attachment 359028

Salma Group Of Companies

View attachment 359029
View attachment 359031

There is soo many different conglomerates in Somalia it would take a page and more to list them all i have found.

In Somalia they don't really have corporatism you see in the west they behave more like cooperative enterprises. They are often community driven and collectively owned.

The hotels yall keep rinsing to diminish Somalis with are actually connected to the businesses that range from construction/engineering companies, drilling, plumbing, electricity, real estate and mechanics.

They also deal with micro-financing as well and are connected in turn to banking or financial services.

Hotels much like the expansion of housing and apartments in the city reflects growing demand for accommodations both from locals and expats as the population grows , business increase and middle class expands. You are seeing Hotels and Real Estate on platforms on tiktok more due to advertisement and marketing. It doesn't mean that's the sole business Somalis engage in.

Also i had to educate some of you before even @cunug3aad
that Somalis are setting up many different factories and manufacturing facilities . He was not aware that Somalis set up a salt manufacturing plant in Galmudug back in 2021 and a business to market the salt products in Mogadishu to distribute across Somalia.

Somalia salt production

Why dont we make salt on large scale? Seems easy enough of an industry to get into and we got large amount of hot dry land. I am aware of xaafuun which was a tuulo in puuntland that the italians made into a salt factory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafun_Salt_Factory But after brits came it...

www.somalispot.com

Mogadishu alone in 2018 had 40 factories and 30 industrial facilities , seeing that Somalia's economy 4x time what it was in 2018 according mobile money transactions of 2023 , manufacturing is probably double that now. Same throughout the rest of the country.

They have things ranging from steel mills, concrete batching, cement productions, pipes/wires, various productions of building materials. Boats production, fabrics, pharmaceuticals, aluminum a bunch of stuff

Manufacturing

This is why i told @Shimbiris that we need better centralized update-able data collection and information on business and industries. It makes many Somalis unaware of the economic activity in their regions or how it operates really and sometimes turn to social media or read nonsense headlines to know more(Somali journalists are awful)

You are really brilliant, how do you manage to find all this information

 

[balanbalis]

What do they have in common?

Walaal I'm not on this site to play chase, tell me your point

 

[Idilinaa]

I feel like a large part of this is that wealth in somalia doesnt come from owning land but from doing business. we were never an agirculutral centered society so we never developed a class of elite landowners who's wealth comes from extracting rents from land ownership.

Wealth ≠ landownership in somali society means the mindset of our elite is very different. This also means we'll never really have to do land reform or worry about local land -owning elites interfering with development. This probably one of our largest hidden advantages.

You are onto something here. Land was often collectively owned by clans or families. Individual private land barons were rare.

The difference was we were an agro-pastoral and trade driven society. There was no small elite that owned everything ,even farming was also just one aspect of wealth creation much like business/trade and livestock.

Historically our elites mostly taxed trade and production. They didn't extract wealth through rents or forced labor. Instead, they facilitated, protected, and skimmed off trade, pastoralism, and production.

Individual ownership was property and asset based, not land based. You are right thinking long term it's actually lessens the obstacles for development.

 

[Idilinaa]

It's not even about public mental well-being. More countries need to wake up and imitate the Chinese model. Every nation other than China has basically let the USA turn them into a digital fief:



You want web servers? You’re likely using Amazon Web Services (AWS). Need to search for something or map it? Google or Apple are your default gateways. Looking to set up data servers or centers? Insert an American tech giant. Need computer chips or even just consumer electronics? Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Apple, the list goes on. Your population wants social media? It's Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, LinkedIn... and maybe, just maybe, TikTok — from China — on the side.

It's madness. The U.S. has monopolized the digital infrastructure and platform ecosystem of much of the world.

I remember one of the documentaries of Sam Vaknin before he took it down he said social media is uniquely an American invention. Why? Because of money.

It's all about stealing more profits for themselves, they could care less about th damage they are causing the social fabric and well being of people in the world. They called an asocial invention ''social media'' go figure. Then they exported it to the rest of the world.

Tiktok in the US don't operate the same way in China. In China it has a different name with a different design, algorithm, mechanics and has a time limit in how much you can use it. So they at least attempt to regulate it somehow.

Beyond social media you can see how destructive American elite corporate capitalism driven culture has been in general in the politics, food industry, environment, health sector etc.

The American sugar industry payed scientist to blame fat for modern health issues. It influenced false policies and health advice world wide, just so they could continue to hide the problem to make a profit.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/13/493739074/50-years-ago-sugar-industry-quietly-paid-scientists-to-point-blame-at-fat

 

[Idilinaa]

You are really brilliant, how do you manage to find all this information

Research. I also speak to people and ask them stuff.

 

[Midas]

You are onto something here. Land was often collectively owned by clans or families. Individual private land barons were rare.

The difference was we were an agro-pastoral and trade driven society. There was no small elite that owned everything ,even farming was also just one aspect of wealth creation much like business/trade and livestock.

Historically our elites mostly taxed trade and production. They didn't extract wealth through rents or forced labor. Instead, they facilitated, protected, and skimmed off trade, pastoralism, and production.

Individual ownership was property and asset based, not land based. You are right thinking long term it's actually lessens the obstacles for development.

One of the biggest things I picked up from the little I've read and watched about development is that one of the most important aspects is land reform. All the major eurasian civilizations from Europe to China to India to the Middle east. As large agricultural civilizations have huge land owning class that will fight again industrialization and development because it reduces their power.


It took Europe centuries and China several decades of Civil War before they succeeded In taking power away from this class( that was what the french revolution was about) . But India and the Muslim world still have these local land owning classes who control all the wealth and land in their countries. They make it impossible to fully indutralize or do land reforms. In eygpt and Pakistan this class controls the military.

 

[Removed]

No it used to be expensive due to it being diesel generated but electricity prices has come down a lot in prices due to investments in green energy and technological advancement by local energy companies to provide cheaper and more efficient electricity.
View attachment 359038
View attachment 359039

Somalia invests $220 million in green energy - Best news channels in Mogadishu | Best news channels in Somalia | News channels in Mogadishu

Somalia's energy and electricity sector is undergoing a huge transformation as BECO, the largest energy provider, signed a $220 million investment in green

mogadishu24.com

The largest single price reduction will come this year between 2025-2027.
View attachment 359040

There are many Energy companies like (BECO), (NEPCO), (SECO), (KEPLC), Sompower, (CECO), Kube Energy and there is bunch of other smaller ones like Indho Power , NESCO, SECCO etc

Consequently a rural area of Somalia has more reliable and efficient 24 hour electricity supply than large parts of Nairobi who also experience frequent blackouts because its connected to a national grid and not a decentralized mini-grids like Somalia.



Reality in Kenya for comparison:

Kenya: recurring power cuts disrupt daily life

Massive power cuts in Kenya underscore urgent need to modernize electricity infrastructure and tackle technical challenges

energynews.pro

That is still ridiculously expensive. Its double the price per kwh of Kenya who is something like 10x as expensive as Ethiopia and they still failed to industrialize.

Somalias solar investments is useful for old samsungs and lightbulbs but its not large enough, has no transmission between cities, and worst of all has no means of storing the energy.

Our exceptional private market can never bridge the gap between us and our neighbors no matter how incompetent their governments have been.